Why VanEck sees gold miners as the ultimate hedge in a volatile market

The current market narrative is driven by a self-reinforcing loop: sustained inflation keeps the Federal Reserve on hold, bolstering real yields and the U.S. dollar at gold's expense. Despite this, Casanova points to resilient central bank buying and steady investment demand from Asia as a critical floor for the price. History shows that even during rate-hike cycles, gold often defies expectations, posting positive returns on more than half of all hike days observed since 1997.

For those looking beyond the near-term noise, the mining sector presents a unique opportunity. With all-in sustaining costs averaging below $2,000 per ounce, companies are maintaining robust margins even at a $4,000 price point. This financial health has translated into record cash flow in Q1 2026, allowing firms to fund growth, pay dividends, and initiate share buybacks. Because mining equities historically outperform the underlying metal during rallies, Casanova suggests that current valuations—which appear to bake in overly conservative assumptions—could offer significant upside as capital rotates away from richer, more volatile sectors.