SINGAPORE — Bullion gained more than 3% yesterday, roaring to all-time highs for a second consecutive session to stand above $1 770 as equity markets dived on growing fears of a global recession following last week’s US credit downgrade.
Speculators resisted the temptation to cash in on gold’s rise as the global economy edged closer to calamity after investors fled riskier assets on fears that political leaders are unable to tackle debt crises in Europe and the United States.
As investors departed stocks for bonds and bullion, holdings of the SPDR Gold Trust posted their biggest one-day gain in more than a year on Monday, sending the price of gold to a premium over traditionally more expensive platinum.
US gold futures for December struck a record around $1 774 an ounce before shedding some of the gains, while cash gold hit an all-time high about $1 771 an ounce, its 12th record in 20 sessions.
“Markets are now worried about another global recession. Out of Europe, French bond yields have widened on expectations of sovereign debt downgrade because of the country’s exposure to peripheral European debt,” said Natalie Robertson, a commodities strategist at ANZ.
“I think everyone was also looking at the 7% drop in the S&P 500. The market was very concerned over the global economy. Gold is now more expensive than platinum, and the last time this happened was back in December 2008. That’s an interesting dynamic.”
Premiums for gold bars were steady at between 50 cents and $1 an ounce to spot London prices in Hong Kong as investors held on to their bullion. It is a public holiday in Singapore, another gold trading centre in Asia, where premiums were at 60 cents.
“The physical side is very steady. I think jewelers already covered stocks yesterday, so I don’t expect much from them,” said a dealer in Hong Kong. “There’s small buying by investors on the physical side.”
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Vietnam’s central bank said on yesterday it would allow domestic companies to import another five tonnes of gold “in coming days” to boost supply for domestic markets. The import will follow five tonnes permitted for today’s purchases.
Gold rallied more than 3% on Monday, exceeding $1 700 an ounce for the first time after Standard & Poor’s cut the US credit rating to AA-plus, setting off an investor stampede for safety.
The cost of insuring French debt against default rose on Monday after the downgrade raised questions over how long other countries could hold onto their top-notch ratings.
Silver hardly moved below $40 an ounce after Monday’s gains. Platinum and sister metal palladium tracked equities lower on fears a global recession could slash demand for automobiles and auto catalysts.
Adjusted for inflation, gold is one of the few elements of the commodity complex trading below its all-time highs, estimated at $2 500 an ounce. — Reuters
