The Moment of Truth Approaches


Clint Siegner Clint Siegner

Clint Siegner

November 2nd, 2020 Comments

Tomorrow is election day. Virtually nothing else matters in the markets right now, and probably won’t until the results are in.

This year’s major complication is that while we may have early indications, it could easily take days or weeks to establish the victory.

If Donald Trump and vulnerable Senate Republicans appear to have the edge on Wednesday, investors may breathe some sigh of relief. They could be less motivated to go out and add to their precious metals stack. That happened overnight in 2016.

If Joe Biden and the Democrats sweep to power, we expect many Americans will respond by stocking up on gold and silver.

They will anticipate more lockdowns and the attendant economic carnage. They will fear higher taxes and more regulation.

Deficits will re-emerge as a major issue to worry about as they grapple with the idea of $3 trillion deficits exploding to some level heretofore unimaginable. They will abandon hope of "the swamp" being drained.

Regardless of who wins, the Federal Reserve Note – more specifically, its purchasing power – is likely the loser. Neither side is even whispering about reining in spending or putting the Federal Reserve on a leash.

This chart below from @dailydirtnap on Twitter captures the problem that isn’t going away, regardless of the election outcome:

  Democratic Congress Republican Congress
Trump wins Presidency More Federal fiscal stimulus, monetized by the Fed and US banking system More Federal fiscal stimulus, monetized by the Fed and US banking system
Biden wins Presidency More Federal fiscal stimulus, monetized by the Fed and US banking system More Federal fiscal stimulus, monetized by the Fed and US banking system

The graphic above doesn’t address a third possibility. The wildcard is a contested election and social unrest on an even larger scale than witnessed in recent months.

Uncertainty may well be the big winner after tomorrow’s voting.

If results are contested, the fiscal and monetary response would be the same; more stimulus, more debt, and more money creation. There is no uncertainty about these policies and, long term, they will be key drivers in the precious metals markets.

Got gold? Got silver?

About the Author

Clint Siegner

Clint Siegner

Clint Siegner is a Director at Money Metals Exchange, a precious metals dealer recently named "Best in the USA" by an independent global ratings group. A graduate of Linfield College in Oregon, Siegner puts his experience in business management along with his passion for personal liberty, limited government, and honest money into the development of Money Metals' brand and reach. This includes writing extensively on the bullion markets and their intersection with policy and world affairs.