UBS is 'very bullish on gold,' says prices could stay high longer
- Gold prices could rise even further and remain high "for longer than expected" as global uncertainties persist, said Yeoh Choo Guan, head of Asean global markets at Swiss banking giant UBS.
- Spot gold is trading at around $1,950 on Friday — roughly 28.5% higher than where it started the year at.
- Yeoh said the bank has raised its gold price forecast for next year from $1,850 to $2,100 per ounce.
SINGAPORE — Gold prices — which surged nearly 30% this year — could rise further and remain high as global uncertainties persist, according to Swiss banking giant UBS.
"We are very bullish on gold. We think that the prices will go higher and what is interesting is we think it will stay higher for longer than expected," Yeoh Choo Guan, the bank's head of Asean global markets, told CNBC's "Squawk Box Asia" on Friday.
She said the bank has raised its forecast for gold next year from $1,850 to $2,100 per ounce. Spot gold was trading at around $1,953 on Friday — roughly 29% higher than where it was at the start of the year.
An environment of negative real interest rates and global uncertainties, such as the upcoming U.S. presidential election, are among the reasons that have pushed investors to build up their gold holdings, said Yeoh.
"So recently we have a retracement in the equity market. What was interesting is that gold was very resilient despite the equity's pullback, suggesting that there's ongoing buying support," she said.
"On top of that, gold is also a very attractive portfolio diversifier. I think a lot of investors have been piling into bonds and REITs (real estate investment trusts), so gold is viewed as an alternative to that, in case that particular segment gives you pressure," she added.
REITs are publicly traded companies that manage a portfolio of properties such as shopping malls, hotels and offices. They typically attract investors who want a steady and regular dividend payout.
Growing 'domestic wealth' in Southeast Asia
In addition to gold, Yeoh said she's also bullish on Southeast Asian stock markets.
Share prices in the region have suffered as foreign funds retreated from several markets. But Yeoh pointed out that the markets have rebounded "much faster than we anticipated," helped by greater participation from retail investors and domestic funds.
She explained that "domestic wealth" in Southeast Asian countries have been growing, as is evident in the expansion of local asset managers. That's good news for markets in the region, she said.
"This stock market, or capital market in general, will continue to be resilient and very strong — not only in the short term, but also in the mid term."