Brexit Gold Buying – UK Demand For Gold Bars Surges 39%

UK investors buy gold bars as demand surges 39% in 2016
– Brexit Day sees Article 50 triggered and pound weakens
– “Brexit nerves” see “Brits hoard gold” reports WSJ
– End of 44 year relationship with closest economic partner
– May sets Brexit clock ticking in letter to Tusk
– UK PM says “A great turning point in our story”
– Threat as security raised as negotiating tool
– Brexit uncertainty to impact business and economy
– Robust demand for gold coins, bars due to political and economic uncertainty
– French elections in 3 weeks & U.S. ‘Civil War’ politics
– UK National Debt now £1.84 trillion 

Gold in GBP – 10 Years

The U.K. government yesterday triggered Article 50–the legal mechanism which will start negotiations on how the UK will exit the EU – after the British voted to leave the EU last June.

This is creating considerable uncertainty and concerns about the political and economic outlook – both for the UK and for the EU itself.

Demand for gold bars by UK investors has surged 39% in 2016 according to GFMS as reported by the WSJ:

The resulting political and economic uncertainty helped drive a 39% rise in U.K. gold bar hoarding in 2016, according to Ross Strachan from GFMS, part of media group Thomson Reuters.

“Macroeconomic fears are conducive to increased investment demand in gold,” Mr. Strachan said. During and after the global financial crisis, he pointed out, global gold bar investment increased from 237.7 metric tons in 2007 to 1246.9 metric tons in 2011.

Given the scale of the uncertainty created by the UK decision to leave the EU, robust gold demand in the UK should continue.

Indeed, given the fact that cohesion of the European Union itself will be tested and there is the risk of contagion, gold demand in the EU should also remain robust. Ireland and the Irish economy is particularly vulnerable.

Gold has edged up in recent days and appears to be consolidating at the $1,250 level. In sterling terms, the pound has fallen against gold and gold in sterling terms is back above the important psychological level of £1,000 per ounce.

The pound fluctuated wildly yesterday against other currencies after the Prime Minister triggered Article 50. A period of intense uncertainty for financial markets, both UK and EU markets and for sterling and indeed the euro awaits.

The negotiations are likely to be fractious and divisive and this uncertainty for UK companies, business in general and for the already indebted UK economy does not bode well for sterling.

It is not not just uncertainty about Brexit talks that will likely support gold. The French elections are now just three weeks away (April 23 and May 7) and the mess that is politics in the U.S. should lead to further safe-haven diversification in the coming weeks.

The ‘Trumpflation’ meme has run its course in markets and stocks and the dollar looks vulnerable to weakness which should support gold.

The failure last week to overturn ‘Obamacare’ and the ‘Civil War’ style politics in the U.S. should also support and those seeking to allocate to gold should continue to do so on price weakness.

Gold And Silver Bullion – News And Commentary

Gold investment seen rising for 4th year in 2017 (Reuters)

Gold slips on firmer dollar; political uncertainty supports (Yahoo Finance)

Gold steady amid Brexit, doubts over Trump policy and French election (Nasdaq)

May’s Opening Brexit Bid to Tie Security to Trade Hits Wall (Bloomberg)

Gold Set to Soar to $1,500 as Inflation Makes a Comeback (Bloomberg)

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