Gold has started 2016 in “hot” territory. Up 5% in just under a month, the yellow metal is one of the only bright spot shining in a sea of market volatility.
However, a 5% rise over the course of a month is nothing for gold. Since it began trading freely in 1971, the metal has had dozens of glittering hot streaks that make the start of 2016 look boring in comparison. On the flipside, gold has also had many cold streaks that saw it lose hundreds of dollars of value in just a matter of days.
Today’s infographic covers gold’s longest winning and losing streaks. The streaks listed include all runs, positive or negative, over 10%.
There have been 31 positive runs over 10%, and 18 losing streaks over the same threshold.
Interestingly, all of these streaks have occurred in previous decades. Since 2010, we have not seen one winning or losing streak of a similar magnitude.
The most volatile decade for gold was the early 1980s, when record-high interest rates, the Iranian Revolution, high oil prices and recessionary forces reigned supreme. Nearly half of all of gold’s biggest wins and losses (between 1971 and today) were during this wild decade.
Gold’s Biggest Winning And Losing Streaks
Infographic source: JM Bullion
