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Politics : Dutch Central Bank Sale Announcement Imminent? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: philv who wrote (19497)	11/2/2003 9:49:37 PM
From: sea_urchin	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 81900

Phil, I think Rumsfeld & Co are already discredited but if they are not they soon will be. Eyerak is going from bad to worse and the only solution for the US is to get out ASAP. > I wasn't aware that the US had identified any Iraqi terrorists in the U.S.A. The ones who flew the planes on 9-11 were Eyerakis, didn't you know? > You stated a few times that individuals are not buying it. Yes, that's what the World Gold Council says, and what is bought is 90% for jewelry. > A few years ago, everybody was buying gold, and proudly wearing heavy chains & bracelets. But that was when gold was worth something. It was rather like diamonds. I'm suprised that such vulgar ostentation is still possible in your neck of the woods. In most places I know of people do whatever they can to look "ordinary" and unattractive to muggers and thieves. All my wife's jewelry has been in a safety-deposit box at the bank for over 25 years already. She won't wear any and we don't even want it in the house. > People would rather buy a "real" expensive diamond then a glass one, although nobody could really tell. The ladies learned that diamonds are a girl's best friend from Marilyn Monroe. I understand, however, that these days that they can make artificial diamonds as big as gemstones. So I wonder what the ladies will think about wearing a piece of carbon? > maybe, if the price goes up, demand will also go up, as gold will again be seen as "valuable"? I'm sure, as there are those attracted to art or collecting anything, there will always be people who are attracted to gemstones and precious metals as investments --- even if the price doesn't go up. Security is, unfortunately, becoming a serious problem all over the world and having a safe in one's home makes one a sure target, even if there isn't much inside it! I know --- and I don't even have a safe at home but I have already been held up by six thugs armed with guns and knives who broke into my home looking for my safe. If I didn't have some cash available to satisfy their demands, I sure I would have been killed or seriously beaten up. With diamonds, there's a special racket which doesn't exist with gold --- one buys retail and sells wholesale --- and at a fraction of the retail price. In fact, the only way one can make money from diamonds is to "lose" them and claim from the insurance.

To: philv who wrote (19497)	11/3/2003 7:06:37 PM
From: sea_urchin	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 81900

Phil > Gold: You stated a few times that individuals are not buying it. I also frequently refer to this website. technicalindicators.com >>>Demand rose a little in the second quarter of 2003, but so did supply - the latest rise in demand is minor and insignificant, still at low levels. For a look at the latest (2nd quarter, 2003) demand figures click on Gold Field Mineral Services, Ltd., an excellent source for information on the gold market. (This may require Adobe Acrobat - otherwise click here) for their home page.) There has been no rush to buy gold in the physical gold market. Although investment demand had a rise in the 1st quarter of last year it was down in subsequent quarters as was the decrease in demand for jewelry (the largest use for gold) and industrial use, while supply remains at such high levels that 15 European countries had to agree to withhold their surplus gold from the market, selling it in smaller quantities and over a longer of period of time in order not to flood the market. Gold fabrication demand for the past year was at the lowest level in 5 years, attributed mostly to the slowdown in world economic growth. Jewelry fabrication (which represents about 2/3rds of gold use in the U.S.) fell 5% last year due to weak consumption not only here in the U.S. but in many East Asian markets and the Middle East. Industrial fabrication (mostly electronics) fell 14%. When the gold price did in fact break out and soared in 1979-1980, there was actually a demand for physical gold and a rise in price was justified. There were often long lines at gold dealers as many people rushed to buy Krugerrands and other gold investments. Nothing like that is happening now - gold demand is down, not up. As a indication of the public's interest in gold now, following are the figures published by the U.S. Mint showing the amount of gold sold by the U.S. Mint in the form of "American Eagle" coins bullion sales (in no. of ounces): ....... No. of Ounces 1997 771,250 1998 1,839,500 1999 2,055,500 2000 164,500 2001 325,000 2002 315,000 2003 (to date) 381,500 Judging from these figures, it appears there is no rush to buy gold coins in the U.S. - in fact it appears that more gold coins were sold when the stock market was rising, not falling as it has been lately. This helps to make the point that more gold is bought during good economic times when people have more money to buy gold, not during slow times when people have less money to spend.<<<