5.31.11 -- June best month to buy metals -- Listen
Precious metal prices traded steady to higher Tuesday as a weaker dollar lifted oil and commodities. Gold prices last traded at $1,534 an ounce, silver prices rose 1% to $38.47 an ounce.
Gold prices slipped 2% in May after rising 8% in April. Silver prices fell 24.6% in May after rising 28% in April. Welcome to the world of rising market volatility in 2011.
June bottom fishing alert - GoldIRAs.com
Don't miss this boat! June has seen the lowest prices in Gold and Silver with major bottoms in 9 of the past 10 years. On average gold has gained by 30% or more between June and the first quarter of the following year!
Should this pattern hold true, we would see gold at $2,000.00 by the first quarter of 2012. I see this having a far higher than normal probability.
Gold signaled that it is going hyperbolic with its close above $1,485.00 at the close of April 2011, it now appears to be confirming a upcoming boom with a very bullish second successive monthly above that key level today, the last day of May.
5.30.11 -- Swiss America closed in observance of Memorial Day 2011 -- Listen
IN DEFENSE OF TRUE LIBERTY -David Bradshaw, Editor, RMP
May we all spend some time over this patriotic Memorial Day holiday thinking and honoring the fallen American heroes from the past and praying for our brave soldiers as we look ahead.
The following is a short excerpt from a free educational resource entitled "The Big Picture: The Shape of Things to Come," released in Dec. 2000.
LIBERTY IS BORN FROM WITHIN - DAVID DAVIDSON:
The Bible views government from the bottom up and starts with the individual and then moves to the family and then it goes to the church and then there's voluntary association of people, and then civil government is last, and, biblically speaking, it is least. The function of government is to limit sin. Freedom by biblical definition is the absence of sin.
The Reformation clarified the priesthood of all believers - which means that divine power flows from God to the believer, not first passing through the pastor or priest. The same pattern is true of godly civil government. Full story, circa May, 2004 RMP)
5.27.11 -- Dollar meltdown propels metals upward - Listen
Precious metal prices rebounded sharply Friday on dollar weakness ahead of Memorial Day holiday. Gold prices last traded up 1% to $1,536 an ounce, silver shot up 2% to $37.93 an ounce. Silver continues to see big trading ranges after the sharp drop from near $50 set in April.
According to Kitco.com: "Silver is caught in a Catch-22 between industrial demand versus precious metal demand. With recent economic reports showing sluggishness in the manufacturing sector and a dismal pending home sales report from April which came out Friday, the industrial component of silver could keep it tethered."
The dollar fell Friday as some disappointing data on the U.S. economy fed concerns that the U.S. Federal Reserve may delay an increase in interest rates.
The U.S. dollar index fell following the data as “evidence of a deceleration,“ a slowdown in economic growth, became “rather conclusive,” said Richard Hastings, a macro strategist at Global Hunter Securities.
Economic Rebound Weakens - Bloomberg The world economy is losing strength halfway through the year as high oil prices and fallout from Japan’s natural disaster and Europe’s debt woes take their toll.
5.26.11 -- Metals firm as economy softens -- Listen
Precious metal prices dipped Thursday on mild profit taking and downbeat GDP data ahead of Memorial Day holiday. Gold prices last traded at $1,521 an ounce, silver at $37.36 an ounce.
ONCE UPON A TIME everyone understood that gold and silver represented real money, preserving value over time. But that was nearly 100 years ago in the U.S.
Today gold and silver are considered primarily as commodities or alternative investment hedges against a falling dollar and a rising cost of living.
Since the present bull market in precious metals slowly began back in 2001, gold prices have risen fivefold and silver prices nearly tenfold.
We invite you to understand more about the best investments of the century and offer you 10 simple steps to finding a reputable dealer to service your precious metal needs. Call today and request our new 2011 GOLD & SILVER BUYERS GUIDE.
5.25.11 -- Why China is buying so much gold -- Listen
Precious metals upward momentum continued Wednesday on safe haven buying despite a firmer dollar. Gold prices last traded at $1,526 an ounce, silver jumped over 3% to $37.92 an ounce.
Expect $5,000 as US Has to Back Currency With Gold - KWN
According to Richard Russell of the Dow Theory Letters...
With inflation heating up as far as American consumers are concerned, the pressure is on the
Bernanke Fed to "cool it" on its quantitative easing. I think the stock market (now slumping)
and the dollar (now rising) are reflecting this. Thus the Fed might be setting off a temporary
slump in the summer economy.
If so, Bernanke could announce, "See, if we ease up, the economy eases up as well." All of which strengthens the case for QE3. Of course, President Obama would love a late pick-up in the US economy as the nation moves into the 2012 election period.”
Why is China so intent on accumulating gold? My thinking is that China is preparing its renminbi to replace the US dollar as the world's reserve currency. To become the new world power, China needs two items: (1) A military second to none. (2) The world's most trusted and wanted currency.
(1) China is now on an all-out campaign to build up its military. (2) China wants the renminbi to backed with a huge percentage of gold, thereby making the renminbi the world's best and most trusted currency.
To compete, I believe that somewhere head the US will have to back its current irredeemable fiat currency with gold. In order to do that, the US will have to boost the price of its huge gold hoard to a level where the dollar may be backed anywhere from 50% to 100% with gold. That could mean unilaterally raising the price of gold to maybe $5000 and ounce or more... Gold appears to be advancing against almost all fiat currencies (is this a preview of the future?).
5.24.11 -- Metals rise as debt sinks dollar -- Listen
Precious metals were lifted Tuesday by safe haven buying and a weaker dollar. Gold prices last traded at $1,526 an ounce, silver jumped over 4% to $36.63 an ounce.
Debt Ceiling Jeopardizes Dollar's Reserve Status - Goldseek
U.S. Treasury Secretary Geithner has warned that delays in extending the U.S. debt ceiling
may cause irreparable harm. While borrowing costs for the U.S. government have not yet risen,
irreparable harm may have already been done to the U.S. dollar and its status as a reserve
currency. Ironically a rallying bond market is a symptom of the problem.
A key reason why the U.S. dollar has been the world's reserve currency is because of the lack of alternatives. And when we talk about a lack of alternatives, we don’t talk quality, but liquidity. The damage created by a failure to raise the debt limit can already be seen in the markets. As investors learn to deal with reduced liquidity in Treasurys, they will have to deploy money elsewhere.
Asian Tiger Sinks Teeth Into Gold - Kitco
For the first time, the demand for gold in China was so strong during the first quarter it
outpaced the combined total of the developed West.
5.23.11 -- Gold and silver as alternative currency -- Listen
Precious metal prices ended higher Monday on bargain hunting despite a firmer dollar. Gold last traded at $1,517 an ounce, silver at $35.07 an ounce. Utah legislators agree gold and silver are a viable alternate currency.
Gold to Have a Staggering Up-Move This Summer -KWN
“I think this summer is going to surprise a lot of people. it has been 29 years since we have seen
a big rally in the summer. Back in 1982, the Mexican debt default lit a fire under the precious
metals and the gold price nearly doubled over the next six months," James Turk tells King World News.com.
"We have to be prepared for tremendous volatility and the possibility that this summer could be a repeat of 1982 where gold took off to the upside in a major way.
Ron Paul: "Sell the Gold in Ft. Knox"
Ron Paul announced
last week at the Heritage Foundation that the government should sell its gold to reduce the national debt.
There are two kinds of gold standards. One is a government-guaranteed gold standard, which is preliminary to gold confiscation. The other is a gold coin standard. The difference is clear: the first is statist; the second is free market.
5.20.11 - Metals steady, new buyer's guide -- Listen
Precious metal prices rose on Friday amid safe-haven buying and inflationary concerns. Gold ended the week up over 1% to $1,514 an ounce, silver slipped 1% to $35.01 an ounce.
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5.19.11 - Smart money buying metals dip -- Listen
Precious metal prices dipped Thursday on profit taking pressures and market volatility. Gold last traded at $1,494 an ounce, with silver at $35.01 an ounce. "With the recent pullback, people will resume buying the metal as a hedge against inflation," reports Bloomberg.
Gold may have hit a double bottom -Marketwatch
"Evidence is growing that gold has formed at least a short-term bottom around $1,480. Tuesday's close at that level, for example, now appears to have been the second half of a double bottom," reports Markewatch.com.
Europe Debt Crisis as Top Risk to U.S. Economic Outlook- Bloomberg
According to an expert, the debt crisis in Europe has become the biggest risk to the economic outlook for the US, surpassing the rising oil prices. The financial decisions going on in Europe have the ability to rock all global markets.
5.18.11 - Metals shine as economic illusions exposed -- Listen
Precious metal prices climbed higher Wednesday on bargain hunting. Gold last traded at $1,496 an ounce and silver jumped up 4% to $35.16 an ounce.
Health-care expenses to rise 8.5% in 2012.
The 30-page study released Wednesday by PricewaterhouseCoopers says that the recession put a lid on health-care costs, which should keep the inflation rate to 8% for 2011, but those price hikes are getting steeper as the recovery gains momentum.
U.S. Inflation Rate Four Times Higher Than Government Data!
The government pretends that Americans won't be facing dangerous inflation by 2012. The facts show otherwise.
Jobs Recovery a Statistical Illusion?
Is the job market in recovery? Not if you understand the numbers, says Ed Lazear, a former economic adviser to President George W. Bush and Stanford professor. The job market has recovered from its worst levels during the recession, but job growth isn't enough to make a difference in how Americans feel about their prospects, Lazear writes in The Wall Street Journal.
5.17.11 - Metals steady despite downbeat data -- Listen
Precious metal prices traded mixed on Tuesday as gold dipped to $1,487 an ounce and silver rose 1% to $33.90 an ounce. The DJIA fell on downbeat housing data. Meanwhile, sales of gold coins are on track for the best month in a year amid the worst commodities rout since 2008," according to Bloomberg.
Gold Coins Show Bull Market Unbowed in Commodities Decline:
The last time sales were like this, bullion rose 21 percent in the next year.
Bloomberg analysts predict $1,750 by December 31 with continuous gains throughout 2012.
Zimbabwe talks of a gold standard, warning of U.S. dollar devaluation
Zimbabwe's Central Bank governor has gone on record as warning about the fall
in value of the U.S. dollar while suggesting that his country should move
towards a gold backing for its own currency.
5.16.11 - Gold dips, silver slips, markets fall -- Listen
Precious metal prices traded lower on Monday with gold dipping to $1,490 an ounce and silver slipping over 5% to $33.60 an ounce. Today the U.S. reached its $14.3 trillion debt limit without a plan, risking a possible debt default by Aug 2nd. U.S. Inflation Rate Four Times Higher Than Government Data!
Protection from "inflation double-whammy" -WINA
"Today Americans face an inflation double-whammy: price inflation in commodities and monetary inflation (money creation) resulting in dollar declines. It is the worst of both worlds. Rising inflation benefits U.S. debtors, but hurts creditors,"Swiss America Chairman Craig R. Smith told listeners in a WINA radio interview Monday.
China cuts holdings of US Treasurys for 5th month -AP
The Treasury Department said Monday that China cut its holdings by $9.2 billion to $1.14 trillion. Japan, the second-largest foreign holder, boosted its holdings by $17.6 billion to $907.9 billion. Geithner on Monday said he will halt investments in two big government pension plans immediately to allow the government to continue borrowing money for the next few months.
Treasury to tap pensions to help fund government -WashPost The Obama administration will begin to tap federal retiree programs to help fund operations after the government loses its ability Monday to borrow more money from the public, adding urgency to efforts in Washington to fashion a compromise over the debt. Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner is undertaking special measures in an effort to postpone the day when he will no longer have enough funds to pay all of the government's bills.
5.13.11 - Inflation Squeezing Middle Class -- Listen
Precious metals ended the week virtually where they began, with gold prices at $1,495 an ounce and silver at $35.30 an ounce. Government inflation data confirms rising commodity prices (up 90% since 2009) are squeezing American's budgets tighter in 2011. Meanwhile, the U.S. will reach its $14.3 trillion debt limit on Monday without a plan.
U.S. Inflation Rate Four Times Higher Than Government Data!
Yesterday the U.S. government reported an .8% jump in the April wholesale prices. This equates to 9.6% annual wholesale inflation in the pipeline to you! Today U.S. consumer inflation data (CPI) was reported rising .4% -- a 4.8% annualized rate.
Prices are rising much faster than wages by any standard. In March the wholesale Producer Price Index (PPI) increased 0.7%, the fastest pace since 2008. This is official government data, almost universally disputed as reflecting true cost of living increases.
5.11.11 --21st Century Gold Standard ahead -- Listen
Gold prices eased back 1% on Wednesday as the dollar rebounded as China inflation fears sparked a commodity sell-off. Gold prices last traded at $1,502 per ounce, silver prices retreated 8% to $35.26 per ounce, while oil prices slipped 5% to $98 per barrel.
Forbes Predicts U.S. Gold Standard Within 5 Years -HE
A return to the gold standard by the United States within the next five years now seems likely, because that move would help the nation solve a variety of economic, fiscal, and monetary ills, Steve Forbes predicted during an exclusive interview this week with HUMAN EVENTS.
Such a move would help to stabilize the value of the dollar, restore confidence among foreign investors in U.S. government bonds, and discourage reckless federal spending, the media mogul and former presidential candidate said.
The United States used gold as the basis for valuing the U.S. dollar successfully for roughly 180 years before President Richard Nixon embarked upon an experiment to end the practice in the 1970s that has contributed to a number of woes that the country is suffering from now, Forbes added.
5.10.11 --Inflation: Clear & Present Danger -- Listen
Precious metal prices rallied again on Tuesday, despite a firmer dollar, amid growing Greek debt worries. Gold prices last traded at $1,516 per ounce, silver prices jumped nearly 2% to $38.47 per ounce, while oil prices inched to $103 per barrel.
U.S. import prices climb 2.2% in April - MW
U.S. import prices climbed 2.2% in April, the Labor Department said Tuesday, marking the first time prices have climbed over 2% in consecutive months since June 2008. "We see the import price data as a clear and present danger on the inflation front — although it is a perspective that has not been shared by Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke," said analysts at RDQ Economics. Bernanke has often said he expects the commodity price impact on inflation to be "transitory."
PPI/CPI data on tap for Thursday-Friday
Thursday the government will report on wholesale inflation for April and Friday the CPI data is released. Are these numbers trustworthy? Perhaps not, but even the government cannot hide the fact that your cost of living is rising fast.
Swiss America Chairman Craig R. Smith invites readers to discover six major hidden government uses of inflation which explains why they can and will not report the true inflation rate.
5.9.11 --Commodity bull market flexes muscles -- Listen
Precious metal and commodity prices rebounded sharply on Monday as the dollar resumed its decline. Gold prices last traded up over 1% at $1,513 per ounce, silver prices jumped up over 5% to $37.71 per ounce, while oil prices gushed upward over 5% to $102 per barrel following last week's speculative sell-off.
Attention, J.P. Morgan customers: 'Got gold?' - Mycrains.com
On Monday in the news, JPMorgan Chase bank announced that it will now accept physical gold as collateral from clients for securities lending. With fears of inflation mounting as the U.S. Federal Reserve and other central banks further debase their currencies, this move by JPM is only the latest sign of the decline of the U.S. dollar's significance on the world stage.
S&P cuts Greek credit rating -FT
Standard & Poor's has cut Greece’s credit rating by two notches, warning that
any voluntary debt restructuring by Athens would amount to a default.
The US rating agency said that any demands from the eurozone's biggest countries for Athens to extend the debt payment maturities on its bail-out loans from a year ago would probably lead to similar demands on private creditors.
5.6.11 --No gold bubble, CFTC deflates silver -- Listen
Precious metals rebounded Friday on upbeat jobs data following a healthy metals correction this week. Gold prices last traded up 1.5% at $1,495 per ounce and silver prices rose 1% to $35.62 per ounce. This week gold prices fell 4.2%, oil prices slid 15% and silver prices deflated 29%, confirming 2011 is "The Year of Volatility". Be prepared!
CFTC "Pricks" Speculative Silver Bubble -PR
When blood is running in the streets, people panic. Smart traders don't. They look at the fundamentals that created the run-up in the first place to see if they have changed. Clearly they haven't, with the world still swimming in trillions of debt.
The U.S. unemployment number out on Friday rose from 8.8 to 9.0%. Claims were up 43,000 to 474,000 last week. That does not bode well for a FED that wants to stop printing money.
Bottom line? Stay the course.
Nothing has changed other than the CFTC attempting to cool off a red hot market. As quickly as we watched this market sell off, we could see a rally. Parabolic moves after major corrections are very common. more...
5.5.11 --Metals dip as speculators sell-out -- Listen
Precious metals extended their healthy consolidation on Thursday as the dollar rallied and oil prices sunk below $100. Hedge funds and short-term speculators have been liquidating gold and silver positions, offering an excellent buying op for long-term investors.
Gold prices ended in NY down 2.8% at $1,475 per ounce. Silver price volatility escalated as prices slid 11% to $34.75 per ounce. Silver prices are down 28% from their $49 peak last week, after rocketing 28% in April.
According to Swiss America Chairman Craig R. Smith:
"The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) wanted to 'prick' the silver bubble. They also made it appear as though Ben Bernanke's comments about inflation pressures being "transitory" were correct. So, the sell-off in silver commenced."
"A big reason behind the selling is the increase in margin requirements by the CFTC, which have risen five times recently, for a total of an 84% increase."
"Investors with long positions, who didn't have additional cash to meet the requirements, were forced to sell out. After this shake out is over only the stronger, more well-positioned investors will remain. Then you could easily have a parabolic price move back up to the old highs and then a push toward new records."
5.4.11 --Metals attracting bargain hunters -- Listen
Precious metals extended their healthy bull market price correction on Wednesday. Big hedge funds (including Soros) and other speculators have reportedly been liquidating gold and silver positions recently, offering an excellent buying op for long-term investors. Gold prices were last traded down over 1% at $1,515 per ounce; silver prices slid 5% to $39.33.
The dollar fell to a fresh three-year low on Wednesday and the euro briefly rose above $1.49 as weaker-than-expected U.S. employment data convinced investors that U.S. interest rates would remain low this year.
With markets worried about a yawning U.S. budget deficit, traders said signs of slower growth will only add to trouble for the dollar, which has lost 7.7 percent in 2011.
5.3.11 --Metals finally take a breather- Listen
Precious metal prices stepped back from recent highs Tuesday on commodity profit taking and a firmer dollar. Gold prices last traded near $1,536/oz., silver prices slipped another 4% to $41.55/oz. after sliding 8% on Monday.
Yes it is true that silver prices have taken quite a haircut in the last week, down some 20% due to many factors, including the fact that speculators have driven silver prices to more that double in the last year.
Price corrections are a signal of a healthy bull market, because they serve as a touch on the brake for safety as well as allowing a buying opportunity for those who've so far waited to jump onto the precious metals bandwagon.
Another factor is that the U.S. government may want to suppress gold and silver prices now that they are at these levels because they clearly reflect the crashing value of the dollar.
According to Patrick A. Heller, a contributor at LeMetropoleCafe.com:
"In my judgment, the extreme measures taken by the U.S. government to suppress gold and silver prices in the past week are signs that the COMEX and London Bullion Market Exchange are at heightened risk of default. If they were not at a greater risk of default, the U.S. government would have pursued less blatant tactics that they have used in the past such as sneaking physical gold and silver on to these exchanges. That such a tactic was not used can be interpreted as meaning that supplies of physical gold and silver are becoming more difficult to locate."
5.2.11 --Metals: Bargain-hunters buying price dips-- Listen
Precious metal prices zig-zagged lower Monday as the U.S. Dollar resumed its meteoric decline, despite the demise of terrorist Osama Bin Laden, who commanded the 9-11 attack and the radical group Al-Qaeda. Gold prices last traded down 2% to $1,536/oz., silver prices traded down 9% to $43.41/oz.
Gold bullion prices ended up 8% in April, while silver prices soared 28%. The Fed's recent decision to extend their 'weak dollar policy' along with downbeat economic news sent the buck to fresh 3-year lows.
Dollar heads lower after bin Laden death
“The dollar will likely find little lasting enthusiasm” from news of bin Laden’s death, said John Kicklighter, currency strategist for DailyFX.com, in emailed comments.
“The implications here are rooted more in politics than they are in economics or investor sentiment,” he said. “Removing the symbolic head of global terrorism may ease the market’s anxiety moderately; but that hasn’t been a primary concern for the investing masses recently. The U.S. dollar’s troubles remain.”
Bin Laden death won’t bring stability: experts
Oil markets could see increased volatility, panelists say
Despite an initial market fallout for oil in markets, the killing of Osama bin Laden won’t quell concerns on petroleum prices, a panel of economists and asset managers said Monday at a conference in Los Angeles.
