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David Hargreaves on Precious Metals, week 13 2014

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Guldtackor i 999.9 fine gold

So down below $1300 clipped the gold fix whilst platinum stayed stubbornly at a 1.08 premium. It would, wouldn’t it, given the state of the industry in RSA. Perhaps, if Vladimir stays upright in the saddle, we can now treat the precious metals on their merits. If, as our leader suggests, the fear factor abates, then we can look at our $1200 downside as a marker. Barclays goes for perhaps $1050. Now the focus is on supply and demand. The latest offering from the WGC reads a bit like a student thesis. It pitches into the role fo the metal in managing emerging market risks (EM). Then it explores gold replacing bonds in balancing equity risk. Finally, it wraps up with its perspective to a hedge in an expanding financial system. Meanwhile, back to reality, here is what happened on the week.

The metals and the equities subside but in honesty, we have no clue what next week might bring. The US has shown its hand by ruling out force – presumably even if VP goes for the rest of the Ukraine. The Chinese are sitting on their hands an like the Japanese, South Koreans and Indians, desperately need a continuity of oil and gas supplies. So we saw:

Movements in gold prices and equities

The Gold Investor, Volume 5, is a hefty 38-page tome which explores the use of the metal in:

Hedging emerging market risks

Replacing bonds

Gold as a hedge in an expanding financial system.

Even reading it is not for the faint-hearted. Frankly, we found it pedantic, academic and difficult to swallow. The facts it did give us included: Gold Demand in the 5 years ending 2013 showed 73% absorbed by emerging markets, principally India and China with only 27% by Europe, North America and others. The case for holding gold versus government bonds, rests primarily with the metal price rising, since bonds always offer a return whilst holding bullion does not. In conclusion, WGC says you should hold ‘some gold’ in your portfolio as a risk spreader.

WIM says: It was ever thus, but you can buy and sell gold on a whim. It is increasingly driven by political risk, only marginally by economics. Why not go for platinum, iron ore or copper, where you can have exposure to both? Just for reference:

Minerals which are most country reliant

So if you must choose physical, the choice is wide open and the trading mechanisms are available. As for the WGC report: If you are marooned on a desert island, recovering from a major operation or have been medically advised to avoid excitement, this is the read for you.

The Platinum Strike. The RSA mine strike, prompted by upstart union AMCU, is now in its 9th week. It is causing misery to the workers and major concern to the involved companies, Anglo Plat, Impala and Lonmin.

The union is demanding a doubling of wages and will not get it. The companies sell most of their output on long term contract, although at market-related prices and Anglo Plat, the largest, says it will buy on the open market to satisfy its customers for ‘some time to come’. We note that the price premium to gold has widened to 1.09 at $1413/oz vs $1295/oz. The country’s largest labour grouping COSATU, is calling on the government to intervene. That would legitimise similar wage increase calls countrywide even as elections approach. Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown, eh Jacob?

China and Gold. An increasing amount of the metal goes into China, but very little seems to come out. At least the Indians re-export as jewellery. So how much goes in and what happens to it? The bulk flows in via Hong Kong.

Newly-mined gold worldwide amounts to about 3,000tpa. China and India are now vying as the major importers at up to 1000t each. Additionally, China is now the leading producer at over 400t. Its imports are rising rapidly. In January- February 2014, it pulled 192.8t through Hong Kong. That annualises at almost 1200t. Its February draw alone was up 30% on January and 79% up year-on-year. Now that is normally a quiet month because of lunar new year, so what gives? Official Central Bank holdings are stuck at 1035t so where is it going?

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Iraq has bought 36t of gold (c. $1.5bn), its largest purchase in 3 years. Our figures show that in February 2014, the country held 29.8t, 1.6% of its foreign exchange reserves. This will bump it to c.665, to rank No 40-42 in the world.

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About David Hargreaves

David Hargreaves

David Hargreaves

David Hargreaves is a mining engineer with over forty years of senior experience in the industry. After qualifying in coal mining he worked in the iron ore mines of Quebec and Northwest Ontario before diversifying into other bulk minerals including bauxite. He was Head of Research for stockbrokers James Capel in London from 1974 to 1977 and voted Mining Analyst of the year on three successive occasions.

Since forming his own metals broking and research company in 1977, he has successfully promoted and been a director of several public companies. He currently writes “The Week in Mining”, an incisive review of world mining events, for stockbrokers WH Ireland. David’s research pays particular attention to steel via the iron ore and coal supply industries. He is a Chartered Mining Engineer, Fellow of the Geological Society and the Institute of Mining, Minerals and Materials, and a Member of the Royal Institution. His textbook, “The World Index of Resources and Population” accurately predicted the exponential rise in demand for steel industry products.

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Tyska staten inleder mångmiljardsatsning på att säkra landets tillgång på olika råvaror

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Nu är det klart, tyska staten inleder en satsning på att säkra landets tillgång på råvaror, där man vill säkra både delar och hela förädlingskedjan. Det fanns en diskussion i vilken form den nya fonden skulle få investera, men nu är man överens om att det både kan ske via lån och ägarkapital. Den nya fonden startas med 1 miljard euro och 30 ansökningar finns redan inlämnade. Investeringarna kan göras både i Tyskland och utomlands.

Målet är att minska beroendet av andra länder, liksom att stärka leveranskedjor och den tyska ekonomin. Frågan har inte minst kommit högt upp på agendan efter att de geopolitiska spänningarna blivit större. Tyskland får en väldigt stor andel av sina kritiska råvaror från Kina och man såg vilket maktmedel naturgas blev för Ryssland när de invaderade Ukraina.

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Oljepriset reagerar inte längre vidare mycket av oroligheter i Mellanöstern

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Christian Kopfer

Vi har under en längre tid sett krig och oroligheter i Mellanöstern. Men till skillnad mot tidigare så reagerar inte längre oljepriset vidare mycket på händelserna. Går vi tillbaka längre i tiden så kunde ett enda pistolskott få oljepriset att reagera märkbart.

Den senaste händelsen är Israels attack på Hizbollah och med utgångspunkt i den händelsen så kommenterar Christian Kopfer oljemarknaden.

Christian Kopfer kommenterar olja i relation till Mellanöstern.
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Ett samtal om hur man förverkligar sina investeringsidéer inom råvaror

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Ara Mustafa och Gabriel Mellqvist pratar om hur man investerar i råvaror.

Ara Mustafa, Nordnets investeringscoach och tidigare programledare för EFN Råvaror, för ett samtal med Gabriel Mellqvist om hur man går till väga för att förverkliga sina investeringsidéer när det kommer till råvaror.

Hur man investerar i råvaror, Ara Mustafa förklarar.
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