Nominal gold prices appear to have peaked this cycle.
We cut the 2021E average price forecast 5% from $1,900/oz to $1,800/oz. For now, we hold our 2022E and 2023E outlook unchanged at $1,700/oz and $1,550/oz (forecasts were published in December 2020). In the very short-term, spot bullion holding support at $1,750-1,765 appears critical to avoid a sharper sell-off amid higher US yields. Notably, value buyers have consistently “bought the dip” in the mid-high $1,700s in recent months.
A rotational shift into Bitcoin and other crypto assets by some retail and institutional investors is probably exacerbating gold price weakness and the recent pace of outflows. Yet, for several months now we have been highlighting peak cycle risks for the bullion market.
Some key factors include:
Risk of Fed tapering asset purchases by end-2021 (Citi econ base case) and more aggressive STIRT pricing for policy rate lift-off in 2022/2023 which may in turn be US$ supportive. In addition, while real rates at the 5Y sector have been relatively pinned, 10Y TIPS yields have backed-up some 30-35 basis points this year and are a headwind for a long duration zero coupon asset like gold.
A risk asset and commodities reflation narrative amid a COVID-19 vaccine trade that favors inflows into oil, copper, and other markets versus gold. As we wrote in our 2021 Annual Outlook: “if 2020 was a long gold/short oil trade, then 2021 and a post-coronavirus market recovery should see some reversal of this trend.”
Reduced geopolitical bid for gold following the US elections and President Biden’s victory in early November (as reflected in XAU options markets).
Though not a primary driver for day-to-day gold trading, supply/demand balances for the yellow metal should be in hefty surplus this year. Hence, the absence of investor inflows can bolster the inventory overhang, capping gold market cheer.
Lackluster financial gold buying (e.g. historically weak futures/options net length and physical ETF products flipping from net buyers to net sellers) further emphasizes the importance of retail jewelry, bar/coin, and central bank consumption this year. Demand for all three should grow in 2021 versus 2020, but is likely to remain below 2018/2019 levels. This is as mine production is rebounding from COVID-19 shut-ins in 1H’20 and gold recycling activity has ticked-up, bolstering total supply.
Even as we believe bullion trading is unlikely to revisit $2,000-2,100/oz, market consensus remains deeply divided.
Our February client survey asked “Have nominal gold prices peaked this cycle?” and 42% responded ‘Yes’, 40% responded ‘No’, and 18% were ‘Unsure’. This is among the most deeply divided reader surveys we have conducted in recent years and also contrasts sharply to our outright bullish bias for gold since 2019. A Fed on perma-hold, further US$ devaluation, higher upside to inflation, and increased concerns about debt and deficits are all credible risks that should support higher gold prices. But that is not our base cas