Capital Misallocation
Founder of Deductive Capital, Co-Host of Benny & The Squirrel
Gold, along with long rates, is a premier trade because this moment closely rhymes with 2008. Then, after an ugly January, a 75bp Fed cut and Bear Stearns' collapse in March, stocks got within 10% of their high, oil hit a record, rate expectations rose, and the Fed weighed hiking in August while the ECB under Trichet actually raised rates. The Fed is again contemplating a hike, and that analog points to bonds and gold. x.comÂ
Gold is falling because the dollar debasement trade is wrong on every axis at once: the dollar is ripping while gold, commodities and inflation expectations drop, the curve flattens and bitcoin breaks below $60K. Real rates have risen about 95bps since February as the curve flattened 45bps, and gold fell 25%; commodities and inflation expectations held up on oil until mid-May but are now rejoining the trend. Contrary to @John89825356, this is not one real-rate move counted six times. x.com x.comÂ
Gold is extremely attractive now because rising market fear could make it a great hedge. It has fallen nearly 30% from its January all-time high and returned to the accumulation zone. If this level holds, expect a bounce soon. x.comÂ
Gold is set to take off as energy-driven stagflation traps the Fed and negative real rates favor it. Today's dovish hold was likely its last chance to hike: once the AI bubble bursts, the Fed loses that option, while current debt-to-GDP rules out Volcker-style hikes without fiscal insolvency. Per Macrotrends' chart, gold rose eightfold from its 1976 low to its 1980 high, equivalent to $32,000 gold over five years in today's terms. x.com x.com x.comÂ
Rising Treasury yields make non-yielding gold less attractive, setting up one major selloff before the next big rally. Oil above $100 adds inflation and rate pressure; higher yields could lift the dollar, while gold ETF outflows and forced selling in a liquidity crisis add risk. The Benner Cycle flags 2026 as a potential selling period. The long-term bull market is not necessarily over: central banks are still buying and long-term demand remains strong. Gold is not worth chasing at these levels. … Show more
Gold is worth owning because of unstable, inconsistent central bank policy, currency depreciation and a lack of fiscal discipline from both parties in Washington. The predictable pressure on precious metals from higher rates and fears of a Fed hike tomorrow is likely discounted or close to it, so the risk/reward is attractive despite a technical breakdown evident for weeks. Like any commodity whose intrinsic value is hard to calculate, gold will stay volatile on both the downside and upside. … Show more
Gold bottoms before other assets because gold investors anticipate another bailout and inevitable money printing, as in 2008. x.comÂ
Gold is falling because a resilient, accelerating economy pushes yields and the dollar higher, and no one wants safe havens in a risk-on market. The Citigroup Economic Surprise Index is accelerating, and yields are rising even as crude falls, so the move reflects growth rather than inflation fears; the bond market is giving the Fed permission to hike. Gold, precious metals, Treasuries and defensive stocks have slumped, with staples and utilities at all-time lows relative to the S&P 500. x.comÂ
China's physical buying near $4,000 and a Fed lagging inflation support gold despite rising rates. Per Bloomberg, the Shanghai Gold Exchange's Au99.99 contract traded roughly 430 tons last week, its busiest week since April; buyers pay in full and take delivery. Gold historically does very well when rates rise while the Fed is behind the curve, as it is now. Warsh is no Volcker, and heavy US debt would constrain him even if he were. x.com x.com x.comÂ
Gold remains bullish because its correction and investor washout fit the expected cycle reset before the next major move. After two strong years, the projected cycle low is approaching, making the shakeout a setup within gold's multi-year cycle rather than a break in the long-term trend. x.com x.comÂ
Gold's failure to rise even after rates pulled back decently challenges the earlier high-rate explanation for its weakness. GLD is close to fresh 11-month lows and just closed at a new 14-month low relative to the S&P 500. Gold has trended down since its parabolic January peak. x.com x.comÂ
Gold and silver may benefit if yields ease a little further from their local high for a while longer. The FOMC meeting and minutes could be good for both. x.comÂ
