After hitting record highs of $1249 an ounce last week, gold has lost much of its May luster the past few days, dropping as low as $1174 an ounce in New York Thursday morning. While traditionally one would expect the precious metal to be trading up in such an environment, uncertainty across all markets remains high.
After hitting an all-time record high, the price of gold edged back down Thursday. Precious metals analysts are blowing off the break as little more than a bit of profit-taking or a short breather before gold prices continue their upward climb on fear and uncertainty in the markets, which has been pushing investors into safe-haven assets.
GFMS Group’s well-respected annual Gold Survey report is out for 2010, but what’s got most in the precious metal markets talking is the comments made by Philip Klapwijk, chairman of precious metals research at GFMS, during an interview with Reuters: “There are pointers to the fact that we are entering the final stages of a bull market.”
Gold bugs are smiling this week, especially after the price of gold surged ahead to a four-month high breaking past $1,150 an ounce Wednesday despite relative dollar strength and the bearish voices heard throughout the market last week.
Many analysts are speculating that the dollar will rebound next week after Friday’s report, curbing gold demand and furthering its rangebound predicament.
Will gold ever be able to decouple from the dollar like it almost seemed to do earlier this year, or has its status as safe haven asset irrevocably shifted to the risk-asset class? Time will tell.
Since Saint Paddy’s Day 2009, gold has gained 23 per cent. Many Gold Stocks have posted even more impressive gains.
Gold is in a tug of war between the bears and the bulls this week, fighting off forces determined to push it down below the psychological $1100 level while at the same time struggling to break above $1135 an ounce.
Further affecting precious metals prices of late is the fear paper currencies around the globe may be in peril, making gold as a hard asset much more attractive.
By Melissa Pistilli-Exclusive to Gold Investing News A number of factors, real or imagined, combined to move the gold price down to touch a two-week low at $1087.70 an ounce early Thursday and then back up to nearly the $1110 level in a matter of hours. Movements in the gold market are becoming less and [...]
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