Metals Market Report Archive

The Mike Fuljenz Metals Market Report

October 2022 - Week 4 Edition

Dollar Weakness, Fed Uncertainty Positively Impacting Gold and Silver Prices

Gold rose sharply from $1,620 to $1,655 (+2%) from 8:30 am EST to noon last Friday morning after news from several sources inside the U.S. Federal Reserve said the Fed will likely pull back from its most aggressive interest policy plans. Gold then stayed in the $1,650s throughout the weekend and Monday, due in part to a slightly weaker dollar. Silver grew even faster (+6%) last Friday, rising from $18.20 to $19.30, as investors poured money into silver ETFs at the greatest rate in almost six months.

Gold and Silver Advance on “Inside News” of the Fed’s Possible “Pivot” in December

The Fed’s previously announced plan was for another 0.75% interest rate increase next week, less than one week before the mid-term elections. Then, it would implement a fifth Scrooge-like 0.75% rate increase in mid-December, comprising the fastest series of big rate increases in Federal Reserve history, from a base of near zero last March. However, insiders leaked information to the contrary causing gold and silver to rise last Friday on fairly solid evidence that the Fed will NOT raise rates that much in December and may stop there, giving the economy a chance to digest their previous actions.

The evidence is fairly solid, since The Wall Street Journal published an article on Friday by Nick Timiraos, who is considered the unofficial conduit of Fed policy to the public. The Journal article was titled, “Fed Set to Raise Rates by 0.75 Point and Debate Size of Future Hikes” with a subhead: “Some officials are signaling greater unease with big rate rises to fight inflation.” The reason that article is important is because, according to Briefing.com, “Mr. Timiraos is thought by some to be the Fed’s preferred source for leaking insight on what they are thinking about monetary policy in order to gauge the market reaction to their thinking. He indicated the Fed will raise rates by another 75 basis points at the November meeting but will then possibly consider a smaller increase at the December meeting.” In addition, San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly said on Friday that Fed policymakers should start planning for a time when they can implement smaller interest rate hikes, although she did not pinpoint when that time would arrive.

As a result of this important Journal article and other Fed comments, gold shot up $35 (+2%) and silver rose over $1 (+6%) on Friday. The U.S. Dollar Index also fell by 2% in the same four-hour Friday morning span (as gold and silver rose), since a slowdown in interest-rate increases would likely cause a slowdown in global investment flows of cash into the dollar for its high-interest differential to foreign currency alternatives.  The dollar rallied briefly but it is still down 1.3% from its Friday morning peak.

London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) Sees 10% Higher Gold & 50% Higher Silver Prices in 2023

The London Bullion Market Association held its annual conference in Lisbon, Portugal this month, and members were polled for their outlook on precious metals. These are the world’s leading gold miners, refiners and bullion traders from the largest bullion firms in the world. Despite gold’s decline in dollar terms this year, members predicted gold rising an average 10% over the next year and silver rising by over 50%.

Specifically, the average forecast of LBMA experts puts gold at just over $1,830 a year from now, about 11% above today’s $1,650 area. They see silver at $28.30, up over 50%. LBMA attendees also forecast platinum rising 35% to nearly $1,240 while the formerly hot palladium would rise just 2%, to $2,059.

The poll was taken Tuesday, October 18, so here are the prices then, plus their 1-year average projection:

The major reasons for the super-bullish silver outlook include: (1) a widening deficit of global supply vs. demand, depleting silver stockpiles; (2) recent shortages at Mints and fabrication plants, causing premiums of up to $14 per ounce (wholesale); (3) more hoarding, less selling by investors; (4) rising industrial demand in a variety of new uses, including solar panels, and 5 ounces per new electric vehicle; and (5) dislocations in global silver supply chains, especially with China curbing outflows to the rest of world.

Call your account representative today to discuss the innovative gold and silver products that we have available for you.

 

 

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