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ARCHIVED DISCUSSION FROM 1/12/2003
All times are U.S. Mountain Time

(Yesterday's Discussion.)

GoldnSilver2002 (01/12/03; 23:59:39MT - usagold.com msg#: 94249)
If you watch closely you can see their silly plans
The new plan now is simple'send a bunch of elliot wavers in amongst the goldbugs and then spread the word,gold isnt bad anymore,its in a bubble lol.They simply hope to send a big enough dip to allow their buddies in the back door.Where else can the gold come from but the weak hands?These dips dont last and the floor on gold gets higher and higher.The gold shorts are getting ill'so what would you expect them to say?"Gold will fly and im going bankrupt?" Many who missed the last upswing are waiting with drooling lips for the weak hands to drop their position and let them in the game.Since the shanghai exchange(china) opened the gold bottom has gone up and up.The lower gold goes,the more will be bought.The more is bought,the quicker physical dries up.Go ahead mr fed knock it down,give the asians an excuse to buy more.

Sierra Madre (01/12/03; 23:44:57MT - usagold.com msg#: 94248)
Why is gold down?

My take:

The defenders of the dollar (and enemies of a rising gold price) know that the whole world is watching gold this evening.

Too many people know that the crisis is building, that gold is ready to burst upward this week.

The dollar bloc must nip the expectation in the bud, they must discourage and disorient the pro-gold forces. They cannot wait until N.Y. opens, to sell down. That may be too late!

They must start early, NOW, to sell it down.

BUY THE DIPS! They taught the stock market that. Now, it's our turn. How sweet it is!

Sierra


Sierra Madre (01/12/03; 23:20:45MT - usagold.com msg#: 94247)
Belgian: excellent observations, tying in clues dropped over the years

Sir Belgian, you should also be known as Hercule Poirot, Jr., incarnation of the world-famous Belgian detective, a personage created by Agatha Christie.

Indeed, all we have are clues, faint tracks and intuition to tell us where the leaders of EU are going. Of course, they are not going to tell us! Democracy is a subject which cannot be criticized in our day, however, those in power take the decisions and lead - if they have the will and the intellect to do so. It was always so, and always will be so.

Your deductions are most interesting and make sense.

What we have at this Forum, is the ability to gather information and points of view as a group, and thus solve the puzzle or attempt to do so. The vast majority of humans is not even aware that the puzzle exists.

Going forward, we shall gather more clues and our certainty will increase.

Let us stock up on gold, before the whole puzzle is solved and everyone knows!

Sierra


Dollar Bill (01/12/03; 21:06:25MT - usagold.com msg#: 94246)
A find from Mr Greshams Link
This is an exerpt from the EURO website MR GRESHAM linked us to today. The writer is discussing euro vunerabilities.
As you finish, consider, (forgive me for suggesting this but....), Jewish Finance men have a long term grudge against
Germany and Other euro countries, and consider the dollar as thier own. It is the dollar that supports Isreal and the US dollar military that backs up thier country and France and Germany both have made caustic comments about Isreal with some frequency.
It is a currency war, and if push comes to shove, the writer, who is a big EURO backer, is on to something.

"I, and the community of foreign exchange speculators contribute ninety five per cent to the daily FX turnover of three trillion dollars. That's three thousand billion dollars every day. That compares to the latest EU central bank reserves of three hundred and eleven billion dollars.

So, my speculator is part of a supremely powerful gang. He loathes EMU, but he will follow its progress as closely as any politician, perhaps more closely. For him, and his tribe of stateless warriors, there are billions of dollars at stake. That is the flag to which they bow, not nationalism, not politics, not dogma. He shall be a hyena waiting for the corpses of the countries that do not make EMU. Can you imagine the lead up to currency lock? Politicians trying to knock their countries and currencies into shape. Let me tell you the dream scenario of my speculator, let's call him Mr FX.

One of the key countries to EMU is having trouble with convergence. Its politicians are determined it will meet the criteria, they're doing what politicians of course will be unable to do once a part of EMU, they are using their unindependent central bank to manipulate monetary policy to a short term goal. Amongst the political community, it is unthinkable that this currency will not join EMU. But I, and Mr FX make a living from thinking the unthinkable. He thinks this country will not join EMU. He could buy a supremely cheap out of the money put option on this currency, because most people, even the markets, think even if the country doesn't quite meet the criteria, it will be fudged into EMU.

The odds, if you like, on his bet, are fantastic. A rank outsider. And then the unthinkable happens, the country doesn't join EMU. Mr FX and his co-warriors punish it ruthlessly, short selling its currency, driving the exchange rate down with their trillion dollar war chest. Perhaps the countries of the EU try to support the beleaguered currency, going into the markets. Norman Lamont could tell us all about how successful that will be. Ten billion dollars later, Mr FX and his gang retire to count their profits. But don't worry, they'll be back. Luxembourg is apparently trying to devise a war plan to head off speculative attack by FX predators.
***My advice is; get ready! And if you think the speculators can't get at the countries within EMU, think again. It won't be long before our derivatives geniuses dream up a new synthetic currency. Where there is motive, there will always be opportunity."




knotakare (01/12/03; 20:34:52MT - usagold.com msg#: 94245)
Ax, re US reserves
You said: "The U.S. should just be out there trying to augment its reserves withouta top limit - but only in reasonable increments. "

We can only hope and pray that our monetary administrators would have the smarts and foresight to be doing just as you say, on the sly. This is what I would do. But it appears that our US gold reserves over the past 30 years have been headed out of the country in a westerly direction, as a result of our large trade deficits and the "strong dollar policy " of the past 30 years, and especially the gold leasing by the FED to the Bullion Banks.

Ax, if you get a chance read the Book "Gold Wars" by Ferdinand Lipps. it discusses many of these issues you are concerned with. Barnes & Noble could not get the book for me last year, but I did get it through Amazon.com

Ax, good fortune to you on your gold trail! I am in sympathy with o your desire to get the US back on a stable money system.



ElGordo (01/12/03; 20:29:26MT - usagold.com msg#: 94244)
Too Little Too Late-Oil steady
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=580&u=/nm/20030113/bs_nm/markets_oil_dc&printer=1
SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil prices held steady on Monday, shrugging off OPEC (news - web sites)'s weekend pact to raise supplies as being too little, too late to lift wafer-thin U.S. fuel stocks anytime soon.


The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries agreed at an emergency meeting in Vienna on Sunday to increase official production limits by 1.5 million barrels per day (bpd) to compensate for six weeks of losses in strike-bound Venezuelan supplies.


U.S. light crude tumbled almost 50 cents in early trade to an intraday low at $31.20 a barrel, but quickly recovered to stand six cents down at $31.62 at 9:45 p.m. EST Sunday.


Analysts said prices were little changed as traders saw no short-term relief for U.S. crude inventories, which are hovering just above 26-year lows as the stoppage in Venezuelan exports eats into supplies to the world's biggest oil consumer.


Oil from Middle East suppliers takes four to six weeks to reach U.S. shores, while Venezuelan supplies, which account for 13 percent of U.S. imports, arrive in about five days.


"There are delays in getting oil from the Middle East to the United States, plus OPEC's agreement is for 1.5 million barrels per day, but prior to the strike Venezuela production was about 2.5 million," said David Thurtell, commodities strategist at Commonwealth Bank in Sydney


"The global market is going to remain tight and with ongoing war fears, you've got to be pretty brave to sell oil at the moment," said Thurtell.


ALARM BELLS


The Middle East-dominated cartel fears an oil price shock if a U.S.-led war in Iraq should come before Venezuelan supplies are restored.


Venezuela, OPEC's third-biggest producer, is fifth in world exporter rankings, while Iraq sells up to two million bpd overseas, which could be disrupted if war breaks out.


The strike and the looming threat of war pushed U.S. crude to a two-year high at $33.65 at the end of December, setting off alarm bells that a run of high energy bills would damage the fragile global economy.


OPEC President Abdullah al-Attiyah said on Sunday OPEC would meet again if Venezuela restores full production. OPEC has scheduled an ordinary ministerial meeting for March 11.


OPEC's agreement brings the cartel's official production ceiling for its 10 members bound by quotas to 24.5 million bpd. Iraq sells oil under the United Nations (news - web sites)' oil-for-food program and is excluded from OPEC's quota system.


Analysts saw little chance of prices heading below $30 despite the additional OPEC crude. Actual new oil to hit the world's 76 million bpd market would be limited, they said.


OPEC's latest increase was divided pro-rata among members, meaning Venezuela was also granted its share of the higher output limit despite the strike, which entered its 43rd day on Monday and has slashed oil exports to roughly one-fifth, or 500,000 bpd.


Many others in OPEC have little, or no, spare capacity to bump up production.


"I certainly see oil staying above $30 until the Venezuelan situation is sorted out," said Paul Ashby, oil and gas analyst at ABN Amro in Sydney.


Black Blade (01/12/03; 20:00:28MT - usagold.com msg#: 94243)
Why gold is gaining in a world awash with dollars
http://www.business.scotsman.com/economy.cfm?id=43182003

Snippit:

A terrible fear-provoking thought is gaining ground among the guardians of the US economy. It is that the man in the street, who for decades has enabled the economy to remain on a long, upward path by consuming more than he produces, may be reaching the limit of his capacity for excess consumption and its corollary debt.

Now, horror of horrors, the ever-rapacious US consumers may be about to abandon profligacy and restore their balance sheets by consuming less and, perish the thought, saving. In a pre-emptive campaign to prevent the US consumer from abandoning over-spending and embarking on a path of prudent parsimony, Alan Greenspan has already used up most of his conventional firepower and slashed the Federal Funds rate to 1.25 per cent.

The US consumer, like the proverbial horse, has been brought to water but is reluctant to drink more. There is not yet panic within the hallowed halls of the Fed but the spectre of deflation, last seen in the 1930s, is starting to loom larger and it is recognised that unconventional weapons may be needed to prevent it taking grip. Dubya has already announced an economic stimulus (anti-deflation) tax-cutting initiative. There is a serious misconception that central banks can increase or decrease the money supply at will. The media make much of central banks resorting to the "printing press" to get economies out of trouble (or to get them into trouble by over-cranking the press and causing inflation).

In truth, the monetary system only works when there are willing borrowers and willing lenders. In an attempt to boost money supply, the Fed may aggressively buy Treasury Bonds from the banks, thus forcing down long-term interest rates and leaving the banks with vast sums of cash to do with what they will.

Black Blade: The "strong dollar" policy is dead. As Greenspan and Bernanke point out, they will fire up the printing presses to fight deflation and attempt to stimulate the economy while at the same time foreign investors bail (selling out of depreciating dollar investments). Gold continues to gain strength against weak currencies. For the dollar it's "Game Over".



Cavan Man (01/12/03; 19:34:47MT - usagold.com msg#: 94242)
kagalaska: Live long and prosper.
Russell is right. The battle is just beginning.
Richard Russell On Gold

What's the best rule in investing? Here it is dear subscribers, it's FOLLOW THE MONEY.

I'll give you an example. I'm going to use gold.

Around January 2001 when gold was selling at 255 there was almost no interest in gold. Then, as gold began to rise, old-timers like Richard Russell noticed the rise, noticed the moving averages looking bullish, and we advised buying gold. We were simply following the money. But Wall Street's experts talked gold down and told us that the central banks was "selling the junk" so why in the world should anyone buy it? But as gold continued to rise, gold began to elicit interest from other more-intelligent experts, and today on CNBC World I heard a ten minute serious discussion on gold. Why the discussion on gold at this time? Only one reason. The reason is that gold has been rising in price, and despite all the stupid and uneducated comments, the rising price of gold is now starting to generate serious interest. It's simply a case of FOLLOWING THE MONEY. The world is beginning to follow the path of real money.

Here's another interesting example of 'follow the money.' Saudi Arabia is beefing up its forces. Newsweek reports that to strengthen its ties with the White House, the Saudis have retained the services of a high-powered law firm. Which law firm? Well, surprise, surprise, it's the law firm of former Texas GOP congressman Tom Loefler, whose firm will be paid $720,000 a year. Loefler is one of Bush's top moneymen. In fact, Loefler headed up fund-raising for Bush's first gubernatorial campaign. Loefler is also close to VP Cheney.

History shows that gold travels in the direction of the most powerful nations. For years the US attracted the world's gold. Then gold started to leave the US during the '60s, and in 1971 President Nixon shut the gold window. Foreigners were no longer allowed to call in US gold.

So who is accumulating the world's gold now? Where's the money going? The word I hear is that the money is going to China and Asia in general. Recently (coincidence?) China opened the Shanghai Gold Exchange, and it seems that China is now encouraging its 1.3 billion population to buy gold. Now why would the Chinese, who have been gold-savvy for thousands of years, do that?

Then we hear the Gold Dinar has been instituted by Malaysia and soon all Muslim nations may be doing their transactions in gold. Hey, why would the Muslims be so interested in a gold currency. Competition for the dollar? Gosh, there's a thought.

As I write this morning the dollar has fallen to a new low and gold is fluctuating around its high. But gold has a technical problem. Looking at the stochastics, I can see that gold is heavily overbought. It needs a rest. True, an item can stay overbought, particularly in a bull market. But the overbought status of gold may act as a brake on gold at the present time. Furthermore, as I have explained, the Commercials have taken a huge short position against gold.

In view of the above, I would say that if gold can simply hold above 345, and in doing so work off its overbought position, it will be doing very well.

I want to add a few more words about gold. I realize that most of my subscribers now hold some kind of gold, the stocks, the metal, options, futures, I can't know for certain. But here's what I want to say.

Gold is in a primary bull market. Gold, real money, is a very emotional item, in that the central banks are afraid of it, the Austrian economists love gold, people who believe in the US Constitution love gold, inflationists hate gold, certain nations sell gold, other nations lust for gold, men throughout history have lived and died for gold, armies have fought for gold.

The reason, gold is the only money that has held its value over the course of history. Gold represents permanent wealth. This has occurred in the face of the fact that every paper currency in history has ultimately sunk to worthlessness.

In other words, gold has its detractors and its admirers, millions of them on both sides.

But gold is in a very peculiar position today. The central banks of the world are frightened of gold because if gold rises, if it takes an increasing amount of the central banks' paper junk money to buy an ounce of gold, then what the hell is wrong with their fiat paper money? It's a question and a situation that scares the devil out of the central banks.

So we can expect a lot of erratic action from gold as the various factions use their propaganda and their arguments for or against gold.

But the Russell position is this -- Gold is real money -- while dollars and euros and yen and kronos are man-manufactured pseudo-money. If central banks can generate "money" without sweat, then we know that their money is a lie. If it takes the sweat of thousands of men and multi-millions in capital to dig gold out of the ground, we know that gold is something more than a fantasy "legal tender" item produced by the central banks.

So here's what I'm getting at. Now is the time to accumulate gold and gold stocks. The hard part will be to sit with our gold and gold stocks while the great battle rages. Declines in gold will represent opportunities to accumulate more gold and gold items. Time is on the side of those of us who accumulate gold because in a bull market a given item will appreciate through time.

As the Fed generates an increasing amount of credit and paper in their battle to offset the forces of world deflation, the value of gold will increase. It's simple -- central banks are generating vastly more paper than the gold mines can produce in comparable gold values.

As gold climbs, be prepared to listen to the propaganda of the gold haters and those who fear gold. "It's too high," "It's being manipulated higher," "It's being bulled by war scares," "It's just a short squeeze."

Get used to it -- there's a huge contingent who have a vested interest in gold going nowhere. They possess loud voices, but they're losers. They're losers because they're on the wrong side of the truth.




Kagalaska (01/12/03; 19:09:07MT - usagold.com msg#: 94241)
Why is spot digging a hole (truthcaster msg#94236)
IMHO periodic corrections are good. They shake out the weak players and provide a buying opportunity for the rest of us. Also,its the NY close that matters. Besides, Spot is just digging for a bone hidden by Spike.

ax (01/12/03; 19:06:57MT - usagold.com msg#: 94240)
@ Towncrier/ Knotacre regarding Increase in US Gold Reserves

@ Towncrier/ Knotacre regarding Increase in US Gold Reserves

References:

TownCrier (01/12/03; 18:01:44MT - usagold.com msg#: 94234)
For ax, I would like to know...
How would the U.S. Treasury pay for its gold?
And if the Treasury bought it from Switzerland, as you suggest, where
would Switzerland's current gold receiver find fulfillment?

knotakare (01/12/03; 18:44:04MT - usagold.com msg#: 94237)
Ax, re US Gold Reserves
..Ax, I would like to politely say to you that what you propose to do is
not possible. If the US tried to start acguiring gold in the quantities
you mention, it would probably cause a collapse of the world's financial
system....

AX: Thank you for your observations.

Towncrier, I don't understand " where
would Switzerland's current gold receiver find fulfillment? "

AX: What do you mean, how would the U.S. pay for it? I would think
the U.S. Treasury would just write a check as any other buyer of gold
at so many dollars an ounce would do. Whoever has been buying
the gold that Britain sold in past years, and the gold that Switzerland
is selling now must be just writing a check for it.

Knotacre, " If the US tried to start acguiring gold in the quantities
you mention, it would probably cause a collapse of the world's financial
system. "

AX: OK, I suppose I could modify the proposal so that it wouldn't seem
that I am advocating a purchase of 20 k tons. Just a start is all I
would like to see. One ton at a time --whereever it is available.

Why should it cause a panic? China is buying - nobody panics about
that. If the USD is acceptable with only 8k ton gold backing, it should
be more acceptable at 8.001 kiloton backing.

The U.S. should just be out there trying to augment its reserves without
a top limit - but only in reasonable increments. I stand corrected.
Start with a single ton.

AX


Cavan Man (01/12/03; 18:58:02MT - usagold.com msg#: 94239)
N. Korea
I read where NK hasz suggested they will turn the US into a "sea of fire". I'd comment: poor choice of metaphor. Back to the drawing board.

Cavan Man (01/12/03; 18:55:14MT - usagold.com msg#: 94238)
Gold lease rates
If these rates no longer reflect the supply/demand dynamic in the market, perhaps they have ceased to be useful? Perhaps the futures' markets themselves are next? Can lease rates be meaningless and under what conditions? What are the ramifications then?

knotakare (01/12/03; 18:44:04MT - usagold.com msg#: 94237)
Ax, re US Gold Reserves
Ax, I would like to politely say to you that what you propose to do is not possible. If the US tried to start acguiring gold in the quantities you mention, it would probably cause a collapse of the world's financial system.

The fed already has the reposibility to backstop the US dollar and also the US bond and stock markets (through the Economic Stabilization Fund). The FED already is juggling too many balls in the air, to keep liquidity in the US markets, and any sign that they were acquiring gold would cause liquidity to lock up and cause a crash in the world's currency and equity/bond markets.

The fed could also call in their gold loans, but again this would cause an economic calamity. What the Fed and Treasury must now due is look for ways to devalue the dollar, without causing a panic. I think that those that say the FED will allow the price of gold to devalue the dollar, make a lot of sence. But we are facing the so called "storm", and it is anyone's quess how this will all play out.

Due to the destructive "strong dollar policy" carried out by US officials during the past 40 years, I think American citizens should be warned that any financial assets that they own will likely be expropriated by the government through great cunning and trickery. This is how far we have gone down a slippery slope.

And you can forget about getting the dollar slide to stop. This is not going to happen with the current values and government we have in this country.

Get gold and silver coins now, we are in an extreme emergency, and once the nation finds out there will be chaos.


Truthcaster (01/12/03; 18:36:03MT - usagold.com msg#: 94236)
Spot Falling Tonight
Anyone know why gold is falling tonight?
It's down about 2.00$. Maybe it's following
Oil which is down too.


ElGordo (01/12/03; 18:26:24MT - usagold.com msg#: 94235)
Reality vs happy talk
Tokyo, Jan. 13 (Bloomberg) -- Japanese stocks failed to deliver their traditional January rally in 2002. They may not have one in 2003 either.

The Nikkei 225 Stock Average has lost 1.3 percent. Computer- related companies such as Fujitsu Ltd. have dropped amid concern that profit reports from U.S. rivals, including Intel Corp., will show that global spending is slumping. Intel, the world's largest chipmaker, is among U.S. companies releasing results this week.

``Earnings results from major U.S. technology companies aren't going to convince me to buy computer-related stocks,'' said Yasuo Kamaji, who helps manage 300 billion yen ($2.5 billion) in Japanese equities at Sumitomo Mitsui Asset Management Co. ``A solid recovery won't come for a couple of years.''


TownCrier (01/12/03; 18:01:44MT - usagold.com msg#: 94234)
For ax, I would like to know...

How would the U.S. Treasury pay for its gold?

And if the Treasury bought it from Switzerland, as you suggest, where would Switzerland's current gold receiver find fulfillment?

R.


mikal (01/12/03; 17:57:04MT - usagold.com msg#: 94233)
@canamami
Lease rates would go up if gold borrowing/leasing activity increased But if real returns are now negative, the gold carry trade is muted for good reason. Add in the risks- geopolitical, economic or otherwise, and it doesn't add up anymore.

TownCrier (01/12/03; 17:56:35MT - usagold.com msg#: 94232)
All's fair in love and banking
Canamami,

It is not my place to say yea or nay here, but don't discount the thought that "lease rates" for gold are not now an unconstrained product of forces in an open market.

R.


Mr Gresham (01/12/03; 17:43:04MT - usagold.com msg#: 94231)
Euro links
http://www.ex.ac.uk/~RDavies/arian/euro.html
Lots of Euro links -- haven't had time to look into...

canamami (01/12/03; 17:35:15MT - usagold.com msg#: 94230)
Question re Lease Rates, Price and Supply
I understood that lease rates go up when supply is tight, usually in the context of a rising market. The 2003 lease rates appear to be low (libor - gofo), yet the price keeps rising. Am I missing something here? Why is the rising price not reflected in higher lease rates, and why does the price keep rising if the supply is plentiful (as reflected in the lease rates)?

ax (01/12/03; 17:34:56MT - usagold.com msg#: 94229)
HOW U.S. CAN INCREASE ITS GOLD RESERVES

HOW U.S. CAN INCREASE ITS GOLD RESERVES

Reference:

Belgian (1/3/03; 06:17:44MT - usagold.com msg#: 93304)

@ Ax : The US buying Gold ???


Belgian, you write:

*WHO* is going to sell *WICH* Gold to the US-treasury...for more US$
???
3,000 tonnes of underground gold have already been sold forward.
Paper-gold-claims exeeding 15,000 tonnes are standing out.
Euroland's
Gold-reserves are NOT for sale against dollars to be added to the
already obsolete, massive, dollar-exchange-reserves. China, Russia
are
mining the Gold for themselves and South Africa, Canada, Australia
can
only sell Gold, profitable, as long as their currencies keep on
declining against the dollar.

AX: I DON'T DISAGREE WITH MUCH OF WHAT YOU SAY BUT
WE KNOW FOR INSTANCE THAT SWITZERLAND,
LOCATED IN THE HEART OF EUROPE, IS SELLING A%OF
THEIR CENTRAL RESERVE BANK GOLD.

WHY COULDN'T THE U.S. TREASURY BUY THIS GOLD?

( NOT TO MENTION THE GOLD PRODUCED BY THE
MINES LOCATED WITHIN THE U.S. REGARDLESS OF
OWNERSHIP, GOLD FROM GOLD BULLION DEALERS
WITHIN THE U.S. AND FROM ANYONE OR ANY
ENTITY WHICH WISHED TO SELL - LIKE ALL THOSE
COMMERCIALS ON THE COMEX WHO ARE SUPPOSED
TO BE SHORT GOLD - WHY NOT BUY FROM THEM? )

I FRANKLY DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT ALL THIS
PROBLEM IS FOR THE U.S. TREASURY TO BUY GOLD
JUST LIKE CHINA IS DOING FOR HER CENTRAL BANK.


Belgian you write:

Any "Gold-buy" by the US would make its dollar *WEAKER* in Gold
(POG-rise=more dollars per ounce). And you certainly know what will
happen (is happening) when the dollar goes down !
THE GOLD BALL IS NOT IN THE DOLLAR CAMP...anymore !
The US has been losing the bulk of its Goldreserves up to 1971
(28,000 tonnes > 8,160 tonnes). The dollar went for the oil and is doing the
same thing today in a last gigantic effort to have its reserve-currency
backed with a portion of real wealth (confiscated ME-SA-oil).

AX: AGAIN, A LOT OF TRUTH HERE BUT : HOW DOES THAT
PRECLUDE THE U.S FROM REPLACING ITS TREASURY
GOLD RESERVES? THE FACT THAT THE U.S. GOLD
RESERVES DROPPED SO MUCH OVER THE YEARS
IS JUST THAT MUCH MORE REASON FOR THE U.S. TO
WANT TO REPLENISH IT.

ADDING GOLD TO THE U.S. TREASURY WOULD NOT
WEAKEN THE USD. THIS I STRONGLY DISAGREE WITH.

IT MAY ADD TO THE PERCEPTION OF WEAKNESS -
MAKE IT LOOK LIKE IT IS WEAK - BUT IN FACT IT WILL
BE ( THE USD WILL BE ) ON ITS WAY BACK TO GETTING
STRONGER.

WE ARE INTERESTED HERE IN TRUE STRENTH - NOT
THE APPEARANCE OF STRENGTH AS WAS THE
CONCEPT OF FORMER TREASURY SECRETARY
LARRY SUMMERS AS EXPOUNDED IN HIS 1995
HARVARD PAPER.

ESPECIALLY SINCE THE U.S. WOULD WISH TO MAINTAIN
ITS STATUS OF HAVING THE WORLD'S NUMBER ONE
RESERVE CURRENCY. PART OF THE STRENGTH OF THE
EURO IS THAT IT IS SO MUCH BACKED BY GOLD. SO-
WHY CAN'T THE U.S.MARK TO MARKET IS RESERVE
GOLD TONNAGE - ADD TO IT SUBSTANTIALLY - AND
HAVE A MUCH MORE STABLE CURRENCY?

Belgian you write:

A new rumor is launched that the ME wishes Saddam to step down if
the US
should start the attack on Iraq !? The sacrificial lamb theory
(speculation). POO is on its eleventh day out of the 22$-28$ range.
Saudi taps should open after 9 days ? Yes, the *supply* of oil will
never be a problem...only the worthless $-currency that is paid for it !
The great broken promiss. Let's price Gold correctly and open the oil-taps for abundant cheap flow. Non Arabian oil-producers (South American) will re-think the dollar's intrinsic worth, again and again up
until they understand and make Another choice.

AX: YES, MUCH TO AGREE WITH. BUT - YET AND STILL
IT DOES NOT NEGATE THE CONCEPT THAT THE U.S.
TREASURY SHOULD BACK ITS CURRENCY WITH MORE
GOLD.

AS FOR OIL, THERE ARE MANY WAYS FOR THE U.S.
TO ARRANGE FOR MORE IMPORTATION AND DOMESTIC
PRODUCTION OF OIL SHOULD CIRCUMSTANCES
WARRENT IT. REMEMBER, IT WAS JUST A FEW YEARS
AGO THAT THERE WAS A GLUT OF OIL IN THE WORLD,
AS THE PRICE OF OIL WAS TRENDING TOWARD $10/BAR
I REALIZE THAT THE PICTURE HAS CHANGED
SUBSTANTIALLY, BUT - AS THINGS DEVELOP - EVEN
AS YOU YOURSELF ASSIGN MOTIVES FOR A MOVE IN
THE MIDDLE EAST, YOU ARE IN FACT DRAWING A
PICTURE WHEREIN THE U.S. WILL HAVE AS MUCH
OIL AS IT WANTS.

BUT FOR STABILIZING THE ECONOMY AND THE DOLLAR
IT IS BEST TO UTILIZE GOLD AS THE UNIVERSAL AND
HISTORICAL COMMODITY OF CURRENCY REFERENCE.

IN SHORT - THE U.S. TREASURY NEEDS TO BOOST
IT 8K TON RESERVES OF GOLD CLOSER TO THE
VALUES OF 28 K TON TO WHICH YOU REFER FROM
PERIODS OF TIME EARLIER IN THE 20 TH CENTURY.

SINCERELY,

AX


TownCrier (01/12/03; 17:20:40MT - usagold.com msg#: 94228)
Maybe this version is structured more clearly
In January 1997 the LBMA first started releasing for public consumption its gold clearing statistics.

R.


TownCrier (01/12/03; 16:53:53MT - usagold.com msg#: 94227)
goldenboy -- the meaning of the LBMA going public
I'm just now tuning in again after a break and haven't yet read Belgian's comments to which you refer. However, given the nature of the thing, any mention of the LBMA "going public" can almost certainly refer to only one thing:

It was the decision that, beginning in January 1997, the LBMA first started releasing its clearing statistics for public consumption -- the shear volume of which boggled many minds in and out of the industry. (1,000 tonnes gold/day)

Randy


trickyt (01/12/03; 16:52:21MT - usagold.com msg#: 94226)
US Debt rises from $58 to $24'630 per person, gold $58 to $ 350
US Govt Debt per ounce of gold is 420 times the 1939 figure of $58 of debt for every ounce. Today the figure , $24'630 per ounce.

At the same time the price of gold has risen from $34.42 to $350.50 What would you rather have? The debt or the gold?

Some facts:
US Government Debt 2003: $6,382,650,489,675. (6 trillion)
US Government Gold Reserves 2003: 262 million ounces.
Debt per ounce of gold reserves: $24'630

US Government Debt 1948: $40,439,532,411. (40 billion)
US Government Gold Reserves 1948: 697 million ounces.
Debt per ounce of Gold: $361

In 1939, the year the US Governement made gold illegal for US citizens to buy gold, the debt per ouce of gold reserves was $58. (the debt was then $40 billion, but ballooned due to the war effort). After Gold became illegal US citizens were effectively forced to take debt.

So, in the last 63 years the debt per ounce of gold has risen from $58 to $24'630.

At the same time the price of gold has risen from $34.42 to $351.50. What would you rather have? The debt or the gold? I know which I will take.....



goldenboy (01/12/03; 16:26:32MT - usagold.com msg#: 94225)
Belgian: What exactly do you mean by the LBMA has gone
public?

Christian (01/12/03; 16:19:49MT - usagold.com msg#: 94224)
Physical Free Gold Market Within The Euro>
> will never happen. It will never happen here either. Gold is not an acceptible form of payment. But it will be an acceptible way for savings (storehouse for labor). There are a few banks here, but many more in Europe, who accept gold as savings, and the interest and principal is paid in gold when withdrawn. (Read the GOFRA terms) Banks can and it is legal to use that gold that was deposited just like money is in a savings account to loan it out to themselves and use the deposit to make reserve banking loans. The whole idea is to get people to produce wealth in their economic endeavors, and trade that wealth for worthless paper. The credit creation reserve banking conspiracy is really a cons-PIRACY to get you wealth (work) exchanged for worthless non-redeemable notes.

Belgian (01/12/03; 15:56:52MT - usagold.com msg#: 94223)
The US-dollar > The Globe's reserve - currency !
All currencies in the world are backed by the US$-exchange-reserves in their respective National Banks. Strong or weak currencies have much to do with the management of their dollar-reseves. Part of what is to be understood under monetary-policy. Quite normal in normal times. BUT...

It is the USA-dollar-printer that is now ruling on the value-exchange-rate of all those world CB-dollar-reserves.
The USA says what your dollar-reserves are worth and is consequently dictating the exchange rate of all those currencies. All currencies have become *dollar-derivatives*.
All currencies lost the major part of their autonomy !

Next to the globe's CB-dollar-reserves, there is some Gold-exchange-reserve in the vault of their National Banks.
This Gold is valued by the LBMA paper-contract monster.
Independant States lost valuation-autonomy on their Gold-exchange reserves. That's why many preferred to add dollar-confetti to their reserves, rather than Gold as a reserve.

But now we see that China, Russia, openly publicize that they are adding Gold to their reserves. No statistics about the ME-states for very obvious reasons of course ! India is as evident as can be on the whole Gold-matter and already have their physical-only market for ages !

Now there is that euro-currency that is ***suddenly*** marking its Gold-reserves to market ! No more Gold book-keeping at out of date "fixed" prices for Gold. This behind a terrible smoke-screen of "controlled" Gold-sales in complete UN-transparancy ! And suddenly the former secretive "LBMA" goes right into the public light !

Nobody is connecting all these dots, except our Mentors !
Everybody remains embedded in the "commodity" matrix of Gold and refuses to look at CB-Gold as a wealth-asset. With the exception of Gold-Giants (oil and other) who know the dollar through and through.

China, at present positioning itself as the fifth biggest power, just behind France, opens its market for physical Gold trade. Shangai and Dubai go the India-way. Euro architects travel discretely on euro-concept, counselling !

All those existing dollars (reserves and other) can't rush into Gold ALL AT ONCE ! It is the building and existance of the paper-Gold-market that is concepted for Gold-Substitution. But this Physical Gold-Breaker has a timeline as we all, unfortunately, have. The announcement that paper-gold has reached its end is evidenced by the sudden and inexplicable going public of the LBMA. The Rotshields lost their privilege of arbitting oil and gold trade ! The ECB/BIS, euro-builders, took over ! *Halt* to the almighty financial brotherhood. Don't call any Rotshield for confirmation on this (smile).

The "Haute Finance" doesn't talk to politicians !


Galerider (01/12/03; 15:53:54MT - usagold.com msg#: 94222)
THE JAPANESE SOLUTION
Here we go again. March is coming around again when all the comapnies call in their profits from around the world and "balance the books". Will the Japanese financial gurus make the banks account for bad loans? Will 2003 likely be the year that the government gets Japan's financial house in order? Don't think so. Latest proposal by the Liberal Democratic party? Raise the consumption tax. Squeeze Joe and Jane Nippon some more with some more taxes. It will put trillions of yen into the government coffers they say. So they can spend some more money bailing out zombie comanies that are already dead financially and sponsor building of corporate highrises that won't rent space in an already tight real estate market, build roads that go to nowhere, and build toll roads that are so expensive you can travel for about twenty minutes on it before you see another car coming in the opposite direction. What a joke we are becoming. Things are getting bad. Added to my modest gold pile in anticipation of being tossed on the NIPPON bonepile!

Belgian (01/12/03; 15:14:14MT - usagold.com msg#: 94221)
@ PH in LA # 94192 - Questions
Physical Only Gold Market in euro :I have been asking this question to many authorities (politicians and central bankers) : Absolute silence AND NOT ONE SINGLE REPLY of any kind ! Since I'm not an authority and have no inside knowledge...I can't give you any "concrete" answers.

This "absolute" silence is one of my major "indications" strengthening the growing pile of other indications.
Euroland, at present, is working hard (Dehaene and Giscard d'Estaing and an Italian) on more political convergence and a constitution.

Top national central bankers + ECB + BIS are locked into a complete isolated ivory tower. No way to have a look at the inside from outside the bunker (blockhouse).

Therefore, most of our indications are derived from intelligent thinking and close observation of political maneuvering.
It is A/FOA who have been studying this market thoroughly and its history as well. Their cryptic language is hiding much more than our comprehension goes.

As Eurolanders, we all had US$-bonds in portfolio. As individuals we acted as CBs and took the dollar-exchange-reserve as the mother of all derivatives in our financial planning. Euroland had to foresee an escape-route for getting rid of all those paper-dollar-assets for its citizens and CB-dollar-reserves.

It is impossible to arrange for a total (all at once) stampede out of those dollar-assets into euro and Gold.
This gives us an indication that the timing of the physical-only market is not a sinecure (easy job). How can one possibly answer how far away, this physical only market is ?

Even ordinarry euro-bankers do not understand why the ECB is is calculating the open Gold value, quarter by quarter.
Are you going to tell them that the ECB/BIS is planning to destroy the dollar-paper-goldcontract market (LBMA) ?
Listen very carefully to Duisenberg when he answers questions and guess the direction of his euro-"intentions".

The euro-builders want to postpone the "parabolic collapse" of the dollar as to make it happen at the most convenient moment. In the mean time, more destructive weight is added to the dollar-paper-gold-contract-market. The hangman's rope ! "OUR" euro and Euroland's "WEALTH"...brand new terminology towards the public.

Some financial media, still unaware of the euro-concept, are questioning Gold's recent moves with an air of suspicion. Please do not forget Sir that the process of "infantilization" of the general public is in its high days and increasing in Euroland as it is in the USA. And I am part of that public without any privileges and consequently without concrete answers for myself.

We all are restricted to indications alone and finetuning of their interpretations.

What will central banks do with their dollar-exhange-reserves, when BernankeSpan, command the dollar-printing presses ? All this globe's currencies are backed by CB-dollar-exchange-reserves. Al CBs have some Gold-Wealth left as a tangible exchange reserve next to the growing stashes of dollar-paper. But it is only the ECB that is quarterly valuing her Gold-reserves and at the same time the other Gold-exchange reserves that remained in the national banks of EMU-members! This is no secret. And every bank in Euroland sells Physical Gold for euro to its clients.
Those same banks stopped selling (completely) physical silver and platinum.

Another strong indication is that those same banks had a certain period (1990-1995) where they encouraged to take (buy) Gold-Certificates instead of the classic Physical insurance. In this same period the a VAT was imposed on physical sales and was immidiately withdrown ! In other words, CBs got directives from their CBs to encourage paper Gold-certificates to avoid the VAT on the physical and later on the Physical Gold trade was encouraged again with the withdrawel of the VAT on it !

Euroland already had a physical-only market in mind. Euroland wants to get rid or compensate for "all" dollar currency-paper. That was an early indication in a time when I was still green behind my ears about the eventual growing concept.

Those early paper Gold-certificates (1990) were an indication that the ECU ( euro-later ) wanted to "inflate" the paper-gold-contract market as when full force with the infamous Gold-sales and following WA (re-distributions).

The euro-gold-concept is already an old plan. I'm a bit late in having discovered it thanks to CPM / FOA, here. But have been digging in my memory to recapitulate and "understand" all memorized Gold history.

Maybe it is because other countries (China/Russia/ME) are a bit late in copying the euro-concept, that this physical-only market isn't yet operational. Who knows what other reasons there might be for eventual delays ?

Why do you think the US (FED) succeeded in pulling away some Gold-exchange-reserves from a particular set of countries ? Now these poor states are in the incapacity of playing the euro-gold-concept and have to stick to their dollar-exchange-reserves valued by the printer of those dollars, the US of A. Quite some formidable indication here.

Why were (!!!) the major anglo-saxon goldminers so eager to sell forward underground gold ! Forget about their economical explanations ! They knew WHY and only some very specific entities co-operated for not so obvious reasons.

Yes PH in LA, a gigantic jigsaw...far from being completed with a very visible picture. Patience dear fellow Goldmeister...it will surely come ! Think hard and deep and don't get fooled because we don't have black on white evidence.



ElGordo (01/12/03; 14:45:33MT - usagold.com msg#: 94220)
The icy wind of the coming storm
London, Jan. 12 (Bloomberg) -- Nauman Barakat, head of the oil trading desk at Fimat International Banque SA in London, comments on a decision by OPEC to raise output quotas by 1.5 million barrels a day to replace shortages left by a strike in Venezuela.

``Assuming we lost about 2 million barrels a day from Venezuela as a result of the strike and assuming that OPEC produces an extra 1.5 million barrels, which is in itself a big stretch, it still means we have a shortfall of 500,000 barrels. The market will remain very tight.''

``The market is going to look at this tomorrow and its reaction will be that this agreement, as far as putting an extra 1.5 million barrels, is not really credible. It includes a pro rata increase for Venezuela, which clearly can't produce anything more than what they're producing now, and a lot of other countries'' are already producing at capacity.

``I would be surprised if the real barrels into the market would be anything more than 1 million barrels. That gives us 1 million barrels less than before the Venezuelan strike. Then if you add Iraq on top of it, assuming that the U.S. does attack Iraq and the Venezuelan strike is still on at that point, OPEC is in dire straits.''
________________
OPEC is in the drivers seat- WE- the world-are in dire straits.
If Venezuela stays in chaos, this could be the beginning of that
infamous storm.


Kagalaska (01/12/03; 14:37:10MT - usagold.com msg#: 94219)
The winds of change are blowing.
Trojan- Well put together post(#94215).I agree, but, with this thought I believe the time line(5 or more years) will
not be that long 2-3 at most.

If there must be trouble let it be in my day,that my child may have peace.- Thomas Paine 1737-1809


misetich (01/12/03; 14:34:26MT - usagold.com msg#: 94218)
THE 'GOLD CAP' DISEMBOWELMENT OF AMERICA
http://www.gold-eagle.com/editorials_02/smithf080702.html
Trojan - thanks for the link

The US has enjoyed tremendous advantages through the strong US $ "policy" - by sucking up most of the world investments - however as Rubin stated a two years or so ago in an interview - "we are in uncharted territory" as the bubble burst -

The financial system is in the middle of the " Perfect Financial Storm " - those in the know - have/are positioning themselves to protect themselves - through the accumulation of GOLD

Who has/is accumulating this 16,000 tons of Central Banks leased -( which in turn has been sold by speculators, bullion banks and through hedging programs by miners )- gold

Lets FOLLOW THE MONEY! real money - GOLD

Here's an extract by Richard Russell's January 10, 2003 issue -Dow Theory- on gold

Quote

The reason, gold is the only money that has held its value over the course of history. Gold represents permanent wealth. This has occurred in the face of the fact that every paper currency in history has ultimately sunk to worthlessness.
.........

Get used to it -- there's a huge contingent who have a vested interest in gold going nowhere. They possess loud voices, but they're losers. They're losers because they're on the wrong side of the truth.

..........
End of quote

http://www.dowtheoryletters.com/dtlol.nsf

Got gold?







ElGordo (01/12/03; 14:31:20MT - usagold.com msg#: 94217)
USA Today article
Tough times good for gold
Most investments fell in 2002; tangible assets soared

By SANDRA BLOCK
USA Today
01/12/2003

When the going gets tough, gold gets going.

In 2002, a year when nearly every other type of investment tanked, gold funds rose an average 62.9 percent. The year's boisterous performance boosted average five-year returns to 52.2 percent, vs. a decline of 1 percent for the average stock fund.

Several events conspired to make 2002 a great year for gold. Among them:

• Fear. Gold does well during periods of uncertainty. Nervous investors lose faith in paper currency, which is only as good as the government behind it, and stash their money in tangible assets, such as gold. A potential war with Iraq, nuclear warnings from North Korea and continued threats of terrorism made gold a popular haven in 2002.

• A weakened dollar. The falling stock market, sluggish economy and rising oil prices depressed the value of the U.S. dollar in 2002. Gold typically rises when the U.S. dollar weakens, says Mark Johnson, manager of USAA Precious Metals and Minerals Fund.

• Low prices. Gold is trading for about $350 an ounce, up 25 percent from a year ago. But gold prices are still down from 1996, when gold traded for up to $400, says Caesar Bryan, manager of Gabelli Gold Fund. In the 1990s, gold went through a "dreadful bear market," Bryan says. "The last year and a half was really a bounce off a pretty depressed low."

Gold fund managers say the factors that made their funds shine in 2002 haven't changed. War with Iraq still looms. A larger federal budget deficit could further weaken the dollar.

"We've got a good chance of making more money in 2003, largely because of what's happening with the dollar," Johnson says.

Moreover, stocks of gold-mining companies, a staple of gold fund portfolios, are still relatively cheap compared with the price of gold, says Bryan.

Even gold fund managers say gold funds should account for just a small portion of your portfolio - typically no more than 5 percent. One reason: Gold tends to move in the opposite direction of the stock market.

That makes gold funds a good hedge against stock-market downturns. But if the market recovers, your gold fund could lose its luster in a hurry.


ElGordo (01/12/03; 14:24:11MT - usagold.com msg#: 94216)
Too little too late
OPEC members agreed Sunday to boost the cartel's oil production target by 6.5 percent to cover a shortfall in crude exports from Venezuela.

The increase of 1.5 million barrels a day would take effect on Feb. 1, OPEC President Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah told a news conference.

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries announced the increase in the hope of calming fears of a supply crunch caused by an ongoing strike in Venezuela. The strike, launched Dec. 2 by political opponents seeking to oust President Hugo Chavez, has slashed the country's exports by about 2 million barrels a day. Venezuela, a major supplier to the United States, is normally the world's fifth-largest oil producer and the third largest in OPEC.
_______
Not enough if Venezuela stays out


Trojan (01/12/03; 14:02:28MT - usagold.com msg#: 94215)
Slingshot and other thoughts...
Slingshot: Thank you for reading the Article.

I agree that it seems "They Would Never Do That" logic BUT I really think that THIS TIME we have WORLD HISTORY in the making.

Christian: Have you read the Article ? It seems to go along with your thinking.

Now back to my WORLD HISTORY Point.

Many World Events are NOW all coming together.

Some Main Points:

(1) About 1913 I think, the Federal Reserve gets Control of the MONEY Supply. (It is created)

(2) The Wars START (WW1 WW2 Etc)

(3) The GREAT (IMHO) JFK figures it out. He actually had a Executive Order ready to disolve the FED.

(4) The Private FED is NOT Legal according to the USA Constitution.

(4) JFK is Murdered. (1963)

(5) Nixon Unties Gold Standard Re: $35 Price. (1971)

(6) Jimmy Carter Elected (1976) Iran Hostage Crisis, Interest Rates over 20 %

(7) Ronald Reagan Elected (1980 To 1988) The Cold War ends and NOW with Russia NO LONGER a Force to Counterbalance The USA, the FORCES OF REAL EVIL as compared to the Axis Of Evil start their END Game.

(8) This STARTS with the Election Of Bush SR in 1988.

(9) In comes the BOYS, Rumsfield, Cheney and the Others who are the Close Associates of Bush Sr.

(10) Bush Sr Attacks Iraq. (1991) (This starts the Terrorists going. (Bin Laden and others)

(11) Clinton is Elected (1992-2000) It was the ECONOMY Stupid.

(12) Greenspan is running the show now with No Controls on him. Greenspan has ALL the Tools he needs including The Monetary Control Act Of 1980 which allows the FED to buy Stocks.

(13) As Frank Smith's article points out The Plan Re: Gold suppression starts in 1995.

A pause here now in my Main Points, to summarize what I think is occuring. I'll tie up all my points in the end of this post but first I want to make a point about Clinton. Clinton bought into Greenspan's Gold Plan with Rubin and the Strong US Dollar Policy. Clinton was IMO not Evil but Sleazy. He wanted Fame, Fortune and Good Hummers :-) However whatever he wanted played into the Real Plan that was HATCHING.
Now ON TO 2000. A NEW MILLENEUM. A NEW HISTORY. A NEW WORLD ORDER. Here is how it STARTS to ALL Tie together.

(14) Bush JR is Elected (2000) We ALL know how that went. 5 Weeks to Decide who Won. Finally the Supremes decide. (That's NOT Diana Ross and the Supremes.)

(15) GUESS WHAT... They Are Back BUT NOW WITH INCREDIBLE WEALTH AND POWER. Who are They ? Think about it. Rumsfield, Cheney and the Others. (BUt NO Russia to Block them) (No Gold Rising To Block them)
(Don't forget Greenie)

(16) Here comes Bin Laden (2001) Remember my Point about Iraq, Bush Sr and Terrorism. ( Point 10)

(17) Wait Bin Who ? NAH forget him. It's Saddam, Stupid. Here we Go. Bush Wants War. Rumsfield Wants War. Cheney wants War. Some for different reasons.
Bush Jr "Saddam tried to Kil my Daddy you know"

(18) The USA Economy is a Disaster. Pension Funds Not Funded by Corporations. Fraud Accounting in Government and Corporate America. The USA Manufacturing Base Destroyed. USA Consummer Debt Astronomical. USA Government Debt Astronomical. Derivatives in the Trillions ready to Explode. The Stock Market Crash is NOT Over. The Real Estate Crash has NOT even Started. The Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Game will BLOW UP. The USA is DEPEPENDENT on the WORLD to Fund Them. The WORLD has Changed. The WORLD Does NOT Love the USA Anymore.

OK, Time for my Summary. Most of what I have pointed out so far is Fact. Just the Facts, Maam, Just the Facts. (Joe Friday) :-)

Here is WHY I say WORLD HISTORY is *About to Change.
*About could take up to 5 Years or more to Play Out.

I believe in God. If there is NO GOD, What's the Point. Let's not get into Religion BUT I wanted to make that point RE: Justice in the Final Analysis.

We all Know what Happened to the Roman Empire and ALL the other Empires.

Since we are leaving God out of this let's instead call Gold our God. (For purposes of making my point)

In the End GOLD has Always Proven to be the ONLY true Store of Value. So it will this time.

When the War Starts and it Will. When the Real Actionable War Anger, Starts against the USA, The USA Stock Market WILL CRASH. THe USA Dollar Will Crash. The Economy will CRASH. The World according to the USA will change and so will WORLD HISTORY.

No NOT Through Armies and the BOMB.

Gold Will Win. The World is different now. The Internet STOPS Censorship. To the People who Need to Know. The Arabs Know. The Muslims Know. The Japanese Know. The Chinese Know. Any Real ENEMY of the USA knows.

What do they know ?

How to Win the WAR.

Through Gold. The Gold Dinar. The Oil Dinar. Gold Itself. No USA Dollar Controlling the World.

Then you Will have WORLD HISTORY.

I am a Canadian Citizen BUT do NOT Despair Great USA Brothers and Sisters.

The Fed will be DISMANTLED. The FRAUDS will End.
A New President will appear to lead the USA on the way back to the Great Nation it once was.

There will be WORLD HISTORY made. I don't know it's next Form but it will HAPPEN.

History itself SAYS it will.

That's the way I see it.

Agree or Disagree ?






Zhisheng (01/12/03; 13:00:10MT - usagold.com msg#: 94214)
Sierra Madre's Sunday Reflections (94198)
The thesis is that Central Banks will move away from dollar denominated assets so that they may be less subject to actions of the US Federal Reserve, which System technically pretty much controls the path of the dollar.

This seems to rely on the hypothesis that Central Banks truly represent national interest, which may or may not be the case. Recent sales of gold reserves by Central Banks at low prices certainly do not seem to be in their respective national interests.

It may be that Central Banks are more subject to the will of financial powers whose interests are more international in scope than national. In that case, a turning away from the dollar would perhaps occur at the connivance of the Fed (or rather the powers to whose influence it is subject, in common with other Central Banks).

In either case however, if we can rely on recent remarks by Greenspan and Bernanke, the dollar looks now to become weaker, and gold stronger.


TownCrier (01/12/03; 12:52:26MT - usagold.com msg#: 94213)
PH in LA, China's new physical market
http://www.usagold.com/wgc.html
This should help you regarding your questions to Belgium, "Are there actually plans for a physical-only market on the books at this time? ... Can you point us at anybody else talking about such a thing?" and etc...

At the above link you will find these entries:

7 October, 2002 - 11 October, 2002
The tax issues that have delayed the opening of the Shanghai Gold Exchange are expected to be resolved this month, allowing formal trade to begin, marking a major step in the liberalisation of the Chinese precious metals market.

14 October, 2002 - 18 October, 2002
Official sources have confirmed that the Shanghai Gold Exchange will open for trading on 30th October, following clarification of the VAT rules on gold trading. The Exchange opened on Wednesday for an initial trial period and the first trade to be logged was a 3kg purchase by the Beijing Caishikou Department Store.

21 October, 2002 - 25 October, 2002
Physical gold trading on the Shanghai Gold Exchange is due to launch on Wednesday [Oct 30]. For the time being membership remains limited to 108 domestic entities of which 56% are end-users and 12% are banks and other financial institutions, according to a report from Reuters quoting exchange official Mr. Yin Po. The opening of the exchange will be the first big step on the road to ending more than 50 years of absolute control. Settlement will be in physical metal (the only other exchange to trade solely in physical is that in Istanbul).

Opening the Exchange means that the People's Bank of China will no longer be the sole fixer of the local price, nor the sole purchaser of domestic mine output. Price discovery will fall to the exchange and be likely therefore to run closely in line with international prices and local production will be sold on the exchange.


25 November, 2002 - 29 November, 2002
Friday completed the first month of trading on the Shanghai Gold Exchange. The market turnover has averaged between 300kg and 400kg a day of bars of purity either 99.95% or 99.99%, in a ratio by volume of roughly 3:1, although the volumes in the four nines bars is increasing. This equates to between 66 and 88 tonnes per annum and compares with local mine production of 173t (2001; GFMS estimate). Not all the country's locally mined gold is yet traded through the exchange as it is not all refined in the accepted refineries. The market only trades spot, not forwards or futures.

9 December, 2002 - 13 December, 2002
An official at the Shanghai Gold Exchange has said that, subject to approval by the People's Bank of China, the Exchange may allow trading by individuals as early as next year.


Christian (01/12/03; 12:18:16MT - usagold.com msg#: 94212)
DAS KAPITAL- - - Bankers Manifesto
"Capital must protect itself inevery way through combination and through legislation. Debts must be collected and loans and mortgages foreclosed as soon as possible. When through a process of law the common people have lost their homes, they will be more tractable and more easily governed by the strong arm of the law, applied by the central power of wealth, under control of leading financiers. People without homes will not quarrel with their leaders. This is well known among our principle men now engaged in forming an imperialism of capital to govern the world. By dividing the people we can get them to expend their energies in fighting over questions ofno importance to us except as teachers of the common herd. Thus by discreet action we can secure for ourselves what has been generally planned and successfully accomplished." -- All made possible by credit creation gold using the banking reserve process. It was Roosevelt who gave the government of the United States over to the invisible government. Money is power, and by getting the money (gold conviscation) the invisible government got the poweer to creat credit out of credit creation gold using the reserve banking process. Gold conviscation will happen again because Capital (Kapital) must protect itself. There is a reason why COMEX trades are mostly paper gold nothings. GOFRA= gold forward rate agreement, used as a hedging instrument by metal producers and BANKSTERS makes possible the off balance sheet accounting by restricting payment of gold debt (principal and interest) be paid in gold only.

slingshot (01/12/03; 12:15:38MT - usagold.com msg#: 94211)
Trojan
Msg#94205
After reading the article.

What started as Calm Advise will soon turn to Frantic Warnings. If the truth is so bizarre who will believe you.
Bizarre as to, They would never do that.

When in Danger. When in Doubt. Run in Circles. Scream and Shout. (New World Order Advise)
Slingshot---------------<>


erayboy (01/12/03; 12:11:54MT - usagold.com msg#: 94210)
Zoran's EW Update - Wave 3 DOWN - Maybe This Week
http://csf.colorado.edu/forums/longwaves/2003/pdf00001.pdf
The SP500 may complete the current action and head south ... forcefully ... perhaps as soon as a few days.

And, we have a Full Moon on Saturday. Buckle up ...


USAGOLD / Centennial Precious Metals, Inc. (01/12/03; 12:01:50MT - usagold.com msg#: 94209)
175 pages... in bookstores for $14.95. Buy directly for only $5.95
http://www.usagold.com/cpm/abcs.html

The ABCs of Gold Investing

ABCs of Gold by MK"Without waxing philosophical, a few words are helpful concerning the mind-set with which you pursue your interest in gold ownership. Some enter the gold market to make a profit, others to hedge disaster, some to accomplish both. No matter into which category you fit, make sure you understand why you are going into the gold market. Convey that understanding to the individual with whom you are structuring your gold portfolio. The whys have quite a bit to do with what you end up owning.

"Frequently investors will say that any kind of gold will do because after all gold is gold, isn't it? This type of attitude has helped a great many coin shop owners unload unwanted inventory they hadn't been able to get rid of for years. This is probably a good deal for the coin dealer, but it could spell disaster for you. In the same vein, I have talked to hundreds, probably thousands, of investors in nearly a quarter century in the business. Quite often, potential investors have no more reason for buying gold than 'everybody else is doing it.'

"In Chapter 16 on portfolio planning, you will find some details on this important subject. For now, consider the inscription over the entrance to the temple of the ancient Delphic Oracle: 'Know Thyself.' Study. Read. Learn what's going on around you. Call a few gold firms and ask questions. There's nothing like conversation to stimulate thinking. Take time to lay a little groundwork. Then make your move. The political and economic situation being what it is, there is no better time to start than now. Know thyself -- your goals and needs -- and you will be a more confident, happier gold investor." (more)

Please Remember: It is your purchase from USAGOLD - Centennial Precious Metals that nourishes these pages.



Tacitus (01/12/03; 11:38:01MT - usagold.com msg#: 94208)
Diversification
Dear MK,

Thanks for your imput. You make some great points. How I am to integrate that with my present philosophy of investment is the question. Appreciate the response.

Salve,
Tacitus


MK (01/12/03; 11:21:55MT - usagold.com msg#: 94207)
Tacitus & All: Schizophrenia at the Fed -- The Case for Gold Ownership
http://www.federalreserve.gov/BOARDDOCS/SPEECHES/2002/20021219/default.htm
On 12/19/02 Alan Greenspan began a speech at the Economic Club of New York as follows:

"Although the gold standard could hardly be portrayed as having produced a period of price tranquility, it was the case that the price level in 1929 was not much different, on net, from what it had been in 1800. But, in the two decades following the abandonment of the gold standard in 1933, the consumer price index in the United States nearly doubled. And, in the four decades after that, prices quintupled. Monetary policy, unleashed from the constraint of domestic gold convertibility, had allowed a persistent overissuance of money. As recently as a decade ago, central bankers, having witnessed more than a half-century of chronic inflation, appeared to confirm that a fiat currency was inherently subject to excess. But the adverse consequences of excessive money growth for financial stability and economic performance provoked a backlash. Central banks were finally pressed to rein in overissuance of money even at the cost of considerable temporary economic disruption."

In mid-November, Greenspan stated:

"There's virtually no meaningful limit to what we could inject into the system were that necessary."

Not more than one week later, Fed Governor Ben Bernanke stateed:

"[T]he U.S. government has a technology, called a printing press (or, today, its electronic equivalent), that allows it to produce as many U.S. dollars as it wishes at essentially no cost. By increasing the number of U.S. dollars in circulation, or even by credibly threatening to do so, the U.S. government can also reduce the value of a dollar in terms of goods and services, which is equivalent to raising the prices in dollars of those goods and services." He went on to say that, "If we do fall into deflation,
however, we can take comfort that the logic of the printing press example must assert itself, and sufficient injections of money will ultimately always reverse a deflation".

I do not believe that the Bernanke statment was loose-cannon. I think he knew precisely what he was saying, and with Greenspan's approval.

Let's take a closer look at this:

1. Greenspan points to the gold standard years as a time of price stability. (In the past he has admitted to being afflicted with "the central banker's nostalgia for gold. . .")

2. He goes directly from there to tell us essentially that central bankers have learned their lesson and will never make the mistakes central bankers have made repeatedly in this century by indulging in excessive money creation.

3. This statment comes less than one month after he and a close associate conjure up images of the high-speed printing press. These watershed policy statements send bonds and equities into a tailspin and the gold market spiking northward.

4. The money supply graphs take on the appearance of a rocket launch.

Which is the real Greenspan, and which is the real policy? I don't think there's any doubt about which is the real policy: It is to print money. The proof is in the numbers: the proliferation of government debt, monetized debt, trade deficits, ballooning money supply, etc. It seems there are two Greenspans: Professor Greenspan who knows what's the right thing to do. (The nostalgic Greenspan) Fed Chairman Greenspan who does what he must to survive politically, or worse what the Keynesian system dictates. (The hard, pragmatist Greenspan). The war within is always won by "hard, pragmatist" because it's his job. At the same time the nostalgic Greenspan -- the romantic Randian hero -- sufaces occasionally because that is what he would like to be. And some think that passion cannot inhabit the septuagenarian mind. . . . . .Think again.

The schizophrenia at the Fed is something we will all subject to our own interpretation, but I think we can safely say that the Bernanke/Greenspan sentiment as expressed in November is the one to be taken into account by investors. In fact, since those watershed policy speeches, the markets have already passed judgement.

I cover this and great many other side-slips and eddies in the financial markets in this month's News & Views now on its way to the printer. We make this newsletter available to our clientele only (defined as those who have made purchases from USAGOLD ~ Centennial Precious Metals). We also send a copy one-time to prospective clients who ask for an information packet (go to the Info Packet link at the top of the page).

- - - - - - - -

I'm sorry, Tacitus, but I'm not familiar with John Bogle's work and I do not work on overall portfolio planning. Overall, I believe that the best strategy for the times is to keep it simple. Stocks by and large are way over-valued and just in the beginning stages of a primary bear market. Bonds are threatened by inflation, over-issue, the potential for rising rates and even default. Read Greenspan on the Bubble at the link above. Safety and asset preservation will be the watch words for some time to come. It's not how much you are going to make, but how much you can preserve. I'll let you take it from there using your own powers of deductive logic. There is no such thing as an overall portfolio theory that can be applied universally to all people at all times. Portfolio planning is an intensely personal experience and it must be done in concert with "your" goals and aspirations -- "your" philosophy -- not someone else's. . . . . .The problem is that very few have an actual portfolio plan but a list of stocks peddled to them by one of the brokerages. . . . Those who come to gold usually do so with a bit of humility -- having been buffetted by the wars. A clear understanding of gold portfolio role usually also spawns a better understanding of the markets in general, as many around this Table would probably testify. And from there comes a "real" personal investment plan independent of the modern brokerage houses . . . . .Good luck in your quest for the Holy Grail. . .


sector (01/12/03; 11:10:40MT - usagold.com msg#: 94206)
@ Henri On Turkey's move to "Protect" Iraqi Oil and therefore Muslim Stewardship
A very thoughtful post
...but the US won't get to fuel their SUVs and 500 HP, four-wheel motorcycles...unless Tommy Franks takes the Southern oil fields [Including Basra].

Thus, Bagdhad might end up as a huge Gaza "Circle".

I don't think the Bushies are too cheery about Turkey's ambitions.


Trojan (01/12/03; 10:58:09MT - usagold.com msg#: 94205)
For Misetich
Misetich

You said :

It is interesting that Gross has a chart on the 'strong US $ policy' that starts in 1995 - coincentally when gold prices in $ started their descend -

Have you read Frank Smith's EXCELLENT Editorial called "The Gold Cap Disembowelment Of America" published August 7, 2002. ?

If NOT I suggest you read it. I found this editorial to be one of the most incredible Expose on the Real Story IMHO of the Great Destruction caused by the named parties in the article.

I challenge EVERYONE reading this Post to take the 15 minutes or so it will take to read the Editorial by Frank Smith in Full and then share your Opinions here on this Great Discussion Forum.

If there ever was a better saying then the "Truth Will Set You Free" then I don't know what it is.

Here is the Link to the Whole Article.
Enjoy reading it and let's Discuss It.

Thanks...

A Snippet:

GREENSPAN'S GOLD CAP CRIME WAVE BURNED AMERICA

If the private Federal Reserve Bank and the United States Treasury set out to deliberately and criminally, slowly destroy General Motors; they could not have found a more devious and effective method than the gold cap.

If the private Federal Reserve Bank and the United States Treasury set out to deliberately and criminally destroy corporate America and the economic system of the United States; they could not have found a more devious and effective method than the gold cap.

If the private Federal Reserve Bank and the United States Treasury set out to deliberately and criminally transfer the financial assets of the American people to the politically elite, they could not have found a more devious and effective method than the gold cap.

If the private Federal Reserve Bank and the United States Treasury set out to deliberately and criminally destroy the free markets and the Constitutional political system of the United States, they could not have found a more devious and effective method than the gold cap.

If the private Famine Reserve Bank and the United states Treasury set out to deliberately and criminally starve to death millions of human beings from Argentina to Zambia, and around the globe, they could not have found a more devious and effective method than the gold cap. We have defeated ourselves.

The Whole Link:
http://www.gold-eagle.com/editorials_02/smithf080702.html


sector (01/12/03; 10:55:58MT - usagold.com msg#: 94204)
@ Misetich Will the Deval be FAST or SLOW?
"...they will not take kindly to a devaluing of their investments."
The above statement carries the answer. The world and its central bankers will not sit still as the pain of a slowly devaluing dollar grinds away at their paper and metallic wealth.

Much better to shear it off with one blinding Federal Reserve Policy whack.

One morning gold shoots skyward before anyone can react. 2X, 3X take your pick. Getting gold to do that is easy when the only force holding it down is central bank selling.

A big reason weighing against a slow dollar devaluation grind is that it consumes an increasing volume of already-dwindled-by-half central bank gold. Any corrective policy must preserve their gold or even add to it… so suggestions of plodding rescue policies are less credible from the standpoint of greedy bankers.

And the gold-selling central banks ARE desperate for a rescue. Herein lies an important gold market, code-breaking clue. The G-10 central banks can't afford to hammer gold down against a well-established primary market, physical trend. The master trader, Jim Sinclair, at the New Orleans conference went well out of his way in his numerous, voice-hoarsening round table discussions to emphasis that fact. "No government can succeed fighting a primary market trend". Many have tried, none have won.

Will they bump it down a few bucks? Sure, but only to dampen the conspicuous vertical spikes before they get out of hand.

The trading pattern shows huge commercial short positions. Should that be a concern? The big comms won't lose any money on those positions because the .gov suits will extend their Treasury gold loan delivery dates until infinity. There likely won't be a traditional short-covering rally because of that hidden bailout. Gold-bugs shouldn't be concerned with the com shorts. It's a bluff by central banks bleeding gold.

Sumitomo and Mitsubishi are always 100% short, 100% of the time on the TOCOM [Where Japanese transparency reports the actual positions]. Why would those trading houses always assume a 100% short position? An official entity [BOJ] has a deal with them. They go short--BOJ pays any losses with yen paper [During up-trends this sometimes means that the BOJ actually buys or uses their own gold to deliver against those shorts too!]. It's that pesky government intervention thingy at work again.

This gold desperation also helps to explain why the .gov straw men are so frantic to restart the stock markets so as to lure investors away from gold and back into paper assets.

The policy that gets the deval pain out of the way the fastest is the one that also conserves the most remaining central bank gold. As the world recognizes and jumps on the upward gold trend, there will come a day soon when some really big players will vacuum all the available cheap gold in an afternoon. The government does not want that to happen! A slow grinding devaluation just guarantees more gold bullion losses at the banks ending inevitably with a rush of panic buying, while a swift, policy-driven Fed and G-10 devaluation move will preserve their remaining gold. Remember that the Japanese elders with $600 Billion in fungible savings can denude the G-10 of all of its vault gold if only 10% of them make a move to kilo bars.

THAT represents a big gun to the central banks head…better to disarm them quickly by devaluing they yen and dollar all-at-once.

BTW the debt ceiling is now on the floor...another ominous event if you are not already in gold [This, from Don Linley].


Henri (01/12/03; 10:45:48MT - usagold.com msg#: 94203)
Sector Msg 94135 and Paper Avalanche msg 94151
Debka's files are probably the last to be updated with such undertow. The middle east will never countenance occupation by Western forces; however, they endured several centuries of occupation under the Ottoman regime. The idea that Turkey could function as the best choice for a occupational administrator since it has islamic roots as well as a staunchly secular government backed by a strong and legendarily fierce military, I first heard proposed circa 1997-1998.

Have the players been in motion in the backfield all this time??? Certainly a Turkish advance to the outskirts of Bagdad will encompass the oilfields recently diplomatically ceeded to the Russian interests...perhaps the sale of Russian oil to Turkey and Iran freeing up the rest for export was another "swap" arrangement. Would US interests countenance a Turkey locked in Euro trade to manage the affairs of these historically politically unstable geopolitical regions??? I have to ask myself. Self, when was the last time these regions had some measure of political stability. The answer comes back...not since the breakup of the Ottoman empire which stretched across the overland trade routes to the far east "Silk and spice" markets. Markets every bit as economically important in those days as the oil market is today. That the peoples of this region only respect governance based on strength is only accentuated by their embracement of SH. The Ottomans ruled this region with iron strength but never sapped it of its prime directive which was the facilitation of merchantile initiative.

How unlike a western approach which most certainly would tax and deprive those who would otherwise profit and thrive happily under a strong but beneficent occupation by folk who understand that trade is the lifeblood of an empire. The folks who populate this region have no interest in self-government. They only want to trade and profit. Much easier to let someone else keep the peace.

Does it suprise anyone that Turkey's strongest proponents of late have been the US and Israel. Brulent Ecevit's retirement may not have been the lynchpin for these developments ut merely a convenient turning point to be able to throw up our collective hands and say Oh look! those naughty Turk's have retaken Iraq (not unlike SH did to Kuwait)ahead of us and want to sell us their oil.

Oh darn the luck! And we don't need to support an occupation force in a land of hostiles...? Gad, It was brilliant then and still has merit.

The architect? Kudo's to JW of the Reagan era who also is credited with masterminding the engineered collapse of the USSR.


Carl H (01/12/03; 10:39:58MT - usagold.com msg#: 94202)
Paper Avalance: Re Vatican Gold
I absolutely agree with your assessment that the preist scandal is being used to put pressure on the Vatican to release their substantial gold holdings. I certainly don't condone what some priests have done, but I do think that the situation is being taken advantage of.

I also believe that it is a very dangerous game. Consider how it could provoke the IRA if they realized what is happening. I suspect that, if pushed, the IRA could make Al Queda look like a bunch of girl scouts.

Interesting to watch isn't it. It is truely amazing what lows the "Mayberry Machiavellis" in the White House will stoop to.


Christian (01/12/03; 10:36:02MT - usagold.com msg#: 94201)
Our need to attract 80% of all world's savings is >
> because 95% of all money in USA is bank credit created, owing an average of 7% interest. The remaining 5% of physical money be it 5,10,20, etc paper bills and coins in circulation is insufficient to pay even the interest for 1 year. Consequently interest is continually compounted as debt. The whole economy is forced to slave away at the impossible task of trying to repay the ever increasing debt. This is a mathematical certainty. Bank loans are of bank created credit only. To whom is the money owed? To the very same banks that created the credit. How do banks create the credit? Lease commodity gold or any other real thing, sell it to themselves, from that create a deposit and use the reserve credit creation vehicle to make more deposits that become reserves for more loans over and over again and again. The borrower being ever more stupid does not realize that it is his or her signature that is used to create money. The borrower is exchanging his equity for units of whatever currency it is that cost the bank nothing to make up. The units are not in physical form and the ever stupid borrower will have to attempt to pay his debt with cash he somehow was able to make or borrow more credit units to pay down his old debt. In 1997 interest took 23% of profits and in 2002 it took 100%. The pricipal is now comming out as a reverse mortgage on equity. Those who create and issue money and credit direct the policies of government and hold in the hollow of their hands the destiny of the people.

Paper Avalanche (01/12/03; 10:23:08MT - usagold.com msg#: 94200)
So the Pope won't sell any gold ehhh...
http://news.yahoo.com/fc?tmpl=fc&cid=34&in=us&cat=catholic_church_abuse_scandal
We'll show him!

PA


Gandalf the White (01/12/03; 10:17:06MT - usagold.com msg#: 94199)
A "Thanks" to Sir Sierra Madre and a QUESTION to Sir Rookie !! <;-)
Sierra Madre (01/12/03; 10:05:39MT - usagold.com msg#: 94198)
Thoughts for Sunday - maybe interesting, maybe not....
===
THANKS Sir Sierra Madre !! GREAT THINKING "outside the box" !!!
---
Question to Sir Rookie --- DID you see that post ?
---
<;-)


Sierra Madre (01/12/03; 10:05:39MT - usagold.com msg#: 94198)
Thoughts for Sunday - maybe interesting, maybe not....

"Who owns the "X" Central Bank?" I have seen this question several times in recent days, and it got me thinking.

A Balance Sheet is a financial "photograph" of a person, company or institution at a given moment, showing what it owns (Assets) and who owns it (Liabilities)

There are diverse categories of liabilities and corresponding ownerships: you can own a company, to a certain extent, by being a supplier with a credit to collect for merchandise or services; you can own it by being a creditor, having supplied it with a loan - there are different categories of creditors with various rights.

Or you can own all or part of the company, by being a Stockholder. There are also various categories of stockholders, preferred, common, etc.

That is the usual way of thinking of "ownership" of a company or institution.

But, there is another and quite subtle way of being an owner of a company or institution: through the Assets, which are (supposedly) owned by the company itself.

If I am the only, or by far the most important issuer of debt (my Liability) which the company or institution HOLDS AS AN ASSET, I am really the actual owner of the company or institution. Why? Because I can freeze or delay payment of my debt; because I can declare bankruptcy or threaten to do so; because I can destroy the company if I wish to do so, by turning its principal Asset into garbage.

All the Central Banks of the world are owned by the FED! Why? Because their main asset is, in all cases by far, dollar assets in the form of US BONDS (US liabilities).

Here is where the ECB, with its revaluation of gold reserves, is wiggling out of "ownership" by the FED. The gold reserves are going to become, in due course, its main asset. Gold is an asset that is not the FED's or anyone else's liability. Through GOLD, the ECB will become, is in the process of becoming, independent of the FED and self-owned or nationally owned. (Who "represents the Nation" at the board meetings of the ECB and gold-owning Central Banks, is another question).

The Islamic Bloc will also seek the same path. China is accumulating gold. Russia is accumulating gold. US dollar imperialism has had its day. The "colonies" owned by the FED are seceding in fact.

The world will become multi-polar in due course. A much healthier situation, from a human point of view. Of course, the transition period will be painful, but a sounder situation will prevail later on in this century. "Nature abhors monopoly".

We, as individuals, can also attain a degree of independence, through direct ownership of gold. Hop on the train, before it leaves the station!

Call CPM, don't delay one minute!

Sierra




Paper Avalanche (01/12/03; 09:12:42MT - usagold.com msg#: 94197)
@ misetich
I find the following from your posted article below to be absolutely mind-boggling:

"our need to attract nearly 80% of all the world's ongoing savings just to keep the dollar at current levels"

It is like having a dead beat uncle to whom you have loaned all of your life savings and who requires that you give him 80% of all your future savings or he will default and you lose everything. My strategy to correct such a delimma would be to gradually convert my Uncle's IOU's into something of value while others are still willing to exchange his worthless scrip for tangible assets.

Take care.

PAPER AVALANCHE


misetich (01/12/03; 08:57:24MT - usagold.com msg#: 94196)
Pimco's Bill Gross on the US $ - What Comes Up Must ...
http://www.pimco.com/ca/bonds_commentary_investment_outlook_0103.htm
Snip:

To this mix of potential reflationary palliatives must be added one additional (and perhaps the one most dangerous) hole card for U.S. policymakers to play. I speak of the dollar and its potential depreciation, which - if done gradually and without causing investor flight - would correct a number of global imbalances that are holding down growth and inflation at the same time. That's a big "IF," however, and astute observers know it. Foreigners now hold over $7 trillion of U.S. assets and they will not take kindly to a devaluing of their investments. 13% of the U.S. stock market, 35% of the U.S. Treasury market, 23% of the U.S. corporate bond market, and 14% direct ownership in U.S. companies are now in the hands of foreign investors. It's a theater crowded with foreigners and if someone yells "Fire, Feuer, or Kaji" there could be a rather crushing stampede for the exits.
................

A "strong" dollar policy, however, has been part of the U.S. economic mantra ever since Robert Rubin first uttered the words in 1995 after succeeding Lloyd Bentsen as Treasury Secretary. His presumed (although never directly stated) belief was that a strong dollar would attract foreign investment and lift all market boats. Mr. Rubin succeeded beyond anyone's most bubblish dreams, but now with the trade deficit at 6% of GDP, and our need to attract nearly 80% of all the world's ongoing savings just to keep the dollar at current levels, an end to the party is clearly in sight. Future investment by foreigners in anything with a $ sign attached is at risk. In addition, Rubin's policy succeeded so famously that our bonds and our stocks now have lower yields and much higher P/Es than most other alternative markets. Rubin and his successors have painted us into a corner from which either a falling dollar, depreciating financial markets, or both are nearly inevitable.
................

What I think I do know however is that every weapon in the global arsenal will be fired at some future point to prevent declining prices and a concomitant economic collapse.
*************
Misetich

It is interesting that Gross has a chart on the 'strong US $ policy' that starts in 1995 - coincentally when gold prices in $ started their descend -

Got gold?



Usul (01/12/03; 07:47:31MT - usagold.com msg#: 94195)
Sharp rise in US job losses adds to gloom
http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=FT.com/StoryFT/FullStory&c=StoryFT&cid=1039524464925
"US job losses increased sharply last month, adding to concerns about the weakening global economic recovery...

"Ian Morris, economist at HSBC, said the December figures were another example of the labour market disappointing even as other data suggested the economy might be picking up - "only this time the recent trend appears to be showing renewed deterioration"..."


ElGordo (01/12/03; 07:47:05MT - usagold.com msg#: 94194)
Al-Qaeda have chemical weapons in N Iraq
http://news.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/01/12/wirq12.xml&sSheet=/news/2003/01/12/ixworld.html/news/2003/01/12/wirq12.xml
Following the fall of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, scores of Arab al-Qaeda fighters have joined them after escaping through Iran.

Saddam is believed to have been secretly supporting the Ansar enclave with money and military assistance because they share an enemy in the PUK.

The Telegraph reported last year that members of his Republican Guard had been seen in two Ansar-run villages by Western intelligence officials on a reconnaissance mission.

Ansar's founder, Mullah Fatih Kraker, was arrested in Holland last September, but the group has continued to grow rapidly and now has 2,000 fighters, compared with fewer than 600 six months ago - many of them Arabs who fled from Afghanistan.

"If America invades Iraq, we will attack its troops," Hasan told the Turkish journalist Namik Durukan, who was smuggled into the Ansar "capital", Biyare, last week. "Our relations with others is based on their attitude to God. If they are against our God, we will attack them."

Durukan reported seeing hundreds of foreign fighters in the region. "Bearded warriors with arms on their backs walk in the streets with their children, followed by their wives wearing the chador," he said. "They say they have come for jihad and a government that rules with sharia."

A sprawling wooden mosque complex dominates the centre of the town from where the mullahs of the radical Islamic group are spreading a reign of terror across the eastern part of the Kurdish territory.

From Ansar's stronghold on the Sharazoor Plains, its fighters have moved across the Shineray mountains to capture dozens of villages, where they have imposed the strict rules of the Shariat.

The strategic passes into the mountains, which are pockmarked with caves and ravines, command access to the Iran-Iraq border.

Ansar territory is guarded by units equipped with mortars, heavy machine guns and rocket launchers. The area has been described as an Iraqi Tora Bora, the mountainous stronghold where al-Qaeda made its last stand in Afghanistan.

Much of Ansar's stock of chemicals was smuggled in by Abu Wa-il, a former agent of the Iraqi secret service, Mukhabarat; his present whereabouts are unknown. He provided the logistics for smuggling from Saddam-controlled areas, and the funding to acquire weapons and materials, almost certainly with Baghdad's approval.

Kurdish officials say that Ansar is experimenting with chemical weapons on animals and humans. Since the arrival of al-Zarqawi, Ansar has dispatched at least one team of would-be suicide bombers, wearing tailored waistcoats studded with TNT, in a failed attempt to assassinate a Kurdish leader.

The devastating effects of chemical weapons are well known in the area. At the foot of the mountains lies the city of Halabja which suffered an Iraqi chemical weapon attack in 1988. Residents are now afraid that a second batch of deadly poisons will descend from the mountains, this time from the radical Islamic group.

"Ansar has taken chemical weapons left over from the Iran-Iraq war," said Mohammad Aziz, a Kurdish official in Halabja. "We feel the pressure of waiting in fear that they will throw chemicals on us again and hell will return."


miner49er (01/12/03; 07:43:37MT - usagold.com msg#: 94193)
Husky @ 94186 -- Euro...
Bravo! Well said...

Cheers,
miner


PH in LA (01/12/03; 07:40:48MT - usagold.com msg#: 94192)
Gold Terrorism, Physical-Only Markets, etc: Questions for Belgian to ponder
Greetings Belgian:

MK used to talk of a potential gold buyer trying to buy a large amount of gold by the ton who was told that the price for such an amount of physical gold would be some hundreds of dollars above spot. (This was way back when the POG was in the $250 range.)

The implication of this thought is that in theory, the end of the futures-based gold pricing mechanism of price discovery is only a heartbeat away. (Easily within reach of terrorists or a war-threatened middle-eastern dictator, North Korean madman, etc.) An annonamouse large buyer would only have to stand for delivery on 1000 contracts. The cost of such a move would only be ±$35 million, for which the exchange would have to supply 100,000 ozs in the form of good delivery bars. We are led to believe that nobody with the necessary financial clout would think of doing such a thing as it would effectively destroy the paper market as it presently exists. You say today: " There is no other way than Gold-compensation, for getting rid of those masses of dollars (reserves) accumulated during the past 70 years !" as if this is a viable option, yet a few minutes of thought tell us that it is actually impossible with the present system in place.

FOA shocked us all when he spoke of Another's insight that the paper market pricing structure could eventually fail downwards. (This, if I recall correctly, was postulated at the nadir of the POG saga, $255/gold and lots of talk of $220 and lower.) At that same moment, FOA talked long and hard about the reasons for an eventual separation of the paper price from the physical price and eventually came up with his "physical only" market to be set up in Euroland. He postulated that the mechanism for such a market would rest on laws making the enforcement of paper/futures-based contracts illegal. ORO claimed that such a plan would be unthinkable... as it would be under the present system.

My questions for you: Are there actually plans for a physical-only market on the books at this time? Much of your thought is based on an eventual acceptance of this concept. Can you point us at anybody else talking about such a thing? We know that the Chinese are supposedly in the process of making gold ownership legal for their citizens and that they have set up some kind of market in Shanghai for this purpose. Have you (or anybody else) studied this market enough to know if it will complement the "physical only" market you talk about for Euroland? Is the market in Dubai related in any meaningful way to this concept? In other words, how far away is your "physical only" gold market? Are there plans afoot that are affecting the gold market now? Or is the $100-rise witnessed this past year (threatening to explode further at any moment) part of this picture, or just a blip on the paper/future-based system we all know and love?


Usul (01/12/03; 07:17:41MT - usagold.com msg#: 94191)
Lies, damned lies and jobless figures
http://www.thisismoney.com/news.asp
Excerpts from an article by Dan Atkinson in Financial Mail on Sunday, Jan 12, 2003:

"New jobless figures this week will highlight a surge in the number of unemployed people being kept off the books by re-labelling them sick or disabled.

While the so-called claimant count of umemployment has tumbled in recent years, there has been a steady increase in those not working because of long-term illness or disability. These now number 745,000, an increase of 11 per cent since Labour came to power.

David Willetts, Conservative spokesman on work and pensions, said: "Ironically, this is what Labour accused us of doing when we were in office. When you are running a Job-centre, trying to meet Government targets for reducing unemployment, it is tempting to count people as sick or disabled to get them off the claimant count."...

[snipped]

Geoffrey Dicks, chief economist with Royal Bank of Scotland, said "It's a mystery as to how the claimant count keeps falling when everyone has expected it to rise"..."

[snipped]

Note: It's on the same printed page as "French customers shun Egg" and "Cahoot pays £1m for rates error", but oddly enough I can not find it on the internet version.


Christian (01/12/03; 07:15:02MT - usagold.com msg#: 94190)
The Merchants of debt and death.
New York is the imperial capital for the merchants of debt and death. By enslaving America with debts by means of loan peddling and usury practices, they own it all under the heading of the DTC. They use U.S. military interventions as retaliatory acts of terrorism. -- Putin being a KGB man has good financial instincts. To get his country moving his first act was to get rid of debt by default. Little did he know his actions brought about the LTCM fallout. Putin will never forgive Yeltson and U.S. Merchants of Debt for looting Mother Russia. Since he came to power he has used ITERA to suck western capital in for oil well drilling and mineral discovery. As soon as the money and know-how stopped to come in, he simply stripped that entity of its assets just like Carlyle group does. Backing the ruble with oil and precious metal has put some life back into the rubble. But most important placing a gold coin into circulation has made possible for people to have a means of storing savings. His backing for Turkey to move on the two oil fields is a streak of genius. Using ITERA to buy up US and Canadian oil companies is a way to get access to capital. Old Russia could not get the Taliban out of Afghanistan but Putin got the U.S. to do it for him. The Afghanistan pipeline fiasco will drain the Bush Clan of some of their ill gotten gain. Getting the Enron trading platform into ITERA and giving Iran and Turkey access to it will help him move (swap) oil. Russian oil will move into Turkey and Iran while their oil goes for export. Putin wants to increase oil, precious metal and lumber sales to Europe and the military hardware sale to the Middle East. He even made inroads into Saudi Arabia for military equipment sales.

Boxman (01/12/03; 06:42:29MT - usagold.com msg#: 94189)
Puplavas' latest--Oracles, Soothsayers & Fortune Tellers
http://www.financialsense.com/stormwatch/update.htm
Sorry, itchy tripper finger. As usual, another thought provoking essay by Mr. Puplava, no punches are pulled.

Usul (01/12/03; 06:41:39MT - usagold.com msg#: 94188)
Negative equity is coming back
http://www.thisismoney.com/20030112/nm57752.html
"House prices are substantially over-valued"


Boxman (01/12/03; 06:39:06MT - usagold.com msg#: 94187)
Puplava
Snip:
Given all of these uncertainties, where should one invest this year? I believe the "Next Big Thing" is going to be in "things" such as commodities. The big winners in this decade are going to be gold, silver, and energy. Other commodities from sugar, coffee, cocoa and grains, to other soft goods will also be winners. Commodity prices will rise because of two trends: a declining US dollar and rising populations and industrialization of developing economies.

The time for paper is over and the rise of "things" has just begun. Another trend that is taking place is what Marc Faber calls the reemergence of the emerging economies. Economic power is moving from the West to the East and this trend is irreversible.




Husky (01/12/03; 03:40:54MT - usagold.com msg#: 94186)
Euro
The Euro is doing just fine. Americans do not understand the extent to which political integration had already been achieved at the lower layers, e.g. daily life, nor the reasons why the uppermost layers have nominally been left as-is (in part so as to not allow foreign powers a handle to grab onto to subvert the democratic process). It isn't supposed to look and smell like a United States of Europe. So you're not going to find much insight into what's going on with it by using that model as a yardstick.

ge (01/12/03; 03:38:10MT - usagold.com msg#: 94185)
US Demands create confusion in Turkey
US has demanded unconditional usage of 4 airports, 2 Mediterranean ports, 2 Black Sea ports. US also demands permanent location of 90,000 (ninety thousand) troops in eastern Turkey.

What is the relevance of Black Sea ports to the Iraq war?

When, and under what conditions shall the 90,000 troops leave?

Who is the real target of this operation? Iraq or Turkey? Confusion…


Black Blade (01/12/03; 03:13:22MT - usagold.com msg#: 94184)
Monetary Unions – Some Successes and Some Failures
http://euro.pearl-online.com/English/PressArticles/unions_mc_gb.html

Monetary unions which succeeded

Zollverein (German customs union): at the time of the Congress of Vienna (1815) the German Confederation consisted of 39 states each with their own currency and also a myriad of different weights and measures. The German customs union was established in 1834 and by 1857 monetary union was also achieved (a dual currency system based on the North German Thaler and the South German Gulden irrevocably fixed at a rate of 1:1.75). Thanks to the fact that the Prussian central bank was given responsibility for overall economic and monetary policy, the union lasted until after political union in 1871. The dual-currency system was replaced by the Reichsmark in 1875. In spite of two fundamental currency reforms (in 1923 and 1948), the currency union has survived until today in the form of the Deutsche Mark.

Switzerland: Until 1848, the year in which the Helvetic Confederation adopted a federal constitution, the Swiss Cantons used a variety of different currencies, which proved to be a major obstacle with regard to intra-cantonal trade. By creating the Swiss Franc, the new federation also created for the first time a single Swiss market.

CFA Franc: this currency union encompasses 12 former French African territories, 1 former Spanish colony and one territory in the Indian Ocean. In spite of a major devaluation in 1994, the union has lasted for about 40 years, thanks primarily to the fact that the union is managed effectively by France.

Belgium-Luxemburg : since 1921 these two countries have a highly successful currency union. Management of the union is effectively in the hands of the Belgian Central Bank.


Monetary unions which failed

Latin Monetary Union: following independence in 1830 Belgium decided to base its own Franc on the French Franc standard. The 2 currencies were later joined by Switzerland in 1848 (see above), Italy (1861), Greece and Bulgaria (1867). The union, based on a bimetallic standard (whereby gold and silver were fixed against each other at a rate of 15.5:1) was formalized in 1865. All participating currencies were at parity with each other; coins and notes of each participating currency were interchangeable against each other subject to a commission of 1.25%. Although it lasted in name until 1929, the union effectively broke down as a result of differing inflationary policies pursued during the 1914-1918 war. The union had several flaws: the bimetallic standard proved unmanageable due to the fluctuating market prices for gold and silver and a single gold standard was adopted in 1878; there was no common economic or monetary policy and no central monetary authority; the possibility to exchange also subsidiary coins up to an amount of 100 Francs per transaction also led to abuses; finally, there was no will to achieve political integration.

Scandinavian Monetary Union: this union, which lasted from 1870 until 1924, was set up on the model of the Latin Monetary Union. It also became a victim of the inflationary policies of the 1914 - 1918 war. Its basic inherent flaws were to all intents and purposes the same as in the Latin Monetary Union.

East African Currency Area: this union which included Kenya, Uganda as well as Tanganyika and Zanzibar (later Tanzania) initially had a common currency, the East African Shilling. On independence, the three countries issued their own notes and coins, which were nevertheless in free circulation throughout the union. The union collapsed in 1977 following the liquidation of the Sterling Area. Without the discipline of the Bank of England, each country started to pursue a different economic and monetary policy, rendering the continuation of the union impossible.


Black Blade: The underlying feature for a successful monetary union appears to be a successful "political integration". Will Europe be willing to take the plunge to "Political Unification"? I guess time will tell.



Black Blade (01/12/03; 02:55:14MT - usagold.com msg#: 94183)
Re: Belgian and Ari – European Monetary Union

All currencies eventually fail. History has not been all that good for fiat. The current "Currency War" has resulted in devaluation of most currencies while Gold has never disappeared from the scene and now surges higher. However, maybe we should take a look at previous European monetary unions.

On January 1 2002, about 300 million people in 12 European countries moved over to the new European currency, the euro. However, it was not the first time that Europeans have tried to unite with the use of a common monetary unit in theory and in practice. In Europe, there have been attempts for the introduction of common currency that can be dated back to the roman times. In modern times, though, the first currency union was attempted in the early 19th century in the German lands.

The Zollverein was both a customs and a monetary union and became the first step towards the German political unity. It started in 1818 with the union of the North German States and more political units joined by 1866. As a variety of coins were minted and used in the area and only some were commonly recognized, a series of acts was introduced to standardize the systems of coinage among the 39 different states. The common currency was knows as the Vereinsmunze The Zollverein proved to be a great success and became one of the major tools for the political unification of Germany in 1871. In 1876 the Reichbank was established to control all coinage and paper currency and the Reichsmark was introduced as the common German currency.

In 1848, France, Belgium, and Switzerland entered into a currency union known as the Latin Monetary Union. Italy, Greece and Bulgaria were accepted in the union by 1867 as the founding countries invited other Europeans to join them. The gold and silver coins of each country were freely interchanged across the area. However, there was no single currency and countries kept minting and using their national coins and an exchange commission of 1.25% was charged to convert them. Although the union was initially successful, wars and the financial instability brought about by the First World War caused the union to come to an end in 1927.

In 1873 Sweden and Denmark established a similar monetary union. Norway joined in 1875 and Scandinavian Monetary Union was officially formed. All three countries accepted each others' gold coins as legal tender in their territories. The union was very successful until Norway declared her political independence in 1924 and forced Sweden to announce the dissolution of the union.

So the real question is will European nations freely give up sovereignty as independent nations with separate political systems and cultures or will they finally merge as Germany did in the first example in order for the Euro monetary union to succeed? Will Berlin be the capital of the United States of Europe? Even with gold as a unit of exchange the Latin and Scandinavian Unions failed because they did not truly merge into one country with a common political system and they even used precious metals as their units of exchange. When one nation violates the terms of the Maastrich Treaty's protocols will they be forced back in line as a matter of law? If so – which law? That is, will it be a unified "European" law or some individual nation's law and who or how is it enforced (if at all)? What if some nations adhere to the strict fiscal disciplines outlined in the Treaty and others do not? Are they expelled from the "Union"? So far Italy and Spain apparently have not pulled their national budget deficits into line and even Germany is at risk of huge deficits as well. The only way I see this "Union" and ultimate success of the "Euro" is by the abolition of national sovereignty and the absolute merging into a single nation.

Anyway, that's my take on the EU and the Euro.

Cheers!

- Black Blade


Belgian (01/12/03; 01:49:17MT - usagold.com msg#: 94182)
@ Aristotles
Isn't it instructive to ask oneself why this new euro-currency is hated and/or ridiculed, even after all those years of preparation, launch and progressive (succesful)expansion ?

If the euro and Euroland were simply another "experiment", doomed to fail...why all the fuss about it ? Not in the least by mouth of the most closely UK-dollar-ally. Thatcher stopped her anti-euro lectures, for quite some time now.

If the euro "is" a dwarf, have a good laugh and praize it into the abyss. No, the euro is a full-blood competitor to the US$ and experienced as such, today. I thought that "competition" was good and appreciated by the dollar-free-marketeers ?

Duisenberg calls the euro : *OUR* money !!! Frits Bolkenstein talked in his recent report about the "WEALTH" (!!!!!!) that the euro has brought to Euroland since its inception. Repeat WEALTH !

Sorry BB, but you will have to live with it. The euro want go away. Because it is a friend of GOLD as you, me and many others are here.


Belgian (01/12/03; 01:28:40MT - usagold.com msg#: 94181)
Sorryyyyyy
Was typing when still on line and pressed the button 4 times.

Belgian (01/12/03; 01:24:23MT - usagold.com msg#: 94178)
@Sovereign
The National Bank of Belgium is owned by the treasury and the public as publicly quoted on the Brussels stockmarket.
The EMU member states (present and future) bring in the capital for the ECB and are entitled to the profits that the ECB generates. The future EMU members will become co-owners of the ECB pro-rata of their input.
The ECB is therefore owned and managed by its member states.

Today the public shareholders of the National Bank of Belgium are claiming ( through Deminor) the profits from the Belgian goldsales that was done by the NB. But those profits go to the treasury. Who owns the treasury ?

Bottomline : EMU members and their ECB and their respective gold-exchange-reserves, ALL gain when the price of Gold goes up. All their "old" dollar-reserves will be replaced with pure Gold-reserves that will have compensated for the dollar-reserves. Euroland doesn't need those dollars anymore because we have our own currency. There is no other way than Gold-compensation, for getting rid of those masses of dollars (reserves) accumulated during the past 70 years !

Do you understand now why the dollar-block wants the euro to fail ?
The dollar already failed and will be removed from the globe's reserves, through Gold compensation. A rising POG is the terminator of the dollar. Full circle.


Belgian (01/12/03; 01:24:21MT - usagold.com msg#: 94177)
@Sovereign
The National Bank of Belgium is owned by the treasury and the public as publicly quoted on the Brussels stockmarket.
The EMU member states (present and future) bring in the capital for the ECB and are entitled to the profits that the ECB generates. The future EMU members will become co-owners of the ECB pro-rata of their input.
The ECB is therefore owned and managed by its member states.

Today the public shareholders of the National Bank of Belgium are claiming ( through Deminor) the profits from the Belgian goldsales that was done by the NB. But those profits go to the treasury. Who owns the treasury ?

Bottomline : EMU members and their ECB and their respective gold-exchange-reserves, ALL gain when the price of Gold goes up. All their "old" dollar-reserves will be replaced with pure Gold-reserves that will have compensated for the dollar-reserves. Euroland doesn't need those dollars anymore because we have our own currency. There is no other way than Gold-compensation, for getting rid of those masses of dollars (reserves) accumulated during the past 70 years !

Do you understand now why the dollar-block wants the euro to fail ?
The dollar already failed and will be removed from the globe's reserves, through Gold compensation. A rising POG is the terminator of the dollar. Full circle.


Belgian (01/12/03; 01:24:19MT - usagold.com msg#: 94176)
@Sovereign
The National Bank of Belgium is owned by the treasury and the public as publicly quoted on the Brussels stockmarket.
The EMU member states (present and future) bring in the capital for the ECB and are entitled to the profits that the ECB generates. The future EMU members will become co-owners of the ECB pro-rata of their input.
The ECB is therefore owned and managed by its member states.

Today the public shareholders of the National Bank of Belgium are claiming ( through Deminor) the profits from the Belgian goldsales that was done by the NB. But those profits go to the treasury. Who owns the treasury ?

Bottomline : EMU members and their ECB and their respective gold-exchange-reserves, ALL gain when the price of Gold goes up. All their "old" dollar-reserves will be replaced with pure Gold-reserves that will have compensated for the dollar-reserves. Euroland doesn't need those dollars anymore because we have our own currency. There is no other way than Gold-compensation, for getting rid of those masses of dollars (reserves) accumulated during the past 70 years !

Do you understand now why the dollar-block wants the euro to fail ?
The dollar already failed and will be removed from the globe's reserves, through Gold compensation. A rising POG is the terminator of the dollar. Full circle.


Aristotle (01/12/03; 00:42:36MT - usagold.com msg#: 94175)
The stupidest thing I've ever seen in print -- nearly!
"...the euro is in danger of failing. So, maybe we will see the Bank of England repurchase that gold soon - which they sold at the bottom - now that the price has gone up." Thanks, BB, for bringing forth the chuckle of the day.

On another note, Sierra, I'm glad you've seemingly seen the light. Thanks Belgian, for your kind patience and masterful elocution on a difficult and wearying subject. You da man!

Gold. Get you some. --- Ari


Black Blade (01/12/03; 00:24:37MT - usagold.com msg#: 94174)
Bully for bullion
http://www.sundaytimes.co.za/2003/01/12/business/money/money01.asp

Gold continues to dominate investor sentiment - and some analysts predict that the bull run is far from over, writes Jeremy Thomas.

Snippit:

"We have employed three strategies in managing the fund," says Sacks. "First, with the run in the gold price we took the decision to give investors maximum leverage to it. We therefore switched out of goldmines hedging their production and shifted our focus to the more leveraged counters. "Second, the gold sector is going through consolidation as it is still a very fragmented industry. Identifying possible corporate targets, such as Aurion Gold, which was recently acquired by Placer Dome, benefited the fund over recent months. Michael Schroder, head of equity research at Old Mutual Asset Managers, says the gold price is still low by historical standards, and the fundamentals are positive. "Central banks are the key risk for the downside. Most of the key holders are presently colluding to limit their annual disposals and I would expect them to continue to do so," says Schroder. "History has also shown that central bankers are not really good at it, as they tend to sell when the price is low and change their mind when it is going up. At the moment they are facing a tricky situation, with an unprecedented general unattractiveness of the world's major currencies. The US dollar is overvalued, the yen is zero-yielding and the euro is in danger of failing. So, maybe we will see the Bank of England repurchase that gold soon - which they sold at the bottom - now that the price has gone up."

Black Blade: Sounds about right.



Black Blade (01/12/03; 00:11:32MT - usagold.com msg#: 94173)
Gold outperforms major currencies, markets in '02
http://www.gulfnews.com/Articles/news.asp?ArticleID=73719

Snippit:

The performance of gold's price during 2002 largely reflects the fact that the professional investor has returned to the use of gold as a risk management tool, a World Gold Council (WGC) report noted. Over the course of the year, gold outperformed the dollar by 25 per cent, the yen by 14 per cent, sterling by 13 per cent, the euro by 9 per cent and the Swiss franc, the other major recipient of 'safe haven' funds (notably from the Middle East), by 7 per cent. The search for alternative assets is reflected in the relative performance against the major equity markets. Over the year, gold outperformed the FTSE by 52 per cent, the Dow by 47 per cent,the Nikkei by 44 per cent and the European index by 36 per cent.

Early background: The price started to improve in 1999 and 2000 on the back of strong physical regional demand and speculative short-covering. The former stabilised the price in mid-1999 just above $250/ounce and then took it slowly higher; the latter developed because of stable gold prices and falling money market interest rates. The fact that this was happening in a period of relative political and financial calm, when there was no perceived need for substantial risk management, did bring gold to the attention of some money managers and other investors in the 'professional' arena.

Recent developments: Investment in the latter part of 2002 and at the start of 2003 has been driven by geo-political concerns but the underlying background is more complex, and reflects currency concerns, along with the desire to hedge against risks in the equity and bond markets and, notably in the case of Argentina and Japan, risks in the banking sector. Corporate governance problems also played a strong part during the first part of 2002, as a deepening mistrust of corporate reports and accounts augmented some investors' desire to hedge against equity exposure. Gold thus reasserted itself as an alternative asset class, enabling the professional investor to diversify his risk. With concerns also swirling in the markets about the destiny of the dollar, the euro and the yen, gold and the Swiss franc came into play as reserve currencies.

Black Blade: The fundamental case for Gold remains very strong. The same factors supporting Gold for the last two years remain in place, the US dollar continues to weaken, debt levels are rising, equities markets remain under pressure (especially with another "energy crisis" coming in view).



Black Blade (01/12/03; 00:10:08MT - usagold.com msg#: 94172)
Gold is the currency that shines
http://www.busrep.co.za/html/busrep/br_frame_decider.php?click_id=343&art_id=ct20030111192611269S524391&set_id=60

Snippit:

Johannesburg - Gold was the strongest major currency in 2002, outperforming the other majors by between 9 percent and 25 percent over the year, the World Gold Council said this week in its review of the metal's performance last year. And gold prices look set to rise again in 2003. Many analysts thought there was a good chance it could reach $400 an ounce, Dow Jones Newswires reported on Friday. It said that even if there was a pullback on fading war threats, gold demand could be driven by China thanks to that country's recently liberalised gold markets.

Black Blade: Gold demand in China remains strong and there is no sign of it letting up. One recent report suggests that the country may eventually have to import Gold to meet demand.





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