Why Gold Benefits From Rising Interest Rates
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MineLife
Most pundits are universal in viewing an interest rate increase as negative for gold. As gold is a non-yielding asset, this therefore is negative for gold - or so the narrative goes. The key however is not rising interest rates per se, but the 'real' interest rate - that is, the interest rate after taking into account the rate of inflation. Even with a series of rate rises in the USA, after taking into account inflation, 'real' rates would be negative. There are numerous recent examples of a rising rate/rising gold environment. In fact over the past five decades the rising rate/rising gold scenario is common, with the last four raising cycles accompanied by stronger gold. The most recent was when the Fed increased interest rates between 2003 and 2007 - with rates rising from 1% to over 5.5%, while gold rallied by 150% to $800/oz. Another significant period was from the 1970s, when the Federal Funds Rate rose from below 4% in 1971 to over 18% in 1980 - while gold rose by 2,400% from $35/oz to $850/oz.
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![Gavin Wendt](https://assets.livewiremarkets.com/rails/active_storage/representations/proxy/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBVZz09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--164b5589f632bf75e84060e9f39ace9be52c33a0/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCem9MWm05eWJXRjBTU0lJYW5CbkJqb0dSVlE2RTNKbGMybDZaVjkwYjE5bWFXeHNXd2RwQWNocEFjZz0iLCJleHAiOm51bGwsInB1ciI6InZhcmlhdGlvbiJ9fQ==--d4026b52d9aa7a676b3d70dbe31c85d930184392/08.jpg)
Gavin has been a senior resources analyst following the mining and energy sectors for the past 25 years, working with Intersuisse and Fat Prophets. He is also the Executive Director, Mining & Metals with Independent Investment Research (IIR).
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![Gavin Wendt](https://assets.livewiremarkets.com/rails/active_storage/representations/proxy/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBVZz09IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--164b5589f632bf75e84060e9f39ace9be52c33a0/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaDdCem9MWm05eWJXRjBTU0lJYW5CbkJqb0dSVlE2RTNKbGMybDZaVjkwYjE5bWFXeHNXd2RwQWNocEFjZz0iLCJleHAiOm51bGwsInB1ciI6InZhcmlhdGlvbiJ9fQ==--d4026b52d9aa7a676b3d70dbe31c85d930184392/08.jpg)
Gavin has been a senior resources analyst following the mining and energy sectors for the past 25 years, working with Intersuisse and Fat Prophets. He is also the Executive Director, Mining & Metals with Independent Investment Research (IIR).