The war in Iran and the risk that it could lead to a wider regional conflict have roiled global financial markets. Oil and European gas prices have spiked while equity markets have seen sharp declines.
Gold’s stomach churning volatility – up some 30% in less than a month since the start of the year, only to subsequently lose 20% in a matter of days – has, unsurprisingly, left some investors doubting its role as a hedging asset.
Instead, a new group dubbed the “Terrific 20” — spanning real-economy sectors like financials, energy, industrials, and consumer — has led the rerating. Their forward valuations have risen ~50% in two years, making a larger portion of the market look expensive.