I see that the apologists for the status quo are actively 'refuting' the tightness of physical gold in the London markets, largely by ignoring that and concentrating on the Comex, which they assert is 'well-stocked.'
Clever people learn from the political process to ignore the tough questions that they do not wish to answer, and to misconstrue the question into whatever it is they would rather answer, often squirming through the issues to put some proposition in the most favorable light for their firms.
So we see this in so much commentary from the bullion bank and trading house apologists this past week. I won't dignify them by citing their names, but I think you will know who they are.
Peter Hambro's recent point was fairly clear. It is almost impossible to obtain sizable amounts of physical gold in London which is the center of the Western physical gold trade.
"It is virtually impossible to get physical gold in London to ship to those countries now. We get permanent requests in Russia now. Would we please sell our physical gold to India and to China?The gold apologists bravely assert that there is plenty of gold in the Comex, relative to the demand there. Never better. More on that later.
Because there is not enough physical about. There are endless promises. And I worry that the market, the paper market, could be stamped on and people say 'sorry we're going to have a financial closeout' and it's all over. If you want to be in the gold business, you ought to be in the physical business."
Peter Hambro
As I have pointed out on any number of occasions, the amount of physical gold in all of the Comex warehouses of any categories is a rounding error on the physical markets of Asia. As I said the other day:
I am certainly not suggesting that there will be hard default at the Comex. How could one expect that in a relatively small market that almost always settles in cash and is dominated by a few, very large insiders who are actively working both sides of the trade? No, if there is a default anywhere, it will precipitate in a physical marketplace where bullion changes hands and form, more likely in London, perhaps even Switzerland. And then it will cascade to all the other markets quickly.
The portion of the gold in London that is not specifically 'spoken for' and held closely is considered to potentially be part of 'the float.'
That was the key point that the apologists are ignoring. They ignore the physical market, and concentrate on a scenario at the Comex which is becoming almost atavistic, but still worth noting nonetheless as a kind of barometer. Comex seems to have lost its position as a source of genuine price discovery relative to the greater market of physical demand and supply.
The Comex gold warehouses, all of them, are a rounding error on the physical gold demand in India and China alone. The Comex serves as a diversion from the developing situation with the supply of bullion.
As you know if you frequent this site, there is an interesting phenomenon of diminished deliveries and stocks of gold at Comex that is 'for sale' that extends back to 2013.
Further, the volumes of paper contracts traded against the physical backing for them is reaching unprecedented numbers of leverage, even going back twenty or more years.
You may see this information at Record Low 'Deliverable' Gold At the NY Comex - Unusual Tightness of Supply In London.
Yes Comex is well supplied in relation to its deliveries if one is to assume that it is just a betting parlor unrelated to the physical market worldwide for which it presumably provides price discovery.
The analyst for Mitsubishi was speaking directly to the booming demand for physical bullion in India and China, and to the current conditions in London as you can see by reading Financial Media Wakes Up to 'Physical Tightness' In London Gold Bullion Market.
And so his concerns are answered by apologists again pointing to plenty of supply on the Comex.
Anyone who questions this situation, who looks at the data, who sees the almost daily slamming of the price of gold into the London PM fix and the New York trade, is obviously a hysterical conspiracy theorist, right? And we must do what is required to intimidate them, to shut them up.
After all, what could be odd about such a multi-year pricing pattern like this in a market that purports to genuine price discovery, not for two cities alone, but for the world?
One *could* explain this by saying that Asia is buying, and the West, particularly London and New York, are selling. And you could cast aspersions on the foolish Orientals for wasting their money on 'pet rocks.' All of this has been done.
That is not the point. The point is that there is such a phenomenon, it is valid, and it tells us something that some people apparently do not wish us to think about.
Given the opaque nature of the markets, and the lack of honest disclosure and discussion of what is happening, it is difficult to engage in reasoned arguments about this, especially when the sides quickly degenerate into hysteria, name calling, and all too often in search of headlines.
It happens on both sides of the argument, although I will confess that the paid professionals are getting rather good at it, and may confound many. Clever boys are well taken care of by this foul and rotten financial system. Oh you think I exaggerate? Where have you been the last ten years?
No, this situation will be resolved by a hard failure to deliver, and most likely in London or Switzerland. The last place I will look for a clear indication of the market is at the Comex, although as Hambro was suggesting it is likely to be significant collateral damage. That is what he said.
And then when that tide goes out, we will see who is who and what is what. And we may have to wait awhile. But given that so many major markets have been proven to have been manipulated for the benefit of a few powerful firms, even though perhaps justice has not been done and settlements made without criminal admission, I think questioning the odd events and integrity of this particular market is certainly worthwhile in the light of its recent performance.
And for my own part, the arguments that seek to 'explain' the oddness in these markets are found to be wanting at the very least, and disingenuous in far too many. But I understand that one must do what their position requires.
So tell me fellows, is London well stocked relative to gold available AT THESE PRICES? Are we secure in the knowledge that continuing levels of demand from 'Chindia' and elsewhere will be met AT THESE PRICES? Is the true state of the Comex and the LBMA transparent to all market participants?
The total amount of ALL gold held by ALL market participants at ALL the Comex warehouses, whether it is on offer or not, is about 218 tonnes. That is less than one month's demand for physical bullion in China and India and India alone. And by far the vast majority of that gold is not for sale AT THESE PRICES.
And given the leverage of paper claims everywhere, not just Comex but at the more important LBMA, and one can see that a misstep by the gambling goofballs of Wall Street could lead to quite a messy market situation. This also is what Peter Hambro said.
Oh no, they would NEVER overextend their positions in the quest for easy money. Who could even think that?
It is good to keep a level head, and be guided by common sense. And I think it is all too easy to fall into the habit of either shutting up and keeping your head down, or answering ridiculous excuses with equally ridiculous assertions, and so leave the poor bewildered investor in a state of confusion.
Let's recall what Kyle Bass, who is not so easily dismissed as a 'crank' had to say.
