Global Macro: Commodities Are Acting as if Rates Are Going Higher

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- As the Federal Reserve meeting approaches this Wednesday, low volumes and declining interest rates are leading to surprising correlations among financial markets.

For investors looking to see the negative effects in assets tied to tighter monetary policy, they can continue looking.

Equities are at record highs and investors continue to buy treasuries and sell U.S. dollars. Although it can be said that much of the cut for future bond purchases is already priced in, only commodities look to be acting as if the future holds higher rate.

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[Read: Before Buying ConAgra, Read the Label] The first chart below is of SPDR Gold Shares (GLD). The decline in gold prices is partially due to the easing of Western tension over the Syrian conflict. Gold spiked higher as investors feared potential military intervention in the Middle East in late August, which would have led to volatile market trading. What can be seen now is that rates are declining, gold is falling and the dollar is reaching yearly lows. The low volumes leading up to Fed events generally cause correlations to loosen as investors sell particular assets in aggregate and buy up others. Currently equities and bonds are showing strength, as the fear that once existed over stimulus cuts has diminished considerably. Regardless of the fundamental reasons surrounding gold's fall, the fact is that gold has broken a strong upward channel support and has room to fall further. If rates do begin to rise and the dollar catches a bid, expect gold to push toward its July lows. The next chart is of the United States Oil Price (USO). Like the gold chart above, the premium in oil due to the Syrian conflict has largely diminished, which has led to the vast decline in prices over the past few weeks. Although oil and interest rates tend to negatively correlate as well, irregular behavior due to the Fed policy meeting is likewise having adverse affects on this relationship. [Read: Affordable Care Act Reality Check] The difference between gold and oil, however, is that oil prices have yet to break its channel-support range. That is not to say prices won't eventually breakdown, it is just that oil has had relative strength vs. gold recently. If rates do rise because of the Fed decision on Wednesday, look for both commodities above to show weakness and drag down with them other assets, such as equities and bonds. At the time of publication the author had no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Follow @AndrewSachais This article is commentary by an independent contributor, separate from TheStreet's regular news coverage.