What Gold Bubble?

Gold is getting a lot of attention these days. It’s all over the media, the backlog to purchase gold coins from the U.S. Mint is years long, and one gold exchange company even ponied up for a Super Bowl ad.

Many point to this and shout “Bubble!” Gold has risen too far too fast, they say, and soon the euphoria will give way to despair. We’ve been hearing this since February of last year, when gold was trading around $900. That’s more than 25 percent below where it is today.

Why didn’t the gold “bubble” burst? It could be because there isn’t a gold bubble.

The chart below compares the price performance of gold bullion during the 1970s bull market (green line) to the current price trend (red). As you can see, the price line since the start of 1999, when gold was trading just under $300, has been far less volatile than during the earlier period.

Gold remains as a safe haven during times of economic uncertainty – in the 1970s, double-digit inflation rapidly eroded wealth, and these days there is a lingering fear of higher inflation as the federal government piles more debt onto its already groaning balance sheets.

But a key difference is that gold has gained stature as a legitimate asset class for investors. During the 1970s runup, investment demand peaked around 27 million ounces, about half of what it is today. Contributing to this demand are new investment vehicles, including gold-oriented mutual funds and bullion-backed ETFs, both of which have made it easier for investors to allocate a portion of their portfolios to the yellow metal.

We also have greater affluence in the developing world, where people have traditionally turned to gold to store their wealth. Central banks in these countries, most notably China and India, have built up their gold holdings as a way to diversify their foreign reserves away from the dollar and other paper currencies.

The 1990s dot-com era was a bubble, and likewise the 2000s housing market. But gold? We don’t think so.

Disclaimer: This page contains affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase after clicking a link, we may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!

About Frank Holmes 282 Articles

Affiliation: U.S. Global Investors

Frank Holmes is CEO and chief investment officer of U.S. Global Investors, Inc., which manages a diversified family of mutual funds and hedge funds specializing in natural resources, emerging markets and infrastructure.

The company’s funds have earned more than two dozen Lipper Fund Awards and certificates since 2000. The Global Resources Fund (PSPFX) was Lipper’s top-performing global natural resources fund in 2010. In 2009, the World Precious Minerals Fund (UNWPX) was Lipper’s top-performing gold fund, the second time in four years for that achievement. In addition, both funds received 2007 and 2008 Lipper Fund Awards as the best overall funds in their respective categories.

Mr. Holmes was 2006 mining fund manager of the year for Mining Journal, a leading publication for the global resources industry, and he is co-author of “The Goldwatcher: Demystifying Gold Investing.”

He is also an advisor to the International Crisis Group, which works to resolve global conflict, and the William J. Clinton Foundation on sustainable development in nations with resource-based economies.

Mr. Holmes is a much-sought-after conference speaker and a regular commentator on financial television. He has been profiled by Fortune, Barron’s, The Financial Times and other publications.

Visit: U.S. Global Investors

2 Comments on What Gold Bubble?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.