The speed at which gold has broken above $2,000 an ounce has left some in the market fearing a correction, but many analysts predict more gains as the coronavirus crisis spurs investors to buy into bullion's relative safety.
The record-breaking rally, which lifted gold <XAU=> as high as $2,055 on Wednesday, has made the precious metal one of 2020's best performing mainstream assets.
It has risen $500 this year, and $200 in the last two weeks alone.
Taking out the totemic $2,000 barrier means investors must change their reference points, said Frederic Panizzutti at Swiss precious metals dealers MKS.
"The adjustment will be higher. We are definitely in a bull run," he said.
(For graphic on Gold prices, click: https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/ce/bdwvkeyzavm/2020%20GOLD.JPG)
A hoarding spree has fuelled the rally, with investors adding 922 tonnes of gold worth $60 billion at current prices to their stockpiles in exchange-traded funds this year, according to the World Gold Council.
Investors see gold as an asset that should hold its value as the health crisis and money printing by central banks erode the value of others.
(For graphic on Gold ETF holdings, click: https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/ce/qzjpqwmywpx/2000%20GOLD%20ETFS.JPG)
Real returns on U.S. bonds - in normal times a much more popular perceived safe asset than gold - have tumbled to minus 1.07% from 0.15% at the start of the year, making bullion look like a better bet. <US10YTIP=RR>
(For graphic on Gold and U.S. real yields, click: https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/ce/nmopaloqdva/2020%20GOLD%20YIELDS.JPG)
The dollar, another safe-haven rival to gold and the currency in which it is priced, has slid to 2-year lows as the novel coronavirus infects more Americans. <.DXY> [FRX/]
(For graphic on Gold and U.S. real yields, click: https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/ce/nmopaloqdva/2020%20GOLD%20YIELDS.JPG)
With central banks keeping interest rates low and pumping money into markets, even an economic rebound -- which would typically see money move from bullion to more productive assets -- would help gold, said Commerzbank analyst Carsten Fritsch.
That is because rising inflation expectations would push the real returns on bonds even lower.
"Ultimately with gold you can't print any more of it, you can't artificially create it. It will hold its value," said Michael Hewson at CMC Markets.
Bank of America says prices could hit $3,000 within 18 months.
Not everyone is convinced. Demand for gold in Asia has collapsed due to lockdowns and high prices, and the rally looks overextended to many, at the very least in the short term.
"This is a market to short, not to chase higher," said Gianclaudio Torlizzi at traders T-Commodity, adding that prices could - probably after a correction - rise to $2,300 but were unlikely to go further.
"The insurance gold provides to an investor's portfolio has become very expensive," said Julius Baer analyst Carsten Menke.
(For graphic on Gold technicals, click: https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/ce/yzdpxngxjpx/2020%20GOLD%20TECHNICALS.JPG)
(Reporting by Peter Hobson; Additional reporting by Eileen Soreng; Editing by Veronica Brown and Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
