The ‘Big Long’ – Goldman Sachs And HSBC Buy 7.1 Tons Of Physical Gold

10-Aug (SeekingAlpha) — On August 6, 2015, Goldman Sachs and HSBC took delivery of a sum total of 7.1 tons of physical gold. No, I have not made any typographical errors. And no, I am not talking about electronic paper claims. I am talking about shiny yellow metal stuff that you can touch and feel.

The gold bars were not purchased for bank clients. They were purchased for the banks themselves. How do I know this? They are designated by the exchange as being for delivery to the bank’s “house” accounts at COMEX, not to client accounts.

Goldman Sachs, alone, took 3.2 tons worth of physical gold bars. Yet, even as the firm builds its stockpile, Goldman tells clients not to do it. According to Goldman’s Jeffrey Currie, the long-term outlook for gold is bleak.

“In longer term, we definitely like playing this market on the short side. We think we are in a structural bear market, not only in gold, but across the commodity complex, as the individual commodity stories are reinforcing to one another, creating a negative feedback loop.”

In spite of the antics in the paper-gold market, we know the physical market is on fire. Demand will exceed known supplies by at least 1,350 tons in 2015. More in 2016. But, that won’t stop someone from setting up the paper market in order to buy from the physical market very cheaply. This is because the mysterious gold “supplier of last resort” will fill COMEX physical delivery demand, for the moment at least, no matter how high it rises, and no matter how low other supplies may be.

…Maybe, these banks know something. Top bank executives don’t appear to trust counter-party promises. For example, why not buy an equivalent amount of gold in the form of shares in a highly liquid, easily traded gold trust? HSBC is actually the custodian of the alleged gold bars inside GLD, so you would think they would view it just as good as gold? Apparently not…

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PG View: Do as we say, not as we do! These banks seem happy to snap-up the physical they are suggesting their clients disgorge.