Main financial assets discussed: SPDR Gold Shares ETF (GLD)
Top 3 key points:
1. Russia's announcement that the BRICS currency will be backed by gold suggests a potential opportunity for gold. Speculation around a BRICS gold standard could strengthen a bullish trend in the market.
2. Multiple factors are fueling the bullish sentiment towards gold, including global central banks diversifying away from U.S. assets, concerns about inflation and US fiscal deficits, and the potential economic downturn indicated by the persistent yield curve inversion.
3. The threat of a functioning BRICS gold standard dethroning the USD is unlikely due to the challenges of building the necessary financial system infrastructure and the lack of trust in the BRICS countries to redeem the currency for actual gold.
Recommended actions: **Buy** gold or GLD now while the rumors of a BRICS gold standard are still circulating, and then **sell** when the news about the gold standard is officially released at the BRICS summit in August. Consider using GLD options to hedge against potential downside risk.
### Summary
Many developing countries are frustrated with the dominance of the US dollar in the global financial system and are seeking alternatives, but no concrete proposals have emerged. The dollar's influence can destabilize economies and impose financial sanctions on adversaries. However, the alternatives to the dollar have not gained enough traction, and the dollar remains the most-used currency in global business.
### Facts
- The strength of the US dollar against the Nigerian currency has made imported goods, like garments, unaffordable for local consumers.
- The BRICS bloc, consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, along with other emerging market countries, are meeting to express their grievances about the dominance of the dollar in the global financial system.
- The BRICS countries have discussed expanding trade in their own currencies to reduce reliance on the dollar.
- The US dollar is the most-used currency in global business and has shrugged off past challenges to its preeminence.
- The alternatives to the dollar, such as the euro and China's yuan, have not gained enough international gravitas.
- The dollar's influence can impose financial sanctions and destabilize economies.
- Many developing countries, like Kenya and Zimbabwe, have expressed their frustrations with the dollar and are seeking alternatives.
- Despite the frustrations, the dollar still has its supporters and is seen as a stabilizing force in some economies.
### Summary
Many developing countries, including BRICS nations, are frustrated with the dominance of the U.S. dollar and will discuss alternatives at a summit in Johannesburg. However, the dollar's position as the dominant global currency remains unchallenged.
### Facts
- The strength of the U.S. dollar against local currencies in developing countries has caused prices of foreign goods to soar, leading to reduced sales and job layoffs.
- The BRICS bloc, consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, along with other emerging market countries, will discuss their grievances against the U.S. dollar's dominance at a summit in Johannesburg.
- The BRICS countries have previously talked about introducing their own currency, but no concrete proposals have emerged. However, they have discussed expanding trade in their own currencies to reduce reliance on the U.S. dollar.
- The U.S. dollar is the most widely used currency in global business and previous challenges to its dominance have failed.
- The BRICS countries launched the New Development Bank in 2015 as an alternative to the U.S. and European-dominated International Monetary Fund and World Bank.
- Developing countries are concerned about the U.S.'s use of the dollar's global influence to impose financial sanctions and the destabilizing effects of fluctuations in the dollar on their economies.
- While the euro and China's yuan have gained some traction in recent years, they still do not rival the dollar in terms of international gravitas.
- The alternatives to the dollar have not been able to gain dominance, and any shift away from the dollar will take time and trust.
- Some countries, such as Argentina and Zimbabwe, have experienced economic turmoil and have turned to the U.S. dollar for stability.
### Summary
The strength of the U.S. dollar against other currencies, such as the Nigerian naira and Zimbabwean dollar, has made it difficult for local consumers to buy foreign goods, leading to economic troubles in these countries.
### Facts
- 💰 The strength of the U.S. dollar has pushed the price of foreign goods beyond the reach of local consumers in Nigeria.
- 💸 Many developing countries are unhappy with the dominance of the U.S. dollar in the global financial system.
- 🌍 The BRICS bloc, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, will discuss their grievances against the dollar at a meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa.
- 💵 The alternatives to the U.S. dollar, such as the euro and China's yuan, have not been able to rival its dominance.
- 🇦🇷 In Argentina, a presidential candidate is calling for the U.S. dollar to replace the country's troubled peso.
- 💼 In Zimbabwe, the U.S. dollar is widely used in transactions due to the instability of the Zimbabwean dollar.
- 💸 Vendors in Zimbabwe are even mending damaged U.S. dollar bills for a small fee due to a shortage.
### Credit
By: Dionne Searcey and Constant Méheut
Source: The Washington Post
While strategic competitors in emerging markets are calling for change and the share of the US dollar held as official foreign exchange reserves has declined, it is unlikely that there will be a major shift in the US dollar's role as the central global currency due to the stability and reputation of the US government, as well as the challenges and limitations of other options like the renminbi.
The US Dollar strengthens as several BRIC countries express support for the currency, while Fed officials remain quiet on rate cuts, and geopolitical tensions boost the Greenback during US trading hours.
A group of developing countries known as BRICS, including Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, is determined to challenge the dominance of the US dollar in global finance and trade through the process of de-dollarization, which they believe is irreversible and gaining pace. The shift away from dollar dominance is driven by recent geopolitical tensions and the desire to have more choices in global financial interactions, rather than being anti-West or anti-dollar. However, experts believe that the dollar will remain the dominant global currency for the foreseeable future.
The BRICS summit is aiming to reduce reliance on the U.S. Dollar, as the coalition confirms new members including UAE, Egypt, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia, and Argentina, and discusses the possibility of a new payment system and currency backed by gold.
The improving economic outlook for the US has made gold less appealing to investors, but weakness in US consumers could still lead to a recession and boost the precious metal, while Chinese stimulus may support silver demand, according to Heraeus' precious metals report.
The US Dollar experienced a significant decline due to weak economic data and increased risk appetite, while the Euro and British Pound strengthened. The Australian Dollar and New Zealand Dollar also performed well, and gold and cryptocurrencies rallied.
The dollar is not likely to lose its status as the global reserve currency despite the expansion of the BRICS group of nations and their aim to find an alternative, as technology and not commodity-based currencies are expected to be the driving force in the future.
The dollar's status as a global reserve currency is facing challenges as countries like China and India promote trade in their own currencies, digital currencies gain popularity, and geopolitical conflicts threaten the international monetary system dominated by the dollar.
The U.S. dollar declined due to weaknesses in economic growth, leading to a boost in the performance of gold and U.S. equities, while other global assets experienced mixed price movements throughout the week.
Gold prices decline slightly as the dollar remains strong, with investors awaiting further signals on the U.S. Federal Reserve's monetary policy after an expected interest rate pause this month.
JP Morgan predicts that the U.S. dollar is at risk of losing its global reserve status as BRICS countries increase their use of local currencies for trade settlement, although the chances of this happening in the near future are slim.
The U.S. dollar's dominance in the gold market may be losing momentum, potentially leading to new all-time highs for gold as the dollar weakens, according to market strategist Carley Garner. She expects the U.S. dollar index to hold resistance below 105 points and eventually retest support at 99 points, which could be a game changer for gold, potentially pushing prices to $2,600 an ounce. Garner also highlights the resilience of gold and the potential for a selloff if the Federal Reserve shifts to a more neutral monetary policy stance. However, she is not as optimistic about silver, preferring to focus on gold.
The U.S. dollar's share in global reserves has fallen below 60% for the first time in decades, as other currencies like the Euro, Pound, and Yen are on the rise due to a growing number of countries settling trade in their national currencies, driven by the de-dollarization process initiated by BRICS to end reliance on the U.S. dollar.
The BRICS alliance aims to challenge the dominance of the U.S. dollar in the oil and gas sector by inducting new members and potentially accepting local currencies for oil trade; however, this move could negatively impact the economies of these nations.
The US dollar's dominance as the world's reserve currency is at risk due to growing debt in the US, according to economist Barry Eichengreen, highlighting the importance of controlling debt to maintain the dollar's global role.
Popular analyst Arthur Hayes argues that traditional economic theories about Bitcoin's relationship with interest rates will fail due to the US government's substantial debt, as inflation may become "sticky" and bond yields may not keep up with GDP growth, leading bondholders to seek higher yielding "risk assets" like Bitcoin.
Creating a BRICS currency backed by gold is considered nonsensical by a former Bank of America strategist, as it would essentially be another gold derivative and would weaken individual currencies within the group.
Gold gained as the dollar weakened against the yuan due to positive China economic data, although the possibility of further U.S. interest rate hikes kept investors cautious.
The US Dollar underperformed against major currencies last week, crude oil continued to rally, and gold prices were cautiously higher, while upcoming events like central bank rate decisions and the Bank of England rate hike are expected to impact the market.
Developing countries, including the BRICS alliance, are looking to end reliance on the US dollar due to increasing debt and the threat of inflation, which could lead to a decline in the dollar's value and a rise in prices. Economist Peter Schiff warns of a tragic ending for the US dollar if other countries continue to move away from it.
Crypto analyst Will Clemente suggests that the US economy's need to issue more dollars to service its debt will inevitably lead to significant currency debasement, making Bitcoin the most promising asset for investors looking to protect their wealth. With the growing digital trend and a wave of Bitcoin adoption, Clemente believes that alternative monetary systems will become increasingly favorable.
The BRICS bloc, including countries like India, China, and Russia, is slowly reducing its dependency on the US dollar and using their local currencies for trade, which could potentially weaken the US dollar's position as the dominant global currency.
The U.S. dollar remains strong above the $105 mark, supported by the hawkish stance of the Federal Reserve and increased Treasury yields, while gold prices consolidate and oil prices rebound due to supply cuts and positive outlooks for the U.S. and China.
Gold and silver prices are weaker due to chart-based selling and bearish outside market elements, including a strong U.S. dollar index and high U.S. Treasury yields, while risk appetite is low due to concerns about a possible U.S. government shutdown; however, China's upbeat economic news suggests potential stabilization, and Australia's consumer price inflation has increased.
The strength of the US dollar and rising bond yields are causing gold prices to fall to their lowest level since March, with some analysts predicting that the bearish momentum could push prices down further to their 2023 lows at $1,810 in the spot market.
The U.S. economy is experiencing turbulence, as inflation rates rise and U.S. Treasuries lose value, leading to concerns about whether Bitcoin and risk-on assets will be negatively impacted by higher interest rates and a cooling monetary policy.
Gold and silver prices are falling due to a strong U.S. dollar, rising U.S. Treasury yields, and upbeat risk attitudes, while Asian and European stocks are mixed, and the Bank of Japan is monitoring the depreciation of the yen against the U.S. dollar.
The US economy could be reaching a tipping point as bond yields rise, while gold remains relatively resilient but faces pressure from the bond market.
Precious metals prices have been declining recently due to the higher interest rate projections by the Federal Reserve, but the weakness in gold prices may also be influenced by China's internal market dynamics and its impact on global gold prices.
Although long-term bond yields are surging and putting pressure on the gold market, gold remains an important insurance asset due to growing risks to the U.S. economy and the weakening correlation between gold and bond yields, according to analyst James Robertson. Central bank gold demand continues to have a significant impact on the market, and gold remains an attractive global monetary asset for diversifying away from the U.S. dollar. There is also substantial value and opportunities for investors in the mining sector.
Bitcoin is outperforming the US dollar in terms of beating inflation, as shown by the St. Louis Federal Reserve's comparison of the prices of a dozen eggs in both currencies since January 2021.
The American banking, trade, forex, tourism, and other sectors could be severely impacted if BRICS countries stop using the U.S. dollar for trade, leading to potential financial catastrophe and hyperinflation.
Janet Yellen, the Treasury Secretary, believes that no existing currency can replace the US dollar as the global reserve currency, despite its recent decline, but warns that its share may continue to decrease as countries diversify; however, there are alternative investments like gold, fine art, and real estate that can help mitigate risks associated with the dollar's decline.
Bitcoin is predicted to benefit from a return to currency debasement by the US government, making it a potentially valuable asset for investors.
Bitcoin, along with other major cryptocurrencies, has been impacted by the unstable U.S. fiscal situation and the potential collapse of the U.S. dollar, while Wall Street giants like BlackRock are poised to embrace bitcoin and revolutionize finance.
Bitcoin is experiencing a significant increase in the number of large wallets, indicating a rise in investor interest, despite concerns about inflation and the bear market. Gold and silver, on the other hand, are outperforming crypto amid global geopolitical tensions.
The dollar’s status as the world's reserve currency is at risk unless the US controls its spending, warns bond market expert Jeffrey Gundlach. High interest rates and the growing US debt could lead to out-of-control inflation and jeopardize the future of the US dollar.
The induction of new countries, particularly oil-exporting nations, into the BRICS alliance and their potential demand for the US and Europe to pay for oil in local currencies could decrease the demand for the US dollar and lead to its depreciation, impacting the purchasing power of the dollar and rewriting trade policies. However, it is unlikely that BRICS would be able to successfully demand this, as it could result in the loss of bilateral trade deals with the West and negatively impact their GDP and economy.
The price of gold has been rising due to several economic and geopolitical crises, but factors such as a strong US dollar and rising interest rates may limit its future growth.
Gold and silver prices are weaker after a slightly stronger-than-expected U.S. economic report, which adds to the case for the Federal Reserve to keep raising interest rates.
