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“It gets dug out of the ground in Africa, or someplace. Then we melt it down, dig another hole, bury it again and pay people to stand around guarding it. It has no utility. Anyone watching from Mars would be scratching their head.” - Warren Buffett

After muting CNBC for years, I turned it on by accident yesterday and learned something very interesting. The gold ETF (GLD) is the 6th largest holder of gold in the world - the whole world, even ahead of China. When investors buy GLD they have to go out and buy gold to drive up the prices. This raises a little question - who will be buying this gold from GLD when investors will decide to sell it?

Gold is one of those weird assets where nobody knows what it is really worth. You cannot run discounted cash flow analysis to value it - it has no cash flows. It is an asset where perception and reality are deeply intertwined.

Investors buying the gold ETF (GLD) are influencing the price of gold which is fair for the most part as otherwise they’d be buying the real thing. Though of course the ease of buying GLD creates a slightly higher artificial demand, but still it is fair game. A violent sell-off in GLD will drive the prices of gold down dramatically unless a real buyer steps in (like another government sick of owning the US debt for instance) and the gold price could get cut in half overnight.

Suddenly, perception of not being a store of value will create a reality of gold not being a store of value. The gold game will be over.

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This article has 107 comments:

  •  
    And the reverse is true to the upside.Whats your point?
    Apr 19 07:51 AM | Link | Reply
  •  
    with all respect your article shows the problem is popular (think CNBC) thought on investing today that fails to recognize reality imo...gold is real, real money always and ever. In the past 20-30 years of ever increasing asset values, yes warren buffet's "way" is king but now as that equation has turned negative or flat. Inflation is now the enemy of negative/flat asset prices. That is the real issue. "Buy and hold" is gone for the next decade or two and with it Warren Buffets method. Over the next 20 years we will see negative to flat asset values with continued monetary inflation (flowing to gold).
    paper money comes and goes and is left to the whim of government debasement. This is the only reason to hold gold..paper money debasement and inflation that is it, nothing more. This is what we are seeing and will continue to see going forward. The Dow could reach 20,000 next year when the usd implodes, but in real terms gold will be at "x thousand" and will hold and gain in value to stay far ahead of all assets. This is why we hold gold.











    Please continue to short gold and precious mining stocks...we will happily be on the other side of that trade.
    Apr 19 08:00 AM | Link | Reply
  •  
    Don't tell gold bulls that there was a bubble. Don't suggest that there are people melting it down around the world in response to the absurd price. Don't raise the point that central banks or polititcal entities like the IMF might sell it. Don't talk about the GLD ETF as if it somehow represents "true gold". Don't even quote the spot market. No, you need to quote the price that Joe Retail is paying for his coins. Of course, despite all the evidence out there against gold being a good investment in the near term, we all know that every time the U.S. economy has been in this type of situation, it results in hyperinflation. That's all that counts - don't bother with any of those other facts...
    Apr 19 08:04 AM | Link | Reply
  •  
    Several years ago you could buy an ounce of gold for less then $300. Now an ounce of gold is fetching slightly less then $900. What has changed since then? Peoples persecption of the value of the ultimate imutable store of value in relationship to the value of the dollar. The threat of hyperinflation and deflation have been tearing at the price of gold for the last year. The rubber band is getting tighter and tighter, and the potential is there for either option to happen. Fear usually trumps greed, especially during tough times, however in this case we have the fear of two evils working of the price of gold. The current rally in equities around the globe is certainly damaging the case for gold. A contiuation in this rally/bull market or even a blowoff in the equities will dramatically effect the price of gold to the down side.

    Holders of the ultimate fear investment should prepare for a little personal fear.
    Apr 19 08:41 AM | Link | Reply
  •  
    Companies come and go. Bonds default. Real estate gets an annual tax bill. Governments print money.

    You're right. Gold just sits there.
    Apr 19 09:03 AM | Link | Reply
  •  
    Well, gee now... Folks, this guy is entitled to his opinion, stop badgering him, no matter how goofy he sounds. Leave him alone, besides, I am trying to buy gold from him. Wait til I relieve him of all his 'scrap metal', THEN you can derail his mind.

    Well, u ask where the sellers come from... heh heh heh

    Capt Brian
    Apr 19 09:09 AM | Link | Reply
  •  
    In the article you state:
    "A violent sell-off in GLD will drive the prices of gold down dramatically unless a real buyer steps in".
    It would be beneficial to the reader if you could give a few reasonable scenario's that would cause a violent sell-off.
    Apr 19 09:10 AM | Link | Reply
  •  
    Your article reveals the basis of your thinking:

    "Gold is one of those weird assets where nobody knows what it is really worth. You cannot run discounted cash flow analysis to value it - it has no cash flows. It is an asset where perception and reality are deeply intertwined."

    Gold isn't weird at all. Gold has held its buying power over centuries. Even Greenspan admits that gold is the "ultimate extinguisher of debt". The fact that it has no cash flows is a frustration only to conventional economic thinkers (B schoolers, monetarists, etc). As far as perception and reality are concerned, maybe you could write your next article on the decision to "relax" FASB157 and return us to Enron-accounting "Mark to Fantasy" standards. Hey look! The banks are profitable!

    Economic "authorities" are trying to literally force money back into their rigged game so it can be stolen; any of you who think you can beat the "hot money" crowd by investing in stocks or even trading, be my guest. The markets are manipulated, up and down, and you are the bagholders. Gold is the "opt out".

    This is the greatest coordinated global reinflation effort in history, and it is obvious the PR effort is in full swing. No effort will be spared, including bashing the "opt out" play.
    Apr 19 09:24 AM | Link | Reply
  •  
    since the beginning of ancient civilizations gold was seen as a trading asset, and like any other asset its price is determined by supply and demand, because it is not practical or more difficult to trade the real bar of gold the GLD fund was created, this is to supposed to be in practical terms 'real gold' but represented as paper in the market, you can take it like a dollar pegged to gold like in the good old days before the bolshevik of FD Roosevelt depegged it to print money and pay post war world debt (what a crook!). Because currently they are printing dollar paper massively to give liquidity or solvency to a current very recessive market and because the dollar is not peg to anything of relative value, many people are filling in their bones that a massive inflation is coming due to a worthless dollar, if China and Japan dump the treasuries because of this forget it god save us all, they will buy gold for sure at least they will think that is better than a paper dollar even if it is sitting in their coffers at least it shines pretty.
    Apr 19 09:24 AM | Link | Reply
  •  
    Gold has fallen recently as stocks and bonds, the other end of the see-saw, have risen. But there's so much really bad news in the pipeline for those two asset classes that a turnabout is in the cards: A house of cards cannot endure an earthquake. When that happens, gold will resume its rise.
    Apr 19 09:30 AM | Link | Reply
  •  
    At what point does the dollar get re-valued?Or Replaced,by the Amero?What is the true value of a currency when the debts can't be re-paid?At what point does the leverage,400% of GDP(annual) become burdensome?Is the USA debt 13 trillion or 60 trillion?
    Is unemployment 8% or 18%(shadow stats).Is the USA producing jobs? ........on a path to energy independence?Physical responsibility?
    I happen to believe the end game is dollar devaluation.Precious metals offer some protection from the above,although all the manipulation by the powers that be can make it difficult to hold at times.BTW the dollar has lost 30% of it's purchasing power over just the last 7 yrs.......while gold was just sitting there doing it's job.
    Apr 19 09:30 AM | Link | Reply
  •  
    What lies ahead - inflation or deflation?

    bit.ly/10cMqY
    Apr 19 09:41 AM | Link | Reply
  •  
    the basic premise of your article is wrong.

    there's not enough gold in GLD to crown a tooth.

    Gold is for the apocalypse. Problem is your neighbor won't be selling his cow when you want it anyway.
    Apr 19 09:54 AM | Link | Reply
  •  
    "As I was watching CNBC" --collecting some very valuable tips on what to buy over the past 10 years--tech stocks, houses, Bear Stearns, Lehman, AIG. Has there ever been one of the talk hosts who warned of the impending disaster? We are waiting for a reply.

    This market has a "Rendezvous With Destiny." The end game is coming but not here yet. Then you will know why people buy gold, but the problem is that the listeners to CNBC will have nothing to buy it with.
    Apr 19 10:27 AM | Link | Reply
  •  
    there were times in history where the dollar was backed by gold. During that period, inflation was kept at bay. The risk for paper money is we can print a lot of it....

    gold is a store of value, paper currencies are an IOU's...

    many parts of the world, india/middle-east..., value gold. It is cultural, but it has been around for thousands of years!

    The article is short sighted in my opinion.
    Apr 19 11:09 AM | Link | Reply
  •  
    $ 700 pretty soon.
    Apr 19 11:10 AM | Link | Reply
  •  
    Please stop attacking every man/woman with a point of view. Yours is welcome too. It seems to me that this guy has Warren Buffet on his side. I hope that you have been doing better over the years.
    Apr 19 11:11 AM | Link | Reply
  •  
    GLD is a Ponzi scheme controlled/owned by banks. The only gold to buy is gold that you possess and perhaps some mining stock to gamble with. GLD is nothing more than a promissary note that is not backed by the US government. It is worse than the US dollar that are being printed around the clock. Only a fool buys GLD. Why give a crappy US currency dollars to buy a promissary GLD share from bank(s). Wise up, use crappy US dollars to buy physcical gold and silver. Bruno's 7 year old sister above has more brains than GLD buyers, just give a 7 year old girl the choice of a $1000 bill, a $1000 GLD stock certificate, or a one OZ St. Gaurdens Gold Coin. She will take the gold, and leave the fools holding worthless PAPER.
    Apr 19 11:14 AM | Link | Reply
  •  
    Over the last ten years, I have smoked Buffet. The days of buy and hold forever are over, unless you're talking about gold.


    On Apr 19 11:11 AM User 397650 wrote:

    > Please stop attacking every man/woman with a point of view. Yours
    > is welcome too. It seems to me that this guy has Warren Buffet on
    > his side. I hope that you have been doing better over the years.
    Apr 19 11:15 AM | Link | Reply
  •  
    So what is my safe haven buy? US Treasuries? “There is room for bulls and bears, but pigs get slaughtered,” said Peter Munk, the legendary founder and CEO of Barrick Gold, the world’s largest gold producer. This is his admonition to worshipers of the barbaric relic hoping for a quick super spike to $2,000 or $5,000 an ounce. Since 2003 gold has tripled from $300 to $1,000, outperforming every asset class in every currency, and he has no problem with it backing and filling here in a long term uptrend. The fundamentals look great, as the world is running out of the yellow metal. The industry used to be run by demand from the Indian wedding season. The current economic stress has made the country a net exporter of gold for the first time. Global jewelry demand is at a 20 year low. With the help of satellites, the world is pretty well mapped out, so there will be no more surprise Californias or Klondikes found. The only untapped reserves are in the Andes at 13,000 feet, or in countries too dangerous to visit. The cost of extraction has also doubled in ten years to $400/ounce, driven by labor, fuel, trucks, and environmental mitigation. Gold will only go down when the US government turns off its printing presses. With record stimulus packages in place, there is a fat chance of that happening in this lifetime. Ultimately, the price of gold is a barometer of fear, which will not be in short supply in the new era we are facing.
    Apr 19 11:16 AM | Link | Reply
  •  
    The average investor wasn't thinking much about gold until the recent stock market crash. You don't need gold when times are good. Gold is a good proxy for economic sentiment. Go ahead and short it. I'll still own it just in case I ever need it.
    Apr 19 11:19 AM | Link | Reply
  •  
    one more comment, there are applications for gold in chips for example . It does provide utility, durability, and beauty...
    Apr 19 11:22 AM | Link | Reply
  •  
    Gold has its 'mystics' and their self-validating credos just as every religion before the before. That is the strength of gold and its vulnerability. Its a 'storehouse' of wealth, until it isn't; just as for every value concept.
    Apr 19 11:42 AM | Link | Reply
  •  
    Gold was one of the gifts deemed worthy to present to the Christ child.... Betcha Mary didn't turn it into fiat roman dollars....
    Apr 19 11:58 AM | Link | Reply
  •  
    Ahhh, the gold bugs are on high alert again...wondering why gold hasn't shot up to $1200...or $2000...or whatever price they think is the "real" value. Sure, gold will never "default" like some of those "toxic" assets on the balance sheets of so many of our financial institutions...it's at least as big a mystery as to what those are worth too (but at least some of them, as I understand it, have a cash flow associated with them at the moment).

    My problem with gold right now is the price action. The bulls and bears are still battling it out...but it appears that the bears have the upper hand lately.

    What's an ounce of gold "really" worth? I have no idea what it'll be worth in three months...or three years. gdclarke asks the right question above...inflation or deflation? So far, I see no signs of inflation. As a hedge against, say, a "dollar collapse," I guess it makes sense...if the USD actually "collapses," it'll prove its worth. If it doesn't, then I have no idea what the "actual value" of gold will be in the future. Only time (and price) will tell.

    Still, the author - and Buffett - have a point...it IS a "weird asset." Maybe that's part of the allure...its value is so "mysterious."
    Apr 19 12:03 PM | Link | Reply
  •  
    Put a one ounce gold coin on a table beside an equivalent pile of pesos, lira, rubles or lev and ask any observer which one he would sooner take.

    Should the dollar begin to resemble any of this paper those who now doubt gold will quickly become believers. Gold holds value because it is so rare and will rise and hold value because the paper piles have simply grown into mountains.
    Apr 19 12:04 PM | Link | Reply
  •  
    Its my understanding that the IMF is sitting on a fairly tidy pile of gold. Given the growing problems in Eastern Europe, where the IMF has already lent a WHOLE lot of money, and might well need to lend more, its not out of the question that a sizeable chunk of their hoard might be sold to fund additional loans to "distressed" countries. (As an aside, various Western European banks have exposure to shaky Eastern European countries, so trouble in the East would spread quickly to the EU, hence the IMF's need to stamp out any financial brushfires before they spread.)


    On Apr 19 09:10 AM Philo Beddoe wrote:

    > In the article you state:
    > "A violent sell-off in GLD will drive the prices of gold down dramatically
    > unless a real buyer steps in".
    > It would be beneficial to the reader if you could give a few reasonable
    > scenario's that would cause a violent sell-off.
    Apr 19 12:07 PM | Link | Reply
  •  
    The reluctance of the Government of the US to provide proof of the actual gold reserves anywhere in our country and verifiable by anyone trustworthy for their word or even proof that ETF's actually have as much as they say they do, all remains to be seen. GATA is on the right track, and the Federal Reserve Corporation's paper will soon run out of value of any kind.


    On Apr 19 07:51 AM DONE_SONZ wrote:

    > And the reverse is true to the upside.Whats your point?
    Apr 19 12:11 PM | Link | Reply
  •  
    "The investment seeks to strive to reflect the performance of the price of gold bullion, less the Trust’s expenses. The Trust holds gold, and is expected to issue baskets in exchange for deposits of gold, and to distribute gold in connection with redemption of baskets. The gold held by the trust will only be sold on an as-needed basis to pay trust expenses, in the event the Trust terminates and liquidates its assets, or as otherwise required by law or regulation. The Trust is not managed like an active investment vehicle, and it's not registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940."
    GLD is backed by some gold, but how much? Is it buying 'air' like the great deal of a timeshare? If I was going to invest in gold it would be coins - something that couldn't be taken away by the government at a whim by an adminstration that values polar bears over it's citizens lives and livelyhoods.
    Short term gamble? GLD is as good as any slot machine in Vegas. Go for it or don't.
    Apr 19 12:13 PM | Link | Reply
  •  
    There is no seniorage with Gold, no need for Basel II or other regulation, its physical and not virtual like much of the equity in the finance sector.
    Apr 19 12:18 PM | Link | Reply
  •  
    "many parts of the world, india/middle-east..., value gold. It is cultural, but it has been around for thousands of years!"

    And India is buying gold as we speak. Using paper money that we give them for performing our outsourced jobs.

    Maybe we can use that money to keep warm some day or play Monopoly.
    Apr 19 12:30 PM | Link | Reply
  •  
    Gold is money, it is not an investment. It hasn't any sense to talk about gold's cash-flows.
    You prefer, as money, pieces of paper backed by politicians who have authorized, to a group of bankers, to create, from thin air, 500 pieces of paper for every one you give them as a deposit.
    Apr 19 12:39 PM | Link | Reply
  •  
    Consensus: Gold prices are stable and will probably always be a great investment for ever? Believe who you choose to, there are articles out there that give opinions for Gold to reach $2000-$3000.

    Doug T.....The mutual fund guy
    Go for the Gold--The bottom line matters
    www.mutualfundwealth.com/
    Apr 19 12:41 PM | Link | Reply
  •  
    Here we go again. It seems that when there are more than a couple correct answers to a question, serious polorazation takes place. Everyone is right in this discussion, including the author.

    Should the investing public continue getting out of the gold trade, then GDX may have to start liquidating its gold holdings and that may happen at the same time that the IMF and others will be manipulating the market for lower gold prices. Should this happen, then the price will fall like a rock. $500 or lower gold prices might well be in the picture.

    On the other hand, in the world wide fight to prevent a monster deflationary spiral, all the freshly printed fiat currency will produce massive inflation if, and only if, the money supply significantly increases velocity.

    Indeed, both scenerios could easily occur. First, a massive decline, and then, a moon shot to $2000 plus per oz of gold.

    Personally, I am not making predictions re what will happen. I was fortunate enough to ride AUY from gold's recent lows and after gold topped out at $1000 I got out at $950. Now I am waiting for the market to tell me when to get back in because I think there will be significant inflation in our future. I hope it will be much lower from here. It is all about timing. And both sides of the argument may well be correct.

    Good luck all.
    Apr 19 12:53 PM | Link | Reply
  •  
    As to who would be purchasing this "worthless relic", an you spell, "C-H-I-N-A"? For those sellers who wish to divest themselves of gold, the Chinese government is there to snap up what they are willing to sell. China only has less than 1% of its massive foreign exchange reserves in the form of gold. Look for them to be active, though silent, in acquiring a higher percentage, possibly a much higher percentage. This will occur in the background, and will not be trumpeted about, otherwise, those clever Chinese would have to be paying a much higher price.
    Apr 19 01:02 PM | Link | Reply
  •  
    Oh, one thing I forgot to mention. The author is indeed wrong in his basic premise. That premise being that the game in gold will end

    The game in gold has been going on for thousands of years. And while its price has gone up and down in relation to all currencies, especially fiat currencies, the game has never ended. Indeed, gold has essentially maintained its purchasing power in real terms (inflation adjusted) since the beginning of time.

    As an inflation hedge, it has historicaly had no equal. But that does not mean profits in real terms. So, the game goes on. Speculation on when it is relatively low and relatively high. Yup. Buy low and sell high if you are a bull and sell high and buy low if you are a bear. Yes, the gold game goes on.

    Good luck all.
    Apr 19 01:10 PM | Link | Reply
  •  
    Let me guess you are short gold? I think I have heard it all now.
    Apr 19 01:53 PM | Link | Reply
  •  
    Let me guess, you work for the PPT, and you have been tasked to control gold's pricing by any means.
    Apr 19 01:54 PM | Link | Reply
  •  
    NoFiatMoney has the right idea: "Gold is money, it is not an investment. It hasn't any sense to talk about gold's cash-flows.
    You prefer, as money, pieces of paper backed by politicians who have authorized, to a group of bankers, to create, from thin air, 500 pieces of paper for every one you give them as a deposit."

    Something most of you seem to be missing is rather simple but not commonly thought of: Gold does not EVER change price - it is the VALUE of the money changing against the Gold. Gold's purchasing power has not changed in any effective way in thousands of years. It is the money changing against the Gold - not the other way around.
    If you look at GLD's website and read the fine print - it says nothing about actually having Gold. It is a trade in derivatives and useless as a way of holding Gold. CEF (Central Fund of Canada Ltd) actually guarantees to hold real bullion (roughly 40% Gold and 60% Silver) and even tells you the premium you are currently paying to hold CEF as a Gold and Silver investment. They even pay an itty-bitty dividend instead of charging you a holding fee. Keep it in mind for the future.

    Apr 19 02:29 PM | Link | Reply
  •  
    I believe you may be referring to the two Hunt Brothers...


    On Apr 19 11:40 AM Amish Rake Fighter wrote:

    > Warren Buffet is full of shit, he tried to corner the silver market
    > in 1993 through a company called PhiBro.
    >
    > www.scribd.com/doc/142...
    >
    Apr 19 02:30 PM | Link | Reply
  •  
    Every central bank around the world is printing paper currency to deal with the bad debt in the form of sub-prime mortgage backed securities that was exported by Wall Street globally, after getting Fitch, Moody's and S & P to stamp this dreck AAA. Either the economy recovers and foments hyperinflation or we slip further into a morass of residential and commercial foreclosures. Gold wins in both scenarios, as the paper money devalues or in being seen as a safe haven. First come the foreclosures of homes, the biggest asset, then the auto loan defaults, and finally the unsecured credit card debt. The latter two have not shown up on banks balance sheets as yet. Not to mention the billions of dollars of short-term commercial paper that comes due over the next three years with little chance of it being refinanced as more retailers go bankrupt in an economy that is 2/3 driven by consumption. General Growth Properties, one of the biggest mall owners in the country, just declared bankruptcy. While there are televised ads for the purchase of gold coins , they seem to be outnumbered at least two to one by commercials offering to buy your gold jewelry. That type of anecdotal evidence leads me to believe gold has more upside. I guess we'll see what happens when home sales are reported this week.
    Apr 19 02:44 PM | Link | Reply
  •  
    Hence the case for calling for the fall of gold's value. If the government and press said "buy gold", they could not print money fast enough. So, they insist it is of no value. I think that corn or rice would be the ultimate store of value, but set them along side gold for a few years and see which one you can sell. Farm land is the utlimate store of value, gold is probably next.

    On Apr 19 09:24 AM Ishortyou wrote:

    > since the beginning of ancient civilizations gold was seen as a trading
    > asset, and like any other asset its price is determined by supply
    > and demand, because it is not practical or more difficult to trade
    > the real bar of gold the GLD fund was created, this is to supposed
    > to be in practical terms 'real gold' but represented as paper in
    > the market, you can take it like a dollar pegged to gold like in
    > the good old days before the bolshevik of FD Roosevelt depegged it
    > to print money and pay post war world debt (what a crook!). Because
    > currently they are printing dollar paper massively to give liquidity
    > or solvency to a current very recessive market and because the dollar
    > is not peg to anything of relative value, many people are filling
    > in their bones that a massive inflation is coming due to a worthless
    > dollar, if China and Japan dump the treasuries because of this forget
    > it god save us all, they will buy gold for sure at least they will
    > think that is better than a paper dollar even if it is sitting in
    > their coffers at least it shines pretty.
    Apr 19 02:55 PM | Link | Reply
  •  
    The coming inflation has already been priced into gold.

    So nobody knows (you may think you know, but you don't) if gold will go up or down from here.
    Apr 19 03:03 PM | Link | Reply
  •  
    Physical gold does not make since to own, since most people don't know how to value it. The average person can't tell the difference between 20k and 24k gold.

    Therefore, physical gold is a huge risk, since it's so hard to tell the true quality.
    Apr 19 03:05 PM | Link | Reply
  •  
    Gold has no real value, since it has no practical uses (that can't be done with something much cheaper).

    Real estate, oil, ammo all have a purpose. So they are stores of true value. Gold is only valued at what people decide it's worth, it is not a necessary part of living the good life.

    Gold won't pay your mortage, does not mow your lawn, you can not live in it, you can't run your car with it.

    For all practical purposes, physical gold is worthless.


    On Apr 19 02:55 PM realold wrote:

    > Hence the case for calling for the fall of gold's value. If the
    > government and press said "buy gold", they could not print money
    > fast enough. So, they insist it is of no value. I think that corn
    > or rice would be the ultimate store of value, but set them along
    > side gold for a few years and see which one you can sell. Farm
    > land is the utlimate store of value, gold is probably next.
    >
    > On Apr 19 09:24 AM Ishortyou wrote:
    Apr 19 03:07 PM | Link | Reply
  •  
    Just let GLD issue certificates in value of 1/20th oz each with the same transferability as say a Bearer Bond!!.

    And Voila!! The only legitimate monetary unit, or currency on this planet is Born!

    Everyone in their senses would be hoarding them, merchants would give you a discount for them, and the collective Screaming of Politicians and Bankers world-wide would be a joy to the ears.
    Apr 19 03:09 PM | Link | Reply
  •  
    That's what I've been thinking: GLD is the closest thing we have to a gold-backed currency.

    Yet, most gold bugs are quick to bash it (I guess because they are hoping people will rush to by physical and drive up the price?).

    Ican make money selling call against my GLD position, but I make zero cash on physical gold.

    I don't consider something an investment unless it generates incomes WITHOUT selling it. Since I can sell options against GLD to earn income, it is an investment.

    Physical gold, on the other hand, is pure speculation, because you can't earn income from it until you convert it back to greenbacks.

    Maybe if I could pay my taxes with gold eagles, I would change my views here. But as of now, gold eagles are only worth something because you can trade them in for dollars.


    On Apr 19 03:09 PM FDNY RET wrote:

    > Just let GLD issue certificates in value of 1/20th oz each with the
    > same transferability as say a Bearer Bond!!.
    >
    > And Voila!! The only legitimate monetary unit, or currency on this
    > planet is Born!
    >
    > Everyone in their senses would be hoarding them, merchants would
    > give you a discount for them, and the collective Screaming of Politicians
    > and Bankers world-wide would be a joy to the ears.
    Apr 19 03:16 PM | Link | Reply
  •  
    "Hm. short gold aint the way to go if you're looking for fun. Still long education, and road trips. Way long. I'm averaged down more than you would think reasonably prudent. As far as the GLD goes, it might just be worse than the SKF's of this world. But only because it has a supernova behind it in FORT KNOX!"

    -J. Gramer

    This guy cracks me up, so I'm spreading the word. But as a curious fifth party, how many GLD's does it take to buy fort knox? Any takers?
    Apr 19 03:33 PM | Link | Reply
  •  
    he's not referring to the hunt brothers, who tried to corner the silver market around 30 years ago (and nearly succeeded). buffett made a large investment in silver around the time referred to...but i wouldn't say he tried to "corner" it.


    On Apr 19 02:30 PM don miguel wrote:

    > I believe you may be referring to the two Hunt Brothers...
    Apr 19 03:52 PM | Link | Reply
  •  
    Sigh. This kid is clearly misrepresenting my quotes. I'm old as dirt, and the computer makes me tired. I'll try "blogging" tomorrow.

    J. Gramer - Representation of the Prokaryotic side of investing

    "The organization aint really organized" - Donovan (not frankerfurter)
    Apr 19 04:01 PM | Link | Reply
  •  
    You could make that same statement for ANY investment, people are buying it and running it up, but when they stop, watch out, it is going to go lower. EVERYTHING works that way, from steel,stock, cars, food or any collectable. Anything with a value is dependent on buyers and sellers.

    As for the GLD, yes, it makes it easier to buy it, but why shouldn't it be easier to buy a commodity. You are not arguing anything, yet you are trying to say gold is overpriced. Next time, say "Gold is overpriced, here's why..." and go from there instead of making some ridiculous statement, that is designed to drag everyone in talking about if gold is overpriced or not, which you have not given any information about.
    Apr 19 04:42 PM | Link | Reply
  •  
    Because GLD holds gold (or at least we think), to me it's the sames as buying/selling gold. If people lose faith in all other financial investments - paper money, real estate, equities, t bills - then where else are they going to put their money? Gold I think will end up being the last place of value for people, especially since it looks like we are entering into an inflationary recession.

    I think gold will be a frustrating investment this year as other commodities catch up, but once that happens, I'm betting it will take off again.
    Apr 19 05:43 PM | Link | Reply
  •  
    Well, the author suceeded in accomplishing what he set out to do. Rile some feathers! Its easy when you know little to nothing about a subject and then make some stupid comments or assertions about the subject. Then, just wait for the posters to flood the void. Most of the posters have it right, simply, gold (and silver) are to accumulate and hold. For not to do that is REALLY stupid! Inflation, deflation, manipulation, all of it be damned. When the time comes, those holding gold and silver will be infinitely better to go forward than those with empty hands, er, dollars.

    As for CNBC, ABC, NBC and their ilk (EXCEPT FOX) they are all media WHORES! (Oh, oh, I may get banned for that) But, the truth hurts...and it will set you free! For those estute posters, keep buying, and for the so inclined, better hurry, because the day of reckoning (dollar demise) is near! God Bless us all...(except, the media W...above.)
    Apr 19 07:23 PM | Link | Reply
  •  
    I think you want to be in the same position as the world's central banks: owning gold.

    "Gold is money, and nothing else." -- J.P. Morgan

    I'll take ol' J.P. at his word.
    Apr 19 08:52 PM | Link | Reply
  •  
    The whole idea of investing in Gold always has made no sense to me. Yet it gets pumped all the time by the media. I'd like to see you go buy something with your hunk of metal... slap it down on the counter and ask for change. Its only worth what someone is willing to pay for it... kinda like selling an old car.

    As far as you know, it could be one big scam. How is it they have a limitless inventory of it? It can't be worth that much if there is so much of it.
    Apr 19 08:53 PM | Link | Reply
  •  
    Warren Buffet sold into the rising price of silver caused by the formation of the etf slv. and made a ton of money. How anyone thinks they are smart enough to second guess Warren Buffet confuses me.


    On Apr 19 11:40 AM Amish Rake Fighter wrote:

    > Warren Buffet is full of shit, he tried to corner the silver market
    > in 1993 through a company called PhiBro.
    >
    > www.scribd.com/doc/142...
    >
    Apr 19 08:58 PM | Link | Reply
  •  
    Warren Buffet sold into the rising price of silver caused by the formation of the etf slv. and made a ton of money. How anyone thinks they are smart enough to second guess Warren Buffet confuses me.


    On Apr 19 11:40 AM Amish Rake Fighter wrote:

    > Warren Buffet is full of shit, he tried to corner the silver market
    > in 1993 through a company called PhiBro.
    >
    > www.scribd.com/doc/142...
    >
    Apr 19 08:58 PM | Link | Reply
  •  
    "As far as you know, it could be one big scam. How is it they have a limitless inventory of it? It can't be worth that much if there is so much of it."

    Oh.... you must be talking about paper money.

    (Hehe ... sorry, I couldn't resist.)
    Apr 19 09:00 PM | Link | Reply
  •  
    You seem dazed and confused, stick to something simpler or do some research before trying to give an opinion. From your question/ comment it is clear that you posess few facts. This doesn't mean that you are wrong,but you do seem uninformed.


    On Apr 19 08:53 PM JC700 wrote:

    > The whole idea of investing in Gold always has made no sense to me.
    > Yet it gets pumped all the time by the media. I'd like to see you
    > go buy something with your hunk of metal... slap it down on the counter
    > and ask for change. Its only worth what someone is willing to pay
    > for it... kinda like selling an old car.
    >
    > As far as you know, it could be one big scam. How is it they have
    > a limitless inventory of it? It can't be worth that much if there
    > is so much of it.
    Apr 19 09:05 PM | Link | Reply
  •  
    Do you know that smoking is bad for you?? The wacky-tobacky is even worse. Take care of your health Vitaliy.

    regards
    Apr 19 09:53 PM | Link | Reply
  •  
    Until the World sees an unbiased, simultaneous, independently audited inventory of the gold hoard at Ft. Knox, West Point and the basement of the NY Fed, there can be no question that our faith in the honesty of our Government is one sided! Seems simple to allay our fears; DO the audit!!!
    Apr 19 10:06 PM | Link | Reply
  •  
    Nobody twists anyones arm to buy gold. Besides there simply is not enough of it to go around for everyone as an investment. For those that see value in it they enjoy it, myself included. It is kinda like owning property. It just sits there. You hope it goes up and since they are not making any more you assume it will. Doesn't seem to be working for a lot of people right now however.

    Gold on the other hand seems to be doing fine, not poorly, not spectacularly. Just fine, and that is the whole point in owning it. NOTHING else I own is doing fine.
    Apr 19 10:06 PM | Link | Reply
  •  
    If you want to audit the Fed (which will include auditing the gold reserve), now is your chance: Tell your congressman to support HR1207, which just now went into committee.

    Google "end the fed" to find out the particulars.

    If you can write on this blog, you can write to your congressman and ask for his/her support of this bill.

    And then, tell your friends and relatives to do the same.

    On Apr 19 10:06 PM gatoralsoccer wrote:

    > Until the World sees an unbiased, simultaneous, independently audited
    > inventory of the gold hoard at Ft. Knox, West Point and the basement
    > of the NY Fed, there can be no question that our faith in the honesty
    > of our Government is one sided! Seems simple to allay our fears;
    > DO the audit!!!
    Apr 19 10:18 PM | Link | Reply
  •  
    “It gets printed on a piece of paper with ink in the U.S., or someplace. Then we say it is backed by the credibility of the government and worth something, and keep printing more and more increasing the supply and say it is worth something, then print some more while they laugh at us because we call it money. Anyone watching from Mars would be scratching their head.” - Me

    Yeah, Buffet, you are a genious...I have a piece of paper I would love to sell you...how would you like some Wiemar paper, how about some continentals? LOL, I hear you are a buyer of OTC derivatives, now there is some good paper for ya....hee hee hee
    Apr 19 10:27 PM | Link | Reply
  •  
    The goldbugs are amusing.

    Inflation, by definition, can not occur during a massive monetary contraction.

    Enjoy your gold though. Its a nice plaything.
    Apr 19 10:31 PM | Link | Reply
  •  
    Story leaked out by PTB that Chinese counterfeiting Gold & Silver coins in China? Finish so good that even experienced dealers fooled. Lead cores... Time this leak correctly with the next drop in the equities market and you have (gold) investors running around like chickens with their heads cut off...


    On Apr 19 09:10 AM Philo Beddoe wrote:

    > In the article you state:
    > "A violent sell-off in GLD will drive the prices of gold down dramatically
    > unless a real buyer steps in".
    > It would be beneficial to the reader if you could give a few reasonable
    > scenario's that would cause a violent sell-off.
    Apr 19 11:20 PM | Link | Reply
  •  
    oops
    Apr 19 11:23 PM | Link | Reply
  •  
    India is not buying gold. In November-December India bought about 10% of what they bought in a year before. In the first quarter India did not import an ounce! They started buying in April, so far it's 50% compared to a year ago.

    Disclosure: short gold by holding DGZ (i.e. sold to you).

    On Apr 19 12:30 PM Dotcom wrote:

    > "many parts of the world, india/middle-east..., value gold. It is
    > cultural, but it has been around for thousands of years!"
    >
    > And India is buying gold as we speak. Using paper money that we
    > give them for performing our outsourced jobs.
    >
    > Maybe we can use that money to keep warm some day or play Monopoly.
    >
    Apr 19 11:38 PM | Link | Reply
  •  
    Which is precisely why the price fluctuations are quite mild compared to those of equities, bond yields and real estate prices.

    I have always found gold to have a use in investing, though I consider it to be boring.


    On Apr 19 09:03 AM yellowhoard wrote:

    > Companies come and go. Bonds default. Real estate gets an annual
    > tax bill. Governments print money.
    >
    > You're right. Gold just sits there.
    Apr 20 01:28 AM | Link | Reply
  •  
    Except paper money can actually be used to by something.

    Physical gold has no value for most people because only a small percentage of people know how to the quality.

    I certainly can't tell the different between 22k and 24k gold, or even 18k. Therefore, I would never pay much for a gold coin.

    So if society breaks down, your ammo will hold value, your coins will not (because there will be no expert around to tell what's its worth).


    On Apr 19 09:00 PM mv1001 wrote:

    > "As far as you know, it could be one big scam. How is it they have
    > a limitless inventory of it? It can't be worth that much if there
    > is so much of it."
    >
    > Oh.... you must be talking about paper money.
    >
    > (Hehe ... sorry, I couldn't resist.)
    Apr 20 01:39 AM | Link | Reply
  •  
    There you go.. So when dollar tanks, Indian will be paying the same amount or less for gold but in terms of dollar, don’t you think, it will be like 2k/oz (if dollar devaluates by half)... gold is not an investment, it’s to preserve and hold purchasing power of your capital (i.e. results of your productivity to this society that you have earned). During inflation, I know my gold will hold its value against the inflated prices. In deflation, at least I know I can buy same good, say, both price of goods and gold goes down. It seems very simple logic to me

    Now, you tell me what you would do by selling gold and holding the dollar. Buy over inflated real estate? Buy insolvent banks or stocks? Give money to govt who might default if not print? Put money under mattress only to know that the price of everything else may rise? Or, put it somewhere, like gold where hundreds of years of history is there to back up your capital.
    .


    On Apr 19 11:38 PM Alex Filonov wrote:

    > India is not buying gold. In November-December India bought about
    > 10% of what they bought in a year before. In the first quarter India
    > did not import an ounce! They started buying in April, so far it's
    > 50% compared to a year ago.
    >
    > Disclosure: short gold by holding DGZ (i.e. sold to you).
    >
    > On Apr 19 12:30 PM Dotcom wrote:
    Apr 20 02:00 AM | Link | Reply
  •  
    All the debate and questioning of (GLD). Let me say this, "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush". Having said that ill take my gold coins please, you can have your (GLD).
    Apr 20 03:11 AM | Link | Reply
  •  
    from two separate posts:

    >Since 2003 gold has tripled from $300 to $1,000, outperforming every asset class in every currency

    >BTW the dollar has lost 30% of it's purchasing power over just the last 7 yrs.....

    So $1000 is now $700 and your $300 input is worth $700 in buying power today not the face value $1000. But the arguement is Gold prevents buying power loss.... not so

    Apr 20 03:45 AM | Link | Reply
  •  
    when gold was $1000, cramer said he was bullish and gold would continue to rally. i'v been shorting ever since then. made a killing. thx cramer. excellent article Vitaliy, my sentiments exactly. we are experiencing relative deflation. everything on the planet is cheaper. in order to maintain precious revenue streams, people are cutting assett prices. gas, real estate, equities are all cheaper. the miners and companies that hold gold are going to have to sell gold for ever cheaper as they to compete with eachother. and as equities continue to reboundtraders are going to get out of gold in order to participate, putting further downward pressure on gold. if inflation kicks-in making everything more expensive (gas, real estate, stocks) i'd rather be in stocks than gold.

    gold 770 by late june
    Apr 20 03:53 AM | Link | Reply
  •  
    Holding physical gold has benefits during inflationary times, like what we are going to soon experience.

    Holding paper gold issued by most American financial entities like GLD is foolhardy, since most of us have already learned how trustworthy our financial institutions are. Do you trust that every certificate of GLD is fully backed? Better yet, can you be sure that the U.S.Gov't isn't manipulating the paper gold markets to protect the currency? Can you afford to be wrong when our currency or economy collapses?

    If you want to hold paper gold, use Canadian funds like CEF or GTU; theirs is fully backed. Besides, the U.S.Gov't cannot confiscate that when (not IF) the time comes.
    Apr 20 04:01 AM | Link | Reply
  •  
    "Physical gold has no value for most people because only a small percentage of people know how to the quality. I certainly can't tell the different between 22k and 24k gold, or even 18k. Therefore, I would never pay much for a gold coin."

    1. All gold coins (except rare fractionals, which are easily distinguished by being either half or a quarter or a tenth of an ounce) contain one ounce of gold (plus a small amount of alloys for strength). The weight is stamped on the coin. (The coin can be easily weighed on a postage scale or kitchen scale if necessary.) So it's easy to value a coin based on the current price of an ounce of gold. In Argentina, the general public even accepts links from gold chains in payment, so coins would be easier to trade.

    2. It's not necessary for gold coins to function as a medium of exchange among the public. They would be a store of value that could be cashed in for the current medium of exchange via dealers. If a currency started to devalue rapidly, pawn shops, coin shops, flea-market traders, and even eBay traders would buy gold coins in exchange for, e.g., the devaluing currency itself, or pre-1964 silver coins, or trade goods like batteries.

    3. Coin counterfeits are rare, and can be easily detected with the use of a scale and dimension gauge. There is even something called the Fisch device that does the job automatically. Here's the link:
    www.fisch.co.za/princi...

    The proof of the pudding is in Argentina and Zimbabwe.
    Apr 20 04:15 AM | Link | Reply
  •  
    Has there ever been one of the talk hosts who warned
    > of the impending disaster? ---- see Google for Peter Schiff, he's on many programs and YouTube videos you can watch -- he hit the bursting bubbles perfectly, and was chided by all the "experts" at the time.


    On Apr 19 10:27 AM Reserved For Fire wrote:

    > "As I was watching CNBC" --collecting some very valuable tips on
    > what to buy over the past 10 years--tech stocks, houses, Bear Stearns,
    > Lehman, AIG. Has there ever been one of the talk hosts who warned
    > of the impending disaster? We are waiting for a reply.
    >
    > This market has a "Rendezvous With Destiny." The end game is coming
    > but not here yet. Then you will know why people buy gold, but the
    > problem is that the listeners to CNBC will have nothing to buy it
    > with.
    Apr 20 05:28 AM | Link | Reply
  •  
    Can you even believe that this guy listened to or believes the cheer leaders at CNBC. The same people who day in and day out continued to tell people to buy in the market as it dropped from 14,200 to the lovely levels we have today. Thank you Squawk Box thru Cramer.

    Gold has been around forever. It was a currency standard and is still considered an inflation buster. This author must be from some other planet.

    Folks, if you don't own gold or gold mining stock get some. We are gonna see levels of Jimmy Carter inflation 15%-22%. You cannot print $7 trillion dollars and not have inflation.

    I don't care what Bernanke says, there is no way he will be able to guage when he can turn the interest rate faucet on and off to stop this from happening. He will always be behind the curve and cannot predict this.
    Apr 20 08:14 AM | Link | Reply
  •  
    Katsenelson writes: "Gold is one of those weird assets where nobody knows what it is really worth."

    Mmm...sounds like a lot of banks, or US currency trades. Gold will be worth whatever someone who has it says its worth to someone who doesnt have it. In the "New World Order" constructed by the banks supply and demand will be irrelevant. And BTW, who says GLD has any real gold anyways....no one reliable has audited their physical holdings.
    Apr 20 09:49 AM | Link | Reply
  •  
    I think this would have been a more interesting article if it had been titled "How the DJIA game will end" or "How the NASDAQ game will end" or "How the S&P500 game will end".

    Earnings are a crapshoot right now. The trailing earnings are meaningless now, and nobody knows what the future earnings will be. If what we're seeing from the banks right now is any example, there will be a lot of book cooking in the next few months.
    Apr 20 10:53 AM | Link | Reply
  •  
    If you buy gold ETFs because you think there's going to be a real global collapse, be prepared for those ETFs to not have the gold you thought. Or, be prepared for your government to confiscate (by high tax or a thug at the door) your holdings.

    Yes, I wish I had 10 lbs. of gold at $300. But I don't. What I do have is a distrust of the global markets right now and confidence deficit spending is a Ponzi scheme.
    Apr 20 01:33 PM | Link | Reply
  •  
    Yeah, right, Warren. I'm sure you don't have a few dozen Krugerrands, Vienna Philharmonics, and Chinese Pandas of the barbarous relic in your safe. Besides, why would we think you would be bullish on gold?- all of your skin is in the equities game...

    We need to stop putting credence in what these guys say, people- all you have to have is one good eye to read the data and half-a-brain to interpret it. Go to shadowstats.com. Go to the Fed webpage. Look at the numbers. Yes, CPI is down- the Clinton-era-BLS-manipu... numbers, that is- but money just keeps being printed. Good for the government CPI-adjusted transfer payments, better for the government in private sector wealth confiscation. But I digress... National output is disintegrating, and has been for a few decades on real terms. The only thing bullish for the dollar is the bearishness of the monies on the other side of its basket. And if the IMF sells gold as Tax Cheat Timmy has been advising it to, that's only long-term bullish for the private gold-holders. One less government entity to manipulate prices...

    Gold is an insurance policy, and physical gold only. GLD is the worst of all worlds- traceable by the IRS, dubious in its holdings, managed by banksters. If you want to have real alpha, buy gold equities or leveraged futures instruments. Silver is probably even more bullish. But absurd articles like this one are a waste of everyone's time.
    Apr 20 02:29 PM | Link | Reply
  •  
    For being described as a "wierd asset", forgive my sounding a bit simplistic, but I was taught early on the "value" of an oz of ag / au in US terms was roughly equivalent to an hour vs a week of "labor". This becomes interesting when one views the number of hours a "week" of labor is equated with when the ratio of ag / au changes from a socially acceptable 40 hour work week to where it currently is trading in the 65-70:1 range. (900/13) Trading ratios of ag / au are a much better barameter of the value a society places on labor I think, and also help take some of the "mystery" out of the materials as true "currency".
    Apr 20 03:08 PM | Link | Reply
  •  
    Last time I checked, gold was not edible.

    It's better than paper money but certainly is not an absolute form of value.

    What you have to realize is we are all inside of this system. Trying to plan for what happens after the system collapses while you are still inside of it is impossible. Buy some guns and some canned food and then get back to playing this game!
    Apr 20 03:37 PM | Link | Reply
  •  
    You only have to read a couple books on the history and the role gold has played in acting as a currency hedge. Gold has an intrinsic value that will always have worth. A currency such as the dollar is nothing more than a piece of paper which is an IOU. If the dollar gets devalued either voluntarily or involuntarily then owning gold provides protection or insurance against the deprecation of a currencies worth. Gold is an international commodity not subject to the whims of a failing governmental economy unless it is confiscated. That of course isn't out of the question. Everybody should hold a certain amount of gold in their portfolio. There are several recent and historical examples of what happens when a currency gets out of control. Gold eventually has a way of tracking dollar debasement. (printing money) Examine the history of Germany,China,Uruguay and Chile as examples of what can happen when the currency gets into trouble. Looking after your money. LOL.
    Apr 20 06:28 PM | Link | Reply
  •  
    There is absolutely nothing weird about gold having perceved value, but no utility. ALL value is strictly a symbolic attribute. We decide collectively and individually what something is worth, based on internal human perceptions. It might be emotional, nostalgic, utilitarian, speculative ... whatever.
    A Picasso can be worth millions, certain Ferraris the same. But my drawings aren't worth as much as a Kia. Even little pieces of paper with strange pictures printing on them in green ink have value. Value is ALL symbolic, ALL perception.
    Gold has held a perception of value for thousands of years, and still does. Why do you think tons of it are put into guarded vaults the location of which is kept secret? People (lots of them) still think its valuable. Who cares if the value is merely symbolic? That's true of everything.
    You would die in 3 minutes without air, yet air is free because it's not rare, it's everywhere. Gold is rare.
    Oil has value, but only when its burned and converted into energy. Oil is efemeral, you always need to pump more because its always gone. 95% of the gold ever mined is still in human possession. Gold is permanent.
    A perfect apple has value, but let it sit around a few weeks, and it's garbage. Gold doesn't tarnish, or rust.
    Governments print symbolic value onto paper, but when they need a little extra, the temptation to just print more is irresistible. You can't print gold.
    Actually the non-utility of gold is what makes it a good monetary instrument. It is a REPOSITORY, because its never consumed.
    Apr 20 07:55 PM | Link | Reply
  •  
    Vitaly ................ NUTS!
    Apr 20 08:12 PM | Link | Reply
  •  
    See comment below.

    Where you been, man? What do you think FDR did in 1932? He made it a federal crime for U.S. citizens to own, hold, or trade gold, and decreed by an overnight Presidential Order that it immediately had to be turned in for paper dollars--and at a low rent rate, too. Good lord, where you been?


    "If I was going to invest in gold it would be coins - something that couldn't be taken away by the government at a whim by an adminstration that values polar bears over it's citizens lives and livelyhoods."
    Apr 20 08:39 PM | Link | Reply
  •  
    Right. Just like Britain sold off its gold when the price was low.


    On Apr 19 12:07 PM old trader wrote:

    > Its my understanding that the IMF is sitting on a fairly tidy pile
    > of gold. Given the growing problems in Eastern Europe, where the
    > IMF has already lent a WHOLE lot of money, and might well need to
    > lend more, its not out of the question that a sizeable chunk of their
    > hoard might be sold to fund additional loans to "distressed" countries.
    > (As an aside, various Western European banks have exposure to shaky
    > Eastern European countries, so trouble in the East would spread quickly
    > to the EU, hence the IMF's need to stamp out any financial brushfires
    > before they spread.)
    Apr 20 09:30 PM | Link | Reply
  •  
    First, it was 1933. Second, only fools and "patriots" actually obeyed, which is part of the reason why one can still purchase many pre-1933 gold coins at a modest premium above spot. Third, not a single person was ever actually jailed under the absurd and unconstitutional law.

    On Apr 20 08:39 PM wg wrote:

    > See comment below.
    >
    > Where you been, man? What do you think FDR did in 1932? He made it
    > a federal crime for U.S. citizens to own, hold, or trade gold, and
    > decreed by an overnight Presidential Order that it immediately had
    > to be turned in for paper dollars--and at a low rent rate, too. Good
    > lord, where you been?
    >
    >
    > "If I was going to invest in gold it would be coins - something that
    > couldn't be taken away by the government at a whim by an adminstration
    > that values polar bears over it's citizens lives and livelyhoods."
    Apr 20 10:30 PM | Link | Reply
  •  
    The only way I'm giving up my gold is if I have to cast it into bullets...but then that means I'm out of lead and silver too. Amish Rake Fighter- my friend Buddhist Aura Wrestler wants a crack at you.
    Apr 20 11:35 PM | Link | Reply
  •  

    arabianmoney.net/2009/.../
    Apr 21 06:11 AM | Link | Reply
  •  
    I think I found a better fear investment than gold.
    At a business conference last week, a good ol' boy with a bunch of Texas pins on his vest stepped on the elevator with me. He'd just come back from a "tea party" tax protest. I commented on his pins, and somehow the conversation turned to guns and how he was having a hard time finding ammo for his various firearms. Everyone's been buying it up, he said, hoarding because they are afraid that Obama and Pelosi are going to take away their guns and ammo. Now, I don't believe for a minute that the Dems have the desire or ability to take away our guns and ammo. But obviously enough people believe it to drive up the stock price of gun manufacturers. And enough people are buying up ammo to make it harder to get. Personally, I don't see much difference in hoarding mentality whether its old ladies buying beanie babies and canning lids, or militia wannabes grabbing MREs, gold and guns for their bomb shelter. Eventually people and the market tire of calling for the end of the world. But I've learned to never underestimate stupidity. Panic buying tends to drive prices much higher than anyone expects. But finally the bottom falls out just when all the hoarders are feeling very smug and secure. Can you pick the peak of stupidity? I know I can't.
    Apr 21 09:36 AM | Link | Reply
  •  
    Thanks for the heads up.


    On Apr 21 06:11 AM Peter Cooper wrote:

    >
    > arabianmoney.net/2009/.../
    >
    Apr 21 10:07 AM | Link | Reply
  •  
    Read Arabianmoney article and since I own gold and silver I wouldn't mind if they are right. Although if you go to Elliott Wave International they are predicting the run DOWN in gold and silver has a long way to go. On the guns and bullets discussion... the source of that bull market has as much to do with the desire of liberals to restrict gun ownership as it does right wing paranoia. The anti-gun crowd often points out that EVEN IF the constitution prohibits outlawing gun ownership it says nothing about controlling or regulating bullets (maybe a nice little $5 per bullet product liability tax). I will admit that alot of the blooming paranoias (in both political camps) comes to nothing, but often that is because the other side pushes back as hard or harder. If you want to discuss the mother of paranoias let's spend about a week on global warming (oops...I mean climate change). Lock and load people.
    Apr 21 11:17 AM | Link | Reply
  •  
    I hate having to deal with owning gold now, but it is not going away until governments stop printing paper. Buffet is right, it just sits there, doesn't pay a dividend, etc., but you need to face reality and there is risk of the major currencies being debased. John Paulson is bought up AU and Einhorn is heavy in GLD. I may disagree, but would not want to bet against them right now.
    Apr 21 03:06 PM | Link | Reply
  •  

    I Short You,

    What are people "filling in their bones" with? I HOPE it's calcium and marrow!

    On Apr 19 09:24 AM Ishortyou wrote:

    > since the beginning of ancient civilizations gold was seen as a trading
    > asset, and like any other asset its price is determined by supply
    > and demand, because it is not practical or more difficult to trade
    > the real bar of gold the GLD fund was created, this is to supposed
    > to be in practical terms 'real gold' but represented as paper in
    > the market, you can take it like a dollar pegged to gold like in
    > the good old days before the bolshevik of FD Roosevelt depegged it
    > to print money and pay post war world debt (what a crook!). Because
    > currently they are printing dollar paper massively to give liquidity
    > or solvency to a current very recessive market and because the dollar
    > is not peg to anything of relative value, many people are filling
    > in their bones that a massive inflation is coming due to a worthless
    > dollar, if China and Japan dump the treasuries because of this forget
    > it god save us all, they will buy gold for sure at least they will
    > think that is better than a paper dollar even if it is sitting in
    > their coffers at least it shines pretty.
    Apr 22 03:04 AM | Link | Reply
  •  
    "Gold is one of those weird assets where nobody knows what it is really worth. You cannot run discounted cash flow analysis to value it - it has no cash flows. It is an asset where perception and reality are deeply intertwined."

    How about turning that around - "dollars are one of those weird assets than no one knows what they are worth"

    Except we do know right now $900 will buy an oz of gold.
    Apr 22 04:06 AM | Link | Reply
  •  
    What an ignorant view. This guy obviously knows nothing about history. He is looking at the tree, not the forest. Gold has been considered "real" money for 6,000 years. It has intrinsic value. When people begin to lose faith in the US Dollar and then ultimately all paper currencies, that $100 bill in your pocket will be worth the price it costs to produce it: $0! This "experiment" of backing a piece of paper by nothing tangible is about to end. It had a 40 year run. The Roman Empire began its collapse when they began to debase their currency as well. We are doing it on a much larger scale. Modern day printing presses print FAST!
    Apr 22 10:01 AM | Link | Reply
  •  
    Here is how I see it:

    - You think the world is going to end, you should buy real gold and gold jewellry (and bullets)

    - If you think we may go inflationary and devalue the dollar, and want a hedge investment then GLD, or an equivalent investment probably works

    - If you want a metal with historical value like gold, but that has more of an industrial flare, buy silver or SLV/equivalent (think Buffet, or the Hunts in 1980)
    Apr 22 11:52 AM | Link | Reply
  •  
    So let me ask all you gold fanatics out there: When Armageddon comes, and your gold eagles are worth $40,000 (or so) apiece, what are you going to buy with it? Who's going to give you change at the grocery store for that much money? The truth is, in the scenario you're saving it for, there won't be anyone you can do business with. The gold will be worth so much more than the goods you need, there will be no practical way to exchange it. And the idea that the gold standard prevents systemic economic meltdown is unsupported by history. Did you ever hear of the panic of 1907? or 1896? We were on the gold standard then, and a lot of good it did us.
    Apr 22 01:01 PM | Link | Reply
  •  
    Warren said:

    “It gets dug out of the ground in Africa, or someplace. Then we melt it down, dig another hole, bury it again and pay people to stand around guarding it. It has no utility. Anyone watching from Mars would be scratching their head.” - Warren Buffett

    And I say:

    "It gets printed up on paper everywhere. Then we pass it around, put it in a tottering bank, and pay people to stand around pretending to guard it while it loses value daily. It has no utility. Anyone from Mars watching anyone who listens to Warren Buffet would be scratching their head." - Justice Kinky
    Apr 22 04:02 PM | Link | Reply
  •  
    The fact that many have doubled or tripled their money in a period of a little over a year would be one very likely cause of a selloff. The folks that are long in gold right now sound very similar to the folks buying oil at $140 per BRL less than a year ago.


    On Apr 19 09:10 AM Philo Beddoe wrote:

    > In the article you state:
    > "A violent sell-off in GLD will drive the prices of gold down dramatically
    > unless a real buyer steps in".
    > It would be beneficial to the reader if you could give a few reasonable
    > scenario's that would cause a violent sell-off.
    Apr 22 05:59 PM | Link | Reply
  •  
    Rather than read the 80 whippings the author has likely taken by now, or any complaints to the contrary!

    I will just say as per National Geographic of all sources...."all the Gold ever mined still exists and would not fill two olympic size swimming pools".

    The US government(s) on the other hand created several Trillion new dollars in the last few months.......hmmmm....... would the scarcity be.....?

    Apr 22 10:55 PM | Link | Reply
  •  
    “It gets dug out of the ground in Africa, or someplace. Then we melt it down, dig another hole, bury it again and pay people to stand around guarding it. It has no utility. Anyone watching from Mars would be scratching their head.” - Warren Buffett

    If Buffett was saying this jokingly, one could understand. Otherwise, he does not understand what real money is. To paraphrase JP Morgan, "Gold is money, and nothing else."

    Thousands of years of human history demonstrate the 'intrinsic' value of gold and silver as money, and after less than a hundred years of fiat currency, someone wants to say, "Suddenly, perception of not being a store of value will create a reality of gold not being a store of value. The gold game will be over." What a joke!!!
    Apr 23 11:17 PM | Link | Reply
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    Whether it was dug up 2,000 years ago or yesterday, Gold is still around. Civilizations long gone used it. They are gone, it remains.

    Take the hint.
    Apr 21 06:51 AM | Link | Reply
  •  
    Exactly right. History tells us that fiat monies last an average of 75 years before the currency collapses and has to be replaced. Check the books and figure out how long the Dollar has been around. "This time is different" is usually wrong.


    On Apr 22 10:55 PM Hmm?! wrote:

    > Rather than read the 80 whippings the author has likely taken by
    > now, or any complaints to the contrary!
    >
    > I will just say as per National Geographic of all sources...."all
    > the Gold ever mined still exists and would not fill two olympic size
    > swimming pools".
    >
    > The US government(s) on the other hand created several Trillion new
    > dollars in the last few months.......hmmmm....... would the scarcity
    > be.....?
    >
    Nov 15 06:58 PM | Link | Reply