Precious Metals

Markets will remain stuck in a trading range, driven by two policy feedback loops: the Fed's and China's.

Investors have embraced renewed Fed hawkishness as a vote of economic confidence and confirmation of analysts' rosy earnings forecasts, but the bounce in financials looks unsustainable, outside of REITs. Hang on to gold shares.

Against a backdrop of continuing supply destruction, particularly in the U.S., and a pick-up in crude demand, markets will remain in balance this quarter and go into a deficit in 2016H2.

Gold will remain well bid over the short term. The surge in demand that pushed prices up by 20% ytd (Chart of the Week) will continue to dominate supply growth.

The next rate hike is unlikely before September, despite the rebound in April retail sales. The dollar could suffer for a time, but the long-term bull market is intact.

Helicopter money is coming, and once deployed, will prove to be much more successful than most people imagine. Stay long Japanese and German inflation swaps. USD/JPY and EUR/USD are ultimately likely to reach 140 and 0.9, respectively, over the next two years. The U.S. economy will remain resilient enough to make helicopter money unnecessary but a strengthening dollar will greatly curtail the ability of the Fed to raise rates. Investors should overweight Treasurys relative to bunds and JGBs. Helicopter money will benefit gold as well as the beleaguered European and Japanese stock markets.

The pace of U.S. oil supply destruction accelerated at the end of April, as yoy losses increased to 470 thousand barrels per day (Mb/d) for the week ended April 29.

China's reflation policies have succeeded in reviving iron ore and steel prices, which are up 45.6% and 52.6% from their January lows, along with the profitability of domestic steelmakers.

Saudi oil policy, like its defense policy, will be more aggressive and less predictable, following Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's apparent nullification of a production "freeze" deal at Doha.

A weaker USD resulting from more dovish forward guidance from the Fed, and evidence of continued production declines in non-OPEC and OPEC countries will continue to buoy oil prices.