As the first rate hike of this new (imho very short) rate hike cycle is getting closer, let's have a look at the performance of the #USD, #commodities and #gold before and after the first hike:
Pundits would say that higher rates should cause gold to sell off, but actually the first hike seems to be a consistent point to buy gold. Only the 1994 cycle saw gold end lower than the rate hike day - and even then, it was by a small amount.
...in the last hiking cycle, the day of the first hike exactly nailed the low in gold...
...while under Greenspan in 1999, gold made its lows only 3 weeks after the first hike and started a 12 year bull market...
Long story short: Don't fear the first rate hike, rather buy it...
What’s coming? A new Plaza Accord? A weaker dollar? Tariffs funding tax cuts? Gold & Bitcoin surging?
Buckle up. 🧵👇
Stephen Miran (@smiran) has been chosen as the next Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers (CEA).
This is HUGE.
Miran, already one of the sharpest minds in macro & trade policy, will now directly influence U.S. economic strategy.
I just finished reading his piece, and firmly believe:
This is the blueprint for what's to come!
Why This Matters
🔹 The Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) provides the U.S. President with expert economic analysis & recommendations.
🔹 As Chairman, Miran will directly shape trade, currency, tax, and financial policy.
🔹 His stance on the overvalued dollar, tariffs, and the "Mar-a-Lago Accord" could become official U.S. strategy.
This isn’t just a think tank proposal anymore.
The U.S. could be heading toward:
✅ Tariffs to fund tax cuts
✅ A weaker dollar to boost U.S. manufacturing
✅ A new multilateral currency deal
✅ Gold & Bitcoin benefiting from global uncertainty
Great chart by @WarrenPies that confirms what we wrote in "The New Gold Playbook" last year:
Gld rising more than 25% while the USD Index (DXY) is up more than 5%—is historically unprecedented.
Typically, a stronger dollar exerts downward pressure on gold prices, as gold is priced in USD and becomes more expensive for non-USD investors.
However, 2024 defied this pattern. Here’s why:
1️⃣ De-Dollarization & Central Bank Demand
Despite a stronger dollar, central banks—especially in BRICS nations—continued aggressively buying gold, viewing it as a hedge against fiat instability and geopolitical risks. This structural shift in gold demand is weakening the traditional gold-dollar inverse relationship.
2️⃣ Financial Repression & Real Rates
Even with higher nominal rates, real interest rates remain uncertain due to persistent inflation risks and debt monetization. Gold thrives in environments where financial repression erodes real purchasing power, regardless of the USD’s performance.
The Optimal Gold Allocation: A Deep Dive into Recent Research
A big #Thread on #Gold: 🧵
1/ What's the ideal gold allocation?
A recent ARC survey () highlights that 75% of managers surveyed have minimal to no gold exposure, with none exceeding 10%.
These results echo a Bank of America study, showing that 71% of US advisors allocate less than 1% of their portfolios to gold. This lack of interest extends to gold mining stocks, which have lost favor with investors due to poor performance.ftadviser.com/asset-allocato…
2/ Why should you consider gold?
Research by Van Vliet and Lohre () shows that including gold in your portfolio can significantly reduce downside risk. For investors with a 10-year horizon, the optimal gold allocation is around 13%.papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cf…
Rethinking Traditional Portfolios
(in Today’s Macro Environment)
A little #Thread:
1/10 Traditional portfolios are still dominated by a 60/40 mix of equities and bonds. But is this strategy still viable in today's economic landscape? Let's dive in! 🔍
2/10 Recent market trends have shown the vulnerability of both equities and bonds in a high inflation and rising interest rate environment. Commodities, however, have proven to be a robust hedge. In 2022, they delivered a solid 16.1% annual return!
1/10 The fiscal situation in many countries is worsening due to persistently high budget deficits and rising refinancing costs.
Here is a quick #Thread on how the investment landscape has structurally changed! 💡
2/10 The US government finances have moved far beyond historical norms in recent years, especially post-Lehman. A clear illustration of fiscal dominance!
3/10 US consumers, especially lower-income segments, are increasingly living paycheck to paycheck. The savings rate is now at a low 3.2%, a level not seen since September 2008 pre-Covid!