7 factors that will decide gold's price this year

Societe Generale, a major European bank, has a note out asking whether 2013 will be the first year since 2000 that gold ends the year down, according to Business Insider. In it, they present the bullish and bearish argument in the simplest manner possible, it says.

Let's take a look at the arguments that will decide the price of gold this year.

Source: Business Insider

Click NEXT to see the negative factors that could have a bearing on the yellow metal...

Equities stand at their lowest level since 20 years, relative to gold, making the latter less attractive.

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The dollar could appreciate and interest rates may rise amid signs of a stronger economic recovery.

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Inflation is still under control.

Click NEXT to see three factors that could have a positive bearing on gold...

Currency wars and renewed monetary easing could push gold higher.

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Demand from emerging countries may increase.

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In the long run, gold may play a role in the transition to an international currency reserve system.

Click NEXT to see the most important question of all...

The most crucial question, really, is the interest rate one. If real interest rates in the US begin to normalise, gold will likely get crushed, as Goldman Sachs (and others) have pointed out lately, according to Business Insider.