Categories: General Market Commentary / Precious Metals
Topics: General Market Commentary / General Precious Metals

Global turmoil to be good for gold

Jan. 29, 2020

BENGALURU (Reuters) - Gold prices will hold above $1,500 an ounce this year and make modest gains in 2021 as low interest rates and geopolitical uncertainly bolster its appeal, while silver prices will begin to catch up, a Reuters poll showed on Tuesday.

Gold is traditionally seen as a safe store of value during times of turmoil and becomes more popular when other assets offer low returns.

Prices shot up 18% last year - the biggest annual gain since 2010 - as global economic growth faltered and central banks responded by easing monetary policy.

The metal is pushing towards $1,600 and its highest since 2013 as an outbreak of coronavirus in China threatens to disrupt economic activity.

The poll of 36 analysts and traders, mainly conducted before coronavirus hit the headlines, returned a median forecast for gold to average $1,546 an ounce this year and $1,600 in 2021.

The prediction for 2020 is $34 higher than in a similar poll conducted three months ago and compares with an average price of $1,394 last year.

“Gold has re-established its safe-haven status,” said Standard Chartered analyst Suki Cooper. “We expect gold to test seven-year highs in 2020, even though we see the U.S. Federal Reserve on hold throughout the year.”

The Fed is expected to keep interest rates unchanged after cutting three times last year.

“Longer-term risk-hedgers are expected to remain in the market, providing a cushion for any price weakness,” said INTL FCStone analyst Rhona O’Connell.

For spot silver, the poll returned median forecasts for prices to average $18.28 an ounce in 2020 and $19.13 next year.

Silver last year rose 15% — its biggest annual gain in three years — and on Tuesday traded around $18. The poll three months ago predicted prices would average $18.13 in 2020.