Analysts expect a continued dollar-centric market where most G10 currencies move in tandem against the dollar, keeping dollar correlations high. However, they are bearish on cross-correlations (e.g., involving Sterling and Euro), anticipating greater divergence between non-dollar currencies, which presents an opportunity for investors.

A 100-year chart of the S&P 500 priced in gold shows a major cyclical peak was hit in late 2021, similar to 1929 and 2000. This inflection point suggests a long-term, decade-plus trend reversal favoring hard assets like gold and Bitcoin over U.S. equities.

Facing unprecedented government debt, a cycle of money printing and currency devaluation is likely. Investors should follow the lead of central banks, which are buying gold at record rates while holding fewer Treasury bonds, signaling a clear institutional strategy to own hard assets.

Despite a packed calendar of central bank decisions and key data releases, broad FX volatility is hovering near five-year lows. This suggests investors are underpricing potential market moves, and current options pricing for events like U.S. payrolls may be insufficient to cover a significant data surprise.

A historical review places 2026 in the second-lowest decile for central bank rate activity (hikes/cuts). This data strongly suggests a contained FX volatility environment, as significant vol spikes historically occur only during periods of extremely high or low central bank intervention.

The US dollar reached its peak global dominance in the early 2000s. The world is now gradually shifting to a system where multiple currencies (like the euro and yuan) and neutral assets (like gold) share the role of reserve currency, marking a return to a more historically normal state.

J.P. Morgan expects gold to continue rallying while traditional haven currencies like the Yen and Swiss Franc weaken. The firm notes that option markets are not priced for this divergence, creating a value opportunity for traders to position for gold's relative strength against these specific fiat currencies.

Unlike in 1971 when the U.S. unilaterally left the gold standard, today's rally is driven by foreign central banks losing confidence in the U.S. dollar. They are actively divesting from dollars into gold, indicating a systemic shift in the global monetary order, not just a U.S. policy change.

Unlike Bitcoin, which sells off during liquidity crunches, gold is being bid up by sovereign nations. This divergence reflects a strategic shift by central banks away from US Treasuries following the sanctioning of Russia's reserves, viewing gold as the only true safe haven asset.