Salient to Investors: Quincy Krosby at Prudential Financial is seeing momentum traders come in, while mixed US economic numbers and concerns about slowdown elsewhere have boosted demand for a safe-haven asset. Goldman Sachs in February reiterated gold will fall to $1,050 by year-end, Westpac Banking predicts $1,011 in December. UBS
READ MORE... →Salient to Investors: Home prices are rising faster than incomes in much of the US. Thomas Lawler at Lawler Economic & Housing Consulting said the decline of first-time homebuyers, hurt by rising prices and tougher credit standards threatens to widen the wealth gap between owners and renters. Lawler said potential
READ MORE... →Salient to Investors: Hedge funds’ net-long positions of 18 US-traded commodities rose 18 percent last week to the highest since September 2012. Investors tripled the net-long position in arabica coffee this month to the most bullish since May 2011 Barclays said weather is the big driver of commodities. EPFR Global
READ MORE... →Salient to Investors: Catherine Yeung at Fidelity Investment Mgmt is advising calm, adding that profits are rising and shares just got a lot less expensive as being a contrarian and buying when things seem bad is often a good thing. Goldman Sachs to AMP Capital Investors and JPMorgan Chase are
READ MORE... →Salient to Investors: Copper is heading for the longest losing streak since at least April 1986 on signs of weakening demand. Bill O’Neill at Logic Advisors said the supply demand equation is still leaning to the bearish side. Goldman Sachs said global supply will exceed demand by 385,000 tons this
READ MORE... →Salient to Investors: Paresh Upadhyaya at Pioneer Investment Mgmt said January was definitely a surprise for investors. Neil Azous agreed. Fixed-income assets worldwide posted their biggest January returns since 2008, while equity prices fell the most since 2010. Gold is rallying. Joseph Quinlan at US Trust Bank of America said this
READ MORE... →Salient to Investors: Mining companies are extending massive cuts in exploration budgets for a second year, setting up the next price boom as China continues its relentless pursuit of metals and energy. Daniel Sacks at Investec Asset Mgmt said companies are smart by cutting back on exploration as it is
READ MORE... →Salient to Investors: Gold analysts are the most bullish in a year, while short positions held by hedge funds et al rose almost fourfold from October to December 24th. The US Mint sold 56,000 ounces of American Eagle gold coins in December, the most since June sales gained 14 percent gain
READ MORE... →Salient to Investors: Thomas Stolper at Goldman Sachs said: The US dollar will weaken through 2014 to $1.40 per euro for the first time since October 2011 and there will be only marginal support from interest rates.” Fed tapering is already priced in and will be offset by the Fed
READ MORE... →Salient to Investors: David Mericle and Jan Hatzius at Goldman Sachs said: US economic weaknesses are more cyclical than secular. US growth will rebound in 2014 to as high as 3.5 percent versus the 2.25 percent average recovery rate so far. The slow rate of recovery is in line with
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