Gold's Run Is Far From Over, Argue Analysts

Citing the current persistent environment of low or negative interest rates around the world, some analysts believe the metal can reach as high as $8,000.

Gold has now closed its second consecutive week above its previous all-time high, and considerably so. The $1,911 figure that was so often cited was blazed through as the metal breached the high from 2011 and kept on climbing. Despite calls for a pullback a week prior, gold closed Friday's trading session at $1,976, having traded comfortably in that range throughout the day. With $2,000 looking to be the next capture, analysts and banks have differing opinions as to how high gold can go, although they appear unanimous in terms of the trajectory.

Barry Dawes, executive chairman at Martin Place Securities, sees $3,500 as a target that's reachable in the next two years. Although it might seem lofty, such a climb would not be unprecedented, and Dawes is far from the only issuer of this forecast. Over the past two years, gold has already demonstrated the ability to appreciate by nearly 50%. There is also no shortage of figures in finance who are expecting such movements, with Quadriga Igneo fund manager Diego Parrilla listing $5,000 as a possible level over the next three to five years.

To Dawes, the most impressive part about gold's performance was the ease with which the metal cleared both $1,800 and its previous all-time record, as some had thought the metal might encounter resistance around both levels.

Goldman Sachs, whose analysts have consistently upgraded their gold forecast over the previous months, now sees gold reaching$2,300 over the next 12 months. Previously, they had pegged $2,000 as the level to reach within that timeframe. Goldman cited the persistent environment of low or negative interest rates around the world as a primary reason for their bullish view. Besides this, concerns over the economic recovery moving forward, worries over the dollar's status and a flare-up between the U.S. and China have all acted as powerful tailwinds. The events over the last couple of months seem to have aggravated existing issues between the two nations, with each of them shutting down the other's consulate in a clear display of rapidly-worsening relations.

Juerg Kiener, managing director of Swiss Asia Capital, has a similarly bullish forecast for gold's price based on the technical picture. In a recent interview with CNBC, Kiener delved into the technicals and explained that gold's current price movement looks to be signaling $2,834 in the near future, stating that his long-term expectations are even higher. Kiener also noted that gold has historically bounced back seven to eight times higher from its bottom. In Kiener's example of a $1,050 bottom, gold would eventually go on towards $8,000. Interestingly enough, many pundits have stated that gold had reached a bottom of $1,200 in 2018.

International Bullion Firm Claims Gold a Good Insurance Policy

Analysts say prospects of higher rates does little to take away from the metal's appeal.

Last week the Federal Reserve met expectations by hiking interest rates for the first time in 2018. While gold's price trended lower in the aftermath of the hike, Kitco reports that one international bullion firm believes the prospect of higher rates does little to take away from the metal's appeal.

In their latest report, analysts at Degussa said that investors should view price dips as an entry point given the various factors that make gold investment a prudent strategy. Besides general protection against fiat currency manipulation, the firm pointed to the possibility of rate hikes leading to a recession as a particularly poignant reason to consider gold in one's portfolio.

Using the same analogy that multiple other analysts have turned to, Degussa explained how the Fed's hikes could ultimately have a major adverse effect.

"The Fed's tightening policy is like taking away the 'punch bowl,' and if it raises interest rates too much, the party would definitely come to an end. It is against this backdrop that gold, even in times of slightly higher real interest rates, is increasingly attracting investors, which has ultimately led to a price increase," said the report.

Although gold is mostly seen as an asset, the analysts noted that the view of the precious metal as global currency is gaining traction, namely because of inflationary pressures that erode faith in fiat money. Gold is frequently pitted against the dollar and soars in times of a weaker greenback, but Degussa's team noted that the metal continues to outperform a basket of global currencies.

"The price of gold should, over the long run, compensate its owner for the loss in the purchasing power of fiat currencies," the firm said.

The markets were near-unanimous regarding the likelihood of the latest hike, but there is plenty of doubt in regards to the Fed's future course of action. The Kitco article writes that while some believe the Fed could hike rates up to four times this year, especially given the hawkish tone of new chair Jerome Powell, others cast doubt on their ability to raise borrowing costs further.

According to Kitco, another factor that could play in gold's favor is a potential shift in the Fed's rhetoric. The central bank bases its current strategy on forecasts of a stronger economy and a lower unemployment rate, with hopes that inflation will reverse its backwards trend and meet the targeted rate. Despite their optimism, some market participants believe that the Fed will alter its prognosis in one or more areas, which would give rise to higher gold prices and serve as an additional deterrent from successive rate hikes.