Gold Hedges Stock Market Falls In 2018 - Gains 2.7% In Euros and 3.8% In Pounds

- Gold acts as hedge in 2018 - up 2.7% and 3.8% in euros and pounds (see tables & charts)- Stocks fall sharply - S&P500, FTSE & Euro Stoxx 5o fall 6.25%, 12.5% & 15% respectively- Worst year for most international equity indices since 2008- Sharp falls in economically sensitive commodities: oil (WTI), gasoline and lumber down 24.2%, 27% & 23.8% respectively- Volatility surges as seen in VIX rising over 110%- Volatility continues in 2019 as stocks globally fall with Apple falling 8% overnight- Gold and silver likely to outperform risk assets again in 2019 (see Outlook 2019 Podcast)

Asset performance in 2018 (Finviz.com)

Gold performance in major currencies 2003 to 2018 (Goldprice.org)

Gold in USD In 2018 (GoldCore)

Gold in EUR In 2018 (GoldCore)

Gold in GBP In 2018 (GoldCore)

Silver performance in major currencies 2003 to 2018 (Goldprice.org)

News and Commentary

Gold futures settle at highest since June (MarketWatch.com)

Gold Opens 2019 With Fanfare as Warning Signs Flash on Growth (Bloomberg.com)

Gold gains on global growth fears, falling Asian stocks (Reuters.com)

Dow futures drop more than 300 points as tech shares get hit after hours on a warning from Apple (CNBC.com)

Brexit 'bad or awful' for prospects in 2019, say economists (FT.com)

Source: Bloomberg

2019 is already getting off to a volatile start and we expect to see the political and economic uncertainty of 2018 continue and deepen said GoldCore (MarketWatch.com)

Systematic investment in gold a good option for a likely volatile 2019 (Business-Standard.com)

The euro has failed, threatens democracy, and should be abolished (Telegraph.co.uk)

ECB Takes "Unprecedented" Step Of Putting Italy's Banca Carige In Administration (ZeroHedge.com)

2019: It Is Going To Be Much Worse Than You Think... (ZeroHedge.com)

2018 was a bad year for investors, for pretty obvious reasons (MoneyWeek.com)

Gold Prices (LBMA PM)

02 Jan: USD 1,287.20, GBP 1,014.44 & EUR 1,125.27 per ounce31 Dec: USD 1,281.65, GBP 1,005.45 & EUR 1,120.03 per ounce28 Dec: USD 1,277.25, GBP 1,009.16 & EUR 1,114.91 per ounce27 Dec: USD 1,271.10, GBP 1,006.20 & EUR 1,115.26 per ounce24 Dec: USD 1,261.25, GBP 996.26 & EUR 1,105.23 per ounce21 Dec: USD 1,257.60, GBP 993.76 & EUR 1,101.53 per ounce

Silver Prices (LBMA)

02 Jan: USD 15.44, GBP 12.19 & EUR 13.51 per ounce31 Dec: USD 15.47, GBP 12.11 & EUR 13.51 per ounce28 Dec: USD 15.30, GBP 12.05 & EUR 13.34 per ounce27 Dec: USD 15.06, GBP 11.92 & EUR 13.22 per ounce24 Dec: USD 14.68, GBP 11.60 & EUR 12.88 per ounce21 Dec: USD 14.69, GBP 11.59 & EUR 12.86 per ounce