Ballast for the common stock portfolio - Bonds, Gold, or the USD?

A common portfolio weighting known amongst many investors is the 60% stocks, 40% bonds portfolio. The general idea being that stocks appreciate in a bull market, while bonds keep their value in a bull market. Therefore, if you were long 40% bonds, you would have somewhat had a ballast for the drop in stock price. As of late, however, we have been associating the words “safe haven” and phrases such as “investors flee to safety” with assets such as Gold and the US Dollar. Have bonds lost its relevance as ballast in a modern investor portfolio?

Does a low-interest-rate environment diminish the ballast effect of bonds?

The current fed funds rate is 0.25% - currently matching the lowest, it has ever been a post-global financial crisis in 2008. Recessions before that, however, had the Federal Reserve cutting rates to nothing as low as it is now or during the Global Financial Crisis. 

In short, pre mid-1990’s was where the strong negative correlation between stock and bond returns became evident. This was on the basis that accommodative monetary policy would bring interest rates lower, increasing the opportunity cost in owning bonds as opposed to leaving cash in a savings account. However, if you look at the table above, both in 1991 and 2001, interest rates were high enough for a real yield if you held government treasuries. But in our current environment and 2008? Real yielding safe government treasuries could not be achieved. Therefore, the opportunity cost does not spark as much interest in investors as they did back pre 2000’s, where high single-digit and even double-digit interest rates were present. 

Is having Gold as a Ballast currently paying off?

As shown by the chart, Gold has returned around 12% year to date, while treasuries have only returned 8%. You can see the markets working in reaction to economic events such as treasuries rising in March as the FED cuts rates and the real damage of the coronavirus pandemic becomes clearer. Furthermore, the inverse correlation between the USD and the price of Gold is present in the chart, with the exception being around mid to late March – where quantitative easing and fiscal spending give rise to concerns to the devaluation of the dollar. As we look into April and May, it is clear that Gold is currently outperforming treasuries, which would be more beneficial as ballast in comparison to Bonds in these circumstances. However, both are outperforming the US Dollar.

Is Gold a better ballast than Bonds in these low-interest-rate environments?

There is a likelihood that Gold will outperform Treasuries in this low-interest-rate environment. Given fiscal and quantitative easing alongside the demand for other currencies slowly increasing, it is likely we see the USD lower at the end of the year than at the start of the year. If the historical negative correlation between Gold and the USD rings true, there is also a high chance that Gold will end up higher at the end of the year.

Interest rates can only go so low. If the Federal Reserve lowers rates into negative territory, New debt issuance by the US Government will be hovering at nominal yields near 0% - with real yields most definitely being in the negative territory. This gives an implicit ceiling as to how high bond appreciation can go. Given a possibility for a second wave, risky assets may still be off the table for many investors. With Bonds providing next to 0% yields, investors may seek to look towards Gold as a source of capital growth instead of yield.

Our analysts here at BlackBull Markets, Philip and Anish,  have some excellent technical analysis on the future of Gold and the USD as the safe havens of the world. You can watch the Philips' Gold analysis here, and Anish's analysis here.