Monday Morning Wrap Up – June 29, 2020

How Long before We See Gold Hit $2,000?

Did you wonder what would happen to the economy once the second wave of Covid-19 hits in the fall?

It turns out the first wave still isn’t over. In fact, it’s getting worse. Covid-19 infections are spreading like wildfire in hot spot states.

Last week, the U.S. recorded a new all-time daily high of Covid-19 cases – at 40,000 in one day. The U.S. now has 2.4 million confirmed Covid-19 cases – and 122,370 deaths – more than any other country. Texas and Florida governors hit the pause button on their reopening plans as those states became the new hot spots.

Covid-19 is indeed reshaping our economy in ways we never could have imagined and it will be months or years before we understand the new landscape we now live in.

Because of Covid-19, Microsoft announced it is permanently closing all physical stores, while retail employees will continue to serve customers remotely and digitally. Hilton Hotels announced it laid off 22% of its corporate staff as business and personal travel could take months or years to return to its pre-Covid-19 levels.

Markets react

In the midst of this news, the stock market cratered last week as investors began to question the market’s swift recent recovery.

And, gold soared to a new 8-year high! With gold closing in on the $1,800 an ounce level, new all-time highs are within easy reach this year.

New economic data

Last week, the government reported a 4.2% drop in personal income in May. If consumers don’t have money, they can’t spend it. The recession isn’t over for millions of American. The latest jobless claims report saw another 1.48 million people file for unemployment insurance benefits.

Presidential election looms

Recent polls show Democratic contender Joe Biden beating out incumbent President Donald Trump. There are still several months before Election Day and sentiment may change. Yet, this looms as a major turning point for the country in 2020.

Early insights reveal expectations that a ‘clean sweep’ for Democrats would hold back the stock market. Why? In large part because that could pave the road for higher corporate taxes and a reversal of the sweeping tax cuts that were put into place under the current Administration. Expect election news to move front and center into daily headlines in the weeks ahead.

Wall Street Embraces Gold

Wall Street is turning to gold in 2020 like never before. From Goldman Sachs, to BofA Global Research, big firms are bullish on the prospects for gold ahead.

A June 24 BofA Global Research report was titled: “Another GOLDen breakout = Stay bullish”

The firm stated that gold is breaking out to the upside, which is in line with their “secular call a year ago targeting $2,114 -$2,296” an ounce.

How long before we see Gold $2,000?

With the country in the worst recession since the Great Depression, the Fed on a money printing binge, social unrest at the highest level in decades and a major President Election just months away, we could see gold hit $2,000 faster than you think.

U.S. dollar won’t be king forever

As the Fed continues to degrade the value of fiat money by printing trillions of new dollars just this year in an effort to stoke economic growth, it puts the future of the U.S. dollar’s supremacy at risk.

For now, we have the benefit of being the “reserve currency” of the world. At this pace of money printing, it is only a matter of time before the U.S. falls from that pedestal. The result won’t be pretty for America. We are talking the potential for sky high interest rates as foreign governments will no longer have any incentive to buy our government debt.

Mainstream money managers are talking about this now.

Scott Minerd, the chief investment officer of Guggenheim Investments, thinks investing in gold could help offset any concern about the status of the U.S. dollar as a global reserve currency, according to recent Bloomberg article.

“With the Fed going all-in on financing the government deficit, the U.S. dollar could be at risk to negative speculation of its status as the dominant global reserve currency,” Minerd said.

With so much uncertainty, it’s no surprise investors big and small, domestic and foreign, continue to turn to gold.

While gold is creeping quietly higher, now is your chance to add gold to your portfolio before it scales the $2,000 mark. Do you own enough gold to hedge, protect, preserve and grow your wealth for now and the future?

Wishing you a Happy Fourth of July!

David