ABN AMRO Predicts Gold to Reach $1,400 Before End of Year

Georgette Boele says gold hasn't lost any luster from the previous months, and its outlook for the rest of the year is still exciting.

As gold moves back and forth across the $1,300 level, Kitco reports that Dutch bank ABN Amro stands by its prediction that the metal will see $1,400 an ounce before the end of the year. Georgette Boele, the bank's coordinator of foreign exchange and precious metals strategy, explained in her latest precious metals report why she sees gold heading higher and higher as the year progresses.

Despite occasional dips, Kitco writes that gold remains comfortably in the green since the start of the year. Furthermore, prices have held their ground above the 200-day moving average even during periods of selling, something Boele sees as very optimistic.

Boele and her firm believe gold hasn't lost any of its luster from the previous months, and that the metal's outlook for the rest of the year is still exciting. Although the troubles in equities have lessened a major hurdle for the gold market, Boele noted that a persistently robust U.S. dollar and a sudden, albeit short-lived, spike in Treasury yields will be gold's main competitors in the near-term.

Nonetheless, the analyst thinks that gold could climb to the $1,365-$1,375 level over the next few months even in the face of these headwinds. Later in the year, Boele expects the pressure from the U.S. dollar to subside, driven largely by a change in policy by the Federal Reserve.

It's hard to argue that years of monetary tightening have weighed on gold, even though the metal's price held up with as many as four rate hikes per year. Many experts think that 2019 will be the year when the Fed finally dials down on its hawkish strategy, or even reverses it, writes Kitco. Boele concurs, adding that the Fed's gradual wrap-up of its hiking cycle will be accompanied by dovishness from other central banks.

The latter point has already been highlighted by the European Central Bank's announcement that it would not raise interest rates for the rest of the year. In the same announcement, the ECB also slashed its growth forecast by a wide margin, which many interpreted as another bullish signal for gold, reports Kitco.

The spike in yields should also prove to be inconsequential, says the article, as analysts have pointed out that Treasuries are on a long-term downwards trajectory, with the yield curve nearing flat status. A flat yield curve signaled the last two market crashes, building on existing concerns that an economic slowdown and a possible recession are on the way.

Gold Ready to Recapture Levels Not Seen Since 2016

Sprott Money CEO says current landscape is more favorable for gold than two years ago.

2016 was the last time gold climbed past the $1,370 level, brought up by a string of geopolitical concerns and a weaker dollar. But now, having already crossed the $1,340 mark, the metal looks ready to recapture levels last seen two years ago, while also setting new records in the process, reports Kitco.

In an analysis on Sprott Money, Global Pro Traders CEO David Brady explained why he thinks the current landscape is even more favorable for gold than 2016 was. According to a recent Kitco article, despite a robust greenback, which is often seen as one of its main headwinds, gold still managed to surpass $1,340 an ounce since the start of the year.

This display of strength is set to continue, said Brady, who sees gold heading towards the 2016 high of $1,377 this year, largely driven by central bank policies. As Brady noted, the Federal Reserve might be looking at a policy U-turn after hiking interest rates on an annual basis since 2015.

According to Kitco, the recent dovish stance expressed by Fed officials could soon make way for quantitative easing (QE), an inflationary policy that has heavily benefited gold in the past. Brady and other analysts contend that a new QE program will drive prices up, yet without the prospect of higher rates or Treasury yields. This will be the perfect environment for gold to stage its bullish run, said Brady.

The strategist feels that the recent sentiment turnaround among money managers is testament enough that gold is soon heading up. In just fourteen weeks, speculators slashed their short gold positions by more than half, which speaks good things about the metal's direction, reports Kitco.

Past the Fed situation, Brady feels that central bank policies around the world will likewise prove supportive of gold. As the CEO noted, all of these policies are ultimately setting fiat currencies up for depreciation, and gold is often cited as the best and surest protection from wealth erosion.

After hitting the $1,377 mark, Brady expects gold to pull back and potentially test several support levels along the way. This pullback, however, will merely act as part of an over-arching upwards trend that will eventually lead gold to new highs before the end of the year.

Meanwhile, Brady expects the opposite to happen with the dollar index (DXY). After so many months of persistence, the CEO finally sees the DXY peaking and falling to a figure as low as 80, which will be another highly bullish development for gold.

Goldman Sachs Revises Its Gold Forecast Upwards

Change Comes Just Weeks After Initial Forecast

Goldman Sachs is among the latest to go long gold amid a re-emergence of interest in defensive assets. A few weeks ago, the bank updated its gold forecast for 2019, from $1,350 to $1,425, citing risk aversion as the primary reason.

Now, in a more recent interview, Goldman's global head of commodities research Jeffrey Currie reiterated the bank's forecast with an upgrade. According to Currie, fears that another recession is around the corner could be a key driver behind gold's outperformance this year.

Although the markets, for the most part, retain the image of stability, numerous analysts have stated that a crisis could be brewing. The threat of stagnant growth in both the U.S. and Europe is ever-looming, and central bank policies have likewise done much to reinforce concerns.

Many have pointed out that nearly every U.S. hiking cycle has ended in a recession, and the Federal Reserve now appears to be slowly putting the wrap on a tightening cycle that started in 2015. The Fed appears to have been rushed along by equity downturns and other red flags, which are a recessionary concern of their own. To top it off, numerous central banks around the world are aiming to tighten monetary policy in the near future.

Currie highlighted the recent central bank bullion purchases, noting that the resulting "wealth effect" is enough to push gold prices to $1,425. Last year, the Indian government took cues from its people as it re-entered the gold market with a 70-ton purchase. Chinese bullion buying is also expected to intensify moving forward.

This is on top of standard buyers like Russia, Kazakhstan and Turkey, whose regular purchases act as perpetual support for gold prices. Bart Melek, head of global strategy at TD Securities, said that central bank gold holdings grew by 3,900 tons, or 13%, since 2009. The forecast that reserves will expand by another 800 tons in the next two years could push gold past the already-bullish expectations, said the strategist.

In his report, Melek explained that central banks are looking to diversify away from the U.S. dollar as the global market faces the prospect of another superpower in China. Melek thinks India's economy is another one to look out for, and the strategist believes the densely-populated nation could soon become a major player on the global scene.

Currie said that rising geopolitical tensions are another reason why central banks are looking for protection. Out of the various flare-ups, the U.S.-China trade standoff could prove to be the most beneficial for bullion due to the inflationary implications of the conflict.

Goldman's stance that long gold is the best commodity play is unsurprising, as the metal continues to outperform both equities and other commodities. Building up on the bank's previous forecast of $1,425 an ounce, Currie now sees gold reaching $1,450 sometime this year.

Goldman Sachs Analyst Shares Why Bank is Raising its Gold Forecast for 2019

Goldman Sachs sees gold soaring to $1,425 over next 12 months.

In a recent note to clients, Goldman Sachs' analysts announced that the bank is raising its forecast for gold going into 2019, reports CNBC. Goldman's previous forecast was bullish in its own right, with the bank calling for $1,250, $1,300 and $1,350 an ounce over the three, six and 12-month periods, respectively.

But now, the analysts expect gold to inch even higher this year. According to a CNBC article, Jeffrey Currie, Goldman's head of commodities research, said in the note that gold will hit $1,325 in the next three months before moving on to $1,375 by the end of the second quarter. The bank sees gold soaring to $1,425 over the next 12 months.

In the note, Currie explained that the change in forecast centers around a quick reversal of sentiment following a re-emergence of risk, states the article. Whereas the previous year saw many investors chase profits backed by the confidence from a strong dollar, the landscape in 2019 could be markedly different.

Various reports indicate that U.S. growth could be heading towards a slump after a prolonged era of Fed-fueled optimism. The U.S. Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) slipped to a 15-month low in December, with manufacturers' confidence in business likewise dropping to the lowest level in almost two years. According to the article, these economic reports build on existing concerns that the Fed has thus far largely ignored, such as the prospect of peaked-out employment.

Nonetheless, the central bank appears ready to dial down on its hawkish rhetoric, with Fed Chair Jerome Powell recently assuring market participants that officials will be ready to adjust the hiking strategy based on market response.

Currie noted that the traditional correlation between rate hikes and gold could be absent this year. According to the article, despite some feeling that higher rates reduce the appeal of owning bullion, Currie firmly believes that risk aversion and fears of a recession will trump the desire for bigger profits.

Recessionary concerns appeared to be validated last month, when U.S. stocks suffered their worst December since the Great Depression. The performance was especially striking as the final month of the year tends to be a strong one for equities. Gold returned more than 4% in that month, and in doing so outperformed the previously record-setting stock market.

Currie stressed that the shift in sentiment will be a key driver of gold prices this year, reports the article. Besides individual investors, the analyst said that central banks will adjust their strategies in accordance and continue upping their monthly bullion purchases. Governments already showed a heavier-than-usual predisposition towards gold in 2018, with data suggesting that total central bank purchases for the year exceeded 450 tons.

"Mad Money" Host Disagrees With Latest Rate Hike But Sees Potential in Gold

Jim Cramer believes latest rate hike was ill-advised.

Last week, the Federal Reserve met market expectations by raising the borrowing rate another 25 basis points, reported CNBC, bringing it to a total of 2.5%. Addressing the public after the hike, Fed officials hinted towards less hikes in 2019 but appeared confident in their decision to raise rates four times this year.

According to the CNBC article, even before the latest hike, many criticized the Fed for ignoring important data metrics and instead, powering through with their agenda. Just days ahead of the hike, President Trump took to Twitter to criticize the Fed's policy amid a possible slowdown of the U.S. economy.

In Thursday's episode of "Mad Money", CNBC host Jim Cramer underlined why this month's hike was ill-advised, especially in the context of additional rate hikes in 2019. Additionally, he pointed out that the central bank's hawkish tone can only persist through willful oversight of important data.

This includes a projection for slower GDP growth in 2019 and the looming threat of maxed-out employment. According to the article, some have also felt as if the Fed is turning a blind eye to the recent stock crashes and what they might mean for the economy going forward.

To Cramer, the last point is especially poignant as stock investors have been placed on thin ice by the Fed's hawkish rhetoric. The host shared his view that equity investment right now hinges on the chance that Fed Chair Jerome Powell becomes more recipient towards red flags and simmers down on tightening.

Despite the concerning implications of future rate hikes, Cramer reminded viewers that there is always a profitable market out there. After four rate hikes in 2018 and promises of several more next year, Cramer sees little alternative to gold investment as the best possible bet.

The analyst said we will see a bull market in gold as the true state of the economy becomes apparent, reports CNBC. In particular, Cramer pointed to several sliding stocks as proof that the economy is slowing down faster than Fed officials would like to admit.

While rate hikes are considered bad for gold, the markets usually price in future hikes months before they happen, alleviating any downside to the metal. With so many cautioning against the consequences of successive rate hikes in a slowing economy, what is usually seen as a headwind could act as the catalyst for the next bull run in gold, stated the article. Cramer certainly seems to think so, as the host compared his feelings of distress post-hike to the tense atmosphere of 2007, right before the global financial crisis hit.

Precious Metals Analysts Bernard Dahdah Sees Gold Shining in 2019

Natixis sees imminent economic growth slowdown and accompanying upturn in gold.

As gold investors try to guess what 2019 could bring, one French bank is bullish on the metal's prospects next year amid a change of economic climate in the U.S. Talking to Kitco, Natixis' precious metal analysts Bernard Dahdah said his bank sees an imminent economic growth slowdown and an accompanying upturn in gold prices.

The average domestic investor has had little difficulty maintaining optimism this year. The Federal Reserve proceeded with its hawkish agenda, backed by positive economic data reports and a high-riding dollar. President Trump's historic tax cuts also extended his campaign promise of a reinvigorated U.S. economy. But according to the Kitco article, several flash crashes in the U.S. stock market, most recently in October, affirmed to investors that trouble might be brewing.

Dahdah points out that market participants were quick to rejoice over tax cuts while ignoring the more significant issue of budget deficit. Whereas the cuts were only intended to serve as a short-term stimulant, the article writes that the $985 trillion of projected deficit for 2019 is a long-lasting issue without an easy solution.

Dahdah expects the U.S. deficit to become more prominent next year and force government officials to take a step back. The fading of the stimulus effect will place further pressure on stocks, likely leading to more corrections. Meanwhile, the Fed will wrap up its tightening cycle after years of successive hikes.

According to the article, this environment of stagnant growth and tumbling stock valuations will play directly into gold's hand as investors rush to move away from riskier assets. The weakening of the dollar, expedited by the change in Fed's policy, will remove additional pressure from the yellow metal. Dahdah said that the dollar index will face more hurdles as central banks around the world commence their own tightening.

The return of uncertainty will quickly bolster gold prices, and Dahdah sees the metal averaging $1,275 an ounce in 2019. However, the analyst noted that gold has plenty of catalysts waiting in the wings, and that the metal could shoot up to $1,350 an ounce next year.

Natixis also sees great things in store for silver after a middling year. According to the article, the bank predicts silver will catch up to gold due to renewed interest in commodities, thereby closing the gap in the highest gold-silver ratio since 1993. Dahdah said that investor demand will push silver to an average of $16 an ounce in 2019 with the possibility of a climb to $18 an ounce.

Amid Global Economic Concerns, World Returns to Gold

Dr. Makhdoomi states when people loose faith in a government, the solution is precious metals.

Despite the outwards appearance of stability, the global economy runs on an inflationary system that confines it to an endless cycle of crashes and reboots. And, according to Greater Kashmir's Dr. Makhdoomi, the world's economic woes can be traced to the abandonment of the gold standard, albeit much earlier than the Nixon Shock in 1971.

Two and a half millennia ago, the government of Athens used a sound economic system with a set currency value based on physical gold writes Greater Kashmir. Yet wartime expenses drove the government to inflate its bullion reserves by minting coins of a lesser purity. With the addition of copper, 1,000 gold coins became 2,000 and the government had enough leeway to fund its ventures, even at the cost of currency stability.

As simple as it might seem, the very same method of funds creation is used today by governments around the world at a much larger scale. As Makhdoomi explains, any spending done by a modern government is done in the red, as no sovereign country operates without a budget deficit. When a central bank needs more money, the solution is to simply print new currency and worry about the inflationary consequences later. According to the article, the problem is exacerbated by the issuing of government bonds, which create more money out of thin air.

Makhdoomi points out that, when given enough false assurances, the people can and will lose faith in a government. When they do, he says the solution is always to rush back to precious metals as a way of preventing wealth erosion amid increasingly questionable central banking practices.

Consumers have come to equate money with currency, even though the latter has no intrinsic value and is merely a government's promise. According to the article, the price movement of gold in dollar terms is a perfect example of this, as an ounce of metal went from $40 in 1971, when President Nixon moved away from the gold standard, to over $1,200 today. The jump in value illustrates how much money has been printed since then in a baseless free-floating currency system.

Makhdoomi, however, believes today's gold prices might still be far lower than they should. Some pundits, such as monetary historian Mike Maloney, believe that an economic crash is closer than most think. When things go awry, Maloney expects gold and other precious metals to come under revaluation with a rapid price jump to $5,000 an ounce.

Both Makhdoomi and Maloney agree that the next major crash will be accompanied by a wealth transfer. Depending on whether one invested in gold or kept their faith in currencies, this could either translate to massive profits or a risk of losing everything.