Is this the time of a new 'Golden Age'?
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» Is the world crisis spelling a better future for Indian IT?
» Another round of rate hikes may be on its way
» Why do FIIs keep flocking to India?
» The US is losing its AAA status
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But now things are completely different. In current times of uncertainty and despair, 'gold' is the only stable anchor we have to cling on to. Not surprisingly, gold is constantly breaking new barriers almost every other day. This news accompanies other gloomy headlines of debt defaults and economies going bankrupt. The price of gold yesterday rose to a new record high of US$ 1,594 per ounce. So the question on everyone's mind is whether the golden bull-run will ever run out? Is this the time of a new Golden Age?
Well, judging by the various price drivers of this yellow metal, we believe that the bull-run still has some steam left in it. Besides the usual demand for jewellery and industrial purposes, gold has of late taken on a key role of being a financial investment. It traditionally moves in the direction opposite to the US dollar. Thus it is a good hedge against currency volatility. The US, is in a dicey situation, with its AAA rating being threatened. Economic data is weak, and the government is pretty much helpless. Central banks across the world, have been dumping the US dollar, and buying gold. Asian central banks, and recently Russia and Mexico have added to their gold reserves. All this has supported gold's price rise.
Gold is also considered as a safe haven against fiscal and political tensions worldwide. With no political affiliations the yellow metal has been the key beneficiary of tensions in Middle East and Europe. The metal is also a natural hedge against inflation, which has been plaguing emerging market countries, especially India, and China. If and when QE3 happens, a further flood of cheap money will drive up inflation, and thus gold prices.
Are you still buying gold? Do you also believe that this is the time of a new Golden Age? Share your views with us or post your views on our Facebook page.
01:20 | Chart of the day | |
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Even the Government cannot do much to contain prices as global commodity prices play the culprit. It is left with two alternatives: Growth or price control? We suggest that the RBI should crack down on inflation. While a rise in interest rates may drag growth in the near term, it will ensure that the long term health of the economy remains intact.
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04:55 | Today's investing mantra |
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9 Responses to "Is this the time of a new 'Golden Age'?"
R.Chandrasekaran
Jul 15, 2011Dear Sir,
Currency is not simply a paper, its our hard labor, knowledgeable effort,and so on.But gold is just a metal, which can not be used for any real life use.Still WHY is this cheating tactics of boosting this metal to the Himalayan height! Like any thing else this is also a filthy trick of rich to become reach. Until economy spread among all category of population the real growth of HAPPY, PEACE,&HARMONY are not going to be our wealth.
ramesh
Jul 15, 2011GLOBAL GEOPOLITICAL EVENTS PROVIDING
TREMENDOUS INVESTING OPPORTUNITY
I agree that there are lots of concerns right now and sentiments are too bad.
But if we look at prices also, most of this negative factor is in price. As we
always know that when the market sentiment is negative, that is a right point
for investors to enter. So I feel that there is lots of noises, lots of concerns,
but whether all this has been factored into price. I would say majority of these
concerns are in price. So for investor I would say this is a right opportunity to
buy this market on dips.
Japan, there would be lots of damage or concern in terms of human health, but if
you look at like economic crisis or damage to economy, I think already it has
been factored in prices. Now if we look at Libya, I think that there is almost
like in chronic case which is not going to damage further. Europe does not seem
that matters deteriorating from the fact that we have seen whatever we have heard,
it appears that all these negatives are in prices. Suppose now if oil tomorrow for
whatever reason not sustaining at the level as today concern is; we know
it very well once it go to this level there are good chances that demand will lower
and prices are going to come down. This is the worst case scenario that says 110-120
if it remains so definitely stock price is not going to go further down from here,
but if suppose there is an implement like if we say interest rate cycle over, I feel
that, that is also picked out over here, should appear that if you consider lots of
negative factor which actually weighed on this market, it appears that we are seeing
or we are somewhere at the peak of this interest cycle. We are somewhere at the peak
of crude oil prices. So if there is any positive on this front in say 15-20 days we
will see the market improve from here. So it appears that the market is having too
much of a concern and lots are in prices. So I feel that investors should take a
bold step looking at historical valuation. India has been stable at the price valuation
of around 1415. So right now anything below this I think would be a good profitable trade
Jack Wilson
Jul 15, 2011When 15 rate hikes have not made a dent in the inflation numbers, do you seriously think that another one would help? RBI is barking up the wrong tree. I am no economist but isn't it true that most of the inflation in India is food related? And one's gotta eat regardless of the state of economy or interest rates. It's ironical that we are facing food inflation, while excess foodgrain is rotting due to lack of storage facilities. In such a situation, how does raising interest rates tame inflation?
uday mehta
Jul 15, 2011I believe gold should first touch 1280 and then continue its upward journey to 2500. In any case 1280 is the stop loss.
Sthithapragnja
Jul 15, 2011Eq.Master Team,
AFTER GOING THROUGH YOUR ABOVE WRITE-UP ,I am prompted to remember vividly the 4 weeks of a month for a Salary earning Employee which were very analogous/coterminus with the metallic names assigned to them thus ::
The First Week of the month : " GOLDEN " Week (Flush with money ;
The 2nd Week :" SILVER "week (a little less prosperous )??
The 3rd Week : "COPPER" Week when only small loose coins are left in hand ;
and finally
the 4th Week :: "PAUPPER" WEEK which means fully BROKE with nothing left in the WALLET ??
Should I elucidate any further regarding the Golden era or Golden Age any further which may not be much different from the point of view of the salary earner
as explained above ?? ??
en to conclude !!
I hast
ANAND
Jul 15, 2011sooner or later EURO countries will start defaulting - may be 3 years from now & US will have unsustainable debt & dollor may cease to exist as world currency, in such a scenariao gold can go to USD 5000 PER OUNCE or 1,00,000 INR per 10 gm.
Naushad Patel
Jul 15, 2011
Yes, precious metals, in this economically tumbling world (and its not over yet) will be the refuge to retain value. Unfortunately everyone on the retail side will get in too late at the last minute, well after governments and institutions have had their fill.
Buy now and forget for a few years, whatever the movements in between
raman
Jul 15, 2011gold or for that matter any precious metal is going to have a gala in a few years time from now. Already gold is picking up and is in the zone of 23 k. By deevali many predict it to touch 25 k. Accumulate in physical hall mark form guinea or coins, And forget for a few yrs.See the same glittering