Gold is Only Life Raft Available to Investors From Sinking Global Currencies

Peter Grosskopf sees gold as only viable choice of protection against coming storm.

In a recent note regarding the state of the markets, Peter Grosskopf, CEO of Sprott Inc, likened currencies around the world to a sinking ship. And according to the executive, gold is the only life raft available to investors looking to preserve their wealth.

According to an article on Kitco, given the amount of looming risks, Grosskopf is shocked that investors are still clinging to the waning stock market instead of flocking towards gold. Global debt continues to spiral out of control, with the latest IMF report placing the figure at a staggering $184 trillion.

Domestic investors may be more concerned with U.S. debt, which surpassed $22 trillion not too long ago reports Kitco. Numerous economists have cautioned that a national debt of $24 trillion would mark a point of no return, a warning that was echoed by President Trump himself. Considering the speed at which the debt is expanding, Kitco states the latter figure could likely be reached within a few years' time.

Perhaps even more so than the amount of debt in question, Grosskopf finds governmental response to the issue alarming. For the most part, governments around the world have not only ignored the mounting domestic and global debt, but also continue to entertain loose fiscal policies. The U.S. is on the cusp of reaching a budget deficit of $1 trillion, yet federal spending has only increased in recent times.

Central banks won't be able to sweep the problem under the rug for much longer, said Grosskopf, as a growing number of pension and entitlement programs are placed into question. As has often been the case, Grosskopf believes that central bankers will respond to the issue with even more lax policies.

A prime example of this is the Modern Monetary Theory (MMT), a more intense version of traditional quantitative easing programs. According to Kitco, because of the MMT's populist nature and the promise of easy money, the supposed solution has quickly gained public support. Grosskopf, like most other economists, find the notion of MMT not only unsustainable, but also likely to end up undermining the global economy.

The appeal of MMT to the average person means that the model is being used as a political tool, which Grosskopf believes will expedite the economic avalanche that's already taking place. And while there are a few safe-haven options available, Grosskopf sees gold as only viable choice of protection against the coming storm.

Whereas other havens like government bonds or reserve currencies are highly vulnerable to crises, Kitco states gold is the only asset that has kept its value regardless of the sort of economic downturn unraveling locally or globally.

Grosskopf also reminded investors that gold has acted as a currency for millennia, stating that the metal has a good chance of returning to this role. As the weight of global debt becomes too great and currencies grow shaky, Grosskopf thinks gold will once again become an accepted medium of exchange.

Next Gold Bull Market Driven by Stock Correction says Sprott CEO

Weaker-than-expected economy could be the perfect catalyst for next gold bull market.

Central banks from around the world have grown bolder in their approach, with many of them embarking on a course of tightening monetary policy for the first time in recent memory. Aside from the U.S. Federal Reserve's much-publicized rate hiking, the Bank of Canada recently raised rates for the first time since 2010, and the European Central Bank indicated that it might follow suit.

According to Sprott Inc. CEO Peter Grosskopf, however, the banks are operating on overly optimistic economic forecasts and will not be able to hike rates as quickly as expected. "We think the underlying economies and the strength of the economies can be debated," Grosskopf explained. "If you look at the underlying statistics, it's a lot less evident that the economy is strong."

Grosskopf believes this will provide the next leg up for the yellow metal, with weaker-than-expected economic growth leading to the stock correction that many are expecting. This risk-heavy environment would act as a perfect catalyst for the next gold bull market.

"The next move on gold will be driven by an equity market correction," Grosskopf told Bloomberg in an interview. "It's a pretty safe bet that if equity markets start to look volatile and dangerous then a lot of money will flow into gold as a hedge to that."

Sprott USA chairman Whitney George agrees that it's dangerous for central banks to hike in unison amid low inflation. He expects this to not only put pressure on the stock market but to also negatively affect the currencies of the countries involved.

"When you look at the history of the last 20 years, every time central banks have decided it was time to take the punch bowl away we've had quite a dislocation," says George.
Grosskopf, whose firm is in the midst of returning to a precious metals-oriented investment strategy, feels that investors have been lulled into a false sense of security, resulting in a reduction of their gold positions.

These investors are sure to flock back to the safety of the yellow metal as soon as they think trouble is brewing, allowing gold to reach new heights. According to the firm's strategists, gold has the potential to rally past $1,400 by year's end.

"People haven't placed a high priority on having a hedge because the punch bowl seemed to be relatively full," said Grosskopf. "Gold is vastly under-invested by most investors, so it's got a lot of growth ahead of it."