The gold/silver ratio is also a bullish sign for the white metal

Negative real rates could pave the way for gold, and platinum’s rally this year. As the growing list of negatives in the markets adds up, it strengthens the case for holding precious metals. Ranjeetha Pakiam of Bloomberg writes “with bond prices on the rise as investors seek havens, that means the yields they now pay are lower than the pace of consumer price gains. That’s a tremendous boon for good, which doesn’t pay interest.” Silver has surged 13 percent this month and hit a two-year high on Wednesday, benefitting like gold is from the global economic outlook falling. The gold/silver ratio is also a bullish sign for the white metal. In July one ounce of gold was worth 93 ounces of silver and now that ratio is down to just under 84, but still above the 30-year average of 67 ounces.