Gold Prices and the Fundamentals
What are the reasons behind the high gold costs we are witnessing? Why do certain assets rise to astonishing highs when the basics remain low? In the past twelve months gold has risen to $1,007 per ounce, which is its highest point between March, 2008 and now. Gold has seen a 12% increase in the intervening months.
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.
Another reason is that gold is often considered to be a good hedge against inflation leading many to be attracted to this precious metal. But according to statistics listed by the Labor Department, the consumer price index for gold fell 2.1% in a single year. That is the opposite of inflation. So what exactly is being hedged against?
Our money system is being corrupted due to the Federal government increasing its balance sheet. Gold seems to rise in times of deflation, which continues the corruption of our money system, and also in times of inflation, which is not a good situation either.
Another reason for the high worth of gold is the current low United States interest rates. The London interbank dollar rate, or the way banks decide what the cost to other financial institutions for loans will be, is now down to an all-time low .0314%, which is a total of a 4.8% drop since October, 2008. Gold earns no interest, which is different than bonds, so there is some chance of making money while holding gold. However, since the dollar is essentially worthless right now, that chance is nearly zero.
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.