Gold finished trading in New York yesterday at $940.20, up $13.90 and silver
was up to $18.24, up 17 cents. Gold rose again in the New York Globex electronic
market before trading sideways in trading in Asia and it has risen sharply
again in early European trading to above $950 per ounce.
Gold continues to rally on the surging oil price (which is back near record
highs), surging commodities and renewed weakness in the dollar. Not to mention
safe haven buying on geopolitical risk in Iran. Oil is up nearly 2% again this
morning after yesterday's nearly 4% surge. Yesterday oil rallied from a low
of $135.58 to a high of $142 a barrel and today it is up to $144.04 so far
today <Light Sweet Crude Oil Future - AUG08>.
A possible oil strike in Brazil, contiuing tensions in Nigeria and further
missile tests in Iran all contributed to the latest spike in oil prices which
brings oil back close to its recent record high of $145.68. The CFTC statement
that they found no evidence of manipulation in the oil market also contributed
to the oil surge. Indeed much of the specualtion is on the short side in the
oil, gold and silver markets.
This is sure to lead to further inflation hedging allocations to gold especially
as other commodity prices in particular the base metals are surging again.
Fannie, Freddie 'Insolvent' and Lehman Brothers May be Next Bear Stearns
There is also heightened financial and systemic risk as posed by the possible
insolvency of Lehman Brothers, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
Mortgage lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are "insolvent" and may need a
U.S. government bailout, former St. Louis Federal Reserve President William
Poole was quoted as saying in an interview with Bloomberg. "Congress ought
to recognise that these firms are insolvent, that it is allowing these firms
to continue to exist as bastions of privilege, financed by the taxpayer," Poole
was quoted as saying in an interview held on Wednesday. Chances are increasing
that the government may need to bail out the two mortgage companies, he was
also quoted as saying.
Lehman Brothers shares plunged again and nervous investors are concerned about
regulators' statements that they would not bail out all financial institutions.
Lehman fell 12 percent, to $17.30. This year, it has lost 70 percent of its
value. The cost of insuring Lehman's senior unsecured debt, a barometer keenly
watched by traders, reached its highest levels on Thursday since the Bear Stearns
collapse in March.
Rumors are running rampant that a major U.S. institutional investor, PIMCO,
has cut trading limits with one of the major investment banks, Lehman. A variation
of the rumor is that they have cut limits with a number of prime brokers. This
is helping create weakness in the dollar and leading to safe haven buying of
gold.
Today's Data and Influences
The market will turn its attention to today's U.S. trade balance and the University
of Michigan Consumer Confidence report released at 1.30pm and 3pm respectively.
Disappointing figures from General Electric could also affect markets.
Silver
Silver is trading at $18.37/18.40 per ounce (1100 GMT).
PGMs
Platinum is trading at $1980/1990 per ounce (1100 GMT).
Palladium is trading at $445/450 per ounce (1100 GMT).
Financial Regulation: Gold & Silver Investments
Limited trading as Gold Investments is regulated by the Financial Regulator
as a multi-agency intermediary. Our Financial Regulator Reference Number is
39656. Gold Investments is registered in the Companies Registration Office
under Company number 377252. Registered for VAT under number 6397252A. Codes
of Conduct are imposed by the Financial Regulator and can be accessed at www.financialregulator.ie or
from the Financial Regulator at PO Box 9138, College Green, Dublin 2, Ireland.
Property, Commodities and Precious Metals are not regulated by the Financial
Regulator.
Disclaimer: The information in this document has
been obtained from sources, which we believe to be reliable. We cannot guarantee
its accuracy or completeness. It does not constitute a solicitation for the
purchase or sale of any investment. Any person acting on the information contained
in this document does so at their own risk. Recommendations in this document
may not be suitable for all investors. Individual circumstances should be considered
before a decision to invest is taken. Investors should note the following:
The value of investments may fall or rise against investors? interests. Income
levels from investments may fluctuate. Changes in exchange rates may have an
adverse effect on the value of, or income from, investments denominated in
foreign currencies. Past experience is not necessarily a guide to future performance.
All the opinions expressed herein are solely those of Gold & Silver
Investments Limited and not those of the Perth Mint. They do not reflect the
views of the Perth Mint and the Perth Mint accepts no legal liability or responsibility
for any claims made or opinions expressed herein.
Fair Use Notice: This newsletter contains copyrighted
material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the
copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance
understanding of issues of financial and economic significance. At all times
we credit and attribute the copywrite owner and publication.
We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted
material as provided for in Copyright Law. The material on this site is distributed
without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the
included information for economic research purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted
material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use',
you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
Gold Investments
Tower 42, Level 7
25 Old Broad Street
London
EC2N 1HN
United Kingdom
Ph +44 (0) 207 0604653
Fax +44 (0) 207 8770708
Email info@goldassets.co.uk
Web www.goldassets.co.uk
Mission Statement
Gold and Silver Investments Limited hope to inform our clientele of important
financial and economic developments and thus help our clientele and
prospective clientele understand our rapidly changing global economy
and the implications for their livelihoods and wealth.
We
focus on the medium and long term global macroeconomic trends and how
they pertain to the precious metal markets and our clienteles savings,
investments and livelihoods. We emphasise prudence, safety and security
as they are of paramount importance in the preservation of wealth.
Gold and Silver Investments Ltd. have been awarded
the MoneyMate and Investor Magazine Financial Analyst of 2006.