Gold Climbs Above $1,800 for the First Time Since 20111 July 2020, 4:34 am ACST· WHO warns that the worst of the pandemic is still to come· Traders are betting on further responses from central banks There’s an “explosion” in demand for gold, said Peter Thomas, a senior vice president at Chicago-based broker Zaner Group. “The virus concerns, inflation on the back of people’s mind, and the fact that it’s up almost 20% this year” is driving further increases in the metal, he said.August futures settled at $1,800.50 an ounce on Tuesday, for a gain of 1.1%. Prices have advanced for three straight sessions. Gold touched all-time highs in September 2011, with futures rising to $1,923.70 and spot metal advancing to $1,921.17.Investors continue to pile into gold-backed exchange-traded funds, with holdings at a record.New hot spots are emerging, and the World Health Organization is warningthat the worst of the pandemic is still to come because of a lack of global solidarity.Economy’s Fate“The economy’s fate is inextricably linked to the path of the virus,” New York Fed President John Williams said Tuesday in remarks prepared for a virtual event hosted by the Institute of International Finance. “A strong economic recovery depends on effective and sustained containment of Covid-19.”There’s also increased geopolitical tension after Chinese President Xi Jinping signed a landmark national security law for Hong Kong, a sweeping attempt to quell dissent that has already drawn U.S. retaliation and could endanger the city’s appeal as a financial hub. U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was “deeply concerned” about the move while the Trump administration vowed “strong actions” if Beijing didn’t reverse course.Goldman Sachs said gold could climb to a record $2,000 an ounce over the next 12 months, while JPMorgan Chase & Co. recommended investors stick with bullion.“The Fed is being extremely accommodative and because these shutdowns are starting to recur globally, more central bank measures are probably going to be initiated,” Phil Streible, chief market strategist at Blue Line Futures in Chicago, said by phone.
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