ECB ‘Bazooka’ Extended – Will Buy EUR 60 Billion Per Month Until At Least December 2017
The ECB’s ‘Bazooka’ is back and ‘Super Mario’, the European Central Bank’s monetary magician did not disappoint QE addicted markets yesterday by extending ultra loose monetary policies and quantitative easing until at least December 2017.
The euro fell and gold rose 1.1% in euro terms from €1,090/oz to €1,102.85. Stocks globally moved higher, and European stocks look set for their best week since February, supported by the extended ECB currency printing and a calm, some would say complacent and irrationally exuberant, reaction to the Italian referendum.
Despite the recent sell off in gold, it remains 13% higher in euro terms in 2016 – 10% higher in dollars and 30% higher in pounds.
The ECB somewhat surprised markets by extending its bond-buying ‘stimulus,’ but at a lesser amount – reduced from €80 billion to €60 billion. The ECB tapered despite Mario Draghi categorically insisting that there was “no question” of ECB tapering.
The decision helped send Wall Street to fresh record all time highs, as investors decided the ECB was signaling an extended period of even looser monetary policy. Draghi had previously signaled that QE would continue until next September.
However, the ECB warned that if the outlook becomes less favourable they will increase their bond buying programme. They said that may increase the size and duration of the programme if needed.
Given the scale of the political, economic and systemic challenges facing the EU – including the coming Dutch, German and French general elections – this seems likely.
Although, not if the voice of monetary prudence has its way. The German Bundesbank chief Jens Weidmann voiced concerns. The president of the Bundesbank did not agree with the decision to extend its bond purchases according to German newspapers.
Weidmann had warned on Monday that central banks shouldn’t use easy-money policies to fight debt crises or rising populism, signaling he would resist any policy change from the ECB.
Weidmann’s comments were largely ignored but according to the Wall Street Journal:
Mr. Weidmann said the decision should be based exclusively on the outlook for inflation and not on political considerations, such as easing the pressure on governments.
“If a central bank keeps jumping into the breach for politicians or even trying to influence the democratic process, that leads to a politicization that endangers its independence,” he said
Italian banks are on the verge of collapse. Banks in Italy have a massive €360 billion of non-performing loans, equivalent to more than a fifth of the country’s GDP.
The “EU maths” simply do not add up.
Super Mario’s QE of €60 billion a month would be exhausted in dealing with the bad loans in Italy alone in just 6 months. Meanwhile, there continue to be major financial challenges in many banks throughout the EU including in Germany with Deutsche Bank.
In September, Draghi “refused to answer questions” regarding Deutsche Bank during a closed-door meeting in the German parliament.
The life support mechanism of QE has not helped the economies of the many sick patients of Europe, the unfairly named ‘PIIGS’, get to a position of having healthy banking systems and sustainable economic growth.
Rather the ECB has simply prolonged the stay of execution for the patients. The primary solution to the crisis remains debt forgiveness on a massive scale and the reorganisation of the financial and banking system.
Gold is again set to act as a safe haven for Italian and other Europeans and a hedge against bank failure and the significant, cyber, systemic and monetary risk of today.
The ECB has itself acknowledged that gold is a safe haven asset and an important monetary asset. Mario Draghi said of gold in October 2013 that gold is a “reserve of safety.”
Draghi told an open forum at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, why central banks want gold and what value it offers. He said that there were “several reasons” to own gold including “risk diversification”.
As we enter 2017, diversification and having an allocation to physical gold has never been more important for investors in the EU, UK, U.S. and throughout the world.
Breaking News and Updates On Gold Here
Gold and Silver Bullion – News and Commentary
Draghi Says $2.4 Trillion Stimulus May Not Be Enough for ECB (Bloomberg.com)
Deutsche Bank’s ‘smoking gun’ evidence to expand U.S. silver rigging case (Reuters.com)
Deutsche Bank Records Said to Show Silver Rigging at Other Banks (Bloomberg.com)
Gold and cyber-security for Prince Charles (RoyalCentral.co.uk)
Demonetisation effect: 15 tonnes of gold sold on November 8-9 (IndiaTimes.com)
Big call – I reckon the US dollar’s bull market is over – Frisby (MoneyWeek.com)
Italy joining euro removed means of overcoming economic troubles (TheGuardian.com)
Euro Devaluation Accelerates – Millions Of Europeans Wishing They’d Bought Gold (DollarCollapse.com)
Fed, Trump and Wall Street Hand Gold Holdings a Spanking (Bloomberg.com)
Why Now Is A Great Time To Buy Silver (Forbes.com)
Gold Prices (LBMA AM)
09 Dec: USD 1,168.90, GBP 927.64 & EUR 1,100.75 per ounce
08 Dec: USD 1,174.75, GBP 925.47 & EUR 1,088.64 per ounce
07 Dec: USD 1,171.25, GBP 929.62 & EUR 1,092.19 per ounce
06 Dec: USD 1,171.15, GBP 918.18 & EUR 1,086.94 per ounce
05 Dec: USD 1,164.90, GBP 915.84 & EUR 1,095.36 per ounce
02 Dec: USD 1,171.65, GBP 929.00 & EUR 1,100.88 per ounce
01 Dec: USD 1,168.75, GBP 930.09 & EUR 1,099.68 per ounce
Silver Prices (LBMA)
09 Dec: USD 16.95, GBP 13.45 & EUR 16.03 per ounce
08 Dec: USD 17.13, GBP 13.50 & EUR 15.88 per ounce
07 Dec: USD 16.77, GBP 13.32 & EUR 15.64 per ounce
06 Dec: USD 16.79, GBP 13.17 & EUR 15.63 per ounce
05 Dec: USD 16.62, GBP 13.05 & EUR 15.54 per ounce
02 Dec: USD 16.35, GBP 12.95 & EUR 15.36 per ounce
01 Dec: USD 16.30, GBP 12.91 & EUR 15.35 per ounce
Recent Market Updates
– UK £6 Billion Worse Off After Multi Billion Pound Gold “Accounting Error”
– Buy Silver – May Replace Gold As Money In India
– Shariah Gold Standard Approved for $2 Trillion Islamic Finance Market
– Potential “Systemic Crisis In Eurozone” After Italy Votes No, Renzi Resigns
– Gold and Silver Will Protect From Coming Financial Crash – Rickards
– RBS Fail Bank of England Stress Test
– Peak Silver – Supply Deficits Mean Higher Prices
– Bail In Risk – €4 Trillion Banking System In Italy Poses Contagion Risk as Referendum Looms
– Gold Down 13.5% In 13 Days – Trump Bearish For Gold?
– War On Cash Just Got Real – India and Citibank In Australia
– Russia Gold Buying In October Is Biggest Monthly Allocation Since 1998
– Stocks, Bonds, Pension Funds “Will Be Wiped Out…” – Rickards
– Physical Gold Is A “Long-Term Position” as “Hedge Against Governments”
