Gold rises most since 2008 crisis as investors seek Brexit haven

LONDON – Gold surged the most since the height of the 2008 global financial crisis after the UK voted to exit the European Union, causing turmoil across markets and boosting haven demand.

Bullion jumped as much as 8.1% and futures trading volume was double the average for this time of day. As the pound tumbled against the dollar, gold priced in sterling rose 14% after rallying as much as 19%. Mining companies such as Barrick Gold and Newmont Mining advanced.

“We’re still seeing strong volumes across the precious metals space, which should be expected based on risk-off positioning by investors," said Maxwell Gold, a director of investment strategy at ETF Securities, which sells exchange traded funds backed by gold and other precious metals.

“Global focus should reshift back more towards the longer-term impact from Brexit and how this might potentially delay the Fed from raising interest rates," he said.

'UNMATCHED' VOLUME
Some clients were frustrated that they couldn’t get orders completed quick enough, as trades kept being upended by other large positions coming in, said Naeem Aslam, chief market analyst at London brokerage TF Global Markets, as he stepped out of the office for a coffee after working overnight. He said he’s planning to work over the weekend to meet the surge in business.

“The volume we saw last night was unmatched by anything, and we’re nowhere near done,” Aslam said. “The phone’s been off the hook all night. We were around the news wires nonstop.”

UK voters backed leaving the EU by 52% to 48%, sending shock waves though markets and prompting Prime Minister David Cameron to resign. Global stocks slid, the pound plunged by a record and the euro weakened.

Gold for immediate delivery climbed 4.9% to $1 317.94/oz, after touching $1 358.54, the highest since March 2014. Societe Generale had said that gold could reach $1 400 in the event of Brexit.

‘LOT OF FRAGILITY’
The metal is up 24% this year as expectations that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates low weakened the dollar. The US central bank will be even more likely to keep rates on hold following the result of the UK referendum, according to Saxo Bank and ICBC Standard Bank.

European gold dealers saw a rush for physical metal, with CoinInvest.com saying it had a record number of UK customers interested in buying. Daniel Marburger, a director at the Frankfurt-based firm, said Britannia and Sovereign coins from the UK’s Royal Mint were the best sellers in the early hours. ABC Bullion, a Sydney-based trader, said new account openings on Friday matched the whole of a normal week.

“There’s a lot of fragility out there politically and economically,” said Jordan Eliseo, chief economist at ABC Bullion. “It’s a more difficult time for investors and safe-haven assets are the way to go.”

HAVEN DEMAND
GoldCore, a brokerage in Dublin, experienced record online sales for the time of day and may have to restrict trading to existing clients if demand remains high, said director Mark O’Byrne by e-mail.

Barrick, the world’s largest gold producer, rose as much as 12% in Toronto, the most since November 2008, before paring gains to 7.9%. Newmont climbed as much as 9.3% in New York and was the best performer on the S&P 500 Index.

Spot silver rose 2.6% to $17.7356/oz, after touching the highest since January 2015. Spot platinum rose 2% and palladium declined 3.2%.