Gold is hard cash, and the precious yellow metal has a long history dating back thousands of years. Dollars, euros, yen, pounds, yuan, rubles, and all currencies floating around in the global financial system are babies compared to gold, the hard asset that holds value and symbolizes wealth.
Countries, central banks, monetary authorities, and supranational institutions hold gold as a critical part of their foreign exchange reserves. They have added to reserves over the past decades, validating gold’s role in the global financial system.
Aside from its monetary role, gold is a commodity and an ornamental metal that symbolizes love, wealth, and security. Gold has a myriad of industrial applications. Gold’s brand is unparalleled as it remains the ultimate form and symbol of money.
Gold’s bull market began at the turn of this century, and it continues in May 2022. Gold’s appreciation is a commentary on fiat currency depreciation. Over the past two decades, the precious metal has respected technical levels and remains a compelling asset for investors and traders.
Gold holds the $1800 level after making a new high
On March 8, 2022, June COMEX gold futures rose to a new record peak of $2,082 per ounce. The price rallied on the back of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine but ran out of upside steam after making a marginal new high above the August 2020 peak.
The chart of June gold futures shows the correction that took the futures to a low of $1,785 per ounce on May 16. Since then, the price bounced and was just above the $1850 level on May 27. While gold fell below the $1800 level, it only spent two days under the price that was the pivot point throughout most of 2021.
The bullish long-term trend remains firmly intact
Gold’s bullish trend began over twenty-two years ago, in 1999.
The chart shows that the decline to $252.50 per ounce in August 1999 stands as gold’s bottom. Gold fell below the $300 level as the United Kingdom auctioned one-half of its gold reserves from 1999 to 2001.
In early 2008, the precious metal rose above the 1980 record $875 high and probed above the $1,000 level for the first time. Gold has not ventured below $1,000 per ounce since October 2009. After reaching a record high of $1,911.60 in 2011, gold corrected and consolidated at above $1,000 through July 2020, when it made a higher high in August. The latest peak came in March 2022 as the long-term bull market trend remains firmly intact.
Russia backs the ruble with gold- Will China follow?
Central banks and governments hold gold as an integral part of foreign exchange holdings, validating gold’s role in the worldwide financial system. Over the past years, governments have been net buyers of gold, adding to reserves, with China and Russia the most high-profile buyers. Since the Chinese and Russians are significant gold producers and reserves are state secrets, it is challenging to quantify the increases in their reserves.
According to the World Gold Council, in 2020, annual gold production was 3,478.1 tons. China produces 368.3 tons, and Russian output was 331.1 tons. Together, they produced over 20% of the world’s output, and the lion’s share likely went into reserves. China and Russia had also purchased gold on the international bullion market to add to their holdings.
The geopolitical bifurcation that began on February 4, 2022, with a handshake between Chinese President Xi and Russian President Putin for “no-limits” cooperation, was a prelude to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It could also accelerate Chinese plans for reunification with Taiwan. The alliance pits China and Russia against the US and Europe, with other countries lining up on each side of the widening gulf between the nuclear powers. The US remains the world’s leading economy, but China is nipping on the US’s heels for the leadership role. The US dollar is the global reserve currency, but its role is slipping, and the geopolitical bifurcation threatens the dollar’s position.
Sanctions led the Russians to declare that 5,000 roubles are exchangeable for one gram of gold, putting the Russian currency back on a gold standard.
The chart of the currency relationship between the US dollar and the Russian rouble shows the plunge that took the rouble to $0.00757 in March after the invasion. The move to back the rouble with gold lifted the rouble to over the $0.0148 level on May 27. Meanwhile, the rouble moved to its highest level since 2018 against the US currency in May before correcting.
If China follows the Russians and backs the yuan with gold, it will dramatically increase the precious metals’ role in the global financial system. Gold’s price would likely rise with the increasingly prominent role.
Buying dips has been golden over the past two decades
The long-term gold chart shows that buying gold on any price weakness has been the optimal approach to gold investing over the past two decades. Buying on rallies increased the odds of waiting out corrections and consolidation periods.
The chart over the past three years shows that buying gold during periods of price weakness increases the odds of profitable trading and investing.
So many choices for gold investing and trading
The most direct route for owning gold is purchasing gold bars and coins. Gold is one of the few assets that provide a sense of security and wealth and is beautiful in its pure form.
Gold futures are the next step on the golden pyramid as they provide a delivery mechanism. Unleveraged gold ETF products like GLD, IAU, and BAR hold the metal, creating a high correlation with the physical gold price.
Gold mining shares provide leverage as the companies invest substantial capital in extracting gold from the earth’s crust. They extract lower grade ores as the prices rise, leading to greater profits in bull markets. Gold mining shares tend to outperform the metal’s price during rallies and underperform during corrections, providing leverage. However, gold mining shares do not suffer from the time decay that other leveraged tools often experience. Individual gold mining shares have idiosyncratic management risks and specific mining projects in producing countries worldwide. The GDX senior gold mining ETF and the GDXJ junior mining ETF products hold portfolios of senior and junior gold mining companies that diversify the idiosyncratic risks. The NUGT and JNUG products turbocharge the upside and downside returns of the GDX and GDXJ products, but they are only appropriate for short-term risk positions as NUGT and JNUG experience time decay.
There are many other gold-related investment options, but the pure-play is the metal. Gold is a mainstay investment and trading asset that should be part of all portfolios. At the $1851.30 level on May 27, gold has corrected from the early March low but is on the way back up after probing below $1800 per ounce. Buying gold on dips continues to be the optimal trading and investing approach for the precious metal with a long history. Gold provides security and holds its value over time, and Russia’s return to a gold standard could boost its role in the global financial system over the coming years.
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Trading advice given in this communication, if any, is based on information taken from trades and statistical services and other sources that we believe are reliable. The author does not guarantee that such information is accurate or complete and it should not be relied upon as such. Trading advice reflects the author’s good faith judgment at a specific time and is subject to change without notice. There is no guarantee that the advice the author provides will result in profitable trades. There is risk of loss in all futures and options trading. Any investment involves substantial risks, including, but not limited to, pricing volatility, inadequate liquidity, and the potential complete loss of principal. This article does not in any way constitute an offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any investment, security, or commodity discussed herein, or any security in any jurisdiction in which such an offer would be unlawful under the securities laws of such jurisdiction.
- Gold holds the $1800 level after making a new high
- The bullish long-term trend remains firmly intact
- Russia backs the ruble with gold- Will China follow?
- Buying dips has been golden over the past two decades
- So many choices for gold investing and trading
Countries, central banks, monetary authorities, and supranational institutions hold gold as a critical part of their foreign exchange reserves. They have added to reserves over the past decades, validating gold’s role in the global financial system.
Aside from its monetary role, gold is a commodity and an ornamental metal that symbolizes love, wealth, and security. Gold has a myriad of industrial applications. Gold’s brand is unparalleled as it remains the ultimate form and symbol of money.
Gold’s bull market began at the turn of this century, and it continues in May 2022. Gold’s appreciation is a commentary on fiat currency depreciation. Over the past two decades, the precious metal has respected technical levels and remains a compelling asset for investors and traders.
Gold holds the $1800 level after making a new high
On March 8, 2022, June COMEX gold futures rose to a new record peak of $2,082 per ounce. The price rallied on the back of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine but ran out of upside steam after making a marginal new high above the August 2020 peak.
The chart of June gold futures shows the correction that took the futures to a low of $1,785 per ounce on May 16. Since then, the price bounced and was just above the $1850 level on May 27. While gold fell below the $1800 level, it only spent two days under the price that was the pivot point throughout most of 2021.
The bullish long-term trend remains firmly intact
Gold’s bullish trend began over twenty-two years ago, in 1999.
The chart shows that the decline to $252.50 per ounce in August 1999 stands as gold’s bottom. Gold fell below the $300 level as the United Kingdom auctioned one-half of its gold reserves from 1999 to 2001.
In early 2008, the precious metal rose above the 1980 record $875 high and probed above the $1,000 level for the first time. Gold has not ventured below $1,000 per ounce since October 2009. After reaching a record high of $1,911.60 in 2011, gold corrected and consolidated at above $1,000 through July 2020, when it made a higher high in August. The latest peak came in March 2022 as the long-term bull market trend remains firmly intact.
Russia backs the ruble with gold- Will China follow?
Central banks and governments hold gold as an integral part of foreign exchange holdings, validating gold’s role in the worldwide financial system. Over the past years, governments have been net buyers of gold, adding to reserves, with China and Russia the most high-profile buyers. Since the Chinese and Russians are significant gold producers and reserves are state secrets, it is challenging to quantify the increases in their reserves.
According to the World Gold Council, in 2020, annual gold production was 3,478.1 tons. China produces 368.3 tons, and Russian output was 331.1 tons. Together, they produced over 20% of the world’s output, and the lion’s share likely went into reserves. China and Russia had also purchased gold on the international bullion market to add to their holdings.
The geopolitical bifurcation that began on February 4, 2022, with a handshake between Chinese President Xi and Russian President Putin for “no-limits” cooperation, was a prelude to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It could also accelerate Chinese plans for reunification with Taiwan. The alliance pits China and Russia against the US and Europe, with other countries lining up on each side of the widening gulf between the nuclear powers. The US remains the world’s leading economy, but China is nipping on the US’s heels for the leadership role. The US dollar is the global reserve currency, but its role is slipping, and the geopolitical bifurcation threatens the dollar’s position.
Sanctions led the Russians to declare that 5,000 roubles are exchangeable for one gram of gold, putting the Russian currency back on a gold standard.
The chart of the currency relationship between the US dollar and the Russian rouble shows the plunge that took the rouble to $0.00757 in March after the invasion. The move to back the rouble with gold lifted the rouble to over the $0.0148 level on May 27. Meanwhile, the rouble moved to its highest level since 2018 against the US currency in May before correcting.
If China follows the Russians and backs the yuan with gold, it will dramatically increase the precious metals’ role in the global financial system. Gold’s price would likely rise with the increasingly prominent role.
Buying dips has been golden over the past two decades
The long-term gold chart shows that buying gold on any price weakness has been the optimal approach to gold investing over the past two decades. Buying on rallies increased the odds of waiting out corrections and consolidation periods.
The chart over the past three years shows that buying gold during periods of price weakness increases the odds of profitable trading and investing.
So many choices for gold investing and trading
The most direct route for owning gold is purchasing gold bars and coins. Gold is one of the few assets that provide a sense of security and wealth and is beautiful in its pure form.
Gold futures are the next step on the golden pyramid as they provide a delivery mechanism. Unleveraged gold ETF products like GLD, IAU, and BAR hold the metal, creating a high correlation with the physical gold price.
Gold mining shares provide leverage as the companies invest substantial capital in extracting gold from the earth’s crust. They extract lower grade ores as the prices rise, leading to greater profits in bull markets. Gold mining shares tend to outperform the metal’s price during rallies and underperform during corrections, providing leverage. However, gold mining shares do not suffer from the time decay that other leveraged tools often experience. Individual gold mining shares have idiosyncratic management risks and specific mining projects in producing countries worldwide. The GDX senior gold mining ETF and the GDXJ junior mining ETF products hold portfolios of senior and junior gold mining companies that diversify the idiosyncratic risks. The NUGT and JNUG products turbocharge the upside and downside returns of the GDX and GDXJ products, but they are only appropriate for short-term risk positions as NUGT and JNUG experience time decay.
There are many other gold-related investment options, but the pure-play is the metal. Gold is a mainstay investment and trading asset that should be part of all portfolios. At the $1851.30 level on May 27, gold has corrected from the early March low but is on the way back up after probing below $1800 per ounce. Buying gold on dips continues to be the optimal trading and investing approach for the precious metal with a long history. Gold provides security and holds its value over time, and Russia’s return to a gold standard could boost its role in the global financial system over the coming years.
--
Trading advice given in this communication, if any, is based on information taken from trades and statistical services and other sources that we believe are reliable. The author does not guarantee that such information is accurate or complete and it should not be relied upon as such. Trading advice reflects the author’s good faith judgment at a specific time and is subject to change without notice. There is no guarantee that the advice the author provides will result in profitable trades. There is risk of loss in all futures and options trading. Any investment involves substantial risks, including, but not limited to, pricing volatility, inadequate liquidity, and the potential complete loss of principal. This article does not in any way constitute an offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any investment, security, or commodity discussed herein, or any security in any jurisdiction in which such an offer would be unlawful under the securities laws of such jurisdiction.