Gold headed to $5000?

Mr. Weytjens, your comparative analysis and your expectations may come true over the next few years but I think there are lots of differences between the economic environment of 1970s and of today's. 1970s was the decade of negative real interest rates and high inflation expectations. Today we also have negative real interest rates but folks have a tendency towards a deflationary scenario. So before gold sees 5,000$ (2,000$ may be a trigger point) the mainstream media, banksters and government will probably pump "deflationary expectations together with austerity measures" into the mind of average Joe. This will surely delay "widespread public interest in gold", which is a sign of the last phase of a typical bubble. I think we will see a one more severe correction - I expect a 25% correction to occur in late 2012 and first half of 2013 - then gold will resume its upward movement.

As long as global peace is maintained real deflation causes hyperinflation. Real deflation means collapse of banking system. Nearly all banks' liabilities are guaranteed by governments, thus too many insolvent banks = massive budget deficits, which in turn too much monetization of debt. The end game is total loss of confidence in fiat currencies.

I agree that in coming years gold and silver will see new highs, yet I think dincer may be onto something. I suspect the FED will sit on the sidelines and watch real deflation occur now that they are not pumping up the flat and hole ridden tire any longer with QE2. Without QE the markets are going to drop, slow or fast is anyone's guess. I expect the FED to panic at some point and flood the market with liquidity, probably without a printing press but rather a computer entry and overshoot to point of no return. That'll be the last straw.

VegasRage, I agree with you. FED won't let deflation go on and at some point will start to flood the system with fiat along with very low interest rates. But there are 2 things which FED cannot/may not control. First one is "global gold and silver shortages". At the beginning of 1980s FED was potent because it was able to raise real interest rates upto positive 6-7%. Today this is impossible, even positive 4-5% real interest rates mean $400-500 billion additional annual cost to US banks, $150-200 billion to federal government and also securities valuation losses (many many billions) which cannot be calculated. Thus FED's managing gold and silver shortages via raising real rates looks impossible. (China and India's strong appetite for gold must not be forgotten)

Anyone can say "FED has +8,000 tonnes of gold stash and will not hesitate to intervene" That is the Second issue which FED cannot/may not control. FED's release of, for instance 1,000 tonnes of gold, probably won't calm the market. It may be a drop in the bucket. In addition the odds are high that NY FED leased or loaned much of its gold. There is no physical possession. If people gets convinced that Treasury does not own the gold it is supposed to have, American people will pressure the Congress to audit the FED. The result is surely FED's lost credibility. If a central bank loses credibility, its fiat currency collapses, aka hyperinflation.