Insights
The move down in long-term interest rates in recent quarters has shed an ominous light. We’ve seen the yield curve invert in the United States, and there is evidence of softening in the underlying economy. The manufacturing sector has been weak globally, and momentum in the service sector has started to fade.
As has been the case through much of the post-crisis period, investors in the third quarter generally saw bad news as good news: Signs of a slowing economy were deemed benign because they were likely to provoke greater accommodation from the Fed.
The gold price continued to climb in the third quarter of 2019, reaching a six-year high of $1,552/oz. in early September, as macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainty continued to support the appeal of perceived safe-haven assets like gold.
The move down in long-term interest rates in recent quarters has shed an ominous light. We’ve seen the yield curve invert in the United States, and there is evidence of softening in the underlying economy. The manufacturing sector has been weak globally, and momentum in the service sector has started to fade.
As we assess the broader economic backdrop, we see plenty of worries. The US-China trade dispute remains tense, and there are signs that it has slowed global economic growth. Employment in the United States has been at a multi-decade high, but it may, potentially, have peaked.
Pages
Contact Us
Shareholder Services
First Eagle Funds
Shareholder Servicing Agent
PO Box 219324
Kansas City, MO 64121-9324
800.334.2143