Precious Metals

“It Could Never Happen Here”

"Of course, not everyone in Greece is hurting. Many people saw this coming and took action. They took all their money out of the banks, put it under the mattress, or maybe stored it in a safe. Maybe they bought gold, or diamonds, or something else. These people aren’t standing in lines at ATMs. They aren’t going to go homeless or hungry. But these people get a pretty bad rap—at least here in the US, where we call them 'doomsday preppers.' Or 'bunker monkeys.' Or 'conspiracy theorists.' Or 'gold bugs.' They take a beating. Jim Rickards tweeted the other day, 'I’ll bet there a lot of Greeks saying, ‘I wish I had bought some gold.’' Truer words have never been spoken." Continue reading →

Continue Reading“It Could Never Happen Here”

Russia boosting gold holdings as defence against ‘political risks’

"Russia is increasing its gold holdings because gold is a reserve asset that is free from legal and political risks, a senior central banker said on Tuesday. The comments by Dmitry Tulin, who manages monetary policy at the central bank, reflect Russian fears that the country's overseas assets could be frozen as part of a possible toughening of Western sanctions over the Ukraine crisis. 'As you know we are increasing our gold holdings, although this comes with market risks,' Tulin told lawmakers in the lower house of parliament. 'The price of it (gold) swings, but on the other hand it is a 100 percent guarantee from legal and political risks.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRussia boosting gold holdings as defence against ‘political risks’

Austria Repatriates 110 Tons Of Gold From Bank of England

"Six months ago we warned that Austria was considering it, and now, as Kronen-Zeitung reports, with no rigged Swiss-like referendum required, Austrian Central Bank Governor, and the person many claim is in Mario Draghi's inner circle of trust (soon to be revised) Edwald Nowotny has committed to repatriating 110 tonnes of gold. This is part of Nowotny's new 'gold strategy' and with his position (on paper) as one of Draghi's foremost lieutenants, appears to be a big stab in the back for super money printing Mario. Austrian central bank plans to keep 50% of its gold reserves in Austria vs 17% now, Kronen-Zeitung reports, citing governor Ewald Nowotny’s unpublished new 'gold strategy.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAustria Repatriates 110 Tons Of Gold From Bank of England

India gold smuggling at all-time high, despite Nepali kingpin’s death

"In two years--since government increased duty on gold to 10% to rein in a yawning current account deficit—gold smuggling has grown by 900%. That as an accepted principle seizures could be less than 10% of actual smuggling, the figures look even more ominous. Sources say gold has also begun to be smuggled in ever unique ways and from rather unexpected corners. There is a silver lining to the grim story though. There is an unexpected drop in Nepal which had seen a massive spurt in gold smuggling in the past couple of years. The reason: the kingpin of illicit yellow metal trade in the Himlayan nation died under the rubble of his house in Kathmandu during the recent quake." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingIndia gold smuggling at all-time high, despite Nepali kingpin’s death

Texas Senate Passes Bill to Establish Gold & Silver Bullion Depository

"A bill taking a step towards gold and silver as commonly-used legal tender in Texas passed in the state Senate today by an overwhelming 29-2 vote. What the bill essentially does is create a means for transactions to occur in precious metals. It allows people to open an account and deposit their precious metals in the state depository. They could then use the electronic system to make payments to any other business or person who also holds an account. This opening of the market is considered by many insiders to be the most important first step towards bringing sound money to mainstream acceptance." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTexas Senate Passes Bill to Establish Gold & Silver Bullion Depository

Fed Still on Red Alert

"It’s bad enough that central bankers create money out of nowhere to buy bonds. Now it turns out that’s not all they’re buying. A study by global research firm Official Monetary and Financial Institutions Forum (OMFIF) states global public investors 'as a whole appear to have built up their investments in publicly quoted equities by at least $1 [trillion] in recent years.' The percentage of financial advisors who are bullish on the stock market jumped to 62.2%, the fifth straight week this indicator has been above the key 55% level. Other noteworthy tops came in August 1987 (60.8%), October 2007 (62%), and December 2004 (62.9%)." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFed Still on Red Alert

German Gold Stays in New York in Rebuff to Euro Doubters

"Surging mistrust of the euro during Europe’s debt crisis fed a campaign to bring Germany’s entire $141 billion gold reserve home from New York and London. Now, after the Free Democratic Party, which flirted with bringing the gold home, dropped out of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s coalition and was replaced by the Social Democrats, the government has concluded that stashing half its bullion abroad is prudent after all. Ending talk of repatriating the world’s second-biggest gold reserves is a rebuff to critics including the anti-euro Alternative for Germany party, which says all the gold should return to Frankfurt so it can’t be impounded to blackmail Germany." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGerman Gold Stays in New York in Rebuff to Euro Doubters

Ludwig von Mises: Come Back to Gold

"In every instance of inflation or credit expansion there are two groups, that of the gainers and that of the losers. The creditors are the losers; it is their loss that is the profit of the debtors. But this is not all. The more fateful results of inflation derive from the fact that the rise in prices and wages which it causes occurs at different times and in different measure for various kinds of commodities and labor. Some classes of prices and wages rise more quickly and to a higher level than others. While inflation is under way, some people enjoy the benefit of higher prices on the goods and services they sell, while the prices of goods and services they buy have not yet risen at all or not to the same extent." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingLudwig von Mises: Come Back to Gold

Falling Real Yields: A Buy Signal for Gold

"It’s not only Treasury yields that are falling; nominal interest rates are in free-fall around the world: German bunds yield just 1.4 percent and French government bond yields fell to 1.65 percent — the lowest level since 1746! Two of Europe’s most troubled PIIGS, Spain and Italy, also have witnessed record low bond yields of 2.6 percent and 2.76 percent, respectively. Yield spreads on emerging market Tdebt and junk bonds compared with Treasuries are likewise sinking toward new lows. his compression in nominal yields around the global has important implications for investors and could prove very bullish for certain asset classes. Case in point: Gold." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFalling Real Yields: A Buy Signal for Gold

Former ECB Chief Economist: Buy Gold; Economic System is ‘Pure Fiction’

"Jürgen Stark, former vice president of the Bundesbank, and also former chief economist of the ECB, resigned in late 2011 for his outright rejection to the purchase of government bonds by the ECB. The monetary system was saved in 2011 through concerted action by major central banks worldwide. But, according to Stark, the whole system is 'pure fiction'. The problem is the monetary model itself. That is, the printing of paper currency without real backing and the multiplier by which the commercial banks can expand credit-uncontrolled without prior savings. Stark recommended allocating part of this fictional savings to investment in traditional 'safe havens' such as gold or silver." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFormer ECB Chief Economist: Buy Gold; Economic System is ‘Pure Fiction’