Mengoldweddingring The Basics of Soaring Gold Costs
Friday, January 29, 2010 2:43:13 PM
Why is the price of gold continuing to rise? Why, if the fundamentals are low enough to be negative, are the prices of some commodities skyrocketing? Gold has actually reached $1007 an ounce, the highest it has been since March 2008. That means there has been a 12% increase since April 2008.
How has this happened? It certainly hasn't been the fundamentals, which is what you would think would cause it. The demand for gold jewelry has dropped 22% since 2008 according to the World Gold Council, and the use of gold has dropped 21% in industrial processes. The only part of the gold market that has flourished was the speculation, which saw an increase of 46% earlier in the year.
Many people are attracted to this metal because it is considered to be a good hedge against inflation. However, the Labor Department listed statistics showing that the consumer price index actually fell 2.1% over the course of the year for gold. That is not inflation that is deflation. So what is this gold hedging against?
This currency is being debased because of the Federal balance sheet is enlarging in size. Gold could go either way, deflation will only further debase our currency, while inflation is never an optimal scenario either, so gold apparently benefits if either situation occurs.
The US interest rates are low which is also a large factor when it comes to supporting gold. Consider the London interbank dollar rate (which is the method used by banks to charge other banks for loans) that has fallen to an unprecedented low of 0.314%, meaning it is down from 4.8% in October of last year. Unlike bonds, gold does not earn interest, which means there is an opportunity cost associated with having gold. But with the dollar worth as little as it is now that opportunity cost is rendered insignificant.
All signs point to financial speculation being behind the surge in gold prices and nothing to do with the fundamentals. Gold prices are high and it is impossible to predict what will happen from here.
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