Gold -- Sharefin, 17:56:21 03/25/02 Mon Gold Mining Shares Hit 2-Yr Highs Gold mining shares soared to two-year highs on Monday, as investors jilted blue chips and technology issues and diversified into a sector whose fortunes are tied to the improvement in gold bullion prices this year. Investors have moved toward gold equities as a way to leverage rising gold prices and hedge portfolios against the perception of increased global risk -- from the U.S. war on terrorism to the worrisome condition of the Japanese economy and financial system. At the Philadelphia Stock Exchange, the benchmark XAU North American Gold and Silver Mining Index rose 3.27 percent to 70.08 on Monday, reaching its highest since Feb. 7, 2000. It outperformed the Dow Jones industrial average, which fell 146 points, and the Nasdaq index, which dropped 38 points. "(Gold shares) are leading the gold price," said Caesar Bryan, manager of the Gabelli Gold fund. "If we don't get a rise in the gold price, obviously, just by definition these things will look a lot more expensive." Spot gold bullion held firm around $298 an ounce on Monday after a sharp rise on Friday raised speculation that it could soon break back above the psychological $300 an ounce level and retest the high at $307.50 from Feb. 8. That was gold's priciest since February 2000, when the metal still retained some of the shine from its stunning but short-lived rally from near 20-year lows at $252 to $340 an ounce in September and October 1999. Because the market capitalization of the gold sector is small compared with the rest of the market, investors can get a lot of bang for their buck. Moves in gold company stocks tend to magnify gold's ups and downs. The XAU index is up about 30 percent in 2002, compared with a 2.5 percent gain in the Dow and a 1.5 percent drop in the S&P 500 Index this year. At the American Stock Exchange, the Gold Bugs Index of companies considered pure gold plays rose to its highest since October 1999 and is up 48 percent this year. The index includes producers that avoid hedging prices for unmined gold. The gold industry is tempering the use of forward sales to lock in prices for reserves. While the practice allowed some to stay profitable as gold prices languished, many investors objected in the belief that gold mining companies should not stand in the way of bullion prices by selling too much. "Most funds have actually been underweight in that industry for a long time," said Amaury Conti, an equity trader with U.S. Global Investors in San Antonio Texas. "It is one of the best performing sectors year-to-date. We're going in to quarter-end here, people are realizing that they want to get a little bit of exposure." "The other thing is Japan. During the fourth quarter we had huge physical demand out of Japan and of course their year-end is coming out." Gold is seen as a store of value in uncertain times, and analysts have applauded rapid consolidation in the gold mining industry, resulting in the closing of inefficient mines in favor of high-grade, high-margin operations. Tokyo gold futures are rallying and gold bars and coins are being snapped up by Japanese investors and the general public trying to protect wealth amid a severe banking crisis and the planned rollback of unlimited bank deposit insurance when the new financial year starts next week. "Maybe people sense that all is not well with the world," said Harry Bingham, executive managing director at fund manager Van Eck Global, which runs a large gold fund. "Gold shares in the past have found a way, sometimes but not always, of being ahead of gold," he said. Gold -- Sharefin, 17:54:03 03/25/02 Mon Bundesbank's gold marionette Bundesbank president Ernst Welteke has once again sought out the media to blab about Germany selling its gold. Yet again, the sell call comes as gold lays within reach of $300 an ounce. But this time the capping ploy failed. The conflicts of interest and potential for abuse are too hideous to contemplate. Does anyone believe that a central bank invested in the equities market is not going to use its inside track on interest rates and money supply to fine-tune its holdings appropriately? It is impossible to think that a member of the European Central Bank council considers this an appropriate message to send, especially to emerging markets that would latch onto any precedent allowing the market to be fiddled. It's enough to make a conspiracist of anyone. Whatever Welteke's real intent, he has spent his best ammunition and the market is threading its own path. Adding to the intrigue is evidence that the relationship between the dollar and gold continues to deteriorate. It started to break down in December and there is currently no reliable statistical connection between the two if you regress the data back to the start of the year. Gold -- Sharefin, 17:51:50 03/25/02 Mon What drives the prices of gold and gold stocks Gold -- Sharefin, 17:50:05 03/25/02 Mon Trading the Golden Bull Gold -- Sharefin, 17:48:29 03/25/02 Mon The Fed and Moral Hazard: have the nuts taken over the asylum? Gold -- Sharefin, 17:47:10 03/25/02 Mon The Progression of the Golden Bull  From Midas -- Sharefin, 17:44:41 03/25/02 Mon On the club "Gold Trades As High As $312 in Dubai! Volume was HUGE today on the Comex as The Gold Cartel desperately tries to keep gold from blowing through $300 again. Word on the floor has it that Goldman Sachs has a client that is long 2000 $300 OTC calls that expire tomorrow morning. Could be an interesting night and morning? Will this customer exercise these calls like someone did at $292.50 when time ran out? If you will remember, those calls were $2.50 out of the money too. Stealth silver keeps creepin' up. All aboard the Silver Streak! Nick Ferris, CEO of J-Pacific Gold, has a good number of connections in the Arab world. He informed me this morning that gold traded at one point as high as $312 today in Dubai. Last Friday he reported that the volume in Dubai had increased 4/5 fold. Nick noted that this is reminiscent of what happened after the Washington Agreement was announced on September 26, 1999. Panic set in and the physical market traded at times as much as $50 higher than was quoted in London and on the Comex. The physical gold market is beginning to seize up just as the Middle East heats up! What we have now in the Middle East could be a clue as to what is right around the corner in other physical gold centers. After all, there are 15,000 tonnes of shorts out there and they are trapped. To add to the potential explosiveness, the back months in silver are now offered 30 cents higher than their quoted price. 30 cents!!! At certain times a few weeks ago, silver was offered 18 cents higher. My source thought that was outrageous. You cannot buy the back silver months in size AT ALL without being hosed, not even via spreads. The bottom line is that traders on the floor know a silver price explosion is coming and want no part of the short side down the road. Giovanni -- Sharefin, 17:42:32 03/25/02 Mon It's happening as we speak. As for gold stocks - I'm a mug as I don't own one. Just 100% in physicals.(:-)))) Gold share Mania- @sharefin -- Giovanni Dioro, 13:53:52 03/25/02 Mon Nick, Just to add, I think we may well be heading for a gold stock mania, especially if we can get gold and/or silver up +30% or so. That would add impetus to the on-going rally. However, I feel that gold shares are not widely held by the public and therefore any possible mania hasn't yet begun. Gold Shares Getting Ahead of Themselves - @sharefin -- Giovanni Dioro, 13:50:05 03/25/02 Mon Nick, It does seem that gold shares have been getting ahead of themselves. Perhaps that is a bullish sign in that gold and silver are moving higher in the near future. I hope so. I don't own any pm shares, though I have about 20% of my portfolio in bullion. I might be tempted into the odd mining company, though I think like you said many of them are hyped without much substance behind them. Moreover, I wouldn't trust american mining companies for dodgy accounting. I believe dividends are very important in this environment. A mining company with a good yield, who is in sound financial shape, and has honest management would be appealing. However with the run up in mining companies over the past year dividend yields have dropped markedly. My advice would be to tread carefully in any investment in this precarious global environment, and obviously precious metals are safe, whereas mining shares are often very speculative and thus should not make up 100% of one's portfolio IMHO. Gold -- Sharefin, 09:14:24 03/25/02 Mon Newcrest up on takeover, asset sale talk Gold -- Sharefin, 09:11:50 03/25/02 Mon WGC Weekly Report pdf file At a conference organised by the World Gold Council in New Delhi, Indian Reserve Bank Deputy Governor Reddy has said that the Reserve Bank would favour any firm proposal for the establishment of a gold exchange in the country. An RBI standing committee is already studying the feasibility of starting futures trading. He also confirmed that the RBI has no intention of selling gold, of which the RBI holds 375.8 tonnes. The latest report from the Swiss National Bank suggests that gold sales over the latest ten-day reporting period, to March 20 th , amounted to approximately 9.4 tonnes. This takes cumulative sales under the disposal programme, which is within the auspices of the Central Bank Gold Agreement, to approximately 472.5t. The ECB's latest weekly financial statement includes an increase in gold holdings of €103M. This is equivalent to almost 10 tonnes. The ECB has said that this reflects the expiry of a gold swap agreement of one of the ESCB central bank members. The very strong investor demand for physical gold in Japan generated a large increase in imports in February, to 19.54 tonnes. Although March is reportedly not as strong as February in terms of physical offtake, demand remains very healthy and March will be a strong month also. Giovanni -- Sharefin, 08:31:53 03/25/02 Mon It now seems to be the season when the touters & shysters move into gold. Like any mania I am sure many people will get rich by taking others money away from them. Harry & Bill are doubling their prices and e-gold clones touting profits from thin air are springing up everywhere. Lots of penny dreadfulls that swung over to dot coms to fleece the investors are now targeting back towards gold. Many many innocent ignorant folk will hand their money over to others more crafty than they. The essence of gold which makes it shine as a monetary backstop unfortunately draws all types and this mania will be no different. We've just had the biggest bubble ever in stocks and have now embarked on the biggest bubble in gold. Methinks this mania will smell as badly as the Nasdaq by the time it's over. Such a shame to foul such a noble metal………… Gold -- Sharefin, 08:13:28 03/25/02 Mon Fed considered emergency measures to save economy The US Federal Reserve in January considereda variety of "unconventional" emergency measures to be taken if cutting short-term interest rates failed to arrest a US recession and prevent Japanese-style deflation. One of those steps may have been a plan to buy US stocks. The official, who asked not to be named, would not elaborate but mentioned "buying US equities" as an example of such possible measures, and later said the Fed "could theoretically buy anything to pump money into the system" including "state and local debt, real estate and gold mines - any asset". ----- So the Feds have discussed buying goldmines to support the economy......hmmmmm..... Harry Schultz on Gold -- Giovanni Dioro, 07:46:40 03/25/02 Mon March 25, 2002 ***Special golden Memo from Uncle Harry: Most gold shares went wild this week, especially on Thurs / Fri, breaking out of consolidation patterns. Their action is so bullish, many have given buy signals despite the run-up & indeed because of it. Why? Because the consolidation patterns (eg, Goldfields) can be seen now as a mid-leg flag action, which means there's a lot more to come in this leg. FMU recommendations: buy on Monday: Goldfields Ltd (symbol: GOLD) at the open at mkt. Harmony (HGMCY) at mkt at open. AgnicoEagle (AEM): try buy at 12.5. For more stocks & details & selling targets, watch for GOLD CHARTS R Us on Wednesday, if U subscribe. If U don't subscribe, U better do so fast. The gold bull mkt is into its strongest (2nd) phase now. Our Gold Club charter membership is available at the charter member level for only a few more weeks, ie $50/mo vs $100/mo thereafter. It's your call. Anchors Away. Uncle Harry Harry Schultz Letter Japs and Gold -- Giovanni Dioro, 07:42:35 03/25/02 Mon ***Nikkei Weekly, Tatsuya Inoue, March 18, 2002: 'Spooked savers spark modern-day gold rush' "A modern-day gold rush is sweeping the nation. But instead of heading for the hills, a number of wealthy individuals are heading for local precious metal retailers to convert piles of cash into gold bars. "As the date nears when the Japanese government ends its full guarantee of bank deposits, gold is regaining its luster in the eyes of the nation's individual investors. "Many wealthy citizens are changing their asset allocations from bank deposits to other investment tools such as gold, and the move has steadily pushed up prices of the metal. "Precious-metal retailers are thrilled by the bullish mood, but caution still prevails, because recent history teaches us that gold booms in Japan end up with individual investors suffering hidden losses. "Osamu Ikeda, chief of the president's office at the nation's largest precious-metal dealer Tanaka Kikinzoku Kogyo KK, first noticed the sea change in investors' sentiment last summer, when the bullish buying by individuals started. Since then, Ikeda has seen a growing number of customers coming into its flagship store in Tokyo, and has convinced himself that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to market gold to Japanese consumers. "Customers generally purchase 5-10kg of gold bars, valued at around 7-14 million yen ($54,300 to $108,500), but some have bought as much as 30-40kg of gold. The quantity of gold sold in February at Tanaka's 144 retail stores, including its agent stores nationwide, increased ninefold from the same month last year. "Tanaka Kikinzoku is not alone. Ace Koeki Co., a major commodity futures broker, launched a sales campaign in its 14 stores nationwide for two months through last December, offering discounted commission fees of 5 yen per gram, in order to rekindle consumers' desire for gold. Ace Koeki sold a total of 700kg of gold bullion in the campaign. "We sold around 50kg of physical gold per month last year, so the total amount sold in the campaign jumped sevenfold," said Nobuyuki Kudo, assistant vice president of the general planning department of the company. "Bullish buying boosted gold imports. Statistics released by the Finance Ministry found that gold imports tripled year on year to 8.17 metric tons in January. That figure is up 110% from last December. "The total trading volume of gold futures on the Tokyo Commodity Exchange (TOCOM) in February posted around 2.87 million shares, up 360.8% from a year earlier. "Some individual investors aggressively participate in the gold-futures market by shifting money from the stock market," said Norihiko Ishikawa, a spokesperson at TOCOM. "Investment demand for gold in Japan has had an impact on the global gold market. "The topping at $300 per troy ounce early in February in the New York market was caused in part by Japan's growing demand for gold. I saw TOCOM prices for gold futures leading the global market for the first time in nearly 10 years," added Ishikawa. For around two years, gold prices on the New York market hovered below $300 per ounce due mainly to sluggish demand. But the bearish market sentiment turned bullish after Sept. 11. "In addition, the Japanese gold boom is playing a major role in pushing up the price of gold even further," said Koichiro Kamei, managing director at Market Strategy Institute. "The price of gold on international markets has been in a downward trend since it reached $850 per troy ounce in 1980. In the meantime, Japan has experienced 10 gold booms, which were mainly sparked by dips in domestic gold prices accelerated by the appreciation of the yen against the dollar, according to gold analysts. But such booms faded soon after the market stabilized, leaving individual investors burned. "However, the retailers insist that this time is different. "The current gold boom appeals to people's common sense, and industry people are aware of this," said Itsuo Toshima, regional director of Japan and South Korea at the World Gold Council, the London-based nonprofit association of gold producers worldwide. "He listed four points that characterize the boom: "The boom has been long-lived, lasting more than half a year since last summer. A wide variety of people, of all ages, have played a major role in investment. Buyers want to stock the metal in their homes, rather than keep it in a bank deposit box. And individuals are buying the metal even in an upward trend of the gold market." "Japanese have become more concerned about volatility of the currency and stock markets in the wake of the terrorist attacks on the U.S., the collapse of U.S. energy company Enron and the Argentine government's possible default on its samurai bonds. According to retailers, individual investors think that even if the gold price drops sharply, the value of gold will never disappear completely. "Another factor behind the buying binge is that individuals want to cope with the new bank-deposit rules. From April 1 this year, the government will guarantee a maximum of 10 million yen plus accrued interest on time deposits."  Hyper-inflation @ shell -- Giovanni Dioro, 07:32:10 03/25/02 Mon I realise in a usury-based monetary system there are expansions and contractions. When a person borrows money he must return the capital and the interest - the interest that heretofore did not exist, and trying to scramble for this extra money causes contractions. However since our currencies are intrinsically worthless pieces of paper or entries into a ledger or computer, endless amounts of this currency can be created into existence. For example, the Fed can print and buy whatever it wants. The govt can print T-bonds at will and give them to the Fed in exchange for endless amounts of currency with which it can buy whatever it wants. There can nonetheless occur a contraction if the Fed stops printing, but that would throw the whole country into anarchy and would ruin this babylonian currency regime that has been so profitable to its owners. I expect we will see stagflation as consumers and businesses are squeezed, but as the govt spends openly in ever growing largesse and as the Fed spends covertly. Bundesbank -- Sharefin, 02:21:54 03/25/02 Mon Bundesbank may sell some gold reserves The Bundesbank is considering selling a small part of its vast gold reserves for shares, the German central bank's president Ernst Welteke said in a newspaper interview published on Monday. "We must consider in the medium term if we can't convert some of our gold - small volume and without pressurising the market - into securities," Welteke told the daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. Trying to spook the markets again - shows their desperation -- Sharefin, 02:16:39 03/25/02 Mon Welteke says Buba considering converting some gold reserves into shares FRANKFURT (AFX) - Bundesbank president Ernst Welteke said the bank is considering converting a portion of its gold reserves to buy blue chip shares from 2004. "We must consider if in the mid term if we could to a limited extent and without pressurising the (gold) market convert some of our gold into equities," Welteke told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung in an interview. He said the bank would most likely buy Euro Stoxx 50 listed shares, or other standard blue chip stocks. The Bundesbank wants to manage its portfolio of gold and currency reserves more efficiently in the future, he said. The agreement between the eurosystem's central banks not to sell more than 400 tons of gold each year expires in 2004. According to the paper the Bundesbank holds some 3,500 tons of gold with a total value of 35 bln eur. --------------- It's becoming so transparent that soon when the Bundesbank releases a negative comment, the traders will bid the price higher rather than sell. And it won't be long before they run out of small excuses to dampen the POG and will have to bring out the big guns in an attempt to qwell the POG. Their desperation will become so blatently obvious....... Anglogold -- Sharefin, 02:10:33 03/25/02 Mon Anglo in new takeover speculation Anglogold has emerged as a potential suitor for Newcrest Mining Ltd as speculation hardens that the Australian gold major is ripe for takeover or is planning a major asset sale to fund growth. Newcrest gained seven percent on Monday on takeover speculation. Gold -- Sharefin, 02:08:51 03/25/02 Mon Anglogold Annual Report Anglogold Review of gold market  Gold -- Sharefin, 02:06:14 03/25/02 Mon Hedgers, non-hedgers in sync Hedgers and non-hedgers were singing from the same hymn sheet last week as both camps gave similarly bullish forecasts for the year ahead in the gold market. The message from both sides of the increasingly polarised gold producing sector was clear, hedgers are scaling back their forward positions and a wealth of high cost production is being shut down; also helping the metal along is the fact that uncertainty in some of the world's largest economies is signalling a return to gold's safe haven qualities for the broader investment community. While Gold Fields chief executive designate Ian Cockerill was preaching the anti-hedging gospel to the gold industry in Perth, compatriot and arch-hedger AngloGold used the launch of its 2001 annual report to paint a bullish outlook for the gold market this year. AngloGold bullish on gold AngloGold marketing director Kelvin Williams said new mine supply would decline materially over the next five years, which would add impetus to an improving supply-side picture for bullion. "A further positive impact on the supply side is already being experienced in the absence of significant new hedging of future production by gold mining companies," said Williams. In his overview of the gold market, Williams said the pull back of producer hedging was occurring in tandem with an increasing number of gold producers running down their hedges by delivering gold into existing contracts, instead of selling it into spot market. "One final element in favour of the market has been a net decrease in the physical disinvestment of gold, particularly from European holders of the metal, but also in respect of the post 1999 flow-back of coins in the US market," said Williams. Hedge underwater AngloGold also used the opportunity to remind investors that it had wound up 3.4 million ounces of its hedge book last year and would continue reducing its rand-priced forward cover by restructuring its hedge. AngloGold's hedge book still has 14.5 million ounces sold forward until 2011; that covers 21.2 percent of its reserves of 68 million ounces and 4.18 percent of its resource base of 346.8 million ounces. This year, AngloGold's hedge position covers 60 percent of its expected production of 5.8 million ounces. Robert Chapman - Gold Commentary -- Sharefin, 00:36:21 03/25/02 Mon JP Morgan will scale back some of its credit commitments to highly rated clients. They say it is perception, we say they have some serious problems, particularly in gold derivatives. They want to start by capping credit lines. ------ Turkish gold imports continued to the upside two weeks ago at 4.2 tons. Physical demand at this level means many believe war is coming to the Middle East. Day after day TOCOM volume in gold continues to be higher than the COMEX. Those who believe that this will come to an end on 3/31/02 are sadly mistaken. Fear has taken hold in Japan. There could be $500 to $700 billion in buying over the next year. How does the criminal cartel like those apples? We believe that India's official gold imports will exceed 670 tons in 2002 up from 594 tons in 2001. Eleven gold timing newsletters recommended gold market exposure at 54.7% as of 3/08/02 up from 37.5 the previous week. Except for traders short-term gold market machinations are not important. What is important is long-term fundamentals. The optimistic goal for exposure is 80.6% and 54.7% is a long ways away. Gold has been in a bull market since last June and probably a year before that. The important thing is staying the course and looking at the longer term. There are only $35 billion worth of gold shares out there and once the investing public rediscovers gold and gold shares there just won't be enough to go around thus the upside will be phenomenal. We have had a stealth gold and silver bull market so far and that's good. It allows the introspective and diligent to cash in on their homework. Soon the dollar will fall, foreigners will sell dollar assets and gold and silver will move higher. The 22-year bear market will be history and all that pent up demand will spring forward. We see the levels of $512.50 to $525, $670 to $680 an ounce being easily breached. Then the attack on the old high of $820 to $850 an ounce. Many will make fortunes as 95% of investors stand by and watch, as they believe the lies of our government and Wall Street. Remember there are more Enron's out there and like Enron they won't be single issue scandals but interlocking scandals, each outrageous in its own right. Lies, false accounting, gimmicks, deception and the buying of political influence have been going on for years and will now be exposed. The coming financial catastrophe, which only gold and silver will survive, will shake the world to its very foundations. -------- SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION Robert Chapman Gold -- Sharefin, 19:53:18 03/24/02 Sun NY gold vaults $295/oz, consolidation ends bullish COMEX gold muscled past resistance at $295 an ounce Friday, ending more than two-weeks of range trading on a bullish note, even as traders wondered where the overbought market would find new buyers. Gold -- Sharefin, 19:46:06 03/24/02 Sun NY Precious Metals Review: Gold Hits Stops Precious metals prices settled higher Friday as gold bid farewell to the doldrums and spiked up toward the $300 level on vigorous fund and stop-loss buying, participants said. "It started out with fund buying. The weaker yen sure didn't hurt the market, that's for sure. After (buy-)stops were hit at $295.00-$295.50, I noted a little trade buying," said Dave Meger, senior metals analyst at Alaron Trading Corp. in Chicago, naming the trading division of a major U.S. investment bank. The trade buying in turn encouraged a continuation of fund buying all the way through to the peak at $297.80 an ounce, basis April gold on Comex, he added. He said he would have expected trade selling into the gains, but instead they were pushing it higher. The April contract finally settled $4.50 higher at $297.60 a troy ounce, holding fast the top of its range Friday.Gold has done a good job of rebounding from downside pressure of late to build on a base above $290, which has been reflected in a bullish technical chart pattern. But the weaker yen against the dollar and an apparent procrastinating stance toward fighting deflation by Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi have again rattled investor confidence in the banking system and spurred demand for gold, market analyst Rhona O'Connell at the World Gold Council said. "The Japanese (factor) is the only thing people are chatting about. You've got to have a reason (for the rally). I think it's a reason, but I'm not sure it's THE reason," said Leonard Kaplan, president of Prospector Asset Management in Evanston, Ill. "The predominant influence was stop-loss buying," he explained. "There were too many shorts and they all had their stops in the same place ($294-$296), and we ran through it. It's not surprising." Prudential Securities senior vice president George Gero said he was encouraged by the fact that speculative funds were willing to pay almost full carry (the premium on forward prices over the nearby contract) to roll their April positions into June. "Normally there's been liquidation as you get closer to delivery, but you have more of a rollover this time," he said. Open interest for April gold was down to 59,916 contracts, while June's open interest had risen to 36,210 contracts by the end of trading Friday. Kaplan said the rally stopped where it had to stop, just short of major resistance at $298. He expected it to test the bottom end of its new trading channel - $294-$298 - on Monday before it can continue higher. Support is now seen at the failed resistance level of $295 an ounce. Silver's jump to $4.575 seemed to precede gold's move but it failed to attract follow-through buying from funds and sank back to end at $4.54 an ounce, a 3.2-cent gain on the day. Alaron's Meger speculated it was only local floor brokers behind the spike, but said he was somewhat surprised it didn't have the momentum to pop up through the $4.58 resistance level. He added that he's been waiting for the market to fill a technical gap up to $4.66 for weeks. April platinum had already bounced off its new low of $506 on locals scrambling to cover short positions when gold made its big move. But it was able to nose above resistance between $513 and $515 an ounce on the back of gold, where it had previously failed. The contract ended $5.70 higher at $515.00. June palladium also got a boost, finally breaking above $380 after numerous frustrated attempts earlier this week. Gold -- Sharefin, 19:42:50 03/24/02 Sun Gold Glitters In Tepid Session "Frankly, the only place we saw any action today was in gold shares," said Barry Hurwitz, ADR trader at ING Barings. Gold -- Sharefin, 19:32:39 03/24/02 Sun Gold at the Crossroads Platinum -- Sharefin, 19:23:36 03/24/02 Sun Commodities Corner -- Platinum Spikes Gold -- Sharefin, 19:15:39 03/24/02 Sun Gold Rises on Expectations of Higher Investor Demand in Japan Gold futures had their biggest gain in three weeks on expectations that investors in Japan will seek alternatives to a tumbling stock market. Japanese manufacturers and investors bought 32.5 metric tons of gold in the fourth quarter, making Japan the seventh-largest gold consumer, according to a report last month from the World Gold Council, a London-based industry group. Investors bought 21.5 tons, or about two-thirds of total purchases. ``There has been something of a gold rush in Japan, and demand has continued very strongly into this quarter,'' Katherine Pulvermacher, investment research manager at the World Gold Council, said yesterday. Gold takes centre stage -- Sharefin, 19:14:10 03/24/02 Sun Gold takes centre stage Analysts said most interest appeared to be in gold stocks, on the back of a rise in the price of gold by $US4.50 to $US297.60 an ounce in New York on Friday and a perception that the Japanese were buying. hyperinflation/gianni -- shell, 19:12:42 03/24/02 Sun i should have mentioned the key role of a massive bond market like ours should'nt say 'ludicrous'-it locks you out of chance of learning something new---should say,'puzzling' Lenny's Commentary -- Sharefin, 18:58:31 03/24/02 Sun GENERAL COMMENTS The average Japanese investor is looking for a "safe haven" OUTSIDE of the normal financial channels, and only gold answers their needs at present. Gold -- Sharefin, 18:54:05 03/24/02 Sun Gold COT Commentary  Hyper-inflation -- Giovanni Dioro, 11:50:14 03/24/02 Sun Of Course hyper-inflation is possible because "our" monetary system is based on printing press money and credit that can and is created at will. All it takes is for the people to start running out of the currency and into another asset. Look at Argentina for example. The people started running from Pesos and started frantically selling them for dollars. Argentina was on the verge of hyper-inflation when the govt stepped in and froze/confiscated bank accounts and prohibited money transfers. To say the same thing couldn't happen in north america, europe, or Japan is ludicrous. cant happen to US$!,-- bearclaw -- shell, 08:47:59 03/24/02 Sun NO NO NO!!!!!--you cant get german-style hyperinflation in our type of CREDIT system--at about 20% inflation it comes tumbling down, into DEFLATION its only possible in a CASH economy cant happen to US$!,-- bearclaw -- shell, 08:43:32 03/24/02 Sun NO NO NO!!!!!--you cant get german-style hyperinflation in our type of CREDIT system--at about 20% inflation it comes tumbling down, into DEFLATION its only possible in a CASH economy Silver -- Sharefin, 16:37:43 03/23/02 Sat The Coming Silver Explosion XAU Index -- Sharefin, 16:35:56 03/23/02 Sat GOX at two year highs -- Sharefin, 16:34:52 03/23/02 Sat Gold -- Sharefin, 16:33:02 03/23/02 Sat HUI - Gold Bugs Index at 2-year high A rise in shares of several metals companies Thursday prompted the Amex Gold Bugs Index to close at its highest level in over two years. Other metals indexes climbed throughout most of the session before pulling back near the close of trading. Gold futures settled slightly higher within a recent price range. "The stocks are clearly moving independently ahead of the metal, which has moved sideways for five trading days while the XAU index is up 8 percent," said Prescott Crocker, a fund manager for the Evergreen Precious Metals Fund Crocker believes the move is in response to commodity price strength as well as some speculation on the likelihood of re-inflation with the bond market moving down and the Fed changing its policy characteristics. Over on the futures front, "the Japanese situation is still the focal point of gold," David Meger, senior metals analyst at Alaron.com in Chicago, said in a note to clients. Gold -- Sharefin, 15:47:18 03/23/02 Sat NY gold vaults $295/oz, consolidation ends bullish ``There are a number of different things that seem to be causing a tidal shift, aside from what we saw today, although I think today is one of those minor ripples within that tidal shift,'' said a metals specialist at a major broker dealer. James Dines on video -- Sharefin, 21:39:47 03/22/02 Fri James Dines bullish on gold Carl Swenlin on Gold -- Sharefin, 21:29:29 03/22/02 Fri OUTLOOK FOR GOLD I began to get long-term bullish on gold at the 1999 breakout. At the time there was extreme pessimism by most analysts, a default position that had been rewarded for many years. When I saw the long-term double bottom and breakout in 2001, I became very bullish, and I will stay that way unless the rising trend from the 2001 bottom is violated. I will personally not be trying to trade it on the way up. Gold is subject to quite explosive advances, so I'm holding my BUY Signal in the belief that I am more likely to catch one of the big up moves than I am to be stopped out by another retest of 20-year lows. The real test, it seems to me, will come at the resistance at 325. Upside target is 500. --Carl Swenlin  Gold -- Sharefin, 21:13:41 03/22/02 Fri 'Hedging coming home to roost' - Cockerill A looming supply-side squeeze amid a broad-based revival of demand for gold could leave hedged gold producers and bullion banks alike, struggling to cover their short positions. Ian Cockerill, the chief executive designate of South Africa's largest unhedged producer Gold Fields, said today a confluence of demand and supply side factors were flagging an imminent bull run for gold which could spell trouble for some of the industry's most prolific hedgers. Ironically, its is the sustained weakness in the gold market over more than a decade may have sewn the seeds for the industry's own recovery and indeed, its long term sustainability. And it is this recovery in the gold market which may spell disaster for some members of the hedging community. As gold producers have spent the past decade trying to come to grips with the market's new price reality, exploration dollars have all but dried up and reserves have been high graded to give producers' operating margins some respectability. Cockerill says between 75 million and 85 million ounces of gold are mined each year but are not replaced. Even at this rate, demand for gold is outstripping new mine supply be 1000 tons a year. "(It) is clear that over the next few years there is going to be a rapid and substantial decline in new mine supply of gold at current prices," said Cockerill. He said at best, the world's ten top new gold projects would bring another five million ounces of production on line, which was "not remotely enough to fill the gap". "In order to (fill the gap) we need a gold price moving into the mid-$300 an ounce range for a significant period of time, on top of which we need at least two years to construct the new projects," said Cockerill. The problem though, is that a consistently stronger gold price at the level required to stimulate supply, could spell disaster a large portion of the industry's hedging community. Cockerill on hedging "One of the most important facts about hedging that one needs to understand is that in a declining market, hedging is a source of supply onto the market. Conversely, in a rising gold market, hedging rapidly turns into a source of demand for gold as producers scramble to cover their positions," said Cockerill. "I propose to you that in this one year-old rising market, hedging has the potential to become a potentially explosive contributor to gold demand as companies close out their hedges," he said. "At a gold price of $312 an ounce and at current exchange rates, the non-US gold book goes under water. This is exacerbated for some producers by currency hedges that are also under water…the hedging of prevoious years is now coming home to roost and companies who have pawned the family gold, may have to face serious challenges and tough questions from shareholders," said Cockerill. He added that the fall out from a protracted run in the bullion price extend to all hedging counter-parties, including bullion banks. Japan -- Sharefin, 21:06:12 03/22/02 Fri Japan's choices: 'Crash landing, hard landing' Dr. Fukao points out however that the U.S. government of Franklin D. Roosevelt waded heavily into the economy during the Depression in the 1930s. In addition to massive government labour programs and expansionary monetary policy, it introduced a price support system and devalued the dollar against gold. "They experimented with everything," Dr. Fukao said. Dr. Fukao said wading into the stock market should not be viewed as much different than buying or selling gold to manipulate inflation as governments have done in the past. The stock market is the modern day capital equivalent of gold. The measures Dr. Fukao suggest may produce a hard landing but its preferable to the crash landing that could eventually ensue. If the government does not take tough measures Dr. Fukao envisages an eventual run on the banks as domestic investors finally lose confidence and scurry to gold, foreign currency and real estate. From the Far Side -- Sharefin, 21:02:45 03/22/02 Fri Heres a little taste of what could happen to the $USD (Bearclaw) Mar 22, 21:54 Hyper-Inflation, and the German Mark Date ......Number of German Marks to buy one ounce of gold Jan 1919 .......170.00 Sept 1919 ......499.00 Jan 1920 .......1,340.00 Sept 1920...... 1,201.00 Jan 1921 .......1,349.00 Sept 1921...... 2,175.00 Jan 1922 .......3,976.00 Sept 1922...... 30,381.00 Jan 1923 .......372,477.00 Sept 1923...... 269,439,000.00 Oct 2, 1923.... 6,631,749,000.00 Oct 9, 1923..... 24,868,950,000.00 Oct 16, 1923.... 84,969,072,000.00 Oct 23, 1923 ...1,160,552,882,000.00 Oct 30, 1923... 1,347,070,000,000.00 Nov 5, 1923 ...8,700,000,000,000.00 Nov 30, 1923... 87,000,000,000,000.00  Blips & ticks -- Sharefin, 20:51:29 03/22/02 Fri The pop in gold shows up quite differently on these three charts. The first chart shows the Kicto 24 hour chart where the jump looks to have started from the base of the run at just under $295 and rose up to just under $300 before settling back to just over $296 with this move looking to have taken 30 odd minutes. The second chart shows the Kitco New York chart where the move up is separate from the spike which occured about 10 minutes later. In this case the blip appears to be about 7 minutes in duration. The third chart shows the gold price tick-by-tick as each trade occurs. On this chart it is quite clear that gold traded (or was it a data error) for only one trade at this price. It appears as almost an illusion traded to take on the appearance of a price spike when it is moreso a data error. Who is playing who, as the POG works it's way higher???    Lifted from the far side -- Shadowfax, 20:35:20 03/22/02 Fri Heres a little taste of what could happen to the $USD Hyper-Inflation, and the German Mark Date Number of German Marks to buy one ounce of gold Jan 1919 .......170.00 Sept 1919 ......499.00 Jan 1920 .......1,340.00 Sept 1920...... 1,201.00 Jan 1921 .......1,349.00 Sept 1921...... 2,175.00 Jan 1922 .......3,976.00 Sept 1922...... 30,381.00 Jan 1923 .......372,477.00 Sept 1923...... 269,439,000.00 Oct 2, 1923.... 6,631,749,000.00 Oct 9, 1923..... 24,868,950,000.00 Oct 16, 1923.... 84,969,072,000.00 Oct 23, 1923 ...1,160,552,882,000.00 Oct 30, 1923... 1,347,070,000,000.00 Nov 5, 1923 ...8,700,000,000,000.00 Nov 30, 1923... 87,000,000,000,000.00 James Dines on Nightly Business Report -- Shadowfax, 19:43:34 03/22/02 Fri 3/22/02: Market Monitor-James Dines, Editor of "The Dines Letter," PAUL KANGAS: My market monitor guest this week is James Dines, Editor of "The Dines Letter," based in Belvedere, California. Welcome back to NIGHTLY BUSINESS REPORT, Jim. JAMES DINES, EDITOR, "THE DINES LETTER": Hi, Paul. KANGAS: During your last visit with us on October 19 of last year, you said we should be expecting the father of all bear markets. Well, the Dow Industrial average then was 9,200 and now it's about 13 percent higher and the Nasdaq Composite is 12 percent higher. Where's the bear? DINES: We're only three months into the year. We still feel that it's going to come down very hard in the first half of the year. If you remember, the last time I was on your show, everybody was very pessimistic. We were looking for a sharp year end rally. We got that and our forecast issue said we're going to come down hard into April or May. And that still stands. And second of all, 13 percent means nothing to me. I mean I don't want no stinking 13 percent. I'm in this for blood. I want to double or triple my money. KANGAS: Well, I have to say that the only stocks you liked back then were the golds and they have done exceedingly well. As a matter of fact, the gold group, I believe, is the best performing group since then, is that not true? DINES: That's the truth. They, Lipper (ph) says that they're the best performing group in January and February so far. KANGAS: Well, let me recall for our viewers the stocks you recommended, three of them. Franko Nevada Gold at $22. It was taken over by Newmont (NEM) at $30 a share. That's a very good percentage move. Anglogold (AU) was $15. It's now in the mid 20s. That's a move of about 60 percent. And Adkniko Gold (ph) was $9. It's now about $12.50, $13. That's about a 40 percent move. So those were great recommendations and I compliment you. DINES: Thank you. Thank you. KANGAS: Is it time to take money off the table in those stocks? DINES: Oh, no. I'm not in this for 50 -- I don't want no stinking 15, 50 percent. I'm looking for, I'm really looking for doubles and triples on these. I think we're in for a huge bull market in the golds and silvers. KANGAS: OK. DINES: And the fact that so few people agree with me confirms it in my mind. They're strong. They are in up trends. And, you know, this reminds me, Paul, of 1995. I was on your show talking about Internet stocks. Most people didn't know what the Internet was and people have written to me after that. They said they had made millions on the Internet stocks in subsequent years. We got out in the year 2000. We shifted from the mother of all bull markets to what I now call the father of all bear markets. But the only advice you'll ever get more specific than buying gold and silver will be a margin call. So make sure you buy them. KANGAS: All right, now, the thing is this will be just the gold and the silvers and everything else is headed lower? DINES: I think so. I think we're in a major bear market and I'd be very -- I think a year from now when I come on your annual show, I think you're going to see a lower market and higher gold and silver. KANGAS: Why? What makes you so bearish? DINES: We're in an international currency crisis. I've been warning for years about this. And you see it in Venezuela and bolivar, the Argentine peso, the Japanese yen, the South African rand, in Europe. All the currencies are breaking down. You notice in Japan there's a stampede by the citizens there to buy gold coins because they're terrified. This is a bull market driven by mass fear. KANGAS: OK... DINES: I talked about this in my book, the mass psychology book. Mass greed is one, is the usual kin of bull market. Golds and silvers are the mass fear driven, and they're much more intense. KANGAS: All right, give us some ideas as to what you would buy in that, in those groups? DINES: Above all Newmont. This is the world's largest gold mine, blue chip on the New York Stock Exchange. It should be in every portfolio. KANGAS: OK. DINES: Second, Placer Dome Gold, PDG. The only major gold that hasn't moved yet. I'd jump on that one. Third, I'd buy the largest silver mine in the world, Dustele Espanoles, $1.70 a share. If you need buying it, I'll put, have my staff put something on the Web site, Dinesletter.com, and I'll tell you how to buy it. KANGAS: OK. DINES: And finally deCODE Genetics (DCGN), DCGM. They have a monopoly on Iceland's population going back to the 10th century. KANGAS: OK. Jim, all right, four stocks you like. And we have about 10, 15 seconds left. Any final thoughts? DINES: Yes. You can quote me on this, Paul. Whether you're rich or poor, it's good to have a lot of cash. KANGAS: OK. All right, so you're prepared, but what percentage of your total assets in gold? DINES: That varies between individuals depending on their risk proclivities. But I would make it substantial. I think gold -- and silver. KANGAS: OK. All right, we've got to run. Thanks very much, Jim. DINES: Always. KANGAS: James Dines of "The Dines Letter." Harry Schultz Seems to be getting Bullisher and Bullisher -- Giovanni Dioro, 13:54:56 03/22/02 Fri In the latest Harry Schultz Letter, Harry seems to be getting even more bullish. He seems always to be bullish to some degree. From memory he says that gold may pull back into support areas in the mid 280's. However he thinks gold could very well make a big move shortly. He says a 2 day close over $305 would be a signal Gold is going higher perhaps towards $354. CYCLIST -- HOLDEN, 13:08:02 03/22/02 Fri Cyclist just plain missed it. Gold Rally -- Gld Fvr, 12:56:49 03/22/02 Fri Gold rallied today finishing strongly above the key resistance level at 295.00, furthermore, CNBC reported that Gold Stocks were the leading sector both yesterday and today. This is a modern day miracle in the making. Hats off of course to Maria Bartiromo! You Gold Bugs gotta be hating yourselves now. gold -- Sharefin, 06:33:54 03/22/02 Fri Bracing for the gold boom - Gold Fields Chief executive designate of Gold Fields, Ian Cockerill, today threw his weight behind the growing momentum in the gold market, with an unashamedly bullish speech touting gold's return to the heady bull market of twenty years ago. Cockerill said increasing numbers of investors across the spectrum were taking defensive positions in gold stocks, proving bullion's safe haven status remained intact despite two decades of relative peace and prosperity. He stopped short of predicting a price for gold, but said the "new highs and concomitantly higher lows" the metal had recorded over recent months had created a new trading channel. "In my opinion, this is a systemic response to the increasing risk profile of the world. Over this period we have seen an upsurge in interest in gold from retail investors, especially in Japan and Germany, as well as institutional investors world-wide," said Cockerill. "To me this signals that more and more investors are taking defensive positions in gold - the so-called and much-maligned flight to quality. Which brings us back to the original question: has gold lost its status as a reserve asset? My answer to that is an unequivocal no. Gold was an insurance asset, in fact for much of (2000 years) the only insurance asset. Two thousand years of history is not wiped out in two decades," he said. Cockerill said a marked rise in global political tension and a simultaneous rise in economic uncertainty in some of the world's major economies, would be the catalyst needed to kick-start a long-awaited bull run in the gold market. Speaking at the Paydirt Gold conference in Perth, Cockerill said the 12 year era of peace and prosperity which had buoyed world markets - framed by the fall of the Berlin Wall on September 11 1989 and the terror attack on the World Trade Centre on the same date last year - had come to an abrupt end. The death-knell for the unprecedented years of synchronised growth and low inflation, he said, was a signal gold was headed into bull territory. "This was the era of the peace dividend, the era during which the mighty dollar ruled supreme against all other currencies, including gold. During this period we saw a sustained period of economic growth…unique in that it took place in the absence of significant inflationary pressures," said Cockerill. It was hardly surprising, he said, that gold's status as a reserve asset had declined during this period. But according to Cockerill, the tables have begun to turn. Cockerill focussed on global economic uncertainty which reared its head in Asia in the late 1990s, followed by calamitous state of the economies of Mexico, Argentina and Japan. Instability in the Middle East, China's relentless ascent to rival the US as a superpower and the increasingly pervasive threat of mass-terrorism, were all bad news for global harmony - but good news for gold. gold -- Sharefin, 06:31:27 03/22/02 Fri Gold Set To Be Costlier As World Economy Turns Bullish International gold prices are expected to rise in the coming months owing to several favourable factors including a pick-up in the world economy, good monsoons, rising inflation rate and a decision by the Bank of England to stop gold auctions. According to the World Gold Council, the international atmosphere was favouring the gold market and it predicted an increase in prices from the present level of about $280-$290 per troy ounce. gold -- Sharefin, 06:29:46 03/22/02 Fri Gold Fields boosts JSE SG Securities analyst Nick Goodwin attributed Gold Fields' gains to reports that Ian Cockerill had said in Australia that a bull run in gold was imminent. But Goodwin warned: "Gold shares are very high. They are in dangerous territory. If gold doesn't go through $300 an ounce soon, there's big downside risk of 20%."  Japanese Demand For Gold -- Sharefin, 02:18:10 03/22/02 Fri Strong Japanese Gold Demand To Continue This Year Japanese investors' appetite for gold will grow even bigger this year, particularly after April 1 when the Japanese government will pull the plug on its blanket guarantee for bank deposits, a senior official of the World Gold Council told Dow Jones Newswires Friday. Following an astronomical surge in the country's February gold imports, the WGC projects that Japanese demand to be stronger in April and May. Indeed, he projects that imports to continue to remain high this year. Key behind the strong demand is the "psychological nervousness" amongst Japanese investors and the spectre of more bank failures as the Japanese banking system remains fragile, Itsuo Toshima, Japan's regional director for the World Gold Council, told Dow Jones Newswires in an interview Friday. Japanese investors' deposits are currently insulated from any bank failures. But that will change starting April 1, when the government's guarantee is extended only up to Y10 million deposits. Any money over this amount will be lost in the event of a bank failure. "So far, the Japanese deposits are protected, but only after April will they feel the pain, so the impact on investors will be more severe," said Toshima. Japan's Ministry of Finance's latest figures show an astronomical 662% rise in February's gold imports to around 19.8 metric tons from a year ago. The huge jump in February showed "the severity of the economic crisis," he said. Toshima declined to provide a forecast of how much gold Japan would import in April. Japanese investors are drawn to gold because it is a tangible asset that is all the more valuable in the prevailing doom surrounding the Japanese economy and banking system, Toshima said. A gold buying boom by Japanese in January and February was responsible for leading the spot market to leap to a two-year high of US$307.80 a troy ounce on Feb. 8. Industry participants continue to monitor Japanese activity when trading gold. More Gold Buying Likely Ahead Of April 2003 While Japanese investors still have other investment options, such as investing in the U.S. dollar itself or depositing with foreign banks, they still prefer gold, which Toshima described as "nobody's liability." If they bought the U.S. dollar, they would be exposed to credit risk as they have to deposit it in a bank and take on the bank's liability, he explained. Which is why, in spite of the risk of theft, Japanese investors prefer to take their gold bars home, in turn driving up sales of home safes and the stock prices of those companies, Toshima mused. There appears to be more potential for Japanese investment in gold, particularly as the government will apply the Y10 million cap to all ordinary bank deposits from April 1, 2003, he said. "That will be the worst time for Japanese depositors." In addition, despite the current surge in Japanese investment in gold, that still takes up a tiny drop of the Y5 trillion of the country's total financial assets of Y1.4 trillion yen, indicating the huge portion of funds that could still flow into gold, he said. Assuming that only 0.1% of the Y263 trillion, currently tied up in term deposits, flows into gold, that would mean Japanese would buy a ballpark figure of 200 tons of gold, he said. The series of bond debacles over the past few years also "shattered the myth that fixed income paper assets (are) safe," leading the Japanese to move into something more tangible like gold. Even the disadvantage of holding gold - that it doesn't provide any interest - is no longer a deterrent to investors due to the low Japanese interest rates, Toshima said. "Basically, the gold buying is expected to continue as it is rooted in the structural problems of the Japanese economy and the debts held by Japanese banks," which are likely to stay so for another year, he said. Giovanni - Prometheus - here's the links -- Sharefin, 01:59:51 03/22/02 Fri Revisionist View Of The Great Depression Revisionist View Of The Great Depression Also good reading Whither Gold> More Articles Antal E. Fekete's Article -- Giovanni Dioro, 12:31:34 03/21/02 Thu Prometheus recommended this article, "REVISIONIST VIEW OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION". I'm guessing he couldn't link it because of the "dash" in gold-eagle The link to the first part is: http://www.gold-eagle.com/editorials_02/fekete030602.html You can get to the 2nd and final part thru link at the bottom. Gold -- Sharefin, 07:49:52 03/21/02 Thu RBI not to offload gold, moots Gold Exchange Ruling out chances of depleting its gold reserves now, Reserve Bank on Thursday mooted a 'Gold Exchange' for trading in gold and a self-regulatory agency, as part of efforts to develop a market for the precious metal and integrate it with the financial market. Gold -- Sharefin, 07:44:47 03/21/02 Thu WGC Daily Report = PDF file At a conference organised by the World Gold Council in New Delhi, Indian Reserve Bank Deputy Governor Reddy has said that the Reserve Bank would favour any firm proposal for the establishment of a gold exchange in the country. An RBI standing committee is already studying the feasibility of starting futures trading. He also confirmed that the RBI has no intention of selling gold, of which the RBI holds 375.8 tonnes. The latest report from the Swiss National Bank suggests that gold sales over the latest ten-day reporting period, to March 20 th , amounted to approximately 9.4 tonnes. This takes cumulative sales under the disposal programme, which is within the auspices of the Central Bank Gold Agreement, to approximately 472.5t. Gold -- Sharefin, 07:42:18 03/21/02 Thu Russia Finds Gold In Kuril Islands, Still Claimed By Japan Russian geologists have discovered a gold deposit on Urup island, which is part of the Kuril group of islands, the Gold Producers Union said Wednesday. The gold content at the deposit is estimated between 45 and 100 metric tons. The union said it was optimistic about further gold discoveries in the Kuril islands. Gold -- Sharefin, 07:41:17 03/21/02 Thu A glittering gamble Experts call for the full opening of China's gold exchange Huang Jinbao withdrew 100,000 renminbi (US$12,100) from his bank account on November 28 last year to invest in gold after China's first gold exchange made its debut in Shanghai. But he was disappointed after officials told him that the gold exchange had nothing to do with individual customers at present. Like Huang Jinbao, many of China's individual investors eyeing gold investments have to wait another two to three years before the gold market is completely opened, say experts and officials. "The total liberalisation of China's gold market is a step- bystep process," says Liu Shan'en, deputy-director of the Beijing Gold Economic Development Research Centre. Following the opening of the national gold exchange in Shanghai in November, regional gold bourses should also be launched to lay a foundation for the opening of the retail market, he says. In addition, a consistent and transparent national gold investment regulation should be established to facilitate gold transactions, he adds. Currently, there are no unified regulations on gold transactions in China, and different regions operate according to their own understanding, which has led to great confusion. Besides the regulation, banks and gold enterprises should co- ordinate their efforts and share their experiences in order to prepare for the full opening of the market, Liu says. All these measures will be finalised in the next two to three years, and the ultimate goal is to liberalise China's gold market for individual investors, says an official with the Gold Management Bureau under the State Economic and Trade Commission. So far, gold jewellery accounts for 96% of gold consumption in China, which ranks third in the worldwide demand for gold. Its total demand for gold stood at 156 tonnes in the first three quarters last year. The Chinese tradition of collecting gold as a way to maintain asset value is expected to make the retail market prosperous once it is made available to individual purchasers. Gold -- Sharefin, 07:37:11 03/21/02 Thu India RBI Favors Forming Gold Exchange According to Reddy, the Indian gold market is integrating with the international gold market and therefore must be integrated with the financial market in India which means an assured trading and settlement system is needed. "So the next step forward has to be a gold exchange," he said. Industry members have said gold jewelry exporters in India would benefit from a gold exchange as an exchange would make the market more transparent. Gold -- Sharefin, 07:35:11 03/21/02 Thu Newcrest lifts gold inventory to 29 mln oz Newcrest Mining Ltd said on Wednesday its estimated resources inventory of gold had tripled to 29 million ounces following a study of its Telfer lode in Western Australia. "The combination of Newcrest's current 10.4 million ounce reserve and the 19 million ounce Telfer project planning inventory trebles the company's total gold mining inventory to approximately 29 million ounces," it said Newcrest was 3.8 percent, or 18 cents higher at A$5.45 in late morning trading, outpacing gains in the Australian index of gold mining companies, which was 0.3 percent higher. Gold -- Sharefin, 07:33:06 03/21/02 Thu One billion dollar expansion of WA gold mine A gold mine in Western Australia is to be re-opened, in a one Billion dollar plan unveiled by Newcrest Mining. The Telfer Mine in the Pilbara operated for more than 20 years before being de-comissioned in mid-2000 because of rising production costs. Newcrest Mining says that over the next 20 years it intends to take at least 19 million ounces of gold from the mine. Managing director Tony Palmer says one thousand jobs will be created during construction and 600 to 700 miners will be required when Telfer becomes operational: "This is a hugely significant operation ... Telfer .... and it transforms Newcrest into one of the big gold mining companies in the world." Gold -- Sharefin, 07:31:21 03/21/02 Thu Goldcorp CEO seeks to break mining mold Chief Executive Rob McEwen is looking for his next big gold property on the World Wide Web, and he is offering $2 million in prizes to anyone who can help find it in a global challenge. Such unconventional thinking has paid off before. Two years ago McEwen posted usually confidential data from Goldcorp's main Red Lake mine in Canada on the Web and offered $500,000 to "geological voyeurs" who could target the next 6 million ounces of gold on the property. McEwen said he got 475,000 hits and tripled Red Lake's reserves and resources to 5 million ounces, thanks to proposals from people in Australia, Canada, the United States and Russia. Gold -- Sharefin, 07:24:29 03/21/02 Thu Japan's gold imports surge 7-fold Japanese investors imported 19,754 kilograms (635,000 ounces) of gold in February, up a stunning 662 percent from the same month last year, according to the government's trade report Wednesday. This month, says Itsuo Toshima, regional director of the World Gold Council, gold buying in Japan "has slowed, although (is) still double to triple year-to-year in March." Toshima says the recent Tokyo stock market rally has lent "a sense of temporary relief." The Nikkei Average fell 2.3 percent Wednesday. See Asia Markets. The surge in gold imports "can be attributed to the Bank of Japan's aggressive monetization of government debt, which, if left unchecked, will result in the elimination of deflation and the start of inflation," said Ken Landon, currency strategist at Deutsche Bank in Tokyo. "Japanese citizens are clearly losing confidence in the monetary policy of the BOJ and are buying gold to protect against a potential meltdown in the value of the yen," he said. Gold -- Sharefin, 07:21:55 03/21/02 Thu ORE STRUCK: Gadgets worth weight in gold Derivatives, gold & Enron -- Sharefin, 07:16:27 03/21/02 Thu Feinstein rejects changes to energy derivatives bill California Sen. Dianne Feinstein said Monday she would push ahead with legislation to regulate energy and metals derivatives like those traded by Enron Corp in the multi-billion dollar over-the-counter market. Feinstein, a Democrat, said she rejected a request from Texas Sen. Phil Gramm, the top Republican on the Senate Banking Committee, to exempt metals derivatives and to drop price-transparency requirements from the measure. The proposed legislation would give the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission regulatory oversight of all energy and metals derivatives to better track large trades in the highly secret over-the-counter market and to respond faster to any illegal activity in the market. The measure, which Feinstein will try to add to a broad energy policy bill before the Senate, was delayed for several days while she unsuccessfully negotiated with Republicans. Gramm's wife, Wendy, is the former chairman of the CFTC and a member of Enron's board of directors. Under Feinstein's plan, the Senate would repeal a Congressional exemption that allows firms to buy and sell electricity, natural gas, oil, gasoline and metals in the OTC market without disclosing information on such deals to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. The energy OTC market is traded privately among companies and other institutional investors, not on regulated exchanges such as the New York Mercantile Exchange. The trades that Enron carried out in the OTC market have been blamed for pushing up electricity and natural gas prices in the West last year. The Feinstein proposal is opposed by Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan and U.S. Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill, who have expressed ``serious concerns'' about it. Greenspan and O'Neill said putting the OTC market under government oversight would cause legal uncertainties over the transactions entered into by the market participants. Feinstein said she rejected Gramm's request to exempt energy swaps from CFTC anti-fraud authority, to delete all public price transparency requirements, and to drop metals derivatives from the bill. She also refused to exempt all electronic exchanges from requirements that they maintain sufficient capital to carry out their operations. Barron's Data -- Sharefin, 07:11:47 03/21/02 Thu Barron's Charts updated Don't miss this one -- Prometheus, 11:30:50 03/20/02 Wed Over at Gold Eagle, (link above) there's a must-read essay by Dr. Antal E. Fekete. Won't try to give you a one-liner description, but I do believe he has solid understanding of the elements in place which are making the financial sector an ever-larger component of the GDP. Eventually, they'll have it all. Up to about a quarter of GDP, now. Tricky, and some of the steps were previously "behind the curtain", at least to my feeble eyes.  Accounting for Silver -- Giovanni Dioro, 07:02:23 03/20/02 Wed I still have a lingering doubt about this accounting for silver at Berkshire Hathaway. My problem is whether Silver is accounted for differently if it sits in storage or if it is leased out. Notably if it sits in storage, could it be classified as "inventory"? On the other hand if it is leased out for interest (who said precious metals don't pay interest?), then it is recorded as "other investments". Specifically, there have been rumours that Buffett's silver was leased to Enron with a 3rd party guarantee. Enron sold the silver to finance its activities, went broke, and Buffett went running to the 3rd party (investment bank) reclaiming his silver, so the rumour goes. The 3rd party allegedly scrambled to buy and borrow silver in the market which led to the sky-high lease rates we saw last December. Therefore if silver sitting in the vault is accounted for as inventory, it would lend credence to the enron rumour above. Buffett, Silver, & the Balance Sheet -- Giovanni Dioro, 06:39:16 03/20/02 Wed In my earlier post that remarked on the jump in inventories at Berkshire Hathaway possibly having something to do with silver. I have to take back this theory as it is probably not likely the case. I have just found in the annual report that under the category "Other Investments", included are investments in commodities, limited partnerships and warrants, which are carriedat fair value in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. Thus Silver, being a commodity, is probably included in the Other Investments category. Gold -- Sharefin, 19:15:54 03/19/02 Tue Curtain comes down on Kebble Gold -- Sharefin, 19:14:49 03/19/02 Tue Gold Gains On Declining Yen "(A major U.S. trading house) were buyers early on and pushed (Apr gold) through $294 but couldn't get it into (buy) stops above there," said Frank McGhee, a dealer at Alliance Financial LLC in Chicago. "When they stopped buying, the market came off. It was supported on all breaks," however. Gold -- Sharefin, 19:13:46 03/19/02 Tue US remains committed to hedging South African and Australian gold producers are expected to continue reducing hedging helped by the depreciation in their currencies relative to the US dollar, a development which is making them more profitable. Gold producers in these gold mining centres are also benefiting from the sea-change in gold market fundamentals. But gold producers in the United States are likely to remain committed to hedging. This is according to a report by broker JP Morgan, which was issued today. Gold -- Sharefin, 18:32:53 03/19/02 Tue Jan Gold Imports +10.9% From Dec, -41.5% From Yr Ago U.S. Jan Silver Imports +75.7% From Dec +56.9% From Yr Ago Gold -- Sharefin, 18:29:29 03/19/02 Tue Mark Wellesley-Wood: CEO, DRD Interview Gold -- Sharefin, 18:27:46 03/19/02 Tue Ashanti reassures investors on debt plan CSFB spoils Ashanti's party Gold -- Sharefin, 18:24:13 03/19/02 Tue Gold major now eyes downstream consolidation Gold -- Sharefin, 17:58:16 03/19/02 Tue  More Fibo charts Gold -- Sharefin, 17:55:27 03/19/02 Tue Taylor On US Economy, Markets & Gold Gold continued to settle back this week as the manipulators seem to have regained control at least temporarily. Remember that $290 has long been the line in the sand drawn by Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan Chase, Deutsche Bank, the BIS, Citicorp, The Treasury, and the Fed. In other words, the defendants in Reginald Howe's anti gold price fixing lawsuit which remains an open issue in front of Judge Lindsay in a Boston Federal Court. One would have thought if this lawsuit was as frivolous as the likes of the World Gold Council, Goldfields Mineral Services, CPM group and others have claimed, Judge Lindsay would have found a reason to throw it out of court long ago. The fact is that there are some highly significant Constitutional issues that could impact our freedoms that far transcend the narrower issue of a fixed gold price. As we closed the books on March 15, 2002, the manipulators have succeeded in pushing the spot price of gold to $289.90. Thus for the first time in quite a few weeks spot gold is now below the 50 day moving average which according to our spread sheet was at $289.94. Spot gold is still above its 200 day moving average which is at $279.10 as of Friday. We take it as a given that the establishment will pull every trick in the book to continue to slam the gold price. The only question is how much longer can they carry out this dishonest practice? How many more bullets do they have by way of gold reserves with which to sell forward or swap gold to other countries that sell gold. Otherwise, folks might start to worry inflation is on the rise and sell stocks. God forbid gold would give a signal that would make Mr. Greenspan's job of manipulating your behavior more difficult. Gold -- Sharefin, 17:50:00 03/19/02 Tue How to Pick A Good Mining Company Did Buffett increase his Stake in Precious Metals? -- Giovanni Dioro, 08:45:31 03/19/02 Tue I was reading Buffett's Letter to Shareholders in the latest Berkshire Hathaway annual report. I then tried to look for the silver investment he had. Now I believe Berkshire has accounted for Silver in the past in the Balance Sheet under "Inventories". Well during the 2001 year, Inventories INCREASED BY NEARLY BILLION DOLLARS (from 1.275 Billion to 2.213 Billion). This increase may be in respect to an acquisition of a subsidiary that has large inventories, or perhaps Buffett added to his Silver stake. Berkshire Hathaway Website Gold -- Sharefin, 05:40:09 03/19/02 Tue XAU Index HUI Index Gold -- Sharefin, 05:17:48 03/19/02 Tue COMEX gold ends higher, focus on Japan's weak yen COMEX gold rose on Monday in spillover buying after a sharp fall in the Japanese yen, brought the Japanese investor back into the safety of the precious metal. ``It's not only the Japanese. We're finding very good physical buying all around -- India, the Middle East and so on,'' said Ian MacDonald, head of bullion trading at Commerzbank. ``The physical buyers have become accustomed and accepted the higher prices now.'' ``If the Japanese were large buyers of gold as the yen fell in value, then I would believe that prospects are excellent that we will again see a repetition of this event, and perhaps even an acceleration,'' wrote Leonard Kaplan, president of Prospector Asset Management in a market report. ``Nothing has substantively changed in the economic fundamentals in Japan.'' Gold prices were little deterred in front of Tuesday's Federal Reserve meeting amid predictions that a revived U.S. economy will shift decision makers away from the easing policy that last year helped restore a shine to gold by shrinking the contango and reducing the incentive for producers and speculators to sell. Gold -- Sharefin, 19:59:27 03/18/02 Mon Gold stocks jump with stronger bullion price Canadian gold stocks jumped nearly 5 percent on Monday, as bullion surged back up toward the $300 level, while analysts said the current low interest rate environment should sustain recent gold strength. "Over the long term, there's nothing that's really changed the gold price outlook. It's still a reasonably positive environment for bullion," he added. Platinum -- Sharefin, 19:52:43 03/18/02 Mon Platinum on the rise as jewelry metal of choice Platinum, the purest precious metal, is adorning the hands of more and more brides as it makes a nationwide comeback, prized for its durability, purity and tradition. And local jewelers say they're seeing young couples jumping on the platinum bandwagon, foregoing typical gold rings in favor of this white metal. Gold -- Sharefin, 19:50:59 03/18/02 Mon Bullish gold market seen undeterred by neutral Fed Gold prices held firm under $300 an ounce before Tuesday's Federal Reserve meeting, looking immune to predictions that a revived U.S. economy will turn decision makers away from the easing policy that helped shore up the underperforming precious metal over the last year. Indeed, bullion traders on Monday were more focused on the currency markets than on interest rates. Analysts said it might take a long-term upturn in U.S. yields to squelch cautious bullishness about gold and make it attractive for speculators and mining companies to become proactive sellers again. Gold bullion traded at a two-year high of $307.50 in early February, the apex of a undulating one-year advance that started shortly after the recession-wary U.S. central bank in January 2001 landed the first of 11 easings that brought U.S. interest rates to their lowest in four decades in December. "Normally shifts from easing to neutral would be negative for gold. I think gold is trading pretty much independently of Fed activity right now," said Refco Inc analyst James Steel. Gold -- Sharefin, 19:28:31 03/18/02 Mon S Africa AngloGold's Output To Fall To 5.8 Mln Oz In 2002 AngloGold, South Africa's biggest gold producer, expects its output to slip to 5.81 million ounces in 2002 from 6.98 million oz in 2001, it said in its annual report released Monday. Anglogold -- Sharefin, 19:26:56 03/18/02 Mon AngloGold reports 13 percent profit rise AngloGold said Monday its net profit excluding unrealised hedging activities increased by 13 percent to 286 million dollars in 2001. He said the company projected gold production of 5.8 million ounces at a total cost of 154 dollars an ounce, and a capital expenditure of 268 million dollars for 2002. Gold -- Sharefin, 19:25:27 03/18/02 Mon Al Qaeda Seeking To Finance Further Attacks Al-Qaeda's money is believed to come from various sources: Saudi-born millionaire Osama bin Laden's personal fortune, donations of seemingly legitimate Islamic humanitarian concerns, and gold trading. From the front page of the Nikkei News -- Sharefin, 19:22:19 03/18/02 Mon Spooked savers spark modern-day gold rush A modern-day gold rush is sweeping the nation. But instead of heading for the hills, a number of wealthy individuals are heading for local precious metal retailers to convert piles of cash into gold bars. As the date nears when the Japanese government ends its full guarantee of bank deposits, gold is regaining its luster in the eyes of the nation's individual investors. Many wealthy citizens are changing their asset allocations from bank deposits to other investment tools such as gold, and the move has steadily pushed up prices of the metal. Precious-metal retailers are thrilled by the bullish mood, but caution still prevails, because recent history teaches us that gold booms in Japan end up with individual investors suffering hidden losses. Osamu Ikeda, chief of the president's office at the nation's largest precious-metal dealer Tanaka Kikinzoku Kogyo KK, first noticed the sea change in investors' sentiment last summer, when the bullish buying by individuals started. Since then, Ikeda has seen a growing number of customers coming into its flagship store in Tokyo, and has convinced himself that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to market gold to Japanese consumers. Customers generally purchase 5-10kg of gold bars, valued at around 7-14 million yen ($54,300 to $108,500), but some have bought as much as 30-40kg of gold. The quantity of gold sold in February at Tanaka's 144 retail stores, including its agent stores nationwide, increased ninefold from the same month last year. Tanaka Kikinzoku is not alone. Ace Koeki Co., a major commodity futures broker, launched a sales campaign in its 14 stores nationwide for two months through last December, offering discounted commission fees of 5 yen per gram, in order to rekindle consumers' desire for gold. Ace Koeki sold a total of 700kg of gold bullion in the campaign. "We sold around 50kg of physical gold per month last year, so the total amount sold in the campaign jumped sevenfold," said Nobuyuki Kudo, assistant vice president of the general planning department of the company. Bullish buying boosted gold imports. Statistics released by the Finance Ministry found that gold imports tripled year on year to 8.17 metric tons in January. That figure is up 110% from last December. The total trading volume of gold futures on the Tokyo Commodity Exchange (TOCOM) in February posted around 2.87 million shares, up 360.8% from a year earlier. "Some individual investors aggressively participate in the gold-futures market by shifting money from the stock market," said Norihiko Ishikawa, a spokesperson at TOCOM. Investment demand for gold in Japan has had an impact on the global gold market. "The topping at $300 per troy ounce early in February in the New York market was caused in part by Japan's growing demand for gold. I saw TOCOM prices for gold futures leading the global market for the first time in nearly 10 years," added Ishikawa. For around two years, gold prices on the New York market hovered below $300 per ounce due mainly to sluggish demand. But the bearish market sentiment turned bullish after Sept. 11. "In addition, the Japanese gold boom is playing a major role in pushing up the price of gold even further," said Koichiro Kamei, managing director at Market Strategy Institute. The price of gold on international markets has been in a downward trend since it reached $850 per troy ounce in 1980. In the meantime, Japan has experienced 10 gold booms, which were mainly sparked by dips in domestic gold prices accelerated by the appreciation of the yen against the dollar, according to gold analysts. But such booms faded soon after the market stablized, leaving individual investors burned. However, the retailers insist that this time is different. "The current gold boom appeals to people's common sense, and industry people are aware of this," said Itsuo Toshima, regional director of Japan and South Korea at the World Gold Council, the London-based nonprofit association of gold producers worldwide. He listed four points that characterize the boom: "The boom has been long-lived, lasting more than half a year since last summer. A wide variety of people, of all ages, have played a major role in investment. Buyers want to stock the metal in their homes, rather than keep it in a bank deposit box. And individuals are buying the metal even in an upward trend of the gold market." Japanese have become more concerned about volatility of the currency and stock markets in the wake of the terrorist attacks on the U.S., the collapse of U.S. energy company Enron and the Argentine government's possible default on its samurai bonds. According to retailers, individual investors think that even if the gold price drops sharply, the value of gold will never disappear completely. Another factor behind the buying binge is that individuals want to cope with the new bank-deposit rules. From April 1 this year, the government will guarantee a maximum of 10 million yen plus accrued interest on time deposits. However, asset-management professionals are taking a wait-and-see stance on gold trading. One asset manager at a major Japanese trust bank said: "We recommend that our customers use investment tools such as foreign currency deposits. As precious metals like gold yield no cash flow, we are less interested in precious metals at this point." From GATA -- Sharefin, 19:15:02 03/18/02 Mon GATA Chairman Bill Murphy was interviewed today on Jim Pupalava's "Financial Sense" Internet broadcast program. You can listen to it here: From GATA -- Sharefin, 19:10:26 03/18/02 Mon To: Bill From: Jim March 17th, 2002 In the midst of the drama of the gold market it is easy to lose focus. Refocusing is as simple as asking us why does the cartel exist that has so affronted the laws of supply and demand? Why has so much effort and capital been put into massaging the chart formations of gold bullion's price? Was it a simple law of nature that put supply into the market recently at $304.60? No, not a chance! It was selling with the clear intention of preventing a close of the gold bullion's price above the key technical level of $305. Why all this effort? Why all this risk? Why is there a gold cartel in the first place? The answer is not to prevent gold from functioning as a barometer of true inflation thereby affronting the peace of the equity markets. It is not because gold is threatening to replace the dollar as a currency. No it is not because some large speculative short position is protecting itself. No, it is not to protect the gold producers who have used the gold derivatives to hedge Practically ALL NEW Production ten years forward to obtain non recourse borrowing and off balance sheet loan capital. No, it is for a much greater and potentially dangerous reason. The Gold cartel exists because should the gold market move into a bull phase the basic faulty structure of the gold derivative will cause a collapse in the ability of the derivative transaction to be able to function. The size of the gold derivative nominal value outstanding by reporting entities is larger by orders of magnitude than the amount required to hedge all new gold production tens years forward. It is made obvious by simply arithmetic that the gold derivative so called market has found perverse uses that have absolutely nothing to do with gold other than as a mechanism to create loan capital. It is obvious that the gold producer gave birth to a market that has been used in greater volume by non-gold producers. The gold derivative market is truly "Rosemary's Baby" of the "Spawning" gold producers in seduced by almost free money and off balance sheet financing. Did it ever strike anyone that if you can borrow hundreds of millions of dollars at 5/8 of 1% something might be wrong? The gold Cartel must succeed since if the gold derivative fails which it is destined to do then all other derivative will come under the scrutiny of the public just like Enron and Arthur Andersen have. Because of this I respectfully request you consider for publication Harry Schultz's recent Letter to the Chairman. Quoted from the Harry Schultz Letter, HSL 623 10 March 02 "GOLD SHAREHOLDERS: My motivation in pushing gold mine Chairmen to close out their hedges quickly is to help them realize the danger, as follows: A gold bull market (which will ignite on a 2 day close above $305) will later, freakishly & ironically, bust most investors holding gold shares in gold producers who have hedges of any kind. Gold will, IMO, streak first to $354 (that number produced via derivative extrapolation) where all hedged mines will bankrupt & central banks will sell gold, sending it back to $270-$300 (?) scaring out the bulls. But derivative damage will have been so great & mine output slashed, the price will resume its rise (as it did after a 50% fall in 1974-76 from $200 to 100), til it reaches $1450 or better, drawing in the bulk of the public at prices over $354, $629 & 800. Then when every short has covered, who will buy? Nobody, & the fall thereafter will be so violent as to disqualify gold as a reserve asset, for such volatility. There would go our hopes for a return to the Gold Standard. The result could be gold back to $35 in our lifetime. We must prevent that. Read on. A mega-derivative squeeze is coming from Hung Fat & Dr. No (ie, 1-2 trillionaire Chinese), which will shred the present day gold cartel to confetti. With them will go all the hedged mines. And their shareholders! Currently, U must note the concentrated g old buying on reactions, very different from the past 2 decades. Gold's bull move will help Hung Fat & Dr. No & traders using our new gold chart service (& following it when stakes are high and unrealized). Before Central Banks fight the $305 & $354 levels, gold producers have the greatest (&LAST) opportunity in the corporate lifetimes to "get the hell out" of every hedge position. They risk class action suits & worse if they don't. There is very little time left to do this. They'll say they can't get out due to bank contracts to hedge their new production during the lifetime of the loan. That's true. SOLUTION during rallies, pay off the development loans by issuing convertible bonds as Agnico Eagle just did, thus financing their development debt in a traditional way. GOLDSHAREHOLDERS should send the letter below to the chairman of every gold mine that hedges its gold production forward, in which U own stock. A Chairman is legally responsible to shareholders for managing his management. After receiving this letter the board chairman can never claim to not have known that derivatives carried extreme legal and structural risks. This letter may end derivative hedge book trading in the manner used today. U can print this out from email or ask us to send U a fax copy or photocopy this letter and recopy. Add you name. We seek to protect the hedging mines against themselves thereby protecting their shareholders, which are our collective selves. We also recognize an obligation to certain developing nations, giving them the opportunity to mine gold, thus protecting them. The ultimate Murphy's Law is to have a gold bull market break the producers (via derivatives) & thereby break the gold bulls. World monetary stability is also involved, about which more another day. Here's the letter: Dear Mr. Chairman: In light of the recent accounting & Enron scandals, I require answers to certain questions concerning the condition hedge book as a whole & the specifics of each individual hedge transaction. Your present reporting does not detail these key items that are critical to an investor's ability to calculate the risk factors of investment in your/our company. 1. What percentage of the funds that you have taken into earnings or deferred earnings originating from your hedge transaction in the past five years are free from the necessity of maintaining your present hedge positions? 2. In derivative contracts with derivative dealers does the right of offset exist? That means should the dealer enter insolvency while owing money to us, can we charge that indebtedness against what we may owe the dealer? 3. Have we dealt with a well-known substantive investment or commercial bank, or with a subsidiary of that entity? If the answer is a subsidiary of the investment or commercial bank, in what nation is the subsidiary domiciled? What are the legal/capital/bankruptcy laws of that domicile? This information is necessary to assess real credit risk. 4. Is the subsidiary of the investment or commercial bank entitled to an automatic fund forwarding from the parent to cover the "Trade DEBT" of that subsidiary, if the subsidiary fails? If not, then we would have to cover the failed commitments, as margin calls do not wait for litigation outcome. 5. If we have dealt with a subsidiary of the investment or commercial bank, have you seen the balance sheet of that subsidiary & audited amount of total nominal value of derivatives granted by that entity to others? Without this, no reasonable calculation can be made of our credit risk involved with this dealer. 6. If we have dealt with a substantive investment or commercial bank in hedge derivatives, has the board been appraised of the condition of an audited statement of the nominal value of all derivatives granted by that institution? If we have not, then regardless of the hundreds of millions or billions in capital no meaningful qualification of risk has been made. 7. Can we trade the entire transactions of the hedge book with any dealer we wish or are we obligated to one granting dealer when changes or closure are required or desired? If we can't take our position in totality or leg by leg, to any dealer we have severely limited our liquidity & tied ourselves to the financial condition our counter-party. 8. Assuming we used leased gold contracts as part of our hedging program, do either ourselves or the dealer have the obligation of returning the gold, re-leasing the gold or replacing the gold at the end of the standard term of lease (which is 1 year) required by all central banks? Does the Board realize: no matter what our contract says with the gold bank, the leased gold needs to be re-leased, replaced or covered at the end of each year regardless of the fact that our hedge position goes out to 10 years forward? 9. Regarding the hedge instrument: a. Was the trade transacted over the counter or on a listed exchange? b. Is there a regulatory body presiding over the transaction? c. Are the prices of these instruments in public record anywhere? d. Was the price of the instrument determined by computer modeling? e. Is there an open market for each leg of the hedge transaction? 10. Regarding legal considerations: a. Are you familiar with the legal precedent set in the early 1990s in the Southern District of Manhattan Federal Court whereby the validity of a derivative transaction is determined by the capitalization of a transaction versus the nominal value of the transaction? b. Are you familiar with the legal precedent concerning the validity of a commodity transaction being determined by the timely & industry standard execution of a margin call? I require prompt answers to these questions, as without this knowledge no responsible conclusions can be gained concerning the actual risk our company has, regardless of our company's position in the industry or the size of your treasury. If you have not reviewed all the criteria of the individual hedge contr acts, dealer's stability by documentation & freedom to deal for closure by individual leg or by total spread position with any dealer of your choice, I would feel you are not fulfilling your duty to us, Sincerely yours, Gold & XAU -- Cobra, 06:38:16 03/18/02 Mon Friday's close for both Gold and the XAU was Ex-actly on the 55 day moving average's. This looks to be an ideal time to enter long positions. They both have held well above the peak of wave one too. Very nice ABC's are in place on the charts also. Lenny's Daily Commentary -- Sharefin, 03:46:18 03/18/02 Mon GENERAL COMMENTS The predominant influence on the precious metals last week was strongly Yen related. As the Yen rose in value, the market saw significant selling of gold, perhaps as much as 190 tons, as Japanese investors shed holdings originally purchased as a currency "hedge" (as gold is universally priced in USD), and reentered other traditional markets. While last week saw substantial rallies in the Yen and in their equity markets, I would guess that it will not last too long. Physical gold demand (as opposed to "paper gold" demand on Tocom) is climbing, with totals in perhaps the 20-ton range for February of this year. To quote Mr. Paul Macarounis of NM Rothschild Australia, "The Japanese want something physical to put their money in. The reasons for buying gold are not going to go away in a hurry". ------- It seems the Japanese trade paper gold as readily as their markets fall & rise. But when they buy physical it's to hoard away. Two seperate mindsets dictated to for far differing reasons. Gold -- Sharefin, 03:42:53 03/18/02 Mon Top Gold Miner Hopes Bank Agreement Will Continue The South African based mining group Gold Fields Ltd said today that it is hopeful that the 1999 agreement limiting sales of gold by Europe's largest central banks will be renewed. The five year agreement, signed in Washington 29 months ago by fifteen central banks, limits gold sales to 400 tonnes a year and caps gold borrowings at 1999 levels until 2004. The pact has been credited with helping stem a flood of bullion into world markets. After the agreement was made public, gold rocketed, if only briefly. "We have not heard anything other than that they would renew some form of the Washington agreement, Gold Fields chief executive officer Ian Cockerill said. Gold Fields is South Africa's second largest gold producer, mining 4.5 million ounces a year. Cockerill said it was not in the best interest of the banks to see gold prices collapse. "Their indications to us are that they would like to see a price and they would like to see the producers supporting their product," Cockerill told a media briefing. Analysts have said expiration of the agreement could lead to a wave of gold hitting world markets. Gold -- Sharefin, 03:39:41 03/18/02 Mon Gold Mining Consolidation Loses Sparkle South Africa's Gold Fields said today that the recent bidding frenzy for Australia's Normandy Mining may slow the pace of industry consolidation as potential suitors look harder at the real value of assets. The US$2 billion plus paid for Normandy in February by Newmont, outbidding AngloGold, was expected to spark a rush on gold miners seeking dramatic increases in mine yields via acquisitions. The three month bidding war catapulted Normandy shares above A$2 each -- nearly double the price when AngloGold launched the first offer. Now, said Gold Fields chief executive Ian Cockerill, some mining companies have unrealistic expectations of what their assets are worth, given Normandy's final price tag. "Newmont's acquisition of Normandy has allowed prices to run ahead of themselves somewhat," Cockerill told a media briefing. "Where six months ago, we thought there was very good value for money in Australia, it's become a lot more aggressive in price now," he said Gold -- Sharefin, 03:38:26 03/18/02 Mon Australian Gold Cos Not Cheap Australian gold companies are no longer cheap after U.S.-based Newmont Mining Corp.'s (NEM) takeover of the country's largest gold miner, Normandy Mining Ltd. (A.NDY), Cockerill indicated. "Australia is probably price wise, a bit high-priced," after the Normandy acquisition dramatically raised gold companies' expectations of prices for their assets, he said. Gold -- Sharefin, 03:37:09 03/18/02 Mon Gold Up On Demand, Stronger USD/JPY Spot gold was slightly higher Monday in Asia, again aided by a stronger U.S. dollar against the Japanese yen and by physical demand which buoyed support at $290 a troy ounce, traders said. At 0612 GMT Monday, the U.S. dollar was stronger against the Japanese yen at Y129.85, compared with Y129.13 in New York Friday. A stronger dollar against the yen has in recent months boosted gold prices, as that usually prompts Japanese investors to buy gold to hedge against any further declines in the yen, given the backdrop of a weak economy. Also boosting gold prices Monday is physical demand from Singapore, Hong Kong and possibly China once it dips below $290/oz, traders said. "It (gold) tested the $289/oz support twice but physical demand still prevails," said a Sydney-based bullion trader. "Daily studies remain positive, and the recent gains assert that a new low under $288/oz will probably not be seen ahead of a test of $299-$300/oz resistance," it said. Gold -- Sharefin, 03:30:45 03/18/02 Mon Mining trust buys into gold Merrill Lynch World Mining Trust (LSE:MLW) has been aggressively building up its gold holdings, a move that has included, among other things, buying US$2.74 million-worth of the Bank of England's bullion. "Gold is looking more interesting than it has been for a very long time," Graham Birch, the investment manager, pointed out when Miningweb discussed the Trust's performance ahead of its annual meeting on March 27. "There are now some hints of investment interest appearing - and it's investment demand that powers bull markets for gold." By the end of last year the Trust, which has a market value of about £200 million, had boosted gold's share of the portfolio to 25 percent of the net asset value, Birch reveals in his annual report. That compares with 16 percent of NAV at the end of 2000. Gold -- Sharefin, 03:28:46 03/18/02 Mon Reuters Poll of analysts' Gold price forecasts for 2002 & 2003 Gold -- Sharefin, 03:26:33 03/18/02 Mon A surprise gold rush Gold pierced $300 an ounce a couple of weeks ago, the first such occasion since late in 1999. Why would an asset known as an inflation hedge rise in an economic climate in which inflation is close to multi-decade lows and the dollar, the currency in which precious metals are denominated, is trading near multi-year highs? . The common answer from analysts is "uncertainty." James Stack, editor of the American investment newsletter InvesTech Market Analyst, suggested another reason: Blame it on Japan - specifically the decision by its government to curtail the amount held in bank deposits that is protected from loss. . "The dubious decision to cap bank deposit insurance has savers snapping up the precious yellow stuff," he said. . Whatever uncertainty is burdening the rest of the world, there is more of it in Japan, where the economy has been in recession for more than a decade and the banking system, as a result, is extremely feeble. . Japan is not the only reason for the rally in gold, just a key one, Stack said. . "It's the old, classic supply/demand imbalance in a very inelastic commodity," he said. "Central bank sales have slowed and mining mergers have reduced forward sales from production." Gold -- Sharefin, 03:24:39 03/18/02 Mon Fund Manager bulllish on Gold (from Barrons) I believe gold is in a secular bull market. But you are going to have a lot of volatility. Gold had been an awful area for 20 years because there was a secular bull market for financial assets. Yet looking at supply-demand, there has been a negative situation for eight or nine years. Mine production was growing very slowly and demand was outstripping the supply. It was masked by the industry's forward-selling programs and central-bank selling. There is a favorable primary production profile. What gives me the most optimism is the Japanese public buying gold. The country is lowering its guarantee on savings deposits, so people are moving into gold. Japan has imported a lot of gold over the last six or eight weeks. When people get worried about the financial system, they buy gold. Thaigold -- Sharefin, 03:19:05 03/18/02 Mon I'll edit the link in next to the tick-by-tick charts. That'll save you reposting it all the time. Thanks kindly......... @ Nick... @ Dave... TA Charts -- ThaiGold, 01:57:08 03/18/02 Mon That's fine Nick. I'll try to stop by and post only the link instead. Dave: Look for this instead of the TA Charts in the Forum or just bookmark it now: http://OS2Eagle.Net/thai-ta.htm GATA -- Sharefin, 00:08:14 03/18/02 Mon The King Doesn't Like Gold, Never Has, Never Will - Unlike Mr. Chang TA by ThaiGold -- Dave, 00:02:53 03/18/02 Mon Thai, please do continue to post your TA charts. They are a tantalyzing hint of future spot action and I appreciate having them available on this forum. It saves time also, since I don't need to browse back and forth. Thai -- Sharefin, 23:55:58 03/17/02 Sun Just a link would be good. I had some charts linked into this page but it slows down the load times. Post those images daily and this forum wouldn't load after a week. TTA: COMEX TA Page Updated... -- ThaiGold, 21:41:38 03/17/02 Sun Hello Nick... Let me know if this is of interest to your Forum readers. I can post it daily if you like, or they can just goto the link.
Dr. John Coleman Reiterates Buy Recommendation on Silver -- Giovanni Dioro, 06:36:00 03/16/02 Sat In Dr. John Coleman's recent newsletter World in Review, he strongly urges his readers "to BUY SILVER BULLION COINS NOW WHILE IT IS STRILL POSSIBLE." The former British Intelligence agent says that the dollar will be under pressure with the introduction of the Euro and says, "We very much believe that there is no substitute for individuals to protect themselves than by holding silver and gold, in that order." He says that the Muslims know this and have the 3.0 gram Silver Dirham and the 4.3 gram Gold Dinar, and that if the arab world got their act together and sold their oil in exchange for only gold or silver they would put the US economy and its currency in serious crisis. Coleman then questions the possibility that the US may plan a war against Irak and then go after all muslim oil-producing states to head off such a crisis, and he adds that "while it sounds like a wild and far-fetched idea, stranger things have happened. World in Review first strongly advised buying silver last Spring with Silver wallowing around the $4.10 - $4.20 range, now he reiterates his recommendation in the latest issue of his newsletter World in Review. He writes, "Thus, WIR (World In Review) once again urges its readers to BUY SILVER BULLION COINS NOW WHILE IT IS STILL POSSIBLE. Why do we say this? Because silver is under unremitting attack by the same forces that have been attacking gold for decades, shorting the market with unlimited printing press fiat dollars backed by the "folly" of owning silver and ridicule heaped upon ridicule. What is the outcome? The above ground supply of silver is almost exhausted and the articially rigged low price guarantees that known untapped deposits will not be mined. The increasing shortage of silver points to a BULL MARKET IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE. "Our opinion is that it wouold be folly to have large holdings denominated in the number one fiat currency of the world (USD), and only something a little less than folly to hold assets in the number two fiat currency of the world, the Euro. "We say this of the euro because its notes cannot be redeemed for gold any more than the dollar can be redeemed for gold. That is the bottom line for the euro. It does not measure up to its gold promises advertising. Thus, it will eventually go the way of the dollar, but not in the near or mid-term. "The Muslim world is waking up to the reality of their position and if their muhabar banking system and gold and silver as mediums of exchange catches on, it will spell big problems for the economies of Western nations. Perhaps the United States already knows this which may account for its failure to adopt a more even-handed policy toward Middle East countries." Dr. John Coleman is a former British intelligence agent who publishes World in Review, which is an in-depth newsletter which covers behind the scenes news and commentary on the world's events. It is published every 2 months. Subscriptions are $65/yr US, $75 for Mexico & Canada, $95 outside of North America. WIR 2533 North Carson St. Suite J-118 Carson City, Nevada 89706 1-800-942-0821 XGO Analysis -- Sharefin, 20:27:53 03/15/02 Fri Some Sectors To Watch AUSTRALIAN GOLD INDEX (XGO) The gold sector has been one of the most exciting performers in recent months. Having already recorded a large move higher the question remains whether there is more to come. If this is the case then it also points to the idea that the end is nigh for the current stockmarket upcycle since gold is traditionally a late rallier into the end of the cycle. The monthly Gold Index chart goes back to 1985. Note the highlighted area at on the chart that preceded the 1987 rally. Following this massive upswing there has never been another time when the Index looked so promising until in recent years. After hitting a low of 654 in May 2000, the Gold Index started to bottom. I year later it broker the upper range of the bottoming pattern and started to climb. A spike top at 900 was followed by three months of correction until the uptrend swung into action again. The recent high at 1314 saw the later stages of the rally go near vertical, suggesting a correction is in store. It is possible for XGO to come all the way back to the 905 and still be in an uptrend. This level is not only old resistance but also happens to coincide with the Fibonacci 61.8% retracement level from all-time lows to the 1314 highs. However if you check the rally that lead to the 1987 crash you can see that the price action was breathless in its upside speed. The nature of the gold sector is that the upswings can be massive and unchecked. Even in light of the 1993 rally for this index, the current uptrend looks meek. If we are heading towards an end to the current stockmarket bull market, then a fast and furious run in this index would be a case of history repeating itself and should not come as a surprise. XGO Index XAU/HUI -- Cyclist, 12:00:44 03/15/02 Fri supportlines crumbling,move next week down to 57/73 support Marc Faber looks at gold again -- Prometheus, 11:33:21 03/15/02 Fri His analysis is remarkable, possibly because he looks from afar (Hong Kong) and analyses our markets without being infected by the hysterias of the moment, both bullish and bearish. The Bullish Side of Enron Cycles and technicals -- Cyclist, 07:27:01 03/15/02 Fri are giving a strong sell today. BKX sits at powerful resistance of 900. Gold -- Sharefin, 05:26:01 03/15/02 Fri Russia slams gold investors RISING gold prices worldwide are encouraging Russian gold miners to reassert themselves, challenging foreign mine investors in the Russian gold sector to produce or leave. Valery Braiko, head of the Union of Gold Producers, said yesterday that joint ventures with foreign participation were "great in numbers, but at the same time we can count successfully operating companies with foreign participation on the fingers of one hand. Other projects with foreign participation do not produce anything." Citing examples of Canadian and Australian projects, Braiko claimed "these foreign shareholders spend too much time on calculating the political risks of working in Russia while no work is done". GATA -- Sharefin, 22:59:36 03/14/02 Thu Dear Friend of GATA and Gold: It is my pleasure to announce one of the most significant developments since GATA's inception a little more than three years ago. Samex Mining of Vancouver, Canada, an outspoken supporter of GATA, has offered to sponsor the translation and hosting of GATA's Internet site, www.GATA.org, in Chinese. The site will look exactly the same as our English site except for the language. At least one article from each of the GATA site's sections in the site will be translated from English into Chinese for the Chinese site. Important news and articles related to GATA will be translated into Chinese, as will be relevant commentary from www.LeMetropoleCafe.com. Some of the material to be translated includes: -- The supply/demand analysis of Frank Veneroso that was presented at the GATA African Gold Summit. -- U.S. Rep. Ron Paul's statement in Congress announcing his legislation to subject the gold dealing of the Exchange Stabilization Fund to congressional approval. -- My presentation at the GATA African Gold Summit. -- The coverage given to GATA by C-SPAN. Emphasis will be placed on the reasons for Chinese investors to buy physical gold. That can be accomplished by telling them about: -- The 15,000-tonne short position of the Western banks (loans and swaps). -- The suppression of the gold price hundreds of dollars below its equilibrium price. -- Why and how the gold price has been manipulated for seven years. -- The extraordinary risk/reward ratio of buying physical gold right now, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. -- The imminent end of the gold price fraud and manipulation. It gets better. In support of GATA, Samex will sponsor the hosting of the Chinese version of www.GATA.org through an investment relations firm that is the largest Chinese financial portal in North America. It has a membership of more than 30,000 with a hit rate of 7.5 million and 2.1 million page views monthly on its own web site. It also covers the mainstream Chinese news media: newspapers, TV, and radio. This is most important. As chairman of GATA, I am sick and tired of dealing with the U.S. financial press. All it has amounted to is a bunch of wasted lunches, phone calls, faxes, letters, and meetings. After three years of being given one sensational revelation after another, the U.S. media refuses to even acknowledge GATA. They have not even mentioned Reg Howe's lawsuit, which may be one of the most important in U.S. history. It is truly amazing and disgusting. The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Washington Post, Barron's, Reuters, and Bloomberg have not even printed the word "GATA" once in three long years. Neither has GATA been mentioned by the loudmouth conservative talk show hosts like Bill O'Reilly and Rush Limbaugh. No one knows that better than the GATA Army, which has sent them and their brethren many emails about what GATA has uncovered. They are all derelict for one simple reason. The press in the United States will not take on the big-money interests, which is the Gold Cartel. We do not have a free press in America. We have a bought press. There is no other explanation. Not even the Enron revelations can shake them from their negligence. For that matter, that is just the reason why an Enron can occur and hurt so many innocent people. Enron went unchallenged by the press and the indebted politicians. The couple of energy analyts who dared speak out against Enron were fired! To heck with them. If GATA has to go to Beijing to get the truth about gold known, that is where we will go. In a way, we have a story within a story here. How ironic to have the gold scandal break in the Communist press because the free press in the West refuses to print it. I can't wait to send the Wall Street Journal a GATA press release in Chinese and tell them to have it translated if they want to know what we have to say. How about a cheer for Samex's Jeff Dahl and his ingenuity? His firm will be the most well-known gold company in the Chinese investment community. Barrick who? What's an AngloGold? This is going to be fun. I have been to Hong Kong and Singapore and met with gold traders over there. The Chinese are punters and they love to trade gold. Wait until the Chinese investing world gets wind of the real gold story. If GATA can get the right press, I will go back to those countries, or to Taiwan and Mainland China, to get the gold truth out. Perhaps we can help to create a gold-buying frenzy in the Chinese-speaking world that will surpass the one developing in Japan. GATA is most grateful to Samex. BILL MURPHY, Chairman Gold Anti-Trust Action Committee Inc. Gold Fever -- Sharefin, 21:49:47 03/14/02 Thu A Gold Fever Experience  Gold -- Sharefin, 21:43:22 03/14/02 Thu Some Japanese Are Hoarding Gold "I have experienced World War II and survived the postwar high inflation," he said. "I know that paper money can turn into rubbish, nothing. But gold can survive any time of history." While some may dismiss Mr. Isoda's economic views as ultraconservative, they were generally endorsed the same afternoon last week in an executive dining room at the Bank of Japan, the nation's central bank. "There is a gold rush going on," said a high official at the bank, which is responsible for controlling the nation's money supply. "People are buying lots of gold. There is uncertainty about the banks, about deflation and, finally, about inflation. Gold is seen as the best hedge against inflation." Since last November, the surge in Japanese gold sales has contributed to a 10 percent strengthening in world gold prices. Measured in yen terms, the jump was 18 percent. In Tokyo, the trend is most pronounced at the store visited by Mr. Isoda, where clerks have sometimes helped patrons load as much as 85 pounds of gold bullion - more than $300,000 worth - into shopping bags and lug the bags down the street to their cars. "We don't know how they keep their gold at home," said Osamu Ikeda, a spokesman for the store's parent company, Tanaka Kikinzoku Kogyo. "Maybe in a safe, maybe in a bank safe deposit box." In the last quarter of 2001, sales of investment gold - bars and coins, as opposed to jewelry or ingots used for industrial processes - hit 690,000 troy ounces in Japan, a 54 percent jump over the period in 2000. Itsuo Toshima, regional director for Japan and Korea at the World Gold Council, forecast that sales of bars and coins would jump to 1.45 million ounces (45 ton) in the first three months of this year, almost four times the level of the period last year. "It is increasing very rapidly," Mr. Toshima said. Overseas, Japan's new love affair has not gone unnoticed. "The Japanese want something physical to put their money in," Paul Macarounis, a gold trader for NM Rothschild Australia said from Sydney. He discounted this week's run- up of the yen and Tokyo stock prices, saying Japan remained economically weak. "The reasons for buying gold are not going to go away in a hurry." Gold -- Sharefin, 21:32:59 03/14/02 Thu Another Aussie scythes hedge Auriongold, Australia's new number one gold producer, has joined the ranks of the world's majors today declaring it would begin winding back its hedge book and allow itself greater gearing to the spot gold price. The move follows recent announcements of hedge buybacks by heavyweight producers Barrick and AngloGold, as well as compatriot Normandy. Chief executive Terry Burgess said the merger of Delta Gold and Goldfields to create Australia's largest gold producer had prompted the decision to unwind Auriongold's forward positions. "Now we are a larger combined company, we believe we need less hedging than we previously had from the combined hedge book of the two companies. As a result, our new hedging policy states a lower maximum level of commitments in relation to our reserves and lower maximum levels in relation to annual production over the next five years. We will therefore be managing our hedge book with a view to providing greater exposure to a rising gold price," he said. Auriongold would, however, continue its use of put options "to offer price protection" while still allowing the group to take control of a rising gold price. Gold -- Sharefin, 21:23:05 03/14/02 Thu Australian Gold Council - Less Hedging Means Rising Confidence in Australian Gold Less hedging activity by Australian gold producers in the December quarter represents a clear vote of confidence in the industry, the Australian Gold Council (AGC) said today. The JP Morgan December quarter 2001 review showed gold hedging in Australia dropped almost eight per cent at the end of December to 34.2 million ounces. The largest decreases came from leading miners Normandy Mining Ltd, Auriongold Ltd and Newcrest Mining Ltd. AGC chief executive Tamara Stevens said the hedging reductions "lent considerable strength to speculation that market sentiment is beginning to turn in gold's favour".  Gold -- Sharefin, 21:17:29 03/14/02 Thu Gold and the Dollar The upshot of the above is that long positions in gold/silver stocks should be maintained in anticipation of a much higher gold price later this year. Traders and investors should be prepared to do some more buying if gold pulls back into early-April, while a gold rally over the next few weeks would represent another profit-taking opportunity for short-term traders. Gold -- Sharefin, 21:10:44 03/14/02 Thu Newcrest Plans A$1 Bln Gold Mine, Australia's Biggest Newcrest Mining Ltd. Chief Executive Tony Palmer said the company's A$1 billion ($520 million) Telfer project could become Australia's biggest gold mine, amid speculation its reserves estimates may come in at the upper end of expectations. The Telfer project may account for as much as half of Newcrest's annual output within three years, Palmer said. While some analysts have said Newcrest needs a partner, Palmer wants the company to pocket all the mine's potential profit. Newcrest is considering building either a 16 million-ton-a- year or a 19 million-ton-a-year plant at Telfer, Palmer said. That's at the upper end of an earlier range of 13 million tons to 19 million tons. Newcrest produced almost 774,000 ounces of gold in the year ended June 30. Profit fell to A$18 million in the six months ended Dec. 31 from A$29 million a year earlier after the company sold the New Celebration mine and closed its original Telfer mine. Gold -- Sharefin, 20:50:46 03/14/02 Thu Massive writedown hands TVX Gold US$228M loss Canada's TVX Gold Inc. yesterday reported a US$228-million loss for the fourth quarter after taking a huge asset writedown of US$244.5-million, mainly from a failed project in Greece. That wiped out profits for the year, resulting in a loss of US$234.6-million, or US$1.24 a share, for fiscal 2001, compared with a profit of US$100,000 in 2000. Without the writedown, the mid-sized gold miner said its earnings for the year would have reached US$2.7-million. Gold -- Sharefin, 20:38:22 03/14/02 Thu WGC Background News The latest clearing figures from the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) showed that the number of ounces transferred increased 23% from January to February, from a daily average of 16.3 million to 20.1 million. This takes the value of transfers up by 30% to a daily average of $5.9 billion, the highest level since May 2001. The number of transfers also rose, by 24% to an average of 822 a day. Gold -- Sharefin, 20:35:35 03/14/02 Thu Fund Track: Tocqueville Gold Fund Braved Sector The middle of the technology boom might not seem the best time to attract investors with a new gold fund, but in 1998 John C. Hathaway thought he saw an opportunity to do just that. "When we initially discussed the idea, there was nothing more despised than gold," Mr. Hathaway, senior portfolio manager of the $54 million Tocqueville Gold Fund, recalled. "But when the headlines are poor, that's when we build our positions." Gold -- Sharefin, 20:34:07 03/14/02 Thu Yo-ta-Ho! TRADING NOTES: Yesterday on Wall Street was an unusually dull one -- unless of course you were watching the T-bonds. Not only did the 30-year futures get savaged in terms of point loss, on the way down they also trashed some key supports on the long-term chart. Early in the session it looked as though the 98 6/32 target I'd flagged a while back might hold. But after rallying modestly from a few ticks above it, the June contract relapsed, falling beneath the morning's low; then it drifted lower before plummeting anew in the final minutes. I've provided a target below that will give you some idea of how bad things could get in the coming weeks. Most observers seem to think the spike in yields is predicting a strong economic recovery. I very strongly doubt this, however, and that leaves only one logical explanation for the precipitous rally in long-term yields: the dollar's long reign is about to decisively and perhaps abruptly end. If you've been skeptical of the stock market's rally since September, wondering how shares could continue to move higher seemingly on hope and prayers, the fat lady may be about to sing. At the very least, the peak of this week's rally in equities may prove to have been far more important than many would now believe. Gold -- Sharefin, 20:33:07 03/14/02 Thu Gold ends down, but not out of range "One of the US houses was leaning on it to try and push it earlier," said a dealer out of London. The dealer said options desks sold into the $295-$296 area to offset positions incurred managing a producer hedge transaction. "If we get below $291 I think people will just see it as an opportunity to get in a little cheap," he continued. Meger said he expected physical demand from overseas bullion consumers and investors to kick back in in the upper $280s but warned "there is still that large speculative long position out there that continues to be a little burdensome." Gold -- Sharefin, 20:05:26 03/14/02 Thu Gold Prospectors Go Digital PEGLEG MINE, Trinity River Cache, Lost Gun Sight Claim. Long after the last gold rush ended, the names of old gold strikes and fabled hoards still promise adventure, welcome solitude and maybe, just maybe, instant riches. Gold discovered at those sites over a century ago transformed bedraggled prospectors into instant millionaires. Could it happen again? Helped along by satellite technology, thousands of leisure-time treasure hunters hope so. A century ago, prospectors who ventured into the desert to answer gold's siren call needed little more than digging tools, vittles, a rifle and a sturdy mule. Today's prospectors carry some combination of a laptop, palmtop, metal detector, digital camera, cellphone, satellite-based navigation system and three-dimensional topographical mapping software. And their mules have all- wheel drive. .... Research will significantly improve your chances at finding some gold. Here, too, technology plays a part. Government publications issued in the mid- to late 1800's and in the mid-1930's, the heydays of American gold exploration, are available online. "The Internet and a G.P.S. receiver are my top tools," Mr. Smith said. "I convert the locations of the sites described in the old documents into longitude and latitude. I plug these into my G.P.S., print topographical maps so I know the terrain, and I'm halfway there." If you would rather spend your time in the field hunting for gold than online hunting for clues, Charles Overbey, a retired aeronautical engineer from Cocoa Beach, Fla., offers a series of maps at his Web site, www.goldmaps.com, that show the location, latitude and longitude of hundreds of gold deposits throughout the United States. "Knowing where gold was is likely to tell you where gold is," said Mr. Overbey, "and the geologists say that most of it is still in the ground." Bonds -- Cyclist, 12:11:40 03/14/02 Thu are just getting hammered.Japanese repatriating their paper..possibly Cobra -- Cyclist, 11:24:52 03/14/02 Thu Those moves are minor to the big picture. Be ready the week of March 24 to be in gold stocks for the big move up Here you can read what I posted to Miro Miro -- Cyclist, 14:33:05 02/06/02 Wed When I talk stocks,I mean gold stocks on this forum. Look for Hui to bounce off the 80 mark tomorrow or the day after,for a retrace to 84.Seasonals are still supportive this week. Hui will most likely settle at the end of March into the lower seventies. Since you were curious about the general market,my read still sees a bounce at the end of the month/beginning of next month.With rising long term treasury rates. We going to see a lethargic and anemic market in March and possibly April.Oil starting to smell another US military action this spring,with a 5th wave coming.Expecting to see 45 bucks for a barrel of crude this year. So take your pick...:) And better yet Gold basing -- Cyclist, 14:26:56 01/24/02 Thu Next week Tuesday ,gold stocks will have caught up with gold.A run will start and will last till second /third week of February.A 278 stop on April gold should be just right. Cyclist has it called right again I think..... -- Cobra, 04:45:01 03/14/02 Thu Wave action in Gold & the XAU suggest to me a move Up again is going to happen soon, possibly Thursday. Very nice ABC's are in place on the charts on the daily and weekly's with AU & XAU. The XAU has printed a Classic Elliott Wave in the last year. Look for a move to happen " Out of the Blue" all of a sudden. Gold -- Sharefin, 14:39:23 03/13/02 Wed TIP SHEET: Gold Stocks Are A Contrarian's Best Friend John C. Hathaway is a contrarian by nature. It's a philosophy that might have raised some eyebrows at another asset management firm, but at Toqueville Asset Management - which prides itself on being a value contrarian firm - Hathaway fits right in. True to his nature, the managing director and senior portfolio manager of the Tocqueville Gold Fund was a fan of gold stocks even when other fund managers were running to jump in on the technology bandwagon. He formed the $54 million Tocqueville Gold Fund in June 1998, a time when techs ruled the roost and gold stocks were seen as the pariah of the market. "When we initially discussed the idea, there was nothing more despised than gold," Hathaway recalled. "But when the headlines are poor, that's when we build our positions." Others may have scoffed, but it was Hathaway who came away the victor. Since its inception, the Tocqueville Gold Fund has had a significantly strong run, from 5% returns in 1998 to a 21.3% rate of return at the end of 2001. Year-to-date the fund has performed even better, with a 28.34% rate of return, according to Chicago-based tracking firm, Morningstar.com, which also awarded the fund a five-star rating. Hathaway said it's no surprise that investors swung into gold stocks as the economy took a turn for the worse. He said the tech valuations of the late 1990's were too high to be sustained for a long period and at the time he predicted that the tech bubble would soon burst, leaving a void in which investors would flock to safety plays. Precious metals stocks, historically, have been a haven for investors during times of uncertainty. And what could be more uncertain than the slew of negative events that sent the U.S. into recession? First the tech bubble burst, leaving investors scrambling to protect their portfolios. Then the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, the onset of war, suicide bombers in the Middle East, the ripple effect of Argentina's loan default and finally the long-armed threat of Enronitis began to weigh on the market. With such discouraging news, gold stocks became a natural play. "I've been in this business since the 1970s, and I remember when gold stocks were hot," he said. "I remember the bear market of 1973 and 1974 in which gold stocks performed well throughout the decade. In this business, it's all a matter of having a long memory." In addition, he said the current price of gold, about $294, is well below the price that would be required to justify the capital investment necessary to maintain mine output. As production dwindles over the next year or two, the demand for gold will outpace the supply, and gold stocks will climb even higher for an estimated 10-year horizon. But just because it's a gold stock, doesn't mean that it glitters. Hathaway said the secret to the fund's success lies in its ability to weed out the undesirable gold stocks that "hedge away the upside." In other words, the fund avoids companies in which management second-guesses what the gold price is going to do and winds up undermining the gold option price. Hathaway said two of the biggest hedgers in the industry are Barrick Gold Corp. (ABX) and AngloGold Ltd. (AU), two companies which will not be seen as part of the fund's portfolio. But he was bullish on a number of other names. Among its top holdings, the Tocqueville Gold Fund emphasizes two South African producers, Gold Fields Ltd. (GOLD) and Harmony Gold Mining Co. Ltd. (HGMCY). Gold Fields, which recently traded at $8.29, accounts for about 3.9% of the fund's assets while Harmony Gold, trading at $9.17, makes up about 4.3%. He said the companies, in addition to being non-hedgers, have strong balance sheets and positive growth potential based on their assets and large exploration positions, which make them an attractive holding. He added that South African producers, while accounting for about 15% of the fund's portfolio, have better economic prospects due to the record high price of South African gold, as compared to a North American producer. South African gold surged to about $306 an ounce in February before easing back lower to about $296. As of Dec. 31, the fund has a 18.3% stake in North American gold companies, 37.2% in Canada - although Hathaway said there is an overlap between U.S. and Canadian gold producers - a 9% stake in Australia and a 5% exposure to Peru. "When we look to add to our portfolio, we emphasize those regions of the world where you have the best valuations," he said. "But we also anticipate consolidations within the industry, which has helped us to remain the number-one performer in the sector over a three-year period." Consolidations have been prevalent in the sector in recent days. In early January, Newmont Mining Corp. (NEM) raised its offer for the acquisition of Australia's Normandy Mining Ltd. (A.NDY) and Franco-Nevada Mining Corp. (T.FN) to about $2.2 billion, helping the company beat out a competing suitor, AngloGold Ltd. On Feb. 17, Newmont completed its acquisition of Franco-Nevada and had declared its bid for Normandy unconditional. Hathaway said while the news of the consolidation was welcome, it caused a bit of quandary for the fund. Prior to the acquisitions, Tocqueville Gold had a significant stake in all three. While the three stocks appreciated on word of the merger, it resulted in the newly merged Newmont accounting for about 18% of the fund. Hathaway said Tocqueville Gold is a diversified mutual fund and could not maintain such a large position in one company. Newmont, trading at $24.08, was recently the fund's top holding, accounting for 7.1% of its assets. As the economy comes out of recession, Hathaway is not worried that gold stocks would come under pressure. He said that while the world is still in a deflationary mode and gold is considered a hedge in inflationary times, the economic climate is likely to change. "Simply put, deflationary conditions beget inflationary outcomes and deflation is everywhere in the world," he explained. "Sooner or later, the easy way out is to inflate monetary policy. Gold does well when the expected return on financial assets is poor and just having an upturn in business won't solve the issue." Gold -- Sharefin, 14:34:43 03/13/02 Wed Apr Gold Consolidates At $293.80 Precious metals prices settled mixed Wednesday, with renewed demand in Europe and Japan enabling gold to consolidate a rebound off one-month lows, while platinum continued to correct from its recent rally. Further losses posted overnight by the Nikkei stock index, along with a weaker yen versus the U.S. dollar, revived Japanese retail buying of gold. Professional selling was overwhelmed by large-scale speculative buying and covering of shorts during European hours, according to Rhona O'Connell, a market analyst at the World Gold Council in London. Chicago-based dealer Frank McGhee at Alliance Financial LLC saw the early selling of gold and subsequent turnaround during the New York session as part of a pattern, and noted support on the lows from a major U.S. trading firm that had been selling earlier. "The technical (chart) upchannel in gold is holding intact, and consolidation is healthy for the market," McGhee said, adding that he anticipated further gains in the next couple of days. The leading April contract on Comex flirted with the area just above $295 again but stalled and drifted back to finish unchanged from Tuesday at $293.80 a troy ounce. "We are seeing constant buying interest below $290. Whether these orders get filled or not doesn't really make difference," a bank analyst in London said, explaining that some of the buying was linked to people who missed the boat on the initial run up to $300. Instability in most other asset markets, including equities, bonds and foreign exchange is causing people to at least take a closer look at gold, if not compelled them to actually buy it yet. Geopolitical uncertainty, particularly in the Middle East, remains an underlying supportive factor as well. "As long as you have escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian situation, people will get more nervous," McGhee at Alliance noted. "A lot of consumption comes out of that area. (The violence) puts everybody on edge, and that's what gold markets like." Gold -- Sharefin, 08:31:07 03/13/02 Wed Greeks Overlook A Proud History By Rejecting Gold Mining Anyway, back to Maria who says she has read the Council of State ruling on Olympias and can confirm that it is not based solely on the use of cyanide. It also refers to the inevitable devastation of forests, to water pollution and to the risk of a severe accident and concludes that the risks outweigh the benefits. That may well be, but a look at the views of Hellenic Mining Watch on the approval given TVX to mine under Stratoniki hardly represents a balanced approach as the following quotation shows. "Infuriated by the Ministry's attitude the people of the village are now planning their next moves. They have already decided to challenge the decision at the Council of State as well as to file massive compensation claims against TVX and the Greek State. The way this decision was taken does not honor the Greek Administration. The Government has shown beyond doubt that it places the company's profit against the protection of the environment, of our lives and property. Not only should mining be discontinued, but all legal penalties should be imposed upon the company and the public officials who, by their actions or omissions, have become accomplices in illegal and dangerous activities." Further on in this diatribe the point is made, which may well be valid, that the previous company which exploited the mine was forced to discontinue extraction in the late 1980s on account of extensive land subsidence and the collapse of several houses and a church. How it went about its business is difficult to assess nearly twenty years later, but mining techniques have improved over time. The Ministry for Development assigned a committee of professors at the National Technical University to evaluate the company's technical study and it was they who approved it. Now the antis are putting 500 mining jobs at risk, and this in a country which initiated mining and metallurgy in the Greek Bronze Age. Plato, Pliny, Strabo and Aristotle all wrote about the location of ores and processing techniques which had been developed by their own times in the 4th Century BC. A proud history and one which provided a platform for the Classical Greek era. Gold -- Sharefin, 08:28:38 03/13/02 Wed Australia's gold hedging down 8 percent "In summary, a big slide in interest rates since the start of 2001, coupled with much lower gold lease rates, have lowered the gold contango and thus the attractiveness of the forward market to companies seeking to top up hedge books," JP Morgan said. "Other factors that lower the appetite for hedging include the substantial reduction in exploration budgets and associated lack of exploration success. We believe it all points to much less hedging by all gold producers in the quarters ahead," the broker said. Gold -- Sharefin, 08:23:33 03/13/02 Wed Australian Gold Hedging Fell Again In 4Q 2001 Hedging cover by Australian gold producers continued to fall in the fourth quarter of 2001, indicative of a "sea change" in the local industry, J.P. Morgan Securities Australia Ltd. said in a quarterly review issued Wednesday. It reported hedge cover at the end of last quarter was 34.2 million ounces at A$590/ounce, compared with 36.8 million ounces at A$583/oz at the end of the third quarter of 2001. The actual decline in cover was 7.7%. Figures were rounded. The lessening of forward cover extends a trend in which hedging fell in seven of the past eight quarters. "Reductions by all companies made this a unique quarter," Morgan said in a statement. It said a big slide in interest rates in 2001, coupled with much lower gold lease rates, lowered the gold contango and thus the attractiveness of the forward market to companies seeking to top up hedge books, it said. Other factors to lower the appetite for hedging by Australian producers include a substantial reduction in exploration budgets and associated lack of exploration success, it said. "We believe it all points to much less hedging by all gold producers in the quarters ahead," it said. "More importantly, we believe there has been a sea change in the gold sector and that lower levels of hedging are partly due to a lessening need for risk reduction by the stronger, less vulnerable, less indebted merged producers," it added. Australia is the world's third biggest gold producer nation. But with significant rationalization and mergers in the local sector in the past year, 55% of national gold production is now in foreign hands, it said. J.P. Morgan told of some major changes in the global gold industry in the past year, namely rationalization, exploration cuts and anti-hedging. The three themes are intertwined as rationalization is leading to reduced hedging as is the lack of exploration spending, it said. The rationalizations have led to a number of known anti-hedgers taking control of Australian companies with substantial hedge books, it said. The list begins, it noted, with Newmont Mining Corp. (NEM) buying Normandy Mining Ltd. (A.NDY) along with Normandy's 9.95 million ounce hedge book, or 29% of Australia's total hedge position, it sad. In Australia, a merger of Delta Gold Ltd. and Goldfields Ltd. to form Aurion Gold Ltd. (A.AOR) also means lower hedge cover, as per a statement by Chairman Terry Burgess. Other major companies also announced cuts or planned reductions to their hedge books, it said. "In summary all statements add up to less hedging rather than more, and global rationalization of the sector is further reducing hedge program," it said. Of major Australian producers, Newcrest Mining Ltd. (A.NEW) had the largest hedge cover at the end of 2001, followed by Sons of Gwalia Ltd. (A.SGW) and GRD N.L. (A.GRD). Lenny Kaplan -- Sharefin, 08:21:05 03/13/02 Wed GENERAL COMMENTS With the Japanese Yen retracing its recent gains, investors and speculators have returned to the long side of the gold market in the last two days, and prices have risen nicely. We have surpassed the technical resistance level of $292.60 and are now attempting to climb over the next mountain at $295.50 to $296. Physical buying has re-emerged at lower levels and the prospects for any precipitous decline are now quite small. We should continue to grind a bit higher, but slowly. With global stock markets strong, with the USD relatively firm to strong, external influences on the gold markets are a bit too negative to push the gold market higher. For the next day or two, look for a trading range of $292.50 to $296.00. A move over $296.00 would be quite bullish in this environment. Silver appears quite happy to stay in its current trading range of about $4.46 on the downside to about $4.56 on the upside, providing shorter-term traders excellent opportunities. Lease rates remain exceedingly low but many traders are unwilling to short silver, as recent spikes in the lease rates remain quite fresh in their memories. All in all, this market continues to follow gold up and down as the tide washes in and out. Platinum and palladium appear to have topped out at present, with recent massive Japanese short covering in platinum, now over, having forced prices to almost the $530.00 level in recent days. I would expect that when Russian deliveries of these metals begin in earnest, lower prices will be quickly seen. The German Central Bank, the Bundesbank, announced that it will sell about 11 tons of gold needed for the production of gold commemorative coins. These coins will be sold by the Finance Department at prices very significantly over their inherent precious metals value. Such commemorative coin sales have been most successful of late, and I would expect the same with this issue. While some analysts see this sale as a negative, adding supply to the market, I would disagree. I believe that it is neutral at worst and a bit positive for the gold market at best. As the coins will be sold for well in excess of their gold content value, it is most unlikely that these gold coins will ever be melted and the gold used in commercial and industrial venues. In a bullish tone, perhaps this sale does encourage the buying of gold coins, as an investment or a collectible, by the European investors, a slightly bullish influence. The trend for the reduction of hedging and the use of derivatives by gold producers appears to be continuing, as predicted long ago in this commentary. With USD interest rates close to 40 year lows and contangos similarly low, with the prospects for higher gold prices better than the market has seen in perhaps 2 decades, gold producers are making less use of hedging. J.P. Morgan announced that total hedges for the Australian producers was only 34.2 million ounces at the end of last quarter, compared with 36.8 million ounces the previous quarter, a reduction of almost 8%. I look for this trend to continue and is a major bullish influence for gold over the coming years. Gold -- Sharefin, 08:19:54 03/13/02 Wed Gold News Headlines Gold -- Sharefin, 08:18:04 03/13/02 Wed Gold Holds Steady In Rangebound Trade Gold -- Sharefin, 08:16:38 03/13/02 Wed Gold funds shine again in February Historically, gold has been an unwieldy and volatile asset class, a commodity vulnerable to the rumours and whims of currency markets, central banks, and crazy "gold bugs" who are still convinced that prices will return to the highs of more than 20 years ago. Gold -- Sharefin, 08:13:55 03/13/02 Wed Precious metals, natural resource funds led the way in February Precious metals and natural resource mutual funds were the top performers in February, the second straight month they have posted the best gains, Morningstar Canada reported Wednesday. The mutual fund rating company said the median return for precious metals funds was 11.2 per cent, led by a 17.5 per cent gain for the Sprott Gold & Precious Minerals fund, which was also the best among all funds. Gold -- Sharefin, 08:09:52 03/13/02 Wed Bundesbank Says It Will Sell 10.9 Tons of Gold to Make Coins Flierdude -- Sharefin, 08:05:18 03/13/02 Wed Please withdraw from posting your remarks here or I'll be doing some deleting as well. There are plenty of forums for chatter and I don't wish for this one to go down that path. My intentions for this forum is for gold related news on a day to day basis. I want to keep the forum totally gold news related and intend to police it so it stays this way. There are plenty of other forums for you to post on so please go & do so. Nick . -- Mike K. aka flierdude, 07:05:23 03/13/02 Wed For some reason many of my posts are being 'crossed out' on forums around the net. They also delete the posts where I correctly call the closing numbers on the SnP 17 hours in advance. The following posts are a good example of those that someone doesn't want in the public realm. ************* Digest this! -- Allow yourself an hour to read this three part composition. I present to you ............. The "Holy Grail of physics You can recognize truth by its beauty and simplicity ............. When you get it right, it is obvious that it's right! ************* 16:127:346 01/10/02 Thu National socialism is haunting the world. It has inslaved millions of third world citizens and is threatening the freedom of the entire globe. There's no longer a free country to triumph over the current oppressive regime as there was in the stagy days of Hitler and his Queen Mum. The 'arranged' ideological battle between the United States and the Soviet Union is over. The goals have been met. Communism, in the form of Marxist political ideology, has prevailed. Like the Nazis in the 1930s the New World Order stands for a 'collectivist' political system. Intellectual freedom and individual rights 'once' cherished in the United States and other Western Countries is in grave danger. The belief that an individual has a right to live his own life has been replaced by the collectivist idea that individuals must work and live in service to other people. Individual rights and political freedom are almost gone in politics, education and culture. Everyone has forgot that the freedom of American Society is responsible for it's greatest achievments. Economic freedom has always drove the great creative thinker. What will happen after we wake up and realize that economic freedom is lost? Will we wake up before the 'goverment' has complete control over the world economy and the rest of the world has been swallowed up by communist "Peoples' States' and subsists in abject poverty? A very limited degree of economic freedom still exists in Amerika, but it's steadily declining, as is Amerikan prosperity. The successful are heavily taxed to support the poor, and the poor are similarly taxed to finance the even poorer people in foreign States. With the state controlling large portions of the economy, the result is the rise of corrupt businessmen who profit by manipulating crooked politicians. The trend toward socialism has been accelerated by the staged event of 9/11. Heavy taxation, massive social welfare and tight goverment regulation are growing by the day. The goverment is annuling the rights of American citizens and freedom is steadily eroding. The US, the last bastion of liberty on the planet is rapidly becomming a fascist/communist dictatorship. Because of these inalienable truths, I have personally been left with no choice but to WITHDRAW FROM SOCIETY! You can too! Make a conscious decision and JUST DO IT! ************* 21:35:19 03/05/02 Tue I said last night at 22:44:27 that the SnP would close at 1159.95. Actual close was 1159.16. ************* Thanks Nick NEW EagleRanch Forum URL address -- ThaiGold, 00:53:24 03/13/02 Wed Hello Nick... Appreciate if you could update your link(s) to EagleRanch the next time you modify any of your html stuff... EagleRanch has a NEW url address, if anyone here was unable to locate us after one host-server Dot.Com went out of business unexpectedly four days ago: http://OS2Eagle.Net/r.htm Many lost Posters forgot to BookMark this ER Menu Page. Thanks. ...Tai March 12 -- Cyclist, 20:22:42 03/12/02 Tue became a minor turning point for April gold. Critical Time will be Thursday afternoon,Nem is coiling tighter and tighter against the 25 ceiling. A breakout from that level will be a major event with the price signalling higher bullion prices. Seasonally, NEM has showed the greatest strength within this timeframe. Kitco-30 forum -- Lurker 7777, 20:09:26 03/12/02 Tue Date: Tue Mar 12 2002 18:42 Norwester (...for those who have access to it....) ID#390235: Copyright © 2002 Norwester/Kitco Inc. All rights reserved ..blow-out CHEAP gold offer over at the KITCO-30 alternate site....but, HURRY... ********************************************** KITCO-30 Al Martin still relevant, despite rant -- Prometheus, 15:14:07 03/12/02 Tue Got to be careful whenever an article writer slips in an outright big lie in the midst of his supposed warning. That cock and bull story about WJC being fiscally prudent sure broke any emotional grip AM's article was having on this reader. Ron Paul's article in today's Lew Rockwell, the truth about government debt spells it out. The debt clock, which you can always link to at the bottom of George Ure's site, told the truth. Even when the dems were hollering surplus, we were going further into debt. Al Martin is guilty of the obvious overkill, which diminishes his argument. He's so inauthentic with that ignorant pro-Clinton remark, way out of line in an article designed for the informed minority (Granny won't be reading this in her Sunday Times) that he may be subtly steering us INTO the camp he claims to disagree with. It's all part of the game, as outlined brilliantly in this fantastic book. Please read it! I have a copy and find it a reference right up there with Mackay and Kindleberger. The masters of persuasion have been changing their game with chameleon speed as we have learned their tricks. Best -- Promey Coercion Political Soap Box -- Holden, 08:44:48 03/12/02 Tue This is just the kind of political rant that has lead many of us to leave Kitco. "Instead of following a course of fiscal restraint as followed by Bill Clinton, as to engender fiscal surpluses, we are now falling back into Reaganomics, the Bushonian Road of what I call fiscal deficits and deceit. This is taking place at a time when our national debt is already enormous and the rest of the world is falling apart." Al Martin -- Sharefin, 08:25:53 03/12/02 Tue The Bushonian Agenda: Citizen Profiling & Internal Security The smart people know what's happening. All you have to do is look at where the smart money is going. There is already secret back room talk about the re-imposition of some sort of currency control mechanism in the United States to prevent a mass exodus of dollars out of the country and into offshore accounts. There is even some talk at the Treasury of potentially limiting sales of gold to US citizens, or perhaps some sort of re-imposition of the 1933 Gold Act. We live in a world that, outside our borders, is falling apart economically. Now that we have Bush in office and Bushonian policies in place, the economic border distinction that existed between the United States and the rest of the world doesn't exist any more. Instead of following a course of fiscal restraint as followed by Bill Clinton, as to engender fiscal surpluses, we are now falling back into Reaganomics, the Bushonian Road of what I call fiscal deficits and deceit. This is taking place at a time when our national debt is already enormous and the rest of the world is falling apart. If you look at a lot of the Administration's policies, particularly its financial policies to prevent exodus of money, to potentially inhibit people's ability to own gold, it tells you that they know everything is falling apart and that they're going to need these financial controls - when things do fall apart. Al Martin -- Sharefin, 08:23:56 03/12/02 Tue The Bushonian Agenda: Citizen Profiling & Internal Security The smart people know what's happening. All you have to do is look at where the smart money is going. There is already secret back room talk about the re-imposition of some sort of currency control mechanism in the United States to prevent a mass exodus of dollars out of the country and into offshore accounts. There is even some talk at the Treasury of potentially limiting sales of gold to US citizens, or perhaps some sort of re-imposition of the 1933 Gold Act. We live in a world that, outside our borders, is falling apart economically. Now that we have Bush in office and Bushonian policies in place, the economic border distinction that existed between the United States and the rest of the world doesn't exist any more. Instead of following a course of fiscal restraint as followed by Bill Clinton, as to engender fiscal surpluses, we are now falling back into Reaganomics, the Bushonÿ Gold -- Sharefin, 19:46:07 03/11/02 Mon Gold Up To $292 On Trade Buying Gold -- Sharefin, 19:43:01 03/11/02 Mon Gold Bounces On Stronger XAU Index Gold -- Sharefin, 19:36:30 03/11/02 Mon Market timers move to gold The rise in recommended gold-market exposure comes after a rocky week for gold and gold-mining shares and sharp losses for the dollar in currency markets. Recommended gold-market exposure rose to 54.17 percent as of the March 8 close from 37.5 percent the previous week, says Mark Hulbert at Hulbert Financial Digest. "Gold has had a good run, and it looks poised to perhaps break through $300. So, from a contrarian point of view, it is bullish that the gold timers have not fallen over themselves to jump on the bullish bandwagon," Hulbert said Monday. Still, with tension building in the Middle East and the dollar undergoing a rare bout of weakness, analysts are coming round to the prospect that gold will stage a major advance in coming weeks. "Market pullbacks such as the one experienced last week are nothing more than an extended buying opportunity," Bishop said Monday from his California headquarters. "If you don't believe that gold has entered a new bull market, there's little rationale for owning any gold stocks, so this discussion may be superfluous." Gold -- Sharefin, 09:56:25 03/11/02 Mon Goldavenue Gold Analyst Sentiment Index Up On Last Week GoldAvenue's gold market analyst price sentiment for the week ahead has strengthened from last week. The GoldAvenue Gold Analyst Sentiment Index stood at 6.23 Monday, up 0.80 or 14.73% from 5.43 last week, suggesting a neutral to positive stance on the price of gold. The GASI is an indication from the world's top gold analysts about their gold price expectations for the week ahead, on a scale of 0 to 10. Gold -- Sharefin, 08:29:01 03/11/02 Mon GoldAvenue Gold Analyst Sentiment Index Up 0.80 At 6.23 GoldAvenue Gold Analyst Sentiment Index Up 0.80 At 6.23 GOLDAVENUE Gold Analyst Sentiment Index (GASI), September 3rd: 3.73 GOLDAVENUE Gold Analyst Sentiment Index (GASI), September 3rd: 3.73 The GoldAvenue GASI is a numerical expression of the result of a poll of 15 gold market analysts with respect to their views for the week ahead. Each analyst expresses their outlook as a number between 0 and 10, reflecting the range from extremely bearish to extremely bullish, with "five" as neutral. The poll is conducted on a Monday morning and we will carry it in our commentary in order to show a reflection of analysts' short-term views. Gold Jewelry -- Sharefin, 08:05:28 03/11/02 Mon Building an empire in silver and gold Jewelry manufacturing is one of the last consumer segments to remain fragmented, he said. About 4,500 makers and suppliers operate in the United States, with many more overseas. The retail level has five or six major companies and about 25,000 smaller ones. U.S. retail jewelry sales totaled $40.6 billion in 2001, up from $32 billion in 1996, according to Gassman. Gold -- Sharefin, 07:59:54 03/11/02 Mon Europe Precious Metals: Gold Regains Ground As Buyers Reenter Gold ticked higher throughout the morning session in London Monday, with the market steadier following the end to the sudden resurgence of the Japanese yen against the U.S. dollar. Light buying interest overnight out of Asia once gold moved through the $290 per ounce level once again, and this has lent support to spot prices this morning. Gold had fallen to a low of $287.87 (bid) at one point Friday after the renewed strength of the Japanese yen sparked a flurry of selling of gold as Asian players rushed to take advantage of the currency situation. As the yen lost ground again, however, gold moved higher once again as selling out of Japan halted. Spot gold fixed at $291.75 (bid) from $289.15 previously, and edged gradually higher, touching a high of $292.95 by mid-morning. Market observers said that in the short-term, attention will likely be firmly fixed upon the Japanese yen as any signs of renewed strength of this currency will provoke more selling of the precious metal out of Tocom. The continued presence of a significant number of players holding positions, as demonstrated by the latest data released Friday by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, will also support the downside, dealers said. Gold -- Sharefin, 07:53:56 03/11/02 Mon WGC keen to boost gold sales The World Gold Council (WGC) is planning to conduct a segmentation study to promote the sale of gold in India. Mr Bryan Parker, Managing Director (Jewellery), WGC, London, who was here in connection with the ongoing Kovai Gold Mela, jointly sponsored by the WGC and Pepsi, told Business Line that 21 percent of the world's jewellery demand was from India. ''There is still enormous potential that can be tapped,'' he said and pointed out that the introduction of ''Collection G'', targeted at the youth, had a positive impact on the demand front. "India posted a figure of 855 tonnes for 2001, unchanged from the record 2000 annual demand. The performance was encouraging in the first half and the sales increased by 19 percent when compared to the corresponding half in 2000. But this was counterbalanced by weakness in the second half due to various factors. The outlook for gold demand at the start of 2002 is more promising than the experience during the last quarter of the earlier year,'' he said. He stated that WGC would like to further strengthen the sale of gold in India and was in the process of chalking out a strategy to address all concerned. ''The idea basically is to focus for impact,'' he stressed. Mr Parker said WGC would soon come up with ideas for other segments. ''We need to identify the segment which has the highest propensity to boost the demand,'' he added. Organising ''shopping festivals'' is a promotional activity and WGC would extend advertising support to the participating jewellers, he said but declined to specify the investment. He however pointed out that in budget allocation for promotion of jewellery trade, India was ranked next only to the USA, although the country topped in consumption. A glance at the gold demand in the eleven key markets reveal that the off-take in India stood at 855 tonnes in the last two years while in the US, it was less by half at 409 tonne. Mr Parker said jewellery demand in the US, despite the economic and political climate, set a record for the 11th successive year, with plain gold jewellery often purchased as a keepsake or a symbol of relationship. The WGC MD said Japan was emerging as a major consumer witnessing a 54 percent year-on-year growth, spurred on by concerns over financial stability and imminent reductions in bank deposit insurance. He said the investments in the last two months alone were 35 tonnes, which was 4 tonnes more than the demand for the entire 12 months of the earlier year. To a query on the steep rise in the bullion rate, he said ''Price is a concern today. But the fluctuations cannot be ruled out in the short term, although in the long run, it is bound to stabilise.'' When asked about the WGC's jewellery strategy, he said ''The three pillars are consumer market research, productive strategy and consumer communication." Gold & India -- Sharefin, 07:45:23 03/11/02 Mon Indian gold imports likely to rise in next few days India daily imports around 30,000 to 40,000 gold bars of 116.64 grams each from international banks. "The appetite for gold will decline after March with fewer marriages," said a dealer in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad. Dealers said official gold imports into India in January and February have dropped due to price fluctuations. They said imports fell to around 25 tonnes in January from 65 tonnes in the year-ago period. "The fall in imports is largely due to the volatile global prices," Madhusudan Daga, a Bombay-based bullion analyst, said. Gold jewellery is the most common gift at marriages and is part of the bride's dowry, especially in rural India, as parents believe the metal will give daughters some financial security. According to trade estimates, Indian gold demand rose to 490.4 tonnes in the first half of 2001 compared with 417.8 tonnes in the same period of the previous year.  Price of GOLD in INDIA in Rupees per ounce  Gold -- Sharefin, 07:38:05 03/11/02 Mon Russia To Auction Sukhoi Log Gold Deposit --- New news on old news being resold again.... Gold -- Sharefin, 07:35:50 03/11/02 Mon Hambro slams 'madness' of UK gold sales PETER HAMBRO, chairman and chief executive of the eponymous gold mining company, yesterday launched a stinging attack on Chancellor Gordon Brown's three-year gold sell-off as he unveiled plans to float the business in London. The Treasury embarked on its disposal programme in May 1999 after deciding the proportion of Britain's reserves held in gold was too high. Since then, the Government has auctioned 395 tonnes of gold reserves in 17 tranches, investing the $3.3 billion proceeds in dollars, euros and yen. However, Mr Hambro said: "It's madness. Why would you want to have all the country's reserves in the currency of another country? You would want to have a good proportion of reserves in something that is not somebody else's promise - and that leaves only gold. To sell the gold when the UK economy is actually doing well doubles the stupidity. When things are going well, you should tuck things away for rainy days." Periodic Ponzi Update PPU -- $hifty, 23:13:55 03/10/02 Sun http://home.columbus.rr.com/rossl/gold.htm Periodic Ponzi Update PPU Nasdaq 1929.67 + Dow 10,572.47 = 12,502.14 divide by 2 = 6,251.07 Ponzi Up 166.07 Ponzi points from last week! The chart holds up to its name! Thanks for the link RossL! Go Gold Go GATA $hifty $$$$ Think -- Sharefin, 21:42:16 03/10/02 Sun $$$ THINK U.K. EEC entry -- Galearis, 19:18:10 03/10/02 Sun Statement: "If England were to join the Euro then they'd have to be buying back the gold they have just sold. And at ever increasing prices....." ********** Or selling a lot of US treasury paper from reserves? New Argentine monetary policy -- Donald, 15:39:27 03/10/02 Sun Argentine government embraces Alfred E. Newman School of Economic Theory "What? Me worry? For the budding prospector -- Sharefin, 06:48:22 03/10/02 Sun Prospecting School BC & Yukon - Explorers Toolkit Soros -- Sharefin, 04:38:41 03/10/02 Sun Soros warns UK not to snub euro Billionaire investment guru George Soros has said that it is "impossible" for Britain to reject adoption of the euro. Mr Soros, whose currency investments have earned him a formidable reputation, warned that there were still concerns over Europe's single currency. Harmonisation of taxes among EU states was needed to support a euro which was still "a work in progress", Mr Soros told GMTV's The Sunday Programme. But he added that it would be "very difficult and very detrimental for Britain to be seen to be staying out". "It's a quandary because it's dangerous to move in and particularly at what exchange rate and so on, on the other hand it's impossible to stay out," he said. The comments came as a poll found that nearly six in 10 British MPs support adoption of the euro. ---------- If England were to join the Euro then they'd have to be buying back the gold they have just sold. And at ever increasing prices..... Robert Chapman - Gold Commentary -- Sharefin, 23:52:14 03/09/02 Sat Japanese imports of gold in January were three times those of January 2001. On Friday, 3/1/02 TOCOM increased margin requirements on gold trading, which was to be expected. Although quieter they traded 26,000 Comex equivalent contracts versus 20,000 on Comex and open interest fell. The margin increase had only a minor effect on the market. January's 8.2 tons of gold imports was equal to 40% of 2001's imports. An estimate of February's buying of 25 tons, although a lot for recent years, is not out of line. During the 1980's Japan imported 20 tons a month. Thus the possibilities for higher off-take are excellent. Japan's buying has just begun. The untoward event we told you of long ago is upon us. Shortly the gold cartel will be broken. If just the Japanese were to buy 25 tons a month for ten months, they'd buy 2,500 tons. It could be that they could take 10,000 tons over the next 2-3 years. We estimate central banks and government agencies have between three and seven (thousand?) tons left. If we are right and we made this prediction two years ago, the Japanese public alone could purchase what is left of monetary gold. The only conceivable competitors for uninsured savings are silver, the Swiss franc, the Euro and the US dollar. Whether these estimates are right on or not, they are close enough to make us see we are soon to be at the crossroads when the cartel is broken and exposed and gold and other things financial are allowed to trade freely again. Last week's Turkish gold imports were 3.65 tons the highest this year. Platinum hit a seven-month high at $514.50 closing at $512.00. Due to tight supply Japanese speculators, who were heavily short, covered some of their positions. Chinese demand has been persistent and sellers were not to be found. Higher stock markets supposedly portend economic recovery, which would increase platinum, palladium and silver usage. We see platinum trading in a $480 to $520 range and we recommend *Starfield Resources (SRO-CDNX and SRFDF). We are again beginning to hear things such as, paper money is fiat and a confidence trick and that gold has intrinsic value from what are neutral or anti-gold sources. This is certainly true in Japan where savings account guarantees have been limited to $75,000 and will be half that a year from now. The Japanese voted with their feet, ran to the gold bullion shops and cashed in yen for gold. They trust the government so much they are hiding it at home and not in safe deposit boxes. Who can blame them with 50 banks going under last year? Then we have gold producers who are reducing or doing away with their hedges. That certainly slows down selling. Then we have specs, banks, insurance companies and brokerage houses who are short. They leased gold or went naked short. Of course, the leased gold is gone forever. Gold production, which currently can't come close to meeting demand, should fall 10% over the next few years. Gold prices are going higher so pick your method of participation - gold coins, bullion, stocks, options or gold the commodity - you won't be sorry. Gold Fields Fantasy Services tell us gold demand is 412 tons greater than supply from mines and scrap. They also see net producer hedging last year at a negative 101 tons. That means the central banks and other market manipulators have to find 413 tons plus whatever investment demand there is to keep the price suppressed. That is not an enviable job in this environment. The Bank of England can't help, they are almost out of gold plus they have large losses to show for their efforts. After the Bundesbank's manipulative announcement, and its lack of impact, the elitists must be getting a little anxious. We can promise you Edmond Stoiber, if elected, would never let it occur anyway and we believe the markets realized that. The word is out and peripheral media is beginning to talk positively about gold. Investors are inquiring and asking questions. These are the first questions the public has really asked in over 15 years. They know, because that's all they hear from government, media and Wall Street, that there is no inflation. Thus they think perhaps something even worse is in store for them. They don't know why but they are concerned. The bottom line is something is wrong. We know who is doing what to whom, but we can't reach the masses never mind the investor. We do know that soon the problem is coming to a head and many heads will roll. Gold is on the investment agenda again, as is silver, and they are not going away. Remember at $320 an ounce, 50% of the western world's gold production is unprofitable on a full cost basis as is 25% of world production. If gold doesn't get to $320 an ounce soon production could drop even further. The Bank of England made its last 20 ton gold sale. The auction was over-subscribed by a healthy 3.7 times versus 1.4 times in the January auction. The sale price was $296.50, the highest of any of the banks 17 sales. We believe hedgers were the major bidders. Buying auctioned gold avoids buying back gold out of the market and perhaps pushing gold prices higher. The auctions have reduced the Bank of England holdings from 715 to 320 tons and they raised $3.3 billion and incurred major losses in the process, but who cares the gold belongs to British citizens, its government and Royal Family, all who could care less. The Japanese are still buying gold bars at a sustained pace and it looks like sales of gold contract volume has increased in January and February by about 3 1/2 times last years volume. We know England, Germany, Italy and probably the US have leased gold. We have no indication that France has. We know they all have sold gold and expect the US has also. We have no indication that France has. We do know the euro is backed by 15% gold. We also know that if England wants to join the euro they'll have to buy gold or the Queen will have to lend it to her subjects. We are sure she can afford it having assets in excess of $50 billion. We'll probably never know who owns what or who has no gold at all. We do know leasing is another word for selling in gold jargon, so we know most central banks have no gold left and only a handful still have any meaningful reserves. This means they were in collusion to leave their respective countries all with fiat currencies. Sooner or later that will lead to a crisis of confidence and when it does fiat currencies will collapse. We see the CPM annual silver update won't be out for two more months. We do know 2001 supply was lower than 2000. On the other hand demands fell 34 million ounces and supply fell 10 million. Durban Deep is having problems. Mark Wellesley-Wood is in exile in the UK due to government action in South Africa, which contends his business visa is not in order. Roger Kebble has had his executive powers on the Durban board suspended pending an inquiry into suspect share transactions in respect to Rawas, an Indonesian gold mine Durban bought several years ago. Grant Fischer, a non-executive director and supporter of Roger Kebble is attempting to force Mr. Wellesley-Wood from the board. In order for any board member to be relieved all board members must vote unanimously for dismissal. If we recall a few years ago there was an inquiry regarding stock purchases by Mr. Wellesley-Wood in regard to a takeover. Be as it may, Durban has some problems it really doesn't need. The disturbing element is that government has used its force in the matter in a very heavy-handed way, which is not good for the investment climate in South Africa. We have contended sooner or later out of desperation the Marxist government and unions would cause the mines problems, perhaps this is the beginning of persecution by envy. “We have mentioned the Prudent Bear Fund numerous times over the last two years as an excellent way to play the market in these unusual and confusing times. Unusual inasmuch as deep recession/depression have not been as frequent in this past century as they were in previous centuries. Confusing because of the mammoth propaganda machine operated by GE, CNBC, Wall Street and government. You seldom get the truth and that is confusing. We believe this is the perfect time to purchase the Prudent Bear Fund and the Safe Harbor Fund. The market has just experienced a strong 30% bear market rally and precious metals stocks seem poised to go higher. The Prudent Bear Fund shorts the market and goes long precious metal stocks. As the market falls and gold and silver move higher those shares will also move higher. It is a perfect and simple way to invest during these troubling times for those who don't have the experience and fortitude to pick individual stocks. The Prudent Safe Harbor Fund (PSHFX), which invests in high quality debt instruments, denominated in currencies other than the dollar, gives you an exceptional alternative to a falling dollar. You may purchase these funds though Rich Radez at 800-285-1700.” From David Morgan of www.silver-investor.com: "I called and spoke with the silver institute on Friday. The Mint is avoiding the FOIA request to answer how much silver they still have. The mint will tell you to the gram how much gold they have. "The Silver Institute "guessed" 6M ounces still." To: Central Banks, Secretariats, Governors, Concerned Others UPDATE! Silver Oversight Seer (SOS) Dave Morgan reports that as of Friday the US Mint is avoiding full disclosure requests sought under the FOIA! Silver Institute reports as a "guesstimate" that the US Mint may have under 6 million ounces remaining! Urgently recommending that central banks add to, or establish substantial silver reserves as additional monetary assets as soon as practical, but without delay. http://12.104.174.24/ebay/news/102201/news-2.asp Oct. 22, 2001 issue of Coin World Silver stockpile drops to under 15 million ounces - Mint officials preparing plan to buy silver on market for coin programs By William T. Gibbs COIN WORLD Staff THE SILVER STOCKPILE, used for such Mint programs as the Silver Proof sets, commemorative coins and American Eagle bullion coins, has dropped to less than 15 million ounces. The United States Mint has just less than 15 million ounces of silver in its stockpile, enough to produce this year's American Eagle silver dollars and the 2002 West Point Bicentennial silver dollar and to begin production of the 2002 American Eagles, Mint officials revealed Oct. 4. However, Mint officials are preparing a procurement plan to purchase silver on the open market once the Mint uses up the metal in its silver stockpile, which could occur in less than a year based on silver usage in recent years. The Mint has not had to purchase silver on the open market for more than 30 years. The Mint's silver stockpile, transferred to it by the Defense National Stockpile Center arm of the Defense Logistics Agency, has dropped to 14,918,000 ounces. The Mint also has 15 million to 20 million ounces of "Treasury" silver. U.S. Mint officials revealed details about the state of its silver stockpile only after Coin World formally requested the information through the federal Freedom of Information Act. Mint officials had repeatedly refused to answer questions regarding the stockpile until forced to by Coin World's FOIA request. Even with the FOIA request, officials refused to answer questions they deemed "speculative," including how many months the nearly 15 million ounces of silver would last. In early 1996, Mint officials estimated that the Mint had enough silver remaining in the stockpile reserves to last another 12 years. However, by the end of 2000, it was estimated that no more than a year remained before the stockpile was depleted. MUCH OF THE silver used by the U.S. Mint goes into the 1-ounce silver American Eagle. The Mint sold 9.2 million Unc. 2000 silver American Eagles. In comparison, the Mint's silver usage in 2000 totaled 12.5 million ounces. Mint officials also refused to speculate what affect buying silver on the open market would have on the prices charged collectors for the Mint's silver coin products. The Mint currently produces 1-ounce American Eagle silver bullion coins, coins for its Silver Proof and Silver State Quarter Proof sets, and various silver commemorative coins authorized by Congress. The stockpile silver used in making those coins is being stored at several locations, according to the information provided under the FOIA response. Six million ounces are located in San Francisco; 2.5 million ounces are stored at West Point and "the balance is at fabricators, refiner[s] or in-process," according to the FOIA response. The stockpile silver is in various forms, according to the Mint, including "refined good delivery bars, blanks and in-process." The majority of the metal is .99 fine or better, according to the FOIA response. Although Mint officials refused to speculate how long the stockpile silver would last, they said the Mint had enough silver on hand for several 2001 and 2002 coin programs. Mint officials said the Mint had enough silver for 2001 Proof and Uncirculated American Eagle silver bullion coins and to begin production of 2002 Uncirculated American Eagles. Through September, the Mint had sold more than 5.4 million 1-ounce Uncirculated silver American Eagles. By comparison, the Mint sold 9.2 million 1-ounce 2000 silver Uncirculated American Eagles and 600,000 Proof versions; 7.4 million Uncirculated and 600,000 Proof 1999 silver American Eagles; and 4.8 million Uncirculated and 450,000 Proof 1998 American Eagles. Mint officials also have set aside sufficient silver to produce the 2002 West Point military academy commemorative silver dollar. Each of those silver dollars contains 0.77 ounce of silver; the maximum mintage for the coin is 500,000 pieces. According to the trade organization The Silver Institute, the U.S. Mint is a fairly significant user of the world's silver, using approximately 1 percent of the annual total in its various coins. Mint officials would not speculate on the effect that buying silver on the open market might have on the cost of the Mint's bullion and numismatic products. The silver is kept on the books at the $1.2929 per ounce price specified in the 1934 Silver Purchase Act. However, the Mint purchases the Defense Logistics Agency silver at a price closer to the price reached for the metal on the open market (the price for silver on the London market closed at $4.61 an ounce Oct. 4). México City, August 22, 2001 The right way to use silver in coinage By Hugo Salinas Price The director of Fideicomiso de Fomento Minero (“The Trust for Encouraging Mining”) Norberto Roque Díaz de León, told “El Financiero” newspaper on August 20 that it would be a good idea to use silver in Mexican coinage, in order to stimulate demand for that metal, and thus aid Mexican silver mining, which is having a hard time due to the low price of silver. We think it's great that someone is thinking about using silver for minting coins. It certainly is the best way to help the Mexican silver mining industry. However, not just any way of using silver in minting coins is as good as any other. We must foster minting of silver coins, yes, but in the most convenient way. The simplest way to use silver is as a “decoration”; in other words, just use a little bit of silver in each coin. Since Mexicans love silver, they will immediately put away any coin that contains the slightest bit of it, just because it is shiny silver. Minting that kind of coins would require a great deal of silver, and it would certainly please the miners. However, this “decorative” use of silver is not what the people of Mexico really need. Here are some of the reasons: 1. These coins do not offer any protection against inflation. A decorative silver type of coin, with a legal tender value engraved upon it, would not rise in price - it would not “float” like the dollar does every day - as the rate of exchange fluctuates. If the coin says “$100 pesos” for example, it will be worth no more than $100 pesos even if the value of the peso plummets. The coins would be saved because of their attractive looks, but they would provide no protection for savers. 2. For the miners, minting these coins provides only temporary relief. As soon as the price of silver rises enough, these coins will all head for the refinery and their silver will be sold on the market. Thus, that silver would return to depress the price of silver. So, what was all the effort for, after all? 3. A coin minted with a little bit of silver is pretty, but it is still junk coinage, since the silver would only be for appearances' sake, and would give the coin no real value. The right way to use silver, in order to give some relief to silver miners today and tomorrow, is to mint coins like the silver one ounce “Libertad”, which is already being minted and which is a beautiful coin. This coin has no legal tender value, only intrinsic value. 1. This coin will never go to the refinery. What the public saves, will remain with the public. The refinery is not its fate; because its value fluctuates with the value of the peso, and with the value of silver itself. Its silver will not return, melted down, to depress the price of silver, to the detriment of the miners. 2. Since this coin bears no engraved legal tender value, its price moves, just like the dollar's price moves every day. All the saver has to do is watch T.V. to find out every day just what his silver savings are worth in pesos. It's a great vehicle for savings. Silver goes up and down, like all things, but for the time being it is at historically very low prices. It can't go down too much more, and on the other hand it may rise in price in the future, to the savers' benefit. And, unlike paper money, silver will always be worth something. 3. This lovely coin, the “Libertad” ounce, only costs $55 pesos! ($6.04 US at Elektra stores, as of this date) Why, a haircut costs more! Silver is incredibly cheap. This is a good time to put silver within the reach of every Mexican, in the shape of a coin of eternal value. We're very pleased that there is interest in using silver in our coinage. But, let us promote silver use in coinage, in the way that is most advantageous to Mexico. We have to hurry up and offer Mexicans a money that is of better quality than the dollar, in order to hold back dollarization. We already have that higher quality money; it's the silver ounce “Libertad” coin. We must promote its minting, so that our Mexican Mint can spread this coin all over Mexico. That is the most noble patriotic effort imaginable. The Mexican Congress, the Bank of Mexico, the President of Mexico and his Cabinet, and all the organizations of private enterprise should work to convince the Mexican people to buy this coin, which does offer protection from inflation. They must see to it that the Mint has sufficient silver coin on hand. They must push the sale of this coin, so that the Bank of Mexico will have to purchase large amounts of silver from our miners, and give them a much needed and well-deserved break. With silver used in minting the “Libertad”, we are all winners. That's the right way to use silver in coinage, for the benefit of Mexico. Honest Money, Not Fiat Money by Congressman Ron Paul, MD March 4, 2002 Dr. Ron Paul is a Republican member of Congress from Texas. Statement on the Financial Services committee's "Views and Estimates for Fiscal Year 2003" Supporters of limited, constitutional government and free markets will find little, if anything, to view favorably in the Financial Services committee's "Views and Estimates for Fiscal Year 2003." Almost every policy endorsed in this document is unconstitutional and a threat to the liberty and prosperity of the American people. For example, this document gives an unqualified endorsement to increased taxpayer support for the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FINCEN). According to the committee, these increased funds are justified by FINCEN's new authority under the PATRIOT Act. However, FINCEN's powers to snoop into the private financial affairs of American citizens raise serious constitutional issues. Whether the expansion of FINCEN's power threatens civil liberties is ignored in this document; instead, the report claims the only problem with the PATRIOT Act is that the federal financial police state does not have enough power and taxpayer money to invade the privacy of United States citizens! The committee also expresses unqualified support for programs such as the Export-Import Bank (EX-IM), which use taxpayer dollars to subsidize large, multinational corporations. Ex-Im exists to subsidize large corporations that are quite capable of paying the costs of their own export programs! Ex-Im also provides taxpayer funding for export programs that would never obtain funding in the private market. As Austrian economists Ludwig von Mises and F.A. Hayek demonstrated, one of the purposes of the market is to determine the highest value of resources. Thus, the failure of a project to receive funding through the free market means the resources that could have gone to that project have a higher-valued use. Government programs that take funds from the private sector and use them to fund projects that cannot get market funding reduce economic efficiency and lower living standards. Yet Ex-Im actually brags about its support for projects rejected by the market! Finally, the committee's views support expanding the domestic welfare state, particularly in the area of housing. This despite the fact that federal housing subsidies distort the housing market by taking capital that could be better used elsewhere, and applying it to housing at the direction of politicians and bureaucrats. Housing subsidies also violate the constitutional prohibitions against redistributionism. The federal government has no constitutional authority to abuse its taxing power to fund programs that reshape the housing market to the liking of politicians and bureaucrats. Rather than embracing an agenda of expanded statism, I hope my colleagues will work to reduce government interference in the market that only benefits the politically powerful. For example, the committee could take a major step toward ending corporate welfare by holding hearings and a mark-up on my legislation to withdrawal the United States from the Bretton Woods Agreement and end taxpayer support for the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The Financial Services committee can also take a step toward restoring Congress' constitutional role in monetary policy by acting on my Monetary Freedom and Accountability Act (HR 3732), which requires Congressional approval before the federal government buys or sells gold. This committee should also examine seriously the need for reform of the system of fiat currency which is responsible for the cycle of booms and busts which have plagued the American economy. Many members of the committee have expressed outrage over the behavior of the corporate executives of Enron. However, Enron was created by federal policies of easy credit and corporate welfare. Until this committee addresses those issues, I am afraid the American economy may suffer many more Enron-like disasters in the future. In conclusion, the "Views and Estimates" presented by the Financial Services committee endorses increasing the power of the federal police state, as well as increasing both international and corporate welfare, while ignoring the economic problems created by federal intervention into the economy. I therefore urge my colleagues to reject this document and instead embrace an agenda of ending federal corporate welfare, protecting financial privacy, and reforming the fiat money system which is the root cause of America's economic instability. SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION: Email: bif4653@comcast.net Gold -- Sharefin, 19:20:33 03/09/02 Sat Gold Gold was near a one-month low in European activity yesterday morning, struggling to stay above the bottom of its new range after long liquidation on Thursday. The Japanese yen's rally and firmness in the Nikkei-225 Index prompted long liquidation in gold, contributing to the yellow metal's retracement towards US$290 an ounce from near $300 last week. The yellow metal eased marginally under the critical support level of $290 but some buying interest emerged at the lows. Traders said the market was now veering towards the lower end of a range between $288 and $292. "It is basically a technically-driven market," a trader said. Gold -- Sharefin, 19:19:23 03/09/02 Sat Gold proves worth its weight as investors seek safe havens Columbus was an enthusiast. "Oh most excellent gold," he wrote in his journals. "Who has gold has a treasure [that] helps souls to paradise." Clearly gold shows no sign of tarnishing and can add lustre to a balanced portfolio. Gold -- Sharefin, 19:13:57 03/09/02 Sat Gold Ranging Near $289.00 in Europe, Silver Higher Traders said the metal's overall trend looked favorable, although shallow advances suggest regular downside reactions would remain a feature in the longer term. Gold -- Sharefin, 19:12:15 03/09/02 Sat Japanese will return to gold With the extent of the Japanese economic rot becoming clearer and more disturbing by the day, you could hardly blame some of the most learned market commentators from predicting Japanese investors will return to the safe haven of gold before too long. Gold -- Sharefin, 19:09:43 03/09/02 Sat Bidding War Send Normandy Shares Soaring to Former Glory Appearing in various forms over almost 17 years, shares in the Australian gold giant today traded for the last time on the Australian Stock Exchange. Gold -- Sharefin, 19:08:33 03/09/02 Sat DRD boss pledges changes on return Gold -- Sharefin, 18:52:09 03/09/02 Sat Gold, Silver Futures short-term Bearish Gold -- Sharefin, 18:45:29 03/09/02 Sat MAHENDRA on Gold On 5th of March I predicted about Gold to be Watch out for 60 hours (from 6th March 2002)because of moon. According to me interesting things are happening with Gold prices because the prices are moving against the planet force. This kind of experience I had in past but not many and always my prophecy has come true accurately. May be the Bear Cartel want to win this battle, but I am sure this time they will not succeed because I have already predicted gold will go to a historic height therefore I will watch Gold prices. By next weekend (15th March 2002) Gold will have strong upward rally and the current prices will be history. Digest this! -- flierdude, 15:16:36 03/09/02 Sat Allow yourself an hour to read this three part composition. I present to you ............. The "Holy Grail of physics You can recognize truth by its beauty and simplicity ............. When you get it right, it is obvious that it's right! Thanks Nick -- Dave, 11:23:16 03/09/02 Sat The board now loads so much faster after the archive operation! JP Morgan -- Sharefin, 09:47:37 03/09/02 Sat JPM CHASE TO SWING AX |
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