The Trouble with Forecasting
Source: Sean Rakhimov, SilverStrategies.com  (8/24/09)
We have been pondering for some time now exactly why most forecasts (let's focus for now on those that DO pan out) fall on deaf ears. Why is it we wondered, people en masse categorically refuse to pay attention to forecasts which—should they come true—could potentially have a dramatic impact on their lives? More >

World Faces Hi-Tech Crunch as China Eyes Ban on Rare Metal Exports
Source: Telegraph,Ambrose Evans-Pritchard  (8/24/09)
"Beijing is drawing up plans to prohibit or restrict exports of rare earth metals that are produced only in China" More >

Looks Like CFTC's Aim Is To Suppress Commodity Prices
Source: Wall Street Journal, Brian Baskin  (8/22/09)
"Limiting the size of ETFs will result in higher costs for investors. . ." More >

Victor Gonçalves Eyes "Raging Bull" in Resources
Source: The Gold Report  (8/21/09)
Investors who picked up on Victor Gonçalves' (Equities & Economics Report) resource stock picks late last year have realized gains of up to 800%, so the views he shares in this exclusive Gold Report interview may prove profitable to consider. Victor considers the resource sector "the best place to be"—in fact, he says we're "just short of a raging bull." More >

Silver and China
Source: David Morgan, Silver Investor.com  (8/21/09)
Silver bullion is now being offered to the Chinese public. There are some subtleties going on in China that not too many people write about. China actually has a fairly long history with silver. . .How much silver investment demand there will be and how it will catch on, nobody knows. More >

Mongolian Gov't Looks to Repeal Mining Windfall Tax Law
Source: Reuters, Ulan Bator  (8/21/09)
"Mongolia is desperate for revenues to flow from new mining projects. . ." More >

Gold Holds to Gains After Bernanke, Home Sales
Source: MarketWatch, Laura Mandaro  (8/21/09)
"Increasingly, gold has taken more direction from other commodities and the dollar. . . rather than playing a contrarian role." More >

Gold May Advance as the Dollar Weakens, Investors Hedge
Source: Oil N' Gold, Finotec  (8/21/09)
". . .the greenback fell to its lowest level in a week against the euro, increasing the metal's appeal as a hedge. . ." More >

Will Zimbabwe Go for Gold-Backed Currency?
Source: Commodity Online  (8/21/09)
"The bank proposed the introduction of a gold-backed local currency, which was destroyed by hyperinflation. . ." More >

Mixed Messages for Platinum
Source: Mineweb, Lawrence Williams  (8/21/09)
". . .the fortunes of the price have been affected strongly by auto sales, which have remained depressed in the Western World. . ." More >

Why a New Central Bank Gold Agreement When, Little to no Gold will be Sold?
Source: Goldforecaster.com  (8/21/09)
". . .at first glance it appears extraordinary that a new Agreement has been announced by the E.C.B. for another five years under which a new lower 'ceiling' of 400 tons of gold per annum has been announced. Where will the other 1,755 tons come from? None of the signatories have announced intentions to sell more gold." More >

Want Out of Dollars? Gold vs. the Euro
Source: Adrian Ash, BullionVault  (8/21/09)
Correlations come and go, but the path of Euros and gold rarely diverge vs. the Dollar... More >

Oil Rallies, But We Prefer Gold
Source: Seeking Alpha, Beacon Asset Managers  (8/21/09)
"Overall, we prefer gold, where the current extreme pessimism offers better risk-adjusted upside." More >

How Quickly Could the Dollar Collapse?
Source: GoldSeek, Rick Ackerman  (8/20/09)
". . .we believe the attendant collapse of the dollar will play out far more quickly than the German mark during the Weimar hyperinflation. . ." More >

Gold Benefits from PIMCO and Buffet Dollar Warning
Source: Market Oracle, GoldCore  (8/20/09)
"PIMCO bond fund and Warren Buffet warned yesterday regarding risks posed to the dollar. . ." More >

Pessimistic Sentiment Gives a Buy Signal for Gold
Source: Seeking Alpha, Beacon Asset Managers  (8/20/09)
"Since the start of the gold uptrend in 2001, this sentiment poll or indicator has proved a valuable timing tool. . ." More >

Big Rush in UK for Palladium Jewelry Hallmarking
Source: Commodity Online  (8/18/09)
". . .palladium is tapping into growing demand for white precious metal jewelry in the last few months" More >

Carmel Daniele: This Fantastic Crisis
Source: The Gold Report  (8/18/09)
In 2007, she claimed the current commodities super-cycle would last another 20 years. But given the economic implosion since that time, could it still be true? "Absolutely," says Carmel Daniele, founder, CEO and CIO of CD Capital in this exclusive interview with The Gold Report. "The crisis that occurred last year after Lehman's collapse just interrupted the cycle," she explains, adding that it "is actually going to seal the next stage of the super-cycle. . .it will make it stronger and last even longer." More >

Gold Futures Edge Higher as U.S. Stocks Rise, Dollar Mixed
Source: MarketWatch, Polya Lesova  (8/18/09)
". . .gold will likely be dragged lower as investors are forced to liquidate assets to cover margin requirements." More >

India's July Gold Imports Fall by Two-Thirds
Source: Reuters  (8/18/09)
"People don't have money enough for essentials, why would they buy gold?" More >

Baby Bush: The Worst President in History?
Source: Doug Casey, The Casey Report  (8/18/09)
I recognize that I've antagonized many subscribers over the years with "Bush Bashing." In January, just after OBAMA's election, I said I wouldn't mention Bush again, his departure having made him irrelevant. I only feel bad that he and his minions will apparently get away scot-free with their crimes; better they had all been brought up before a tribunal and tried for crimes against humanity in general, and the U.S. Constitution in particular. But that is objectively true of almost all presidents at least since Lincoln. More >

Lending Reversals: East and West
Source: David Coffin & Eric Coffin, HRA Dispatch  (8/18/09)
The chorus singing of the need to separate commodities from broader views of market movement appears to be growing again. It's possible to separate this into "supply constraint" and "Asia rising camps," but in general it is recognized that both come into play. . . More >

Bull Market Delusions in Recovery
Source: GoldSeek, Brady Willett  (8/17/09)
". . .terrific rallies are not uncommon following terrific sell-offs!" More >

Has the Dollar Hit a Major Bottom?
Source: Seeking Alpha, Marc Courtenay  (8/17/09)
"If gold has decoupled from the dollar, it might not negatively be impacted by the dollar's rally." More >

Silver Outperforms Gold; Should I Sell My Metals or Buy More?
Source: GoldSeek, Przemyslaw Radomski  (8/17/09)
". . .two key drivers of PM prices are now vulnerable to a strong move in either direction." More >