MELBOURNE – A Donald Trump victory in the US presidential election in November would probably lift gold prices, according to the mint that refines almost all the bullion output from one of the world’s biggest producers.

“If someone like Donald Trump does get himself elected, it will stimulate some fear within the economy as to where things are going,” Richard Hayes, CEO of the Perth Mint, said in a Bloomberg TV interview. “Trump is very much a protectionist, he is very much for almost ‘Fortress America’.”

Gold has rallied 27% this year on demand for haven assets following the UK’s vote to leave the European Union and as the Federal Reserve refrains from raising rates. The US race remains close after the conventions last month, with polls showing Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton holding a slight lead over Republican Trump. DBS Group Holdings has said the markets have yet to deal with the political uncertainty going into the US contest.

'SUFFER SHOCKS'
“If Clinton is elected, I suspect the run up won’t be quite as strong,” said Hayes, speaking on Monday at the opening day of the Diggers and Dealers mining forum in the Western Australian town of Kalgoorlie.  “She is more mainstream, and probably the economy will be less likely to suffer shocks.”

Bullion for immediate delivery traded at $1 347.65/oz at 2:02 p.m. in Perth, Western Australia, according to Bloomberg generic pricing. The metal surged to the highest in more than two weeks on July 29 after data showed that the US economy grew less than expected in the second quarter.

Demand is holding up well even as markets “have gotten used to the economic crises” after the UK’s vote to leave the EU, said Hayes, adding that concerns about growth were supporting consumption. “I think what we will see if Trump is elected is a rise in the gold price.”

TRADE POLICY
The real-estate developer turned politician has made trade one of his main themes, saying many agreements signed by the US don’t serve the economy or workers well. Trump is targeting working-class voters by emphasising his opposition to deals such as the North American Free Trade Agreement.Banks and miners have also highlighted the possible impact of the vote. While a low probability, a Trump presidency would weaken the fundamentals of the US economy and create uncertainty, according to ABN Amro Group NV, which said bullion would rise more under the billionaire than Clinton.

Gold’s rally is set to endure, with the US election seen as the next big catalyst for prices, according to Australia’s Northern Star Resources. The US vote will have more of an impact on bullion than the U.K. referendum, Bill Beament, MD at Northern Star, said last month.

Trump as president risks hurting global trade as he’s opposed to existing pacts and has floated the idea of the US pulling out of the World Trade Organisation, Oversea-Chinese Banking said in a report last week. While financial markets appear to be assuming Clinton will “win the day, the sting of Brexit surprise reminds us to take nothing for granted,” it said