Maybe, but the price is being set by institutions. And the average individual is not as financially strong as the average INVESTOR. Gold was always set by global supply and demand. London had more influence in arranging buyers and sellers, but they didn't "control" the price.
We are in a much changed world compared to previous PM run-ups. I wouldn’t (and won’t) put money on an appreciable price decline.
The financial markets tend to impose discipline, however....so even if what you say is true (and it is, to an extent)....the effects are mitigated.
Non-dividend paying stocks go to the moon …. crickets. Housing increases to the point that young people are frozen out of the market … not my problem. Bitcoin increases 100% … Yes! But when PMs increase 50-60% in a year … Now that is a problem! Give me a break!
I don't know about that, but I heard today that the world's gold was now worth $27 trillion which is about 50% of the value of the S&P 500. That's pretty high; in the past it's usually been about 10-25%.
I was referring to the government, and not to the financial markets . . . the hubris of most in government has them believing they can bend financial markets to their will, which, of course they cannot . . . Not really.