Russian gold reserves, at nearly 40 million ounces, are now fifth largest in the world. Like China, Russia is likely to underreport its gold reserve accumulation.
If and when Greece finally defaults it will be able to place the blame squarely at the feet of the European elites.If an agreement has not been reached by Friday when the Eurogroup of Finance Ministers meet in Riga it is quite likely that Greece will default.
Sentiment in general remains poor and all the focus is on gold's weakness in dollar terms, despite gold's strong gains in euro terms in 2014 and so far in 2015. Poor sentiment is of course bullish from a contrarian perspective and suggests all the froth has been washed out of the gold market.
* Fall 2015 turning point - civil unrest and riots globally says forecaster Armstrong * European banks will collapse and “blood in the streets” * Advocates diversification and holding bullion coins familiar to public such as $20 gold coins * “Your portfolio has got to include everything … including bullion”
There appears to have been a shocking lapse in security surrounding the Easter weekend heist. The security lapse reflects badly both on the company and on the police. Holding tangible assets outside of the fragile banking system is a risky exercise, if the manner in which those assets are stored is not thoroughly secure and fully insured.
The monetary gun is shot and the Fed is out of ammo with little options should we have a new recession or a new financial crisis - both of which seem increasingly likely.
Emergency legislation can be drawn up over-night. While Austria may be the first in enacting bail-in legislation there is no guarantee that savers, particularly in the peripheral nations, will receive any indication that their deposits may be at risk.
The era of infrastructure investment and multilateral banks and financial institutions controlled, in large part, by Washington - often as an aggressive strategic policy tool - has come to an end.
‘BREXIT’ would cause the “most intense period of instability” since WW2 ... Seeks to portray Tory policy as disingenuous and cynically putting economy at risk ... Uncertainty caused would have negative consequences for British economy and sterling
Currency depreciation, inflation fears and falling wages are weighing on average Russians and leading them tobuy goldand silver bullion and some are making "unusually large purchases" of gold jewellery. Russian people suffered many economic crises over the course of the past century and the protective function that gold can play is understood by many.
* Silver surges 6.5% in dollars and 19% and 12% in euros and pounds *Oil and most commodities declined on economic concerns in the quarter (see table) *U.S. stocks eked out minor gains to new record highs and look toppy *Gold performance impressive given strength of dollar and equities, oil collapse and negative sentiment
Rate hike could put fixed-income funds under severe pressure > Fed’s Bullard warns of “dire consequences” of developing asset price bubbles > “Gates” or capital controls that limit investor withdrawals in chaotic and illiquid markets are likely