Gold the ‘Superman’ May Fly Up to $1400: Economist Barnabas Gan

Gold Silver Reports → Gold may rally to as much as $1,400 an ounce should risk aversion intensify, who dubbed bullion a “superman” when Flying his report for 2016.

The metal may remain above $1,200 this quarter and possibly into next as investors seek a haven, Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp. economist Barnabas Gan said in an e-mail. Singapore-based Gan, who previously saw prices dropping to $950 at the end of the year, revised his report in a Feb. 19 report, and now sees a range of $1,000 to $1,150 by the end of 2016.

The precious metal is the best performer among commodities this year as concern about a slowdown in global growth and slumping oil prices spurred financial-market turmoil and increased speculation that the Federal Reserve will hold off on raising U.S. borrowing costs. As investors piled into bullion-backed funds and producers’ shares jumped, forecasters including Gan have been prompted to rework their report for 2016.

“Gold is performing largely as a safe-haven asset given the equity doldrums and overall risk aversion,” Gan said in response to e-mailed questions, laying out his case for changing his forecasts. “Should risk aversion dominate amid intensified global growth headwinds, gold may well rally to as high as $1,400.”

Bullion’s Surge

The metal for immediate delivery traded at $1,231.75 at 7:41 a.m. in Singapore after rising on Feb. 11 to $1,263.48, the highest in a year. It’s gained 16 percent in 2016 after three years of losses, while global equities fell 7.3 percent and oil sank 15 percent. It last traded above $1,400 in 2013.

“Amid the global equity downturn, very low oil prices and magnified risk aversion seen since the start of the year, one hero stood up strong, providing shelter,” Gan wrote in the report, describing bullion as a “gold, the superhero” in a headline.
Gan’s report for the year-end depends on how many times the Fed actually raises rates. The target for $1,000 is based upon the assumption of three hikes, while $1,150 sees a single rise, Gan wrote in the report.

Global Report

“Of course, this report is predicated on a relatively rosy global report,” Gan said in the e-mail, citing factors that included sustained economic growth in the U.S. and no hard landing or rampant defaults in China.

Traders are pricing in a 10 percent chance of a rate increase at the Fed’s meeting in March, down from 51 percent at the beginning of 2016. Policy makers should be prepared to consider raising rates next month despite recent volatility, Kansas City Fed President Esther George said on Tuesday, citing her report for solid growth this year.

“Although global economic conditions still remain relatively austere, U.S.-centric prints remain hopeful, especially on the labor front, while inflation is likely to tick higher in second half as transitory effects from low oil and import prices dissipate,” Gan said.  → Neal Bhai Reports