Gold and the US Dollar back in favour

ETF Securities Weekly Flows Analysis - Gold and the US Dollar back in favourGold and the US Dollar back in favour

ETF Securities Weekly Flows Analysis – Gold and the US Dollar back in favour

  • Gold and the US Dollar back in favour.
  • Gold inflows rebound to the highest levels in 16 weeks, and the fourth consecutive week of inflows.
  • Emerging market bonds see largest inflows in eight weeks.

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Gold inflows rebound to the highest levels in 16 weeks, and the fourth consecutive week of inflows. Long Gold ETPs received US$65.4mn – the largest inflows across the commodity complex as the US Dollar rally has stalled somewhat and US inflation breached the 2% level for the first time since 2014. Inflation, and the US Federal Reserve’s ability to deal with it, is critical for the trajectory of gold in coming months, especially with the onset of the Trump-era fiscal spending policies. Prices could threaten the 3% level in coming months and if the Fed doesn’t raise rates to counter, falling real interest rates will lift gold. Nonetheless, the ‘devil is in the detail’ for President Trump’s pro-growth policy framework, and whether the impact is felt in 2017, or as we expect, more likely in 2018 could limit gold’s gains.

Emerging market bonds received largest inflows in eight weeks. Emerging government bond ETPs recorded inflows of US$22mn last week, as investors continued to look to EM space for better returns. Higher yielding EM bond ETPs have now posted the third consecutive week of inflows.

Profit taking in short JPY ETPs reaches the highest level since April 2016. Investors have reduced positions to the US Dollar against the Yen for the twelfth consecutive week, as the steep decline in the Yen appears to have lost momentum. Conflicting statements from incoming US Government policymakers have forced the dollar to trade a volatile range against the Yen over the past few weeks, with outflows from ETPs giving short exposure to the Yen against the Dollar totalling US$13.8mn last week.

Record inflows betting against commodity currencies, totalling US$7.4mn. Amid hawkish comments from Fed Chair Yellen and concern that President Trump’s policies could exacerbate a Chinese growth slowdown, investors have funded record positions in favour of the US Dollar and against a basket of commodity currencies (Australian Dollar, Norwegian Krone, Canadian Dollar and New Zealand Dollar.) Bolstering such a trade is that oil prices remain near the top of recent ranges and with increasing production in the US, downside risk remains elevated.

Agricultural commodities received the largest inflows in six weeks, totalling US$18.3mn. Of the inflows, diversified basket exposures accounted for 21%, wheat 22% and cocoa 49%. The trend toward diversified investing hasn’t been confined to agriculture alone: over the past month, the most significant inflows into the energy, industrial metal and livestock sectors have been via diversified basket ETPs. Bargain hunting appears to be the driver for cocoa, as it has been the worst performing agricultural commodity over the past year, and the only one to post a negative return over the past month.

For more information contact

ETF Securities Research team
ETF Securities (UK) Limited
T +44 (0) 207 448 4336
E info@etfsecurities.com

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Market Madness Abates

Market Madness Abates

ETFS Multi-Asset Weekly – Market Madness Abates

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Highlights

Commodities: China concerns overdone. The market clearly over-extrapolated the consequences of the Chinese equity market rout.

When China catches a cold…. Global markets initially reeled as Chinese equities plunged again.

Currencies: Volatile asset performance pushes rate expectations out further.

A volatile week saw the VIX rise over 40, an occasion last seen during the US federal debt ceiling impasse and European financial woes of 2011. The price of many cyclical assets fell sharply before rising once again. Unusual for the summer, the sharp declines in price were accompanied by high trading volumes, indicating that algorithmic trades were driving much of the action. Void of any fundamentals driving the decline, most assets recovered a significant portion of their losses, with some cyclical assets like oil, copper and US equities (S&P 500) ending the week higher.

Commodities

China concerns overdone. The market clearly over-extrapolated the consequences of the Chinese equity market rout. Falling Chinese equity prices themselves are unlikely to impact the real economy in any significant way and therefore will have minimal impact on the country’s demand for raw materials. However, the spill-over effects of lower interest rates and liquidity injections could help commodity demand. After sharp declines in the first half of the week, industrial metal prices started to recover. Copper ended the week higher. Over the past three sessions, oil has rebounded 27%, driven by indications that OPEC may cut production, below-expectations US oil inventories and a downward revision in US oil production. Sugar gained 4.1% last week with a strengthening El Niño driving a poor monsoon in India. In the week to 26th August rainfall was 37% below normal, 12% below normal for the season as a whole.

Equities

When China catches a cold…. Global markets initially reeled as Chinese equities plunged again. Historically, Chinese and developed market equities have had a very low correlation and so last week’s moves were curious. By the end of the week, most developed markets recovered their losses. Last week’s rise in US equity market volatility was unmatched since 2011 when talk of a sovereign default was the only motivator to get the country’s debt ceiling extended. Chinese equities, the epicentre of last week’s saga, failed to recover. The MSCI China A-Share index fell 8.5% despite a cut in interest rates, a reduction in the reserve requirement ratio and further liquidity injections by the authorities. Excessive support for the equity market is distortionary and could hurt long-term performance. It would be better for the authorities to endure short-term volatility to pave the way for a more robust growth path.

Currencies

Volatile asset performance pushes rate expectations out further. The probability of a rate hike in September fell further according to Fed Fund futures rates. While St. Louis Fed President James Bullard tried to distance the volatile asset markets from strong US fundamentals, William Dudley, New York Fed President conceded that the case to raise rates in September was less compelling. The US dollar has depreciated as the rate differentials narrowed. The Australian dollar and New Zealand dollar took the brunt of the pain from volatile commodity markets. Barring a rate cut by the Reserve Bank of Australia this week, the AUD should recover alongside underlying commodities. Haven currencies such as the Japanese Yen and Swiss Franc appreciated amidst the market chaos, although gold failed to hold up gains seen in previous weeks. The ECB policy meeting and US payrolls data will remain the focus of the FX markets this week.

For more information contact:

ETF Securities Research team
ETF Securities (UK) Limited
T +44 (0) 207 448 4336
E  info@etfsecurities.com

Important Information

General

This communication has been issued and approved for the purpose of section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 by ETF Securities (UK) Limited (”ETFS UK”) which is authorised and regulated by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority (”FCA”).

Investments may go up or down in value and you may lose some or all of the amount invested.  Past performance is not necessarily a guide to future performance. You should consult an independent investment adviser prior to making any investment in order to determine its suitability to your circumstances.

The information contained in this communication is for your general information only and is neither an offer for sale nor a solicitation of an offer to buy securities. This communication should not be used as the basis for any investment decision. Historical performance is not an indication of future performance and any investments may go down in value.

This communication may contain independent market commentary prepared by ETFS UK based on publicly available information. Although ETFS UK endeavours to ensure the accuracy of the content in this communication, ETFS UK does not warrant or guarantee its accuracy or correctness. Any third party data providers used to source the information in this communication make no warranties or representation of any kind relating to such data. Where ETFS UK has expressed its own opinions related to product or market activity, these views may change. Neither ETFS UK, nor any affiliate, nor any of their respective, officers, directors, partners, or employees accepts any liability whatsoever for any direct or consequential loss arising from any use of this publication or its contents.

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This document is not, and under no circumstances is to be construed as, an advertisement or any other step in furtherance of a public offering of shares or securities in the United States or any province or territory thereof. Neither this document nor any copy hereof should be taken, transmitted or distributed (directly or indirectly) into the United States.

Other than as set out above, investors may contact ETFS UK at +44 (0)20 7448 4330 or at retail@etfsecurities.com to obtain copies of prospectuses and related regulatory documentation, including annual reports. Other than as separately indicated, this communication is being made on a ”private placement” basis and is intended solely for the professional / institutional recipient to which it is delivered.

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