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#Gold Has Best Year Since 2010 With Near 14% Gain In 2017 #Mining $AMK.ca $EXS.ca $MQR.ca $GGX.ca $GR.ca $GZD.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, January 3rd, 2018
  • Gold posted second straight annual gain in USD in 2017
  • Gold in 2017: up 13.6% USD, up 2.7% GBP, down 1.4% EUR
  • 2017 is gold’s best year since 29.5% gain in 2010
  • Strong performance despite rate hikes and stock bubble
  • India’s gold imports surged 67% in 2017, Turkish, Chinese demand strong
  • Gold finished 2017 with longest rally since June 2016
  • 2018: Currency War and The Year of the Phoenix?

Gold waved a very positive goodbye to 2017 and was delighted to shout ‘Happy New Year!’ to all investors. In doing so, gold bullion prices advanced for an eighth session yesterday, extending its longest stretch of gains since mid-2011.

This was the perfect start to a new year which followed an annual surge of nearly 14%. 2017 is the second year of gains for gold. In 2016 it posted 14% gains, its best gains since the 29.5% gain in 2010.

Gold bullion’s stellar advance is even more impressive when one considers the extremely mixed year that was 2017. It ranged from Federal Reserve rate hikes to rapidly advancing stock markets. The year’s events were like a tug-of-war on the drivers of the gold price.

Gold: bad or good?

2017 on paper perhaps should not have seen a 14% gain in the gold price.

There was an acceleration in global economic growth as countries began to keep pace with one another. Much to Trump’s delight official figures showed the U.S. economy performed well. Not only did the the unemployment rate touch a record low, but inflation also remained subdued.

Meanwhile the Fed hiked interest rates three times, something many believed would be the kryptonite to gold’s superhuman strength.

Investments that are often seen to as alternatives to gold performed exceedingly well. The U.S. stock market continued its record-breaking rally, while bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies experienced what can only be described as a bubblicious and parabolic rise in the last few weeks of 2017.

And, right at the last minute the Republicans managed to pass a very dodgy looking tax bill, prompting Trump to peacock around even more.

Following Trump’s election there had been high hopes for the price of gold. After all, here was a man who had been elected without political experience and on the back of creating social and economic divisions. However, following Trump’s inauguration there was a post-election sell-off at the start of the year. Many were clearly feeling positive about Trump’s impact on both the domestic and international stage.

As various unexpected scenarios played out, from failure to get much done in the White House to sober-rattling with North Korea, the precious metal began to climb. Towards the end of summer, in early-September the gold price hit a year-high of $1346/oz. It then quickly sold off.

Whilst the yellow metal finished the year with a respectable run of gains, the final figures did not match those of say, the S&P 500 which climbed by over 19% in the same year.

Does this mean that relatively speaking the gold price is something we shouldn’t be delighted with? Not at all. The year of 2017 was one of arguably bearish events for the price of gold yet it still made near 14% gains, better than money in a savings account.

This second year of climbing by gold should serve as a timely reminder that the precious metal is not something that will be poked and prodded thanks to short-term, unsustainable economic and political events. Gold investment is for the long-term and there is little benefit thinking that one event will affect the reasons to hold gold.

All of the ‘positives’ of 2017 such as low inflation, Fed hikes and tax bills being passed arguably came about because of farcical economic readings and political manoeuvring. None of the statistics or decisions made as a result are sustainable, particularly against a background of increasing geopolitical risk. The gold price reflected this, particularly in its reactions to what should have been bearish Fed-rate hikes.

It is safe to say that in 2018 gold will be sent significantly higher thanks to ongoing US dollar weakness, higher debt and deficits,  stronger growth combined with potential wage inflation, coming together in a perfect storm with geopolitical risks.

One of the key reasons for gold’s 14% climb in USD terms is thanks to the weakness in the US Dollar itself. There was a strong correlation between the gold price and the greenback in 2017. It’s also worth mentioning that the level of yield of the inflation-protected 10-year Treasuries at the end of the year was similar to the level at the beginning of the year (about 0.5 percent). People do not want the global reserve currency anymore.

2018: The year of the Phoenix?

Nearly 30 years ago The Economist predicted that 2018 would be the year of a new currency uprising. You have to give the magazine some kudos for this prediction. Given what we saw in 2017 with both the rise in bitcoin, cryptocurrencies generally and, of course, efforts by Russia and China to build financial allegiances away from the US dollar, a new world currency in 2018 is more likely than not.

That’s right, whilst the financial media can talk as much as they like about how great 2017 turned out to be, there were plenty of events behind the mainstream wall that were clearly preparing for a financial world where decisions of the last decade come back to bite us.

Moves by Russia and China to step away from US dollar hegemony continued and rapidly progressed in 2017. This forthcoming year does not suggest any sign of let up. Much of the moves away from the US dollar involve the use of gold as the intermediary currency. Exchanges and trade agreements are in full swing.

We also cannot mention 2017 without bitcoin. This was the year that the lead cryptocurrency truly arrived and established itself in the minds of the establishment.

As we have explained several times, bitcoin is not a substitute for gold. It has attracted a lot of hot money in the last year, but long-term this is not to the detriment of gold.

The upward trajectory of bitcoin places it firmly in bubble territory. This is good for gold, as Walter Otstott, a senior broker at Dallas Commodity Co. explained to Bloomberg. ‘If 2017’s hottest asset comes crashing back to Earth, speculative money may be drawn back into gold…He sees gold peaking at $1,600 an ounce next year, compared with the price on Friday of about $1,297.’

Our own experts also see great things for gold this year, particularly thanks to geopolitical threats by those truly looking to end US-power : North Korea.

GoldCore’s Mark O’Byrne told Bloomberg:

‘Gold could end the year at $1,500 if geopolitics heats up in North Korea or the Middle East.’ This is despite gold’s lack of reaction at the various threats from both Trump and Kim Jong-Un. However, gold loves uncertainty and this is certainty a situation which is dripping in volatile uncertainty.

2018: Will it hold its own against the last two years?

2017 showed us that there is still a show to be played out by governments and central banks. There is still a farce to be seen when it comes to reassuring us about the state of the global economy.

Gold’s price rise and the dollar’s weakness shows that there are question marks over this recovery. Gold may be indicating  the reality that very little has changed since the financial crisis. Any ‘fixes’ have been done with a bit of sellotape and little else. We build over the cracks rather than repair them.

Gold investors were rewarded this year for their patience. This is particularly the case given there is seemingly little difference to where we find ourselves today compared to the last two years. Arguably the world is much more uncertain.

2018 is a year not to take chances and to own physical, allocated an segregated gold. The risks in the system are bigger than ever and investors would be wise to take all measures to protect their wealth.

News and Commentary

Gold hits 3-1/2-month highs before dipping on dollar recovery (Reuters.com)

Asian Stocks Extend Advance After U.S. Tech Surge (Bloomberg.com)

Global Manufacturers Strain to Keep Up With Faster Economy (Bloomberg.com)

Gold hits three-month peak after late December rally (Reuters.com)

Silver will fare better than gold in 2018: Goldman Sachs (Rediff.com)

By itself gold could solve Sudan’s economic problems, mining minister says (DabangaSudan.org)

The criminal underwold is dropping bitcoin for another cryptocurrency (Bloomberg.com)

India gold imports surge 67 percent in 2017 on restocking, retail demand – GFMS (Reuters.com)

Turkey’s gold-backed bonds: Government in quest for hidden treasures (Nikkei.com)

Nomi Prins: The Next Financial Crisis Will Be Worse Than the Last One (ZeroHedge.com)

Gold Prices (LBMA AM)

03 Jan: USD 1,314.60, GBP 968.20 & EUR 1,092.96 per ounce
02 Jan: USD 1,312.80, GBP 968.85 & EUR 1,087.52 per ounce
29 Dec: USD 1,296.50, GBP 960.84 & EUR 1,082.45 per ounce
28 Dec: USD 1,291.60, GBP 960.43 & EUR 1,082.75 per ounce
27 Dec: USD 1,285.40, GBP 958.78 & EUR 1,081.54 per ounce
22 Dec: USD 1,268.05, GBP 947.74 & EUR 1,069.85 per ounce
21 Dec: USD 1,265.85, GBP 945.97 & EUR 1,065.09 per ounce

Silver Prices (LBMA)

03 Jan: USD 17.12, GBP 12.63 & EUR 14.25 per ounce
02 Jan: USD 17.06, GBP 12.59 & EUR 14.15 per ounce
29 Dec: USD 16.87, GBP 12.48 & EUR 14.07 per ounce
28 Dec: USD 16.74, GBP 12.46 & EUR 14.02 per ounce
27 Dec: USD 16.50, GBP 12.30 & EUR 13.87 per ounce
22 Dec: USD 16.18, GBP 12.08 & EUR 13.65 per ounce
21 Dec: USD 16.15, GBP 12.08 & EUR 13.61 per ounce

Source: http://news.goldseek.com/GoldSeek/1514986020.php

AGORACOM Welcomes Indonesian Oil & Gas “Elephant” Hunters, Continental Energy Corp.

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 9:27 AM on Tuesday, April 3rd, 2012

Continental Energy Corporation (OTCBB: CPPXF) an emerging international oil and gas company, today announced that it has retained the services of AGORACOM Investor Relations to provide online investor relations services. AGORACOM will specifically provide an online investor relations community for current shareholder communications, in addition to online marketing through search engines, social media networks and Tier-1 financial content partners for the purpose of attracting new shareholders.

Online investor relations maximizes the speed of communication, the degree of transparency and the access to company information. In response to overwhelming research data being generated by small-cap investors, the Company selected online investor relations to facilitate faster and more efficiently communications with both current and prospective shareholders around the world.

Effective immediately, a customized and monitored Continental Energy Corporation IR HUB will be available at http://agoracom.com/ir/continentalenergy, allowing management to communicate with shareholders anytime and in near real-time through an electronic shareholder forum http://agoracom.com/ir/continentalenergy/forums/discussion. Moreover, the IR HUB will provide the Company’s management with the ability to extend communications beyond text via audio messages, video presentations, Skype broadcasts, webcasts and podcasts.

Richard L. McAdoo, Chief Executive Officer commented, “We are anxious to embark on this campaign to both increase communications with existing shareholders and to attract new shareholders to our company as we continue to expand our involvement into new energy projects throughout Southeast Asia. We encourage everyone to get involved and to maximize the strength of our online IR campaign.”

Bengara II Block

Indonesian Focus

Indonesia holds proven oil reserves of 4.2 billion barrels and ranks twenty first among world oil producers, accounting for approximately 1.2% of world oil production . Declining oil production and increased consumption resulted in Indonesia becoming a net oil importer inlate 2004. This factor, along with high oil prices in 2004-2008, led the Government to substantially scale back the domestic fuel subsidyin 2008 and to decide to temporarily withdraw from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries –an organization representing approximately 45% of world oil production. As the only Asian member of OPEC since 1962, the Government has indicated it will consider rejoining OPEC if the country’s oil production can be increased and it can becomea net exporter again.

Indonesia is ranked eighth in world gas production, with proven reserves of 108 trillion cubic feet in year 2010. This ranks eleventh largest in the world and the largest in the Asia Pacific region.

IR Hub / Corporate Profile / Discussion Forum

AGORACOM Small Cap Wire: $1,700 Gold; What To Watch Tonight; China Is Mad: QE3 Cometh

Posted by AGORACOM at 12:14 AM on Monday, August 8th, 2011


AGORACOM WIRE – SUNDAY NIGHT EDITION

11:50 PM EST … GOLD HITS $1,700 AGORACOM Gold Prices Matrix

6:45 PM EST … Too Early For Meaningful Analysis … Just A Guessing Game … So Let’s Watch The Action For A Few Hours

What To Watch Tonight

Gold Is Up $37 … Hit $1,697 … Silver Flat

Analysis To Begin Later Tonight … In The Meantime …

POPULAR WEEKEND ARTICLES

Uh Oh, China Is Mad … Official Statement Blasts US, Calls For New Reserve Currency (Full Story) …George Says ..

  • Gold / Silver Set To Explode …
  • China Will Now Challenge GOP To Game Of Brinkmanship … China Will Win Twitter

GEORGE’S QE3 “DELAY” PREDICTION – We Predicted Political Delay, Damage and Data On March 30th,

TRIPLE DIGIT SILVER – Sprott and Citigroup Knew Something Was Up When They Made These Bold Predictions

1:1 Gold / Dow Ratio? See The 200 Year Chart And Discuss … This Article Continues To Be A Favourite Amongst Members

PIMCO Shorts US Debt, Goes To Cash – What Does This Mean For Small-Cap Investors?

Posted by AGORACOM at 8:46 AM on Monday, April 11th, 2011

The biggest news for small-cap investors to digest – by far – is that PIMCO has not only sold all of its US Debt Holdings, it has gone short.  Find my comments below via Twitter (reverse chronology) and my follow on comments below on how this plays out (theory vs. practically):

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN – Theoretically?

On it’s surface (I stress SURFACE), Bill Gross, Founder of PIMCO, is telling us that QE3 isn’t coming and nobody will be stepping into to replace US Fed purchases of US Gov’t debt.  That will lead to – at the very least – a drop in Debt prices, so he is getting the hell out of Dodge.  Simple enough … until you get to my practical comments below.

First, here are the theoretical (I stress THEORETICAL) follow-on effects:

INTEREST RATES – Going higher, just a matter of degree

$USD – Should strengthen with rising rates

EQUITIES – Should weaken for two reasons: A) Corporate expenses rise on higher borrowing rates = lower profits; B) Investors sell stocks to raise cash. Small-cap resource stocks fall in unison.

GOLD / SILVER – Should weaken against the US Dollar at the very least, potentially against most major currencies

US REAL ESTATE – Bombs Away .. my real estate theory since October 2009 remains intact

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN – Practically?

Unfortunately, we have learned over the last decade that economic theory can no longer be relied upon.  After all, interest rate easing that began after 9/11 was never intended to crash real estate markets, plunge the planet into a debt crisis and lead to record nominal gold prices … yet here we are despite the “brightest” minds at the US Fed, White House and Central Banks around the world.

What truly happens isn’t so linear because market manipulation has taken the natural ebb and flow out of all markets – debt, equities, commodities, currencies.  Prices are no longer determined by value – they are determined by confidence or a lack thereof.  As such, what should practically happen is the following:

CONFIDENCE CRISIS – When US Fed purchases of US debt vanishes and isn’t replaced by the market, a crisis of confidence will commence.

INTEREST RATES – Will move incrementally higher, then accelerate as US debt prices free fall

$USD – Will initially strengthen with rising rates and bond nibbling, then drop as investors realize bond/confidence risk is too great.  Swiss Franc and Canadian Dollar will do very well.

EQUITIES – Double Dip probability rises dramatically. Small-cap resource stocks take an initial hit, followed by massive rebound on gold, silver moves (see below).

GOLD / SILVER- Will initially weaken by as much as 20% /30% respectively on early $USD strength, then rocket towards all-time inflation adjusted highs of ~ $2,200 and $150 within 12 months

US REAL ESTATE – Bombs Away .. my real estate theory since October 2009 remains intact

AM I A GENIOUS OR WHAT?

I’d like to think so – but I don’t think so for two reasons:

1] Obvious Reason – I could be very wrong and a number of other outcomes could occur.  This time, I think I’m right – but see #2 below

2]  The Fed / White House / Wall Street Financial Matrix Isn’t Stupid – Despite what many smart people have to say, the powers that be aren’t as stupid as they seem.  They just don’t give a damn about your long-term interests. Despite damage to the current and long-term US economy, I firmly believe they have executed their plan perfectly in their best interests – and they’re not finished ….

QE3

It’s coming … 100% … only this time it will require the financial pain I have outlined above in order to politically justify it … but as I posted on March 30th, QE3 Will Be Delayed, Not Terminated.

At that point, the game plan resumes … but not before Bill Gross and PIMCO step back into US Debt, go long and make a killing on their cash thanks to rising debt prices, which leads to falling rates, much weaker $USD, stabilized stock markets, MUCH higher gold/silver, MUCH higher junior resource stocks.

Until then, plan accordingly.

Regards,
George

Silver About To Explode As JP Morgan Cheats On COMEX Silver Deliveries?

Posted by AGORACOM at 5:56 AM on Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011

The following video caught the attention of a prominent investor I follow online, so I watched and it makes a lot of sense.  If so, we may be about to see a massive “melt-up” in silver prices and accompanying junior silver companies.  As you all know, I am extremely bullish on Oremex Resources and hold shares.

Watch the video, let me know what you think.  You can post to comments below, or members can post on our Silver HUB. If you’re not a member, you can still post using your Facebook account.

UPDATE: Great Article On Seeking Alpha Exposing The Fast-Tracked JP Morgan Vault Approval.

VIDEO: Marc Faber On CNBC …. QE3, 4, 5, 6 ….

Posted by AGORACOM at 9:10 AM on Tuesday, March 15th, 2011

Faber on Japan, the Fed and QE ….. For those of you who think Faber is too pessimistic, he does view the current Japanese sell-off as a buying opportunity but says all bets are off if a meltdown takes place.

Further QE means greater inflation, higher gold / silver / commodities, which is bullish for TSX Venture Juniors and the TSX in general.

AGORACOM Wire – What Small Cap Members Are Reading On February 7th

Posted by AGORACOM at 10:34 AM on Monday, February 7th, 2011

AGORACOM WIRE – MONDAY FEBRUARY 7TH 2011

FEATURE STORY

Investors Bet $102 Billion On Gold In January (Summary). Bloomberg Top Rated Analysts Believe Silver and Gold Will Appreciate 23% and 20% By End of 2011 (Full Story)

TOP STORIES

1. Copper hits record; stocks, Treasury yields up Member Post.  Also, forget Dow 12,000 … Think Copper $12,000. Great For Donner Metals!!

2. In Ontario, a major investment in the Ring of Fire region north of Thunder Bay is expected

3. NASDAQ Hacked ! George Says “This should come as no surprise. Bet the farm it has been happening for years at individual companies”

4. Focus Metals (FMS:TSXV) Advancing Quickly Towards Becoming A Leading Graphite Producer (George’s Blog)
5.  Think It’s Possible To Find The Next Apple or Google via Good Research? Intense Data Says No You Can’t

SPONSOR MESSAGE – BULLISH ON COPPER?

AGORACOM Is Supported By Great Small-Cap Companies That Want To Reach You. Please Take A Minute To Discover Them And Potentially Find Your Next Great Small-Cap Investment.

TODAY’S SPONSOR: Donner Metals (DON:TSXV)

On November 25th, 2010, Donner and Xstrata Received “Development Of The Year Award” At The Quebec Exploration 2010 Conference.  Their Copper, Zinc, Gold, Silver Mine Is Under Construction, Will Be In Production In 2013 and expected to produce 83M lbs CopperFull Summary & Video.

CNBC Sets Jim Rogers Straight On Commodities – Despite Being Wrong For A Decade

Posted by AGORACOM at 4:11 PM on Friday, February 4th, 2011

Despite commodities outperforming stocks by 1,000% over the past decade, the idiots at CNBC Europe speak to Jim Rogers as if he’s a senile old man.  Reminiscent of the way CNBC and other media anchors would speak to Peter Schiff before the the world banking industry melted to nothing (only to be saved by Xerox machines at every central bank).

Commodities In Virgin Inflation Territory – Wonder Why Developing Nations Rioting? View Chart

Posted by AGORACOM at 8:00 AM on Thursday, February 3rd, 2011

Forget about what CNBC and the politicians have to lie say about inflation … this chart tells the whole story:

Vicious Money Printing Cycle = Junior Resource Stocks

Posted by AGORACOM at 8:36 AM on Thursday, January 13th, 2011

“Quote the chairman: “This fear of inflation is way overstated. We’ve looked at it very, very carefully. We’ve analyzed it every which way… We will not allow inflation to rise above 2% or less… I am 100% certain i can control inflation.” Presenting the Jefferies global commodity index (CRB) which just hit a 27 month high.” Tyler Durden – Zero Hedge

The downside to printing money for the purposes of stimulating the economy is that commodities rise, which makes things more expensive, which leaves people less money to stimulate the economy.  Nonetheless, Ben Bernanke and The US Fed continue to claim inflation is under control.  The data below clearly shows otherwise.

American disposable income is getting chiseled away at the gas pump and grocery store.  Their pocket books don’t lie and they certainly won’t stimulate the economy by purchasing real estate and “stuff”.  The ironic thing is that Bernanke will use the lack of consumer spending as a reason to keep printing money, which will lead to further inflation, which will lead to decreasing discretionary spending, which will lead to further deferral of “the recovery”, which will lead to more money being printed.

The answer to staying out of the vicious circle?  Gold, Silver, Junior Resource Stocks.

Chart below courtesy of the good people at ZeroHedge.com