The price of gold has reached another big round number, breaking through the $1,300 mark today [09/23/2010] for the first time ever.
And at more than $21 per ounce, silver is higher than it’s been in three decades.
The Financial Times today ran an article that echoes something that we have been saying for months – the risk of “competitive currency devaluation” may now be the most important driver for precious metals investing.
Japan brought attention to the benefits of strategic devaluation when it openly took steps last week to weaken the yen. Japan’s prime minister says his government will do what it takes to keep the currency down.
And this week the Federal Reserve hinted at another round of quantitative easing, and as a result the dollar has seen a decline in value.
Japan, the U.S. and the European Union are all dealing with little to no economic growth at home, so they’re hoping their export sectors can lead the way. Keeping their currencies down is an important part of turning that hope into reality.
Here’s a link to a commentary I wrote back in February that discusses gold in a deflationary context, and which also touches on competitive currency devaluation. The basic view is that both deflation and devaluations make gold more attractive as a safe-haven investment.
And I also encourage you to visit Morningstar.com, which today has an article on how some funds have benefitted from their exposure to gold. Our Global Resources Fund (PSPFX) is one of the funds mentioned in the article.
Foreign and emerging market investing involves special risks such as currency fluctuation and less public disclosure, as well as economic and political risk.
Because the Global Resources Fund concentrates its investments in a specific industry, the fund may be subject to greater risks and fluctuations than a portfolio representing a broader range of industries.
