Market Dynamics
Gold prices rebounded this week following successive downturns, leveraging a weakened dollar and heightened safe-haven appeal triggered by unrest in the Middle East. Simultaneously, the U.S. Federal Reserve’s reticence towards immediate rate cuts tempered bullish expectations.
Yellow Metal’s Rally
The dollar index saw its inaugural weekly slip in nearly two months, breaking the ascent influenced by projections of a deferred Fed rate adjustment.
Interest Rate Influence
The reputable 10-year U.S. Treasury yield also descended for the week, shedding 4 basis points to 4.26%; the allure of non-yielding bullion is amplified in the wake of lower interest rates.
Fed Mentality
Fed Governor Christopher Waller’s declaration of a deliberate stance on interest rates on Thursday reinforced the prevailing sentiment against pre-June rate revisions.
Analyst Insights
Gauging the potential effects of Fed rate cuts on the market, Goldman Sachs analysts asserted that commodities like copper and gold are poised to witness notable price surges in response.
Market Performance
Noteworthy, front-month Comex gold for February delivery concluded Friday with a 0.9% uptick to $2,038.60/oz, registering a weekly 1.3% rise.
Similarly, front-month February silver saw a 0.9% upturn on Friday, reaching $22.969/oz, reflecting a 2% upswing over the week.
Bitcoin ETFs’ Impact
Amid burgeoning interest in bitcoin ETFs, investors are potentially reallocating assets from gold-backed ETFs to spot bitcoin ETFs. These new-age ETFs propose an alternative avenue to hedge against inflation, raising challenges for traditional gold investments.
ETF Reshuffling
Since the regulatory green-light for ETFs tracking bitcoin prices, notable spot bitcoin ETFs like iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) and Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC) have collectively amassed $5.45 billion and $4.13 billion in assets, respectively, by February 14, as per LSEG Lipper data.
Concurrently, gold-backed ETFs observed contrasting trends, with New York’s SPDR Gold Trust (GLD) witnessing outflows of almost $769 million during the same period. Similarly, the iShares Gold Trust (IAU) saw outflows totaling $284.6 million.