6-30-06 -- 2006 ytd: Gold +18%, Silver +24% -LISTEN
Precious metals surged over 4 percent Friday on higher oil prices and a broad dollar sell-off after the Fed's interest rate decision offered hints they may take a breather after 17 consecutive rate hikes. Gold closed in NY up $27.30 to $613.40/oz., -- up 18.5% ytd. Silver rose $.57 to $10.97/oz. -- up 24.5% ytd. Swiss America wishes every American a safe 4th of July holiday. We will reopen with the markets on Wednesday, July 5th.

6-29-06 -- Metals jump ahead of Fed -LISTEN
Precious metal prices rose Thursday on higher oil and a flat dollar, ahead of the Fed's interest rate decision later today. Traders are hoping the Fed's language will offer clues about the future. Gold closed in NY up $7.90 to $586.10/oz., silver rose $.22 to $10.40/oz. "Gold fever rages on despite the metal's 24 percent jump, then decline..."says Reuters.

6-28-06 -- Metals drift lower on Fed fears -LISTEN
Precious metals zig-zagged lower Wednesday, ahead of the Fed's interest rate decision on Thursday that will offer signals on the course of interest rates and the metal's future direction. Gold closed in NY off $3.40 to $578.30/oz., silver inched down $.05 to $10.18/oz. If the Fed bumps rates a half percent, does that mean there's a Rocky Road Ahead For Gold? ... Or is Gold set for boom season ?

6-27-06 -- Metals pre-Fed jitters, buying op -LISTEN
Precious metals inched lower in choppy trading on Tuesday, ahead of the next Fed interest rate increase on Thursday. Gold closed in NY off $3.10 to $581.70/oz., silver inched down $.02 to $10.23/oz. "The way I see it, gold has made its bottom. It's just starting to wake up from a generation- long slumber ... prices are going to the moon before this bull market is over", says economist Doug Casey.

6-26-06 -- Fed trapped, markets tread water -LISTEN
Precious metals treaded water on Monday, cautious ahead of the next Fed rate decision on Thursday. Gold closed in NY down $.20 to $584.80/oz. Silver was off $.05 to $10.25/oz. "Bad data + weak Fed = Buy gold" says Bill Fleckenstein at MSN. "The little rampage in gold recently was just a taste of what things might look like when the Fed is understood to be trapped."

6-23-06 -- Gold rebounds, up 1% this week -LISTEN
Precious metals closed higher Friday in choppy trading on dollar volatility after surprising growth of U.S. durable goods in May. Gold closed in NY up $2.70 to $585.00/oz. -- up 1% for the week. Silver inched up $.06 to $10.30/oz. -- up 3% for the week. "I think we have seen the worst of the selling in gold... most of the weak, vulnerable hands are out", says Friday's WSJ.

6-22-06 -- Gold: A Long-Term Story -LISTEN
Precious metals drifted lower Thursday, on a stronger dollar and worries over rising interest rates and slower economic growth. Gold closed in NY down $5.50 to $582.30/oz. Silver closed off $.20 to $10.28/oz. "The gold story is a long-term story - the bull market is established and nothing that has happened recently changes that," says the latest Onassis Newsletter.

6-21-06 -- Dollar down, gold up, new Buffalo roams -LISTEN
Precious metals rallied again on Wednesday, as a weaker dollar, higher oil prices and North Korean missle threats overshadowed worries over rising interest rates and slower economic growth. Gold closed in NY up $10.60 to $587.80/oz. Silver closed up $.22 to $10.48/oz. Should investors buy the new American Buffalo gold coins? Find out at swissamerica.com.

6-20-06 -- Gold glitters as top inflation hedge -LISTEN
Precious metal prices climbed higher Tuesday supported by physical buying and reports North Korea may test a long-range missile able to reach the U.S. Gold closed in NY up $8.00 to $577.20/oz. Silver closed up $.31 to $10.28/oz. Analysts attribute the increase in gold prices to high crude oil prices, geopolitical tensions and the increasing use of gold as an inflation hedge.

6-19-06 -- New U.S. gold coin arrives, metals retreat -LISTEN
Precious metals traded lower Monday, but closed off the day's low as dollar strength and weaker oil prices weighed on the market. Gold closed in NY down $9.20 to $569.20/oz. Silver closed off $.16 to $9.97/oz. A new U.S. one-ounce gold coin, "The American Buffalo," went on sale today to investors worldwide. It's face value is $50, but prices start under $600 for the bullion version and $875 for the collectible proof version.

6-16-06 -- Metals: up day after down week -LISTEN
Gold prices jumped 2 percent higher Friday on follow-through buying after a strong recovery in U.S. trade, with dollar weakness and firm oil underpinning the market. Gold closed in NY up $11.60 to $578.40/oz., but down 5% for the week. Silver rose $.16 to $10.13/oz., but down 10% for the week. "Bargain hunting and technical buying supported the yellow metal", traders said.

6-15-06 -- Metals rebound on bargain-hunting buyers -LISTEN
Precious metals opened sharply higher Thursday on bargain-hunting, then eased into the close as investors cautiously re-entered the market after Tuesday's big sell-off. Gold closed in NY up $4.60 to $566.80/oz. Silver rose $.28 to $9.97/oz. "A concerted intervention by central banks has temporarily depressed the gold market..." reports GATA.org founder Bill Murphy. "...providing an excellent buying opportunity.”

6-14-06 -- Metals stabilize on rising inflation -LISTEN
Precious metal prices stabilized Wednesday on a weaker dollar and higher oil prices, following Tuesday's 7% sell-off after a report indicating higher inflation and another Fed rate hike this month is likely. Gold closed in NY down $.50 to $562.20/oz. Silver fell $.15 to $9.69/oz. "Inflation is here and the world knows it", says Mr. Smith, "which is bullish for gold long-term."

6-13-06 -- 'Hot money' exits metal markets... Buy! -LISTEN
Gold prices tumbled over 7% on Tuesday after a report showing U.S. producer prices increased indicating inflation is growing. A stronger dollar, softer oil prices and 'hot money' fleeing from commodities dragged gold down $44.10 in NY to $562.70/oz. Silver fell $1.39 to $9.62/oz. "This may be the last and best buying op for metals this summer", says Craig Smith.

6-12-06 -- Gold: The buy of a generation! -LISTEN
Precious metal prices consolidated further Monday, ahead of U.S. inflation data this week which may support another Fed rate hike later this month. Gold closed in NY down $1.40 to $606.80/oz. Silver fell 18 cents to $11.03/oz. Skepticism among investors over the ability of the Fed to curb inflation may end gold's recent price correction according to a Bloomberg survey.

6-9-06 -- Last week: Gold -4%, silver -9% ... BUY! -LISTEN
Precious metals rebounded early then closed mixed in NY on Friday, falling to their lowest levels since mid-April on a firmer dollar and soft oil prices this week. Gold closed down $.60 to $608.50/oz. Silver rose 12 cents to $11.20/oz. "It is a weak bull market that does not have strong corrections", says Daily Reckoning's Bill Bonner. Gold closed down 4% this week, silver is down 9%, but the metals remain up 17% and 27% respectively ytd.

6-8-06 -- Rate fears prop dollar, metals fall, BUY! -LISTEN
Precious metals fell sharply Thursday after the dollar gained on higher interest rate expectations and on news that al-Zarqawi was killed in Baghdad. Gold closed in NY down $18.70 to $609.10/oz. Silver fell 79 cents to $11.09/oz. "This may be the best opportunity to buy a major dip in metals since 2001. Gold is within $10 of its weekly moving averages, currently near $600/oz.", says Craig Smith.

6-7-06 -- Metals bounce off lows, Buying Op! -LISTEN
Precious metals ended mixed on Wednesday as the dollar gained on higher interest rate expectations and as tensions surrounding Iran's nuclear program eased. Gold closed in NY down $2.30 to $627.20/oz. Silver rose 5 cents to $11.88/oz. Gold prices appear to be reacting more to the dollar ups and downs than on how rising inflation is weakening consumer spending.

6-6-06 -- Markets sell-off on Fedspeak... BUY! -LISTEN
Precious metals traded sharply lower Tuesday as the dollar gained on Ben Bernanke's hawkish inflation comments. Gold closed in NY down $13.70 to $629.50/oz. Silver fell 47 cents to $11.83/oz. "On a technical basis this is a SCREAMING low risk buy today! This market is very oversold and near its major support levels and weekly moving averages," reports Jim Carrillo, Swiss America broker...

6-5-06 -- Metals rise on uncertainty, what's next? -LISTEN
Precious metals rose again on Monday after Iran warned that U.S. actions could lead it to halt oil shipments, sending oil prices soaring and reinforcing gold as a safe-haven. Gold closed in NY up $6.60 to $643.40/oz. Silver rose 20 cents to $12.30/oz. "Gold has dropped to a major support zone where it's relatively safe to buy" says Harry Schultz editor of The International Harry Schultz Letter.

6-2-06 -- Metals bounce back on weak buck -LISTEN
Precious metals bounced back on Friday. Investors bought metals as the dollar tumbled on a weaker-than-expected May jobs report and higher oil prices. Gold closed in NY up $8.10 to $636.80/oz., off 2% for the week. Silver rose 19 cents to $12.10/oz. Gold prices have corrected 14 percent from its high of $725/oz. on May 9th. Silver is down 24 percent since it's recent $15/oz. peak.

6-1-06 -- Metals correct as expected... relax! -LISTEN
Gold prices fell over three percent early Thursday on dollar strength, then rebounded slightly on dollar weakness and rising oil prices. Gold closed in NY down $14.80 to $628.70/oz. Silver fell 76 cents to $11.91/oz. While many pundits view this correction as healthy, others are calling the end of the bull market. Which is it? Swiss America CEO Craig Smith's advice: RELAX! ...