Three of the largest U.S. banks are optimistic about gold's continued upward momentum

By Michael Widmer

Three of the largest U.S. banks are optimistic about gold's continued upward momentum, with some projecting substantial gains for the precious metal.

Bank of America's head of metals research, Michael Widmer, suggests that while gold could experience a temporary pullback after hitting a record of over $3,085 per ounce, his long-term forecast sees it reaching $3,500. He attributes part of his bullish outlook to China's recent decision allowing insurance companies to invest in gold, which could lead to the accumulation of an additional 300 tons of gold.

"Our bullish view is shared by several but not all. We had the all-time high in mid-March at $3,085. I think we'll get a minor pullback from here. But in the longer term, we're looking at $3,500 for gold.

"We're expecting a weaker dollar and lower U.S. rates in 2024. We also had the news that China is opening up to insurance companies to invest in gold, which could add another 300 tons of demand over the next two to three years. This is a huge development that no one is talking about enough. Everyone focuses on the fact that China had net selling in the fourth quarter, but people aren't thinking about the bigger picture here, which is that China is still a big buyer of gold. They've been accumulating for years, and they're likely to continue doing so. So, we're expecting this tailwind for gold prices to continue."

Similarly, Citi's Max Layton believes gold could climb to $3,500 if the U.S. economy deteriorates further. In the near term, Layton expects gold to reach around $3,200 per ounce but sees further upside if economic conditions worsen.

"If the U.S. economic performance deteriorates, we could see gold heading towards $3,500 an ounce, driven by a weaker dollar and lower U.S. interest rates. For now, our year-end price target is $3,200, and we're expecting the metal to hit new all-time highs in the second half of the year. But if the economic backdrop deteriorates more quickly than we anticipate, we may need to revise our forecasts upwards sooner rather than later."

Furthermore, Goldman Sachs analysts predict that gold could exceed $3,100, citing U.S. policy uncertainty and ongoing central bank demand for the metal.

However, while these banks are confident in gold's prospects, other institutions like JPMorgan and UBS are bearish on the U.S. stock market. JPMorgan analysts warn that the S&P 500 could face further corrections if high interest rates trigger an economic downturn.

"If the Fed manages to induce a mild recession, we expect the S&P 500 to fall to 4,000 by mid-2024, leading to a total correction of 15% from the all-time high. However, if the downturn is more severe than anticipated, we might see the S&P 500 sliding further to 3,500, resulting in a 25% correction from the peak."

Discussing the outlook for the U.S. stock market, Bhanu Baweja, an analyst at UBS, predicts a significant drop in the S&P 500, with concerns about weakening consumer confidence and a potential slowdown in U.S. economic activity.

"We're expecting the S&P 500 to decline to 4,000 by year-end, with the main risk being a steeper decline to 3,600 if consumer confidence deteriorates more sharply than anticipated. We're also keeping an eye on the potential for a slowdown in U.S. economic activity, which could put further downward pressure on the market."

Despite the positive outlook for gold, some market observers remain cautious, as geopolitical tensions, inflationary pressures, and global trade uncertainties continue to create a volatile environment.

While gold has traditionally been seen as a safe-haven asset during times of economic instability, investors are balancing their portfolios carefully, considering both the potential for higher gold prices and the risks posed by global economic conditions. This careful balance may shape market behavior in the coming months, particularly if U.S. economic performance falters.