Posted by AGORACOM
at 2:52 PM on Thursday, August 22nd, 2019
SPONSOR: GGX Gold Corp (TSX-V: GGX) GGX’s Gold Drop Property resides within a multi-million ounce gold producing region in British Columbia. The property holds the C.O.D. Vein and recently discovered Everest Vein. GGX has initiated 2019 drilling at Gold Drop. Click Here for More Info
Worldwide holdings have rebounded since 2016 on rising demand
Goldman Sachs has forecast further gains in bullion to $1,600
Gold’s faring extremely well as a haven asset, with inflows into
exchange-traded funds hitting 1,000 tons since holdings bottomed in
early 2016 after a prolonged unwind in the wake of the global financial
crisis.
Total known ETF holdings expanded to 2,424.9 tons on Wednesday, the
highest since 2013, following inflows over the past three years and a
continued build-up in 2019, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
Current assets are about 1,000 tons higher than the post financial
crisis nadir of 1,425.1 tons.
Gold has surged this year as investors seek protection from slowing
global growth, the incessant trade war, and turmoil in the bond market
that suggests the U.S. may be headed for another recession. The rise has
been aided by a rate cut from the Federal Reserve and expectations more
will soon follow. This week, veteran investor Mark Mobius gave a
blanket endorsement to buying bullion, saying accumulating the precious
metal will reap long-term rewards.
Others are also bullish. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. has said prices will climb
to $1,600 an ounce over the next six months. The bank’s global head of
commodities research, Jeffrey Currie, said that gains are likely be
fueled by demand for ETFs as well as increased central-bank purchases.
Spot gold traded at about $1,500 on Thursday, up 17% this year.
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 9:11 PM on Sunday, August 18th, 2019
30 days ago, American Creek Resources (AMK:TSXV) was well known only amongst investors that believe in the Golden Triangle of Northern B.C. Then, it all changed overnight when Eric Sprott stated the following on July 19, 2019 about the Company’s Treaty Creek project:
“It’s drilling a monster play just like the GT Gold play … It’s in the perfect logistical place to develop it …. what we’re shooting for is to define a 10 or 20-million-ounce discovery, so you’re paying nothing for this discovery.â€
To add further fuel to the fire, the Company’s JV partner is Tudor Gold, whose CEO (Walter Storm) startup funded Osisko to a $4.5 BILLION market cap. Drill results were so good at the end of July that Tudor Gold brought in a second drill, while Eric Sprott personally invested $1,000,000 into AMK 8 days later. If 3rd party validation is important to you in the world of gold exploration, it doesn’t get better than having Eric Sprott and Walter Storm in your corner.
Grab your favourite cold beverage and watch this interview with CEO Darren Blaney and Investor Relations officer Kelvin Burton …. the laughter and smiles on their faces are priceless.
Posted by AGORACOM
at 1:19 PM on Monday, August 12th, 2019
SPONSOR: Advance Gold AAX.v – Advance Gold controls 100% interest in the Tabasquena Silver Mine in Zacatecas, Mexico. A cluster of 30 Epithermal veins have been discovered, with recent emphasis on exploring a large anomaly to drill. Advance also owns 15% of the Kakamega JV attached to Barrick Takeover Offer for Acacia Mining
In Canada, Gold is $100 higher than its (previous) all-time highs.
Gold and Silver Ratio also close to previous highs
Posted by AGORACOM
at 10:40 AM on Friday, August 9th, 2019
SPONSOR: Advance Gold AAX.v – Advance Gold controls 100% interest in the Tabasquena Silver Mine in Zacatecas, Mexico. A cluster of 30 Epithermal veins have been discovered, with recent emphasis on exploring a large anomaly to drill. Advance also owns 15% of the Kakamega JV attached to Barrick Takeover Offer for Acacia Mining Click Here for More Info
AAX.v
The model tells us that gold prices were inexpensive for the first five months of 2019 and are slightly undervalued at the end of July 2019. Gold prices should rise in the next five years
Breaking News: COMEX paper gold contracts closed on Wednesday, August 7, at $1,513, up from $1,274 on May 22. Gold bottomed at $1,045 in December 2015. The S&P 500 Index closed at a new all-time high on July 26.
We don’t know. Gold has disappointed for years, but central banks
must “inflate or die.†Expect more QE, lower interest rates and
excessive political and central bank manipulations.
But the more important question is: Are the COMEX prices for paper gold a fair value for the metal, or are they misrepresentative of what prices should be in this debt-based QE manipulated economy?
Should gold prices be higher or lower?
Consider the following graph of actual gold prices (each annual data point is the average of about 250 daily prices) and calculated gold prices based on an updated empirical model.
WHAT THIS GRAPH DOES NOT DO:
It is an empirical model, NOT a mathematical proof. It guarantees
nothing. While the model has worked for five decades, it could become
less effective tomorrow, next year, or never.
The model does NOT use gold or silver prices to produce calculated gold prices.
It is NOT a price prediction for paper gold contracts on the COMEX.
It is NOT a timing model. You shouldn’t TRADE based on this model.
WHAT THIS GRAPH DOES:
The model shows an estimated value for (annual average) gold prices based on macroeconomic variables. It is a valuation model.
The calculated gold model uses official national debt, crude oil, and the S&P 500 Index as input variables.
Test the Assumptions:
Gold prices rise, along with most other prices, as the banking
cartel devalues the dollar and pushes currency units into circulation. A
proxy for inflationary price increases is the official U.S. National
Debt adjusted for population growth.
Official National Debt in 1971 was $400 billion. Today it exceeds
$22,000 billion – over $22 trillion. Debt and prices will increase until
the financial system breaks or resets.
Gold prices rise along with crude oil, the most important global commodity.
Crude oil sold for $2.00 in 1971. Today it sells for $51.00. It
peaked at $147 in 2008. Crude oil prices rise because the banking cartel
devalues the dollar, changing supply and demand, and because
commodities are sometimes more desired than paper assets.
Over the long-term, commodity prices, including oil and gold, rise
and fall opposite to the S&P 500 Index. When investors favor stocks
(and paper investments) commodity prices are often weak. When commodity
prices are strong, stocks are often weak. The model assumes that gold
prices are mildly, but inversely, affected by the S&P 500 Index.
Gold is real money, unlike the digital and paper debts
(“fake-moneyâ€) issued by central banks. Gold will rise in “fake-moneyâ€
units as the banking cartel devalues currency units by issuing
ever-increasing quantities of “fake-money.†In many currencies, gold has
already reached new all-time highs.
Assumptions Summary:
Gold prices move higher as population adjusted national debt increases. (Dollar devaluation drives all prices higher.)
Gold prices move higher and lower with crude oil, another commodity.
Gold prices move opposite to the S&P 500 Index. (Investor preference for commodities versus paper assets.)
The model weighs and combines these macroeconomic variables to produce a “calculated gold price.†Call it a “fair value†price.
Examine the graph of gold prices and calculated gold prices for nearly five decades. Note that:
Calculated prices approximately match the annual average of daily gold prices.
Calculated prices may bottom and rally several years before the paper gold price bottoms and moves upward.
Calculated annual prices don’t reach gold’s high and low daily prices because daily prices spike too high and crash lower.
Buying for the long term makes sense when daily gold prices are low compared to the “calculated†price. (Think early 2019.)
Selling a portion of core positions is sensible when daily prices are well above “calculated†prices, such as in 2011.
Gold Prices in Five Years?
I don’t know, but almost certainly much higher.
The model depends upon national debt (will be much higher), crude
oil prices (higher in five years—probably) and the S&P 500 Index
(flat to higher—maybe).
National debt will rise rapidly. A 100-year average increase is
almost 9% per year, every year. Current economic conditions, no credible
spending restraints, “QE to Infinity,†and the coming recession will
boost deficits and debt into the stratosphere, even without more wars.
Crude oil prices rise and fall. They traded below $11 in 1998,
reached $147 in 2008, but moved below $30 in 2016. Mid-East tensions and
inflationary expectations are rising. It’s reasonable to expect crude
oil prices will not fall much from current levels and might rise
considerably.
The S&P 500 has risen from 100 in the 1960s. It is overvalued
today and likely to fall, but in the long-term it will rise as dollars
are devalued. Assume it corrects and then rises slowly. Remember, the
S&P 500 collapsed over 50% after its 2007 high.
“I think the crashing point is where
the Scottish economist Peter Millar puts it – where interest on debt
starts going exponential and consuming the real economy. In a paper
written in 2006 Millar wrote that fiat money systems based on debt
require periodic currency devaluations to reduce the burden of interest
payments. These devaluations require upward revaluation of the monetary
metals and all real assets relative to debt and currency.
“Indeed, the U.S. economists and fund
managers Paul Brodsky and Lee Quaintance speculated in 2012 that such a
devaluation of currencies and upward revaluation of gold was already
the long-term plan of central banks – that they were
redistributing world gold reserves to allow countries with excessive
U.S. dollar surpluses to hedge themselves against a dollar devaluation.
The resulting upward revaluation of gold, Brodsky and Quaintance wrote, would reliquify central banking around the world.â€
“In simplest terms, easy money blows up bubbles. Bubbles pop and set off a crisis. Rinse. Wash. Repeat.â€
“The economy is loaded up with
government, corporate and consumer debt. The stock markets have been
juiced to record levels. We also see other asset bubbles in high-yield
bonds, housing (again), and commercial real estate, along with a lot of
other assets you don’t hear as much about – such as art and comic
books.â€
“The bottom line is that we can’t
“fix†the economy by electing Republicans or Democrats. We can’t put the
country on sound economic footing by tweaking this or that policy in
Washington D.C. The only way to put the economy on a sound
footing is to deal with the root cause of the problem — the Federal
Reserve and its constant meddling.â€[In the meantime, expect larger deficits and higher gold prices.]
From Groucho Marx:
“Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong remedies.â€[The results include massive deficits, unpayable debt, consumer price inflation and higher gold prices.]
CONCLUSIONS:
The model tells us that gold prices were inexpensive for the
first five months of 2019 and are slightly undervalued at the end of
July 2019.
Gold prices should rise in the next five years. The model, depending
on assumptions for debt increases, crude oil prices and the S&P
500, suggests a fair value of $2,500 to $4,500 in five years. A spike
much higher, perhaps to $10,000, is not unlikely.
Daily prices could double or triple the fair value or fall 10% to 20% below fair value.
This model is not a prediction or guarantee. It is a valuation
model. It could lose accuracy tomorrow, but it has a nearly five-decade
history of success.
Correlation for the annual model since 1971 is 0.97. The R-Squared value is 0.95.
Buy when the market price is at or lower than the calculated gold price, such as now or after the next correction. Sell when market prices drastically exceed calculated fair value, such as in late 1979, early 1980, and July-August 2011.
Miles Franklin
will convert dodgy debt-based dollars into physical metal that has
preserved wealth for millennia. The gold valuation model says buy during
2019 because gold prices are below fair value. Call Miles Franklin at
1-800-822-8080 to purchase undervalued gold and silver bullion and
coins.
Posted by AGORACOM
at 10:48 AM on Thursday, August 8th, 2019
SPONSOR: GGX Gold Corp (TSX-V: GGX) GGX’s Gold Drop Property resides within a multi-million ounce gold producing region in British Columbia. The property holds the C.O.D. Vein and recently discovered Everest Vein. GGX has initiated 2019 drilling at Gold Drop. Click Here for More Info
Beijing wants more gold in its reserves.
China’s central bank expanded gold reserves again in July, pressing on with a run that stretches back to December.
The People’s Bank of China raised holdings to 62.26 million ounces from 61.94 million a month earlier, according to data on its website.
In tonnage terms, the inflow was close to 10 tons, following the addition of about 84 tons in the seven months to June.
There’s a powerful constant amid the to-and-fro of the U.S.-China
trade war as currency policy gets dragged into the standoff between the
world’s two top economies: Beijing wants more gold in its reserves.
China’s central bank expanded gold reserves again in July, pressing
on with a run that stretches back to December. The People’s Bank of
China raised holdings to 62.26 million ounces from 61.94 million a month
earlier, according to data on its website. In tonnage terms, the inflow
was close to 10 tons, following the addition of about 84 tons in the
seven months to June.
Gold has rallied in 2019 to a hit a six-year high as global growth
stutters, central banks including the Federal Reserve eased policy, and
the festering trade war all combined to bolster demand. Increased
central-bank buying from China to Russia and Poland has helped to
buttress consumption at a time of rising prices. This week, the conflict
between Washington and Beijing worsened as the yuan was allowed to
breach a key level, reinforcing the case for havens.
“It is important for the country to diversify away from the U.S.
dollar,†Philip Klapwijk, managing director at consultant Precious
Metals Insights Ltd., said before the PBOC’s latest figure was released.
“Over the long run, even relatively small-scale gold purchases add up
and help to meet this objective.â€
Gold futures rose as much as 1.3% to $1,503.30 an ounce on Wednesday,
the highest since 2013, before trading at $1,500.70 at 11:26 a.m. in
London.
“This fits with China’s well established pattern of increasing gold
reserves month after month but not in a large enough volume to disrupt
the gold market,†said Ross Strachan, a senior commodities economist at
Capital Economics Ltd. “We expect them to continue this trend as part of
their long-term strategy to diversify their foreign exchange reserves.â€
Central banks continued to load up on gold this year,
helping push total bullion demand to a three-year high in the first
half, according to the World Gold Council. That trend is expected to
continue, with a survey of central banks showing 54% of respondents
expect holdings to climb in the next 12 months.
“Bear in mind that China is the largest mine producer of gold in the world,†Klapwijk added. “The state can always buy local mine production using†local currency, he said.
10% of
all the Silver ever produced on earth came within a 100km diameter of its past
producing Tabasquena Mine.
What
makes Advance Gold even more exciting is the fact they’ve found just as much
gold as silver since they started drilling Tabasquena over the past couple of
years.
After
discovering a cluster of epithermal veins in the “first layer of their
cake”, CEO Allan Barry Laboucan thinks he’ll find the massive source in the
second layer…. Because that’s where mines all around him have found their
source.
Watch
this great interview with him to find out why you should be circling Labour Day
on your calendar.
American Creek owns a 20% Carried Interest to
Production at the Treaty Creek Project in the Golden Triangle. 2019’s
first hole averaged 0.683 g/t Au over 780m
in a vertical intercept. The Treaty Creek property is located in the
same hydrothermal system as Pretivm and Seabridge’s KSM deposits.
Eric Sprott recently made a strategic 1$M investment in AMK
Lead by Shawn Ryan and Roger Moss, LAB has 2 district scale Gold projects in Labrador that have never seen any modern exploration techniques. Ashuanipi and Hopedale are being systematically explored for gold potential utilizing the same techniques that created the White Gold discoveries. At Ashuanipi , a 15km long by 2 to 6 km wide north-south trend exists and a second 14 km long by 2 to 4 km wide east-west trend exists. At Hopedale, 2019 exploration has discovered two new mineralized showings.First showing extends potential strike length by approximately 500 metres along strike of the Thurber Dog gold occurrence; Second showing was discovered in the Misery North area
GGX gold has discovered high grade gold silver and tellurium in the
Greenwood-Republic mining camp, British Columbia. The current 2019 drill
program follows up on 2018 intercept of high grade gold-silver (129 g/t gold and 1,154 g/t silver over 7.28 meter) from the near surface COD vein which is projected to be 1.5 kms in length. In addition tellurium grades were announced with “up to 3,860 g/t telluriumâ€, including “823 g/t tellurium over 7.28-meter core length†and “640 g/t tellurium over 6.90-meter core length. 2019 drilling on COD North is currently underway.
Great Atlantic is situated between Marathon Gold and Sokoman in
Canada’s newest emerging gold district. The Company reported a NI
43-101mineral resource estimate for the JMZ in late 2018 on Golden
Promise and 2019 is focused on prospecting and geochemical sampling at
high priority targets within the property. Planned 24 hole program in
the northern half of the property at the gold-bearing Jaclyn Zone,
specifically at the Jaclyn Main Zone (JMZ) and Jaclyn North Zone (JNZ).
Posted by AGORACOM
at 2:39 PM on Tuesday, August 6th, 2019
A 3D Induced Polarization (IP) geophysical survey on its Tabasquena project in Zacatecas, Mexico is underway.
Survey designed to complement and enhance current 3D model of Tabasquena Epithermal veins
Goal of the survey is to assess the depth potential below the near surface mineralized zone
Kamloops, British Columbia–(Newsfile Corp. – August 6, 2019) – Advance Gold Corp. (TSXV: AAX) (“Advance Gold” or “the Company”) is pleased to announce that a 3D Induced Polarization (IP) geophysical survey on its Tabasquena project in Zacatecas, Mexico is underway. This geophysical survey is designed to complement and enhance the 3D model derived from the recent drilling which confirmed a widespread gold and silver mineralized epithermal vein system.
Prior to Advance Gold acquiring the project, a limited IP survey had
been carried out. This historical IP survey effectively identified three
of the known veins as significant chargeability and resistivity
anomalies.
The goal of the survey is to assess the depth potential below the
near surface mineralized zone that was encountered in the andesites,
with the graphitic phyllites below still open at depth. It is important
to note that the vein systems in the nearby mines operated by Fresnillo
Plc., and MAG Silver’s Juanicipio mine currently under construction, are
epithermal veins systems focused on zones within the graphitic
phyllites.
The 3D IP geophysical survey will take thousands of data point
readings on an 800 X 500 metre grid. It is designed to give a clearer
picture of anomalies adjacent to and below the current drilling, which
is primarily down to 300 metres, and possibly see down to approximately
600 metres.
Allan Barry Laboucan, President and CEO of Advance Gold Corp. commented: “We
are in a unique position for a gold and silver explorer as having found
a fully intact epithermal vein system. This is a fairly rare
occurrence. Making things somewhat challenging is that with a system
like this, the boiling zone of the system is deeper. This is the case in
all of the nearby mines around the cities of Fresnillo and Zacatecas,
Mexico. The mines are hosted in the graphitic phyllites below the
andesites. We have drilled a widespread zone of gold and silver
mineralization in the andesites at Tabasquena. Hopefully, once the
geophysical survey is completed we will be better able to focus our
deeper drilling in the search for the boiling zone of the system. With
the gold and silver markets gaining strength, it is a very exciting time
for us to be advancing this exceptional project. In addition to the
technical merits of the project, we are in one of the most prolific
mining regions worldwide for silver as 10% of the historical world
silver production comes from the state of Zacatecas, from epithermal
vein systems. Since we made the discovery of this system approximately
one year ago, the gold and silver markets have gone from being subdued
to much more optimistic. One of the defining attributes of this region,
in addition to the prolific mines, is that the costs for exploration,
development and mining are some of the lowest in the mining sector. We
have a highly prospective project at Tabasquena, are doing the work to
advance the project, have a small and tight share structure and will be
delivering crucial news as the market for gold and silver are improving
yet the menu for investors to choose from is small when it comes to the
exploration of quality projects.”
Julio Pinto Linares is a QP, Doctor in Geological Sciences with
specialty in Economic Geology and Qualified Professional No. 01365 by
MMSA., and QP for Advance Gold and is the qualified person as defined by
National Instrument 43-101 and he has read and approved the accuracy of
technical information contained in this news release.
About Advance Gold Corp. (TSXV: AAX)
Advance Gold is a TSX-V listed junior exploration company focused on
acquiring and exploring mineral properties containing precious metals.
The Company acquired a 100% interest in the Tabasquena Silver Mine in
Zacatecas, Mexico in 2017, and the Venaditas project, also in Zacatecas
state, in April, 2018.
The Tabasquena project is located near the Milagros silver mine near
the city of Ojocaliente, Mexico. Benefits at Tabasquena include road
access to the claims, power to the claims, a 100-metre underground shaft
and underground workings, plus it is a fully permitted mine.
Venaditas is well located adjacent to Teck’s San Nicolas mine, a VMS
deposit, and it is approximately 11km to the east of the Tabasquena
project, along a paved road.
In addition, Advance Gold holds a 14.63% interest on strategic claims
in the Liranda Corridor in Kenya, East Africa. The remaining 85.37% of
the Kakamega project is held by Acacia Mining (63% owned by Barrick Gold
Corporation).
For further information, please contact: Allan Barry Laboucan, President and CEO Phone: (604) 505-4753 Email: [email protected]
American Creek owns a 20% Carried Interest to Production at the Treaty Creek Project in the Golden Triangle. 2019’s first hole averaged 0.683 g/t Au over 780m in a vertical intercept. The Treaty Creek property is located in the same hydrothermal system as Pretivm and Seabridge’s KSM deposits. Eric Sprott recently made a strategic 1$M investment in AMK
Lead by Shawn Ryan and Roger Moss, LAB has 2 district scale Gold projects in Labrador that have never seen any modern exploration techniques. Ashuanipi and Hopedale are being systematically explored for gold potential utilizing the same techniques that created the White Gold discoveries. At Ashuanipi , a 15km long by 2 to 6 km wide north-south trend exists and a second 14 km long by 2 to 4 km wide east-west trend exists. At Hopedale, 2019 exploration has discovered two new mineralized showings.First showing extends potential strike length by approximately 500 metres along strike of the Thurber Dog gold occurrence; Second showing was discovered in the Misery North area
GGX gold has discovered high grade gold silver and tellurium in the Greenwood-Republic mining camp, British Columbia. The current 2019 drill program follows up on 2018 intercept of high grade gold-silver (129 g/t gold and 1,154 g/t silver over 7.28 meter) from the near surface COD vein which is projected to be 1.5 kms in length. In addition tellurium grades were announced with “up to 3,860 g/t telluriumâ€, including “823 g/t tellurium over 7.28-meter core length†and “640 g/t tellurium over 6.90-meter core length. 2019 drilling on COD North is currently underway.
Great Atlantic is situated between Marathon Gold and Sokoman in Canada’s newest emerging gold district. The Company reported a NI 43-101mineral resource estimate for the JMZ in late 2018 on Golden Promise and 2019 is focused on prospecting and geochemical sampling at high priority targets within the property. Planned 24 hole program in the northern half of the property at the gold-bearing Jaclyn Zone, specifically at the Jaclyn Main Zone (JMZ) and Jaclyn North Zone (JNZ).
Posted by AGORACOM
at 9:40 AM on Thursday, August 1st, 2019
SPONSOR: Great Atlantic Resources Corp (TSX-V: GR) Great Atlantic Resources. A Canadian exploration company focused on the discovery and development of mineral assets in the resource-rich and sovereign risk-free realm of Atlantic Canada, one of the number one mining regions of the world. Great Atlantic is currently surging forward building the company utilizing a Project Generation model, with a special focus on the most critical elements on the planet that are prominent in Atlantic Canada, Antimony, Tungsten and Gold. Click Here for More Info
Central banks’ insatiable appetite for gold dominated the marketplace between April and June, according to the latest data from the World Gold Council
Global gold demand totaled 1,123 tonnes in the second quarter, up 8% from the second quarter of 2018.
For the first half of the year, physical gold demand rose of 2,181.7 tonnes, its highest level in three years.
(Kitco News) –
Central banks’ insatiable appetite for gold dominated the marketplace
between April and June, according to the latest data from the World
Gold Council (WGC).
In its second-quarter Gold Demand Trends report, the council said
that central banks bought a total of 224 tonnes of gold between April
and June. Official gold reserves increased by 374.1 tonnes in the first
half of the year — “the largest net H1 increase in global gold reserves
in our 19-year quarterly data series,†the analysts said in the
report.
“Buying was again spread across a diverse range of – largely emerging market – countries,†the WGC said.
The WGC said that nine central banks bought gold in the first half of the year.
“Central
banks, like other investors, sought safety in gold as they looked to
protect themselves in the face of many looming risks,†the analysts
said.
The report said that global gold demand totaled 1,123 tonnes in the
second quarter, up 8% from the second quarter of 2018. For the first
half of the year, physical gold demand rose of 2,181.7 tonnes, its
highest level in three years.
The report highlighted renewed strength in key sectors of the gold
market. In particular, gold jewelry demand in India increased by 12% to
168.8 tonnes, compared to the second quarter of 2018. This was the best
year-over-year quarterly increase since the second quarter of 2017.
“Indian demand was boosted early in the quarter by the wedding
season and festival buying, before slowing sharply as the gold price
rallied in June,†the report said.
The WGC noted that India’s gold demand faces strong headwinds as purchases have come to a “virtual standstill.â€
“The slowing economic environment and restrictions on the movement
of cash during the elections were a drag on demand in April and May,â€
the report said.
The India gold market was also hit with higher tariffs in early July with import duties rising to 12.5% from 10%.
“Although we do not expect this to have a long-term impact on gold
demand in India, we do see it having a dampening impact on Q3,
particularly as gold prices have remained elevated,†the WGC said.
While India saw strong growth in the second quarter, the world’s
largest gold consuming nation saw its third consecutive quarterly drop.
The WGC said that Chinese jewelry demand dropped by 4% in Q2 to 137.8
tonnes.
“Demand ground to a halt once the June price rally began and
retailer’s promotional efforts could not tempt consumers back.
Reportedly, showrooms were deserted as the quarter came to a close,†the
analysts said.
ETF Investment Demand Remains Robust
The second quarter started on a sour note for gold investors but
ended with a bang, according to the report. Renewed interest in
gold-backed exchange-traded products led the investment surge,
increasing by 67.2 tonnes in the second quarter an increase of 99% from
the second quarter of 2018.
The gains were predominantly seen in June as the month saw inflows
of 126.7 tonnes, reversing April’s outflows of 57.2 tonnes. The WGC
said that total hold holding reached a six-year high of 2,548 tonnes in
the first half of the year.
“Geopolitical uncertainty, dovish monetary policy commentary by
central banks, and a rising gold price were among the key factors that
drove investors to increase their holdings,†the analysts said.
The WGC highlighted the growing trend of European and U.K. investors
leading the way in the gold market. It noted that U.K.-listed funds
accounted for 75% of all global inflows during the second quarter.
“Investors sought the safe haven of gold amid the uncertainty
surrounding Brexit and the leadership battle that followed Theresa
May’s resignation as Prime Minister,†the analysts said. “The sharp drop
in the value of the pound also fueled inflows during the quarter as
the U.K.’s growth prospects were cut following repeated failures in
Brexit negotiations.â€
The WGC added that historic negative bond yields in German bonds also added to gold’s investment appeal.
Lackluster Coin and Bar Demand
Although
investors have been jumping into gold-backed ETFs, interest in
physical gold was fairly muted. The WGC said that gold coin and bar
demand dropped 12% in Q2 to 476.9 tonnes, the lowest level since 2009.
They noted that June’s sharp price rally has weighed on physical demand.
“This market has been struggling for some time, with many
traditional gold investors focused on America’s healthy economic growth,
low unemployment, and continued wage growth,†the WGC said. “The gold
price rally in June triggered selling by some investors, and coin
premiums in the secondary market fell to their lowest level since
before the global financial crisis, spurring gold exports from the US
to Germany.â€
Tech Sector Sees Lower Gold Demand
Although not a significant factor for the physical gold market,
analysts said that the tech sector saw gold demand drop by 3% in the
second quarter to 81.1 tonnes.
“This was the third consecutive quarter of falling demand, due to a
range of challenges in the electronics sector, including the ongoing
trade dispute between China and the US. However, there are signs of
recovery and we expect declines to continue to slow throughout H2
2019,†the WGC said.
Gold Supply Rises Due To Record Production
The council noted that robust gold demand is being met with strong
production; the analysts said that gold supply increased by 6% in the
second quarter to 1,186.7 tonnes. The supply was led by record gold
production between April and June.
The WGC added that gold production increased by 2% to 882.6 tonnes
in the second quarter. “This is a record level of global output for a
second quarter and follows on from a Q1 record of 847.5t.
Global gold production was let by Canada, Russia and the U.S. that
saw their domestic production increase by 9% in the third quarter.
Australia, which has reported record gold production in 2018 saw an
increase of 6% in the second quarter.
The WGC also noted an increase in recycled gold as consumers sold into higher prices late in the quarter.