Yield Curve Steepening Could Ignite New Gold Rush

 | Jun 23, 2023 03:04AM ET

I have written about the importance of a bear market, recession, and Fed shift for a gold bull market. But today, I want to be more precise.

There has to be a potential tipping point that precedes these catalysts. 

Markets anticipate the near future and slowly discount it as it becomes a probability and later a certainty.

In the chart below, we plot gold, gold against the stock market, the stock market, the United States 2-Year yield, and the yield curve (10-Year yield less the 2-year yield).

The red line marks the final rate hike, while the blue line marks the first rate cut (in that cycle). Focus on the gold to S&P 500 ratio, stock market peaks (black arrows), and the yield curve.

The gold to S&P 500 ratio did not gain traction to the upside until the first rate cut. The circles coincide with the rate cuts. Note the yield curve begins to steepen (turn higher) before the rate cut.

Concerning the stock market, every cycle is different, but the move from hikes to cuts because of a recession is very bearish, which is super bullish for precious metals.