When everyone from Jim Cramer to Mr. T is hawking gold - and when the price has risen to all-time highs - it sure feels like a bubble.
On the other hand, the super rich - who presumably know a thing or two about investing - are buying gold by the ton.
Deutsche Bank's head commodities researcher Michael Lewis said last week that gold and agriculture are the safest long-term investments.
Lewis wrote in September:
Gold prices would need to surpass USD 1,455/oz to be considered extreme in real terms and hit USD 2,000/oz to represent a bubble.Lewis lists as factors driving gold higher:
* A collapse in the US dollarBloomberg notes:
* Low or negative real interest rates
* Skitish global equity markets
* Coordinated [as opposed to disorderly] central bank gold sales
* Producer dehedging
* New gold investment vehicles
* Falling mine production and rising costs
* Terrorism & rising geopolitical risk
Barron's points out:Myles Zyblock, chief institutional strategist at RBC Capital Markets, said last month gold may soar to $3,800 within three years as it follows the pattern of previous “investment manias.”
Louise Yamada, the eminent technical analyst who for many years worked at the various firms that have coalesced into Citigroup and now presides over LY Advisors, last week remarked in a client note that gold—based on its current trajectory—most likely wouldn't represent a true bubble unless and until it gets to $5,200 an ounce (from its $1,317.80 December-contract close on Friday) within a couple of years.
University of Michigan economics professor Mark J. Perry noted in July that inflation-adjusted gold prices are lower now than in 1980:
Adjusted for inflation, the price of gold today is 41.5% below the January 1980 peak of more than $2,000 per ounce (in 2010 dollars).
Frank Holmes, the CEO of US Global Investors said recently:
“If you take a look at previous cycles, super cycles, we're far from it,” he said.WJB Capital Group's John Roque pointed out in May that the current gold bubble is still much smaller than the bubble in the 1970s when priced against the S&P.
“If gold were to go to 1980 prices like most commodities have gone to, gold would be over $2 300/oz,” Holmes commented.
MSN's Money Central noted last month:
Brett Arends, a columnist for The Wall Street Journal and MarketWatch, estimated that "individuals bought $5.4 billion worth of gold, and sold about $2.7 billion, (so) their total net investment comes to $2.7 billion" in 2010, through early summer.In May, Arends wrote in the Wall Street Journal:Arends contrasted that with the $155 billion they shoveled into bond funds through July. That may be the real bubble.
Arends also concluded that "if it continues along the same trajectory (of past bull markets) -- a big if -- gold today is only where the Nasdaq was in 1998 and housing in 2003."
Before we assume the gold bubble has hit its peak, let's see how it compares with the last two bubbles—the tech mania of the 1990s and the housing bubble that peaked in 2005-06.Tyler Durden notes:The chart is below, and it's both an eye-opener and a spine-tingler.
It compares the rise in gold today with the rise of the Nasdaq in the 1990s and the Dow Jones index of home-building stocks in the 10 years leading up to 2005-06.
They look uncannily similar to me.
So far gold has followed the same path as the previous two bubbles. And if it continues along the same trajectory—a big if—gold today is only where the Nasdaq was in 1998 and housing in 2003.
In other words, just before those markets went into orbit.
![[ROI_100524]](http://sg.wsj.net/public/resources/images/OB-IP413_ROI_10_NS_20100524192106.gif)
[JP Morgan's] Michael Cembalest indicat[es] that ownership of gold in dilutable terms (aka dollars), as a portion of global financial assets has declined from 17% in 1982 to just 4% in 2009. And even though the price of gold has double in the time period, as has the amount of investible gold, the massive expansion in all other dollar-denominated assets has drowned out the true worth of gold. Were gold to have kept a constant proportion-to-financial asset ratio over the years, the price of gold would have to be well over $5,000/ounce.(Durden points out that when derivatives are factored in, the percentages are even more dramatic).
Aden Forecast argues in its November 12th forecast:
Debt is in a mega trend. Eventually, the magnitude of the situation and its repercussions will become more obvious. That’s also why the U.S. dollar will continue to fall because more spending and money creation makes the dollar worth less, and gold will keep rising because it is real money. This is one main reason why they’re in mega trends too.Many people think that the Federal Reserve's QE2 will boost gold prices. And since QE2 will continue for many months, that augers well for gold.
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We clearly believe that gold and silver are far from being in a bubble.... The value of the whole monetary system is under question and until this very issue is resolved, gold and silver will prevail.
With all of the money printing worldwide, it is not surprising that gold has continued to rally against all currencies.
For extensive background information regarding gold, see this.
Note: I am not an investment advisor and this should not be taken as investment advice.
Even if the gold bull market has further to run, gold prices might correct sharply downward in the short-run, and you shouldn't buy gold unless you're willing to lose your investment.
In addition, if the government decides to confiscate gold like it did in the 1930s - or to heavily tax gold - this could considerably change the cost-benefit analysis.
Remember also that if the Fed raises interest rates, gold could fall rapidly.
