Are Gold Prices Set To Head Higher?

 | Apr 13, 2016 13:09

2016 has seen a lot of strength return to gold prices. In fact, since January, gold has increased by around $200 per ounce. What many investors are thinking now, is can these prices be sustained for the rest of the year? In recent history quick spikes have usually been followed by sharp falls, however things seem to be a little different this time.

Prices have not fallen sharply this time around, and seem to be forming some support around the $1200 level. This could be the catalyst for a test of higher prices.

Traders in gold were buoyed by hints from the Fed that a rate increase may not be on the cards in the near future. Although this isn’t set in stone, many are now thinking that rates will not increase until the late quarter of 2016.

Coupled with increasing uncertainty in the stock market, it’s not hard to see why investors are flocking to gold. You only have to look at some of the large players in gold mining such as Barrick Gold (NYSE:ABX) or Newmont Mining Corp (NYSE:NEM) to see investors piling money back in the long bets.

Then there is also the technical perspective. If you take a look at the chart below, you can see that this recent rise broke not only the downtrend line from the last two years, but the recent consolidation has also held firmly around the 2014 support level.