Interest rate movements have made their mark on gold prices over the past two years. 

After a strong 2020 performance where the price rallied 25% in US dollar terms in an environment where rates fell, gold has been much weaker during 2021, down 5% year-to-date with rising rates.1 While demand for gold has rebounded, particularly in the jewellery and bar and coin markets,2 the recent gold price sell-off has been largely driven by the sharp increase in interest rates in global fixed income markets relative to the record lows they reached last year (Chart 1).3

Rate increases have been driven by improving economic conditions and higher inflation expectations. While in the short-run, higher rates are a headwind for gold, we believe that gold remains a key strategic portfolio component for several reasons:

  • A rising rate environment does not always result in gold’s price underperformance (p. 1-2)
  • A significant increase in inflation and/or money supply may offset the negative effect from rising rates (p. 2)
  • Central banks may use alternative monetary policy tools to limit the negative effect of rising rates (p. 3)
  • The prolonged level of short-term interest rates is creating a structural shift in asset allocation strategies by reducing expected returns and/or increasing portfolio risk (pp. 5-6).
 

Chart 1: Gold's performance since the COVID-19 equity selloff has been dominated by rates

Gold's performance since the COVID-19 equity selloff has been dominated by rates

Gold price and the inverted US 10-year yield*

Gold's performance since the COVID-19 equity selloff has been dominated by rates
Gold price and the inverted US 10-year yield*
*19 February 2020 to 31 March 2021. Based on LBMA Gold Price PM USD and Bloomberg’s US Government Generic 10-year Yield Index. Source: Bloomberg, World Gold Council

来源: 彭博社, 世界黄金协会; 版权和其他权利

*19 February 2020 to 31 March 2021.

Based on LBMA Gold Price PM USD and Bloomberg’s US Government Generic 10-year Yield Index.

 

Higher rates are a short-term headwind for gold

One of the four key drivers of gold performance relates to the opportunity cost of holding it.4 High coupons – or, alternatively, large dividends – can make gold less attractive, especially for investors who require steady income streams. But the reason gold does not pay a direct ‘yield’ is because it does not have counterparty risk, and therefore represents no-one’s liability.  

As rates have fallen over the last several years, the investment case for gold has become stronger. And despite the recent rise in yields, many nominal rates are negative and all sovereign debt in developed nations is effectively negative in real terms.5

As nominal yields have come down in recent decades, the correlation between gold return and the change in interest rate yields has mostly turned more negative (Chart 2).6 Similarly, as equity dividend yields have fallen amid lofty valuation, gold prices have generally rallied.

 

Chart 2: Correlation of gold to US Treasury yields has plummeted over time, but recently ticked higher

Correlation of gold to US Treasury yields has plummeted over time, but recently ticked higher

Trailing 3-year correlation of gold to 10-year US Treasuries*

Correlation of gold to US Treasury yields has plummeted over time, but recently ticked higher
Trailing 3-year correlation of gold to 10-year US Treasuries*
*1 December 1973 to 31 March 2021. Based on LBMA Gold Price PM USD, Bloomberg’s US Government Generic 10-year Yield Index, and S&P 500 Index dividend yield. Source: Bloomberg, World Gold Council

来源: 彭博社, 世界黄金协会; 版权和其他权利

*1 December 1973 to 31 March 2021. Based on LBMA Gold Price PM USD, Bloomberg’s US Government Generic 10-year Yield Index, and S&P 500 Index dividend yield.

 

 

Chart 3: Gold's sensitivity to interest rates is near record highs

Gold's sensitivity to interest rates is near record highs

Trailing 2-year gold betas*

Gold's sensitivity to interest rates is near record highs
Trailing 2-year gold betas*
*1 December 2002 to 31 March 2021. Note: DM FX: comprises euro and yen dollar pairs. Based on LBMA Gold Price PM USD, Bloomberg US Government Generic 10-year Yield Index, and US 10-year Breakeven Inflation Index. Source: Bloomberg, World Gold Council

来源: 彭博社, 世界黄金协会; 版权和其他权利

*1 December 2002 to 31 March 2021. 

Note: DM FX: comprises euro and yen dollar pairs. Based on LBMA Gold Price PM USD, Bloomberg US Government Generic 10-year Yield Index, and US 10-year Breakeven Inflation Index.

 

The strong relationship gold has exhibited to both interest rates and currency value is not a recent phenomenon. Analysis from our short-term gold return model shows that since 2000 gold has exhibited a consistently negative correlation to currency purchasing power particularly in developed markets.7 In addition, its sensitivity to interest rates was also higher during periods marked by heightened inflation expectations, like 2008, 2012, and 2020 (Chart 3). This is explained by increased attention of the market to actions or forward guidance given by the US Federal Reserve (Fed) and other central banks.

Normalised (higher) rates aren’t necessarily debilitating for gold prices

While rates recently moved sharply higher, they remain historically low and are, in real terms, mostly negative across developed markets. Our analysis suggests that US real rates would need to move above 2.5% for there to be a meaningful long-term negative impact on gold (Table 1). While real rates are currently below zero, a return to a real rate environment of 0–2.5% would likely impact gold, but only to the extent of it realising slightly below its long-term average real return of 6.1%.8 Rising rates certainly provide more headwinds to gold than falling rates, but gold can still provide positive real returns in a rising rate environment. Historically, it required an interest rate environment over 2.5% in real terms to have a significant negative impact on gold prices. Considering that recent interest rate changes have only come on the heels of higher inflation, it remains likely that any normalisation in interest rates would predominantly be by just a nominal measure. Moreover, since the mid-1990s Fed inflation policy revolving around an approximate 2% target has largely mitigated the risk of a significant run-up in nominal yields, particularly when starting from a low base as is the case today.

Table 1: Gold has outperformed its long-term average in moderate real- and nominal-rate environments

Average gold return in varying interest rate environments*

  Annualised nominal returns Annualised real returns
Absolute rate level    
All levels 7.90% 3.90%
Negative rates 19.30% 11.40%
Moderate (0-2.5%) 9.30% 6.10%
High (above 2.5%) 2.70% -0.60%
Rate direction    
Falling 6.86% 4.33%
On hold 10.54% 6.84%
Raising 5.07% -1.34%

*31 January 1970 to 31 March 202. Interest rate environments classified by US 10-year interest rate yield.

Source: Bloomberg, World Gold Council

 

An increase in rates, is likely to be a by-product of inflation, which may be positive for gold

A sustained increase in interest rates beyond the aforementioned thresholds may materialise if there were to be a shift in inflation dynamics not seen in decades.9  Such an event would trigger meaningful changes to interest rates, with an increased opportunity cost to holding riskier assets such as stocks. As risk assets sell off, gold’s value as a contributor to portfolio return comes into focus, particularly several months into the inflation cycle. 

‘Reflation’ periods such as we are seeing today, marked by resurgent economic growth alongside rising inflation and interest rates, have seen other major commodities outperform gold in the first six months. However, on average since 1991 gold has caught up and in fact, outperformed other sectors and commodities by the second and third years (Chart 4).10

Examining this 30-year trend proves helpful as it is likely to be more indicative of the current policy environment in which central banks have kept real rates relatively anchored. As a result, even given an uncertain inflation picture down the road, this return profile supports the use of gold in at least a medium-term inflation hedge strategy.

 

Chart 4: Gold outperforms other commodities later in a reflation period

Gold outperforms other commodities later in a reflation period

S&P GSCI Commodity Total Return Indices and spot US$ gold performance before and after US recessions*

Gold outperforms other commodities later in a reflation period
S&P GSCI Commodity Total Return Indices and spot US$ gold performance before and after US recessions*
*1 March 1988 to 29 February 2020. Each dot in the chart represents the annualised return for a series. The large dots show performance after the reflation period began and the small dots show the performance prior. Each dot also shows the high and low ranges of returns. All series are S&P GSCI Total Return series except for spot US$ gold. Source: Bloomberg, World Gold Council

来源: 彭博社, 世界黄金协会; 版权和其他权利

*1 March 1988 to 29 February 2020. Each dot in the chart represents the annualised return for a series. The large dots show performance after the reflation period began and the small dots show the performance prior. Each dot also shows the high and low ranges of returns. All series are S&P GSCI Total Return series except for spot US$ gold.  

 

Monetary policy has become an increasingly important driver of gold prices

In the preceding period prior to the Global Financial Crisis, monetary policy did not reign over financial markets, including gold, to the extent we see it does today. With less attention on central banks, gold prices were arguably more impacted by movements of the dollar directly. Since the initial Quantitative Easing (QE) implementation, gold prices have been supported by easy money and expanding balance sheets, both of which hurt the purchasing power of fiat currency. This relationship strengthened again during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, as the consequent monetary easing and fiscal spending kicked off another period with immense balance sheets and zero-bound interest rates, and pushed gold prices higher. In recent months, gold has trailed lower with interest rate yields rising alongside inflation expectations, even as policy support has remained unchanged.

With ballooning debt burdens relative to GDP, and with a commitment to keep rates low, policymakers may be forced to act on the long end of the rates curve to ensure expectations remain anchored (Focus 1) but could do so at the expense of further expanding their debt (Chart 5). 

 

Chart 5: Balance sheet sizes may pose risk for central banks to hike interest rates

Balance sheet sizes may pose risk for central banks to hike interest rates

G4 and Fed balance sheet as a % of GDP*

Balance sheet sizes may pose risk for central banks to hike interest rates
G4 and Fed balance sheet as a % of GDP*
*1 January 1999 to 29 February 2021. *G4 refers to the US Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, Bank of Japan, and Bank of England. Source: Bloomberg, World Gold Council

来源: 彭博社, 世界黄金协会; 版权和其他权利

*1 January 1999 to 29 February 2021.

*G4 refers to the US Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, Bank of Japan and Bank of England.

Balance sheet sizes may pose risk for central banks to hike interest rates

Australian sovereign yield curves*

Balance sheet sizes may pose risk for central banks to hike interest rates
G4 and Fed balance sheet as a % of GDP*
*1 January 1999 to 29 February 2021. *G4 refers to the US Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, Bank of Japan, and Bank of England. Source: Bloomberg, World Gold Council

来源: 彭博社, 世界黄金协会; 版权和其他权利

*As of 31 March 2021.

Focus 1: Central banks have begun yield curve control (YCC)

Even as rates have continued to move higher this year, central banks’ commitment to accommodative monetary policy has stood firm. This has presented a widening trend between short- and long-term interest rates, marked by investors with elevated inflation expectations on the one hand, and policymakers with near-term focus on economic recovery in the labour market on the other. However, central banks can still play a role in containing some of these longer-run rates expectations as well – most recently witnessed in Australia. 

As a significant commodity exporter, particularly of metals,11  Australia has been notably impacted by the surge in resource prices year-to-date. The relationship between commodity prices and economic variables in the country is so prevalent that the Australian dollar is considered a commodity currency. 

Elevated inflation expectations driven by soaring resource prices led to a significant steepening of the yield curve,12 with a rise in medium- and long-term rates of 50–100 basis points since the start of the easing cycle in March 2020 (Chart 6). In response to this, in February 2021 the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) enacted a form of yield curve control (YCC) to help slow rising rates across the curve. 

Chart 6: Australian long-term yields rose in months prior to yield curve control

Balance sheet sizes may pose risk for central banks to hike interest rates

Australian 3-year and 10-year yields*

Balance sheet sizes may pose risk for central banks to hike interest rates
G4 and Fed balance sheet as a % of GDP*
*1 January 1999 to 29 February 2021. *G4 refers to the US Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, Bank of Japan, and Bank of England. Source: Bloomberg, World Gold Council

来源: 彭博社, 世界黄金协会; 版权和其他权利

*As of 31 March 2021.

The RBA announced that in addition to reaffirming its intent to keep the current policy rate steady until 2024, it would commit to a 3-year yield target of 0.10% to keep borrowing costs low for the foreseeable future. Since this time, as the front end of the Australian Sovereign Curve remained anchored, the ‘belly’ (medium-term) and long end shifted down in anticipation of further central bank accommodation and yield curve control (Chart 7). 

Chart 7: Australian rate outlook has turned dovish since implementing yield curve control

Another Operation Twist?

While Australia has controlled the shorter end of the curve, this could set the tone for another Operation Twist,13 or similar initiative, in the US, focusing on long-term interest rates as the yield curve continues to steepen. Enacted both in the early 1960s and 2011, this maturity extension programme of Fed assets served to continue monetary easing while avoiding the inflationary impact of further expanding its balance sheet or increasing the money supply, by putting downward pressure on longer-term interest rates -- a policy the Reserve Bank of India similarly initiated in December 2019 by flattening the yield curve to lower term premia.14 Additionally, there have also been discussions around adding longer-dated bonds, with 50- or even 100-year maturities, enabling further YCC.15

Lower rates have made bonds smaller components of portfolio performance

The traditional 60/40 portfolio (60% equities, 40% bonds) has become less prominent as investors have gained access to additional fixed income and alternative assets.16 However, breaking down the attribution of fixed income securities within the portfolio helps illustrate what has driven returns over the past few decades. Namely, due to rates movements being lower over the past several years, the analysis shows how optimal portfolios would have benefitted from larger gold allocations. 

When isolating the fixed income side of the US market, we consider Treasuries, long-term Treasuries, corporate bonds, bond aggregates and high yield bonds, calculating each one’s attribution to historical returns. It has become clear that higher quality fixed income returns have fallen significantly below levels of lower quality or longer duration ones (Chart 8). At a sub-asset class level this is also illustrated in declining US Treasury returns over the full period of the analysis (Chart 9).

When considering the long-term average of the Bloomberg Barclays US Bond Aggregate Index -- often a proxy for the overall bond market -- one can see that on a 10yr rolling basis it has returned 5.6% on average over the past 20 years. However, these returns have fallen in a lower rate environment since the first QE. If we were to optimise returns for the five fixed income securities, by constraining returns to a minimum of the historical average of 5.6% while minimizing portfolio volatility, we see that portfolio volatility increases, and the allocation to assets further out on the credit curve, particularly high yield, also increases (Chart 10). 

Larger allocations to those securities increases the portfolio volatility of the optimised portfolio, which had been below the US Bond Aggregate portfolio up until the Global Financial Crisis, and, of course, the weights of higher volatility assets increased as well (Chart 11).

 

Chart 8: Treasury and corporate bond returns have fallen below long-term averages, prompting shifts to riskier fixed income assets

Treasury and corporate bond returns have fallen below long-term averages, prompting shifts to riskier fixed income assets

Average 10-year returns using rolling monthly data*

Treasury and corporate bond returns have fallen below long-term averages, prompting shifts to riskier fixed income assets
Average 10-year returns using rolling monthly data*
*Based on 10-year rolling monthly returns from January 2000 to December 2020. Source: Bloomberg, World Gold Council

来源: 彭博社, 世界黄金协会; 版权和其他权利

*Based on 10-year rolling monthly returns from January 2000 to December 2020.

 

 

Chart 9: Declining Treasury returns mark the diminished role of high-quality fixed income in portfolios

Declining Treasury returns mark the diminished role of high-quality fixed income in portfolios

Annual 10-year US Treasury returns*

Declining Treasury returns mark the diminished role of high-quality fixed income in portfolios
Annual 10-year US Treasury returns*
*As of December 2020 Source: Bloomberg, World Gold Council

来源: 彭博社, 世界黄金协会; 版权和其他权利

*As of December 2020

 

 

Chart 10: Optimised bond portfolios have shifted from lower volatility to higher volatility levels against the broad fixed income space as high yield weights have increased

Chart 10: Optimised bond portfolios have shifted from lower volatility to higher volatility levels against the broad fixed income space as high yield weights have increased

Difference of portfolio standard deviations of bond aggregate portfolio vs. optimised fixed income portfolio against the high yield weights*

Chart 10: Optimised bond portfolios have shifted from lower volatility to higher volatility levels against the broad fixed income space as high yield weights have increased
Difference of portfolio standard deviations of bond aggregate portfolio vs. optimised fixed income portfolio against the high yield weights*
*Based on 10-year rolling monthly returns from January 2000 to December 2020. Source: Bloomberg, World Gold Counci

来源: 彭博社, 世界黄金协会; 版权和其他权利

*Based on 10-year rolling monthly returns from January 2000 to December 2020.

 

 

Chart 11: Shifts to high yield and long-term treasuries have increased volatility and duration risk 

Shifts to high yield and long-term treasuries have increased volatility and duration risk

Rolling 10-year annual volatility*

Shifts to high yield and long-term treasuries have increased volatility and duration risk
Rolling 10-year annual volatility*
*1 January 2000 to 31 March 2021. Source: Bloomberg, World Gold Council

来源: 彭博社, 世界黄金协会; 版权和其他权利

*1 January 2000 to 31 March 2021.

#footnote-4

Market return expectations are low

Many market experts suggest the return assumptions for most fixed income securities will average between 2% and 4% over the next decade, with equity return expectations in the single digits as well.17 Many pensions and endowments have liability assumption returns of 6%-8%19  and given these lower asset return expectations investors may need to have larger weights to alternative assets or increase leverage. Recent data from Willis Towers Watson  also suggests increases in alternative investments, and our research indicates that as portfolio risk, i.e. volatility increases, the optimal allocation to gold also increases to the higher end of the 2--10% optimal allocation our model has suggested.20

We also consider the current and expected market environment and look to optimise portfolios based on those expectations. We utilised the 20-year total return performance of the aforementioned fixed income securities along with the S&P 500 and gold.

When adjusting fixed income market assumptions lower, it significantly lowers the expected return, and without leverage or additional allocations to other assets like alternatives, it could be very difficult to achieve portfolio assumption levels of 6--8%, while even reducing expected future gold returns to 5% (less than half of its historical average of 10%), it improves the risk adjusted returns of the low-rate portfolio. And if we analyse an optimised portfolio with historical gold returns, matched with expected bond returns, the portfolio is able to achieve the 6--8% expected return without significantly increasing portfolio volatility or leverage.

Conclusion

Even though rates have ticked higher in recent months, they remain historically well below long-term levels and levels that should negatively impact gold returns. Absent a true increase in inflation, which has historically been good for gold, we do not expect rates to increase meaningfully without central bank intervention. We have seen that traditional bond allocations contribute much less to portfolio returns which has forced many investors to take additional risk with lower credit fixed income investments and other alternatives that increase portfolio risk. All of these factors continue to strengthen the rationale for a strategic allocation to gold in portfolios.

Footnotes

1Based on the LBMA Gold Price PM as of 19 April 2021.

2India’s gold market in February: Indian imports hit a 21-month high amid robust retail demand, 18 March 2021 and China’s gold market in February: local gold price premium rose further as gold consumption improved, 10 March 2021.

3Gold is moving with rates, 25 February 2021.

4The relevance of gold as a strategic asset, 16 February 2021.

5As of 31 March 2021, for G7 countries. See: Investment Update: It may be time to replace bonds with gold, 30 October 2019.

6Gold Market Commentary: Rates continue to dominate, 8 April 2021

7Based on weekly inputs to World Gold Council’s short-term gold price driver’s model.

8Based on the US 10-year Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) yield

9See Investment Update: Gold as an inflation hedge, short and long-run considerations

10Gold, commodities and reflation, 2021 March 26, World Gold Council.

11Based on “Trade and Investment at a Glance – 2019” report by Australian Government: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

12See The low-return environment in Australia and gold’s role, 24 March 2021.

13Maturity Extension Program and Reinvestment Policy” by the Federal Reserve, 2 August 2013

14Inside India’s Twist of the Yield Curve”, 31 December 2019

15Yellen Gets Wall Street Buzzing About 50-Year U.S. Treasuries”, 19 January 2021

16The 60/40 Model is Dead, What to Do?”, 4 March 2020, and The 60/40 Portfolio Review and ETF Pie for M1 Finance.

17We utilised the 2021 J.P.Morgan Asset Management Long-Term Capital Market Assumptions as a guide for expected market returns and volatility over the next 10 – 15 years. https://am.jpmorgan.com/content/dam/jpm-am-aem/global/en/insights/portfolio-insights/ltcma/ltcma-full-report.pdf

18Pension Funds Adjust Investment Return Targets as Economic Growth Slows. 2020 January 8.

19Willis Towers Watson, Global Pension Assets Study 2021, February 2021 and Global Alternatives Survey 2017, July 2017.

20See footnote 4 on page 1.

Important disclaimers and disclosures

© 2021 World Gold Council. All rights reserved. World Gold Council and the Circle device are trademarks of the World Gold Council or its affiliates.
All references to LBMA Gold Price are used with the permission of ICE Benchmark Administration Limited and have been provided for informational purposes only. ICE Benchmark Administration Limited accepts no liability or responsibility for the accuracy of the prices or the underlying product to which the prices may be referenced. Other content is the intellectual property of the respective third party and all rights are reserved to them. 

Reproduction or redistribution of any of this information is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of World Gold Council or the appropriate copyright owners, except as specifically provided below.

The use of the statistics in this information is permitted for the purposes of review and commentary (including media commentary) in line with fair industry practice, subject to the following two pre-conditions: (i) only limited extracts of data or analysis be used; and (ii) any and all use of these statistics is accompanied by a citation to World Gold Council and, where appropriate, to Metals Focus, Refinitiv GFMS or other identified copyright owners, as their source. World Gold Council is affiliated with Metals Focus.

Neither the World Gold Council nor any of its affiliates (collectively, “WGC”) guarantees the accuracy or completeness of any information. WGC does not accept responsibility for any losses or damages arising directly or indirectly from the use of this information.

This information is for educational purposes only. Nothing contained herein is intended to constitute a recommendation, investment advice, or offer for the purchase or sale of gold, any gold-related products or services or any other products, services, securities or financial instruments (collectively, “Services”). This information does not take into account any investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs of any particular person.    

By receiving this information, you agree with the intended purpose of this information as being for educational purposes only.  Diversification does not guarantee any investment returns and does not eliminate the risk of loss.    

Investors should discuss their individual circumstances with their appropriate investment professionals before making any decision regarding any Services or investments.

This information contains forward-looking statements, such as statements which use the words “believes”, “expects”, “may”, or “suggests”, or similar terminology, which are based on current expectations and are subject to change. Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that any forward-looking statements will be achieved. WGC assumes no responsibility for updating any forward-looking statements.

Information regarding QaurumSM and the Gold Valuation Framework 

Note that the resulting performance of various investment outcomes that can generated through use of Qaurum, the Gold Valuation Framework and other information are hypothetical in nature, may not reflect actual investment results and are not guarantees of future results. Diversification does not guarantee investment returns and does not eliminate the risk of loss.  World Gold Council and its affiliates and subsidiaries (collectively, “WGC”) provide no warranty or guarantee regarding the functionality of the tool, including without limitation any projections, estimates or calculations.