Return of the Market Criers – Precious Metals Supply and Demand

Ballistically Yours

One nearly-famous gold salesman blasted subscribers this week with, “Gold Is Going to Go Ballistic!” A numerologist shouted out the number $10,000. At the county fair this weekend, we ran out of pocket change, so we did not have a chance to see the Tarot Card reader to get a confirmation.

Even if you think that the price of gold is going to go a lot higher (which we do, by the way—but to lean on Aragorn again, today is not that day) this rubbish should bother you. At the least, one should be critical of arguments that agree with you. One should look for the errors in one’s logic.

And there’s something bigger, and a bit ironic. Let us explain. These shouts and touts do not offer sober or serious analysis. At best, they offer confirmation bias. At worst, they are self-serving self-promotion.

Say what you will about the big banks, their investment advisors and wealth managers don’t talk like this. They take a measured, if not objective, tone when discussing investments. They offer no wild targets ($10,000 is wild), let alone say things like “I guarantee it!”

We are no fans of government regulation, but we have to note that regulated financial advisors speak the language of mainstream investors. Gold is unregulated, and some gold dealers sound like the boiler room stock brokers of the late 1920s. Carnivals and circus entertainment is also unregulated, and the pioneer of that space (in)famously said “there’s a sucker born every minute.”

The irony is that the price of gold will not go anywhere near $10,000 until the mainstream public is buying gold. However, irresponsible promotions put a tarnish on gold. Most mainstream investors regard gold as somewhat of a scam (we have heard this directly from billionaires and wage-earners). We, the gold industry, should abide by reasonable standards for responsible advertising and analysis.

Fundamental Developments

Last week the price of gold dropped six bucks, and that of silver four cents.

Let’s take a look at the only true picture of the supply and demand fundamentals for the metals. But first, here is the chart of the prices of gold and silver.

Gold and Silver Prices

Gold and silver priced in USD terms to the end of last week - Click to enlarge

Gold:Silver Ratio

Gold-silver ratio, theoretical bid and ask - Click to enlarge

Gold Basis, Co-basis and the Dollar Price

Gold basis, co-basis and the dollar priced in milligrams of gold - Click to enlarge

Now let’s look at silver.

Silver Basis, Co-basis and the Dollar Price

Silver basis and co-basis and the USD priced in grams of silver - Click to enlarge