LBMA Consensus: Outlook for Gold Positive Despite Short Term Nervousness

Today’s AM fix was USD 1,293.75, EUR 955.93 and GBP 797.92 per ounce.
Yesterday’s AM fix was USD 1,332.25, EUR 983.14 and GBP 819.85 per ounce

Gold fell $37.90 or 2.85% yesterday, closing at $1,289.90/oz. Silver slid $0.49 or 2.26%, closing at $21.18. Platinum fell $19.40 or 1.4% to $1,379.40/oz, while palladium dropped $5.03 or 0.7% to $716.47/oz.

Gold bounced back from an 8 week low in London this morning as investors mulled over the U.S. government shutdown, debt ceiling deadline of Oct. 17th and how it will affect the recovering economy and the Fed's need to taper. 

A recent Bloomberg survey of economists are now leaning to December as the first time the Fed will cut its $85 billion/month bond purchases. Gold is still being sought out as a safe haven although physical demand from India, the world's largest consumer, is sluggish due to ongoing Sharadhs, which is an inauspicious fortnight in Hindu mythology for making new purchases. 

Yesterday, on the final day of the two and a half day LBMA gold conference, there was a consensus among participants and delegates that while there was a risk of short term weakness in gold, the medium and long term outlook is very positive due to the very uncertain economic outlook.

$1,050/oz was identified as the likely level of support if gold weakens again in the short term - especially if gold falls below support at $1,200/oz. This was a possible scenario outlined in the closing session chaired by Dr Brian Lucey of Trinity College Dublin. 

However, there was a consensus that gold would go higher in the medium and long term and prices over $2,000/oz were cited as a strong possibility.

Central banks and many participants emphasised that gold's importance was as a store of value and vital diversification in a foreign exchange, savings and investment portfolio.

The annual conference was organised by the LBMA. Headquartered in London and with a global membership base, the London Bullion Market Association or LBMA is the international trade association that represents the market for gold and silver bullion. Its members include the majority of the central banks that hold gold, private sector investors, mining companies, producers, refiners and fabricators.

This year the LBMA welcomed 727 people from 316 companies, a new conference record.

Comments

[Al Huxley]

Stop legitimizing the LBMA by giving them public credibility.  It's like having a confirmed thief inspect your house and provide advice on what you should be doing in the way of security.

[Oldrepublic]

http://www.larsschall.com/2013/09/27/we-are-seeing-an-all-out-defense-of-the-status-quo/

“We Are Seeing An All-out Defense of the Status Quo”

financial journalist Lars Schall talked with Jesse, the host of the popular financial web site Jesse’s Café Américain, about, inter alia: his interest in precious metals; why he thinks the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission decided to take no action regarding complaints about manipulation of the silver market; the future of the so called “currency wars;” and last but not least why he believes that the Federal Reserve is laying the groundwork for its own demise.

[mcgoverntm]

Please add "LBMA" to your glossary.  I was able to find the meaning of the acronym by looking at another entry on the Goldcore blog, but having to do that is not "reader-friendly."  Please pardon the cliche, but it does express my concern.