Earnings came in at 293c per share. The dividend was doubled to 60c a
share. Costs of sales were contained to an 8.6% increase, while sales
rose to R1.6 bn. Implats warns the 2nd half results would not match the
first half.
I do know there is talk about permitting US banks to use investors equity holdings as collateral for loans, etc. --- I think this is part of the new banking rules. That would not be good.
About 1/2 of my assets are at Fidelity ( 403b ) - where I can only choose mutual funds or treasuries. There are many choices, but precious metals and foreign currencies are not considered 'safe' enough for a 403b. Precious metals stocks are 'ok'. I have read their prospectuses, and there is no mention of borrowing off of my accounts. My hope is that if the market 'tanks' all the mutual funds would drop inproportion to their equity holdings.
I also hope that we will see such a major correction coming, and bail out of gold stocks and other equities before the market Tsunami crashes. The Weiss newsletter not too long ago rated mutual funds, and rated Fidelity Spartan US Treasury as one of the safest on the US markets -- the one I always park my funds in!
Take care -- we should be cautious in all things -- you live longer that way!
I thought I made my point re advertising clear. I'm convinced that if people come visit and see everyone else promoting their websites, they'll all jump in and I'll soon have to change the header to "Flea Market for Gold Investors & Market Analysts".
You said: "I am often surprised that you do not jump in and offer your goods when the conversation comes up." - I would. But then to be fair I'd have to tell myself to stop advertising. In fact there are several bullion dealers who post here, none of whom try to exploit the medium. This aspect of our group is a uniqueness that you won't find in many groups on the net. And I think it's a desirable one.
To Ziva: I ask you again. Why do you persist in promoting that stratferd.com site ? ( or whatever it's called ) I'm not trying to be facetious, but I am sincerely curious. You say you've got no financial interest in it and you've said you would stop, and yet the URL still remains imbedded in your message ( s ) .
poor, but you have to remember, they are operating in North America.
hmmmmmmmmmmm...it is BIGGER than before, now which way to go??
The stage is being set and NY will be the launch pad...or the elevator shaft.......going, going... ( whocares ) ... ( profit either way ohmy ) .....
away...to w/w
searchingforpatterns
It is my impression ( IMHO ) that Indonesia is not ready to go to a non-US currency exchange system to stabilize their currency yet -- things are moving too quickly, and the currency controls are not set up yet. Looks like full scale riots in Indonesia, and now I learn about worker revolts in S Korea.
Can't make cheap goods if no one is working. So I think D.A. called it right -- inflation, not deflation in N America. The Calif floods certainly will not cause commodity prices to go down, either. The apparent imminent US market rally supports this -- and a rally in precious metals is just around the corner.
1 ) Secret service agent -- name??-- testified in front of grand jury that M Lewinsky was with BC in the White House for 50 minutes. So -- Starr does have access to the Secret Service agents. And -- the ML topic may not be the only thing discussed. How about FBIgate, Chinagate, Travelgate, Commercegate, V. Fostergate, Campaigngate, etc.?
2 ) Apparently K Starr has copies of M Lewinsky's phone message recordings with BC's voice on it. Linda Tripp had apparently copied them.
3 ) Conversation of unknown woman with Rush Limbaugh: 'It is ok for Pres Clinton to lie as long as he does good things for us, and all is well'.
If item 3 is really how the American people feel about our Commander in Chief -- heaven help us! I guess Abraham Lincoln is no longer acceptable as a role model for the President.
Anyway -- it should be no surprise that the US Equity markets are still going up , is it? But if everyone now has more of their wealth in the markets rather than in their houses, where is the extra money going to come from? Sounds like storm clouds forming over Wall Street, but the markets don't know it yet. Can't believe this could go on much longer.
And what do we do with the transgressors? Execute them? Didn't we hear that something bad happens to SEAsian traders that privately export gold to buy US dollars? Wasn't that Indonesia? Or do they just threaten to execute currency traders?
Jin -- take care!
"Why would anyone but the purist pay 10 times more for
genuine when the synthetic has the same crystal,
chemical, and optical characteristics as genuine and the
average jewelry professional cannot separate the two?
Not only diamonds, but emeralds, sapphires, rubies,
amethyst, garnet, and who knows what else are currently
being successfully synthesized."
I agree, every year we see new synthetics ( some good,
some bad ) but to say the average jeweler cannot seperate them
is a bit harsh. I've been a professional for twenty years
and I can spot a Verneuil ruby or a Chatham synthetic
from across the room, likewise with CZs. Hydrothermal
emeralds are tough to spot without high power magnification.
The jewelry store that lost the suit was stupid. I flat out
tell people that they can expect their emeralds to be oiled
and the sap
Donald__A ( Investigation continues ) ID#26793:
Date: Wed Feb 11 1998 03:52
EB ( .............for all lgb....and other BC fans....... ) ID#22956:
May GOD have mercy on you and your love ones.
Good thing you don't have a Calif-on-the-Pacific-Cliffs-Beach-house, likely to be converted into a leaky houseboat. Remember that Jack Lemmon movie where his Calif house ( or pool ) sank into the Ocean? I think that was inspired by the 1982 or so ElNino events.
What really worries me is this: The SEAsians are very frugal, and have bought precious metals with their savings. If the same kind of crisis occurs in the USA, we will not recover any where near as fast. Just a thought.
My opinion of the markets is that they don't know they are in trouble yet -- but if there is a Saddam Hussein coup de tat without US casualties, and AG refuses to raise rates, we might reach 10000 by year end. Those are big ifs -- and then there is the Kenneth Starr if as well.
I have some investments in PAASF. If their Russian deal folds, will it affect them very much?
I remember being blown away by an Astrology post he made several months ago -- Vedic, and very 'unDonald'-like! I think we all must be aware that our tastes for jokes are highly variable -- I remember a boss who would joke about things that no one else understood -- didn't single anyone in particular out -- just different. In his case it was because he came from a different culture.
I know Donald well enough that he had no intention of offending anyone. Lets get back to our usual world-shaking topics of the day!
At least Donald was lucky enough to get a response to his post. I have asked numerous questions about gold of the group and never had a reply. This is more a forum for individuals to beat their own drum and try to score off others than a group with an aim of sharing and increasing its knowledge about precious metals.
Also I have noticed my fuse is a little shorter than usual, and so is SDRer's -- one who usually shows more tolerance than virtually any other on Kitco. I think we all need to cool off a bit -- even if the markets are doing the unexpected. Patience is a virtue.
I am no expert in gold -- seriously following since 1993 only.
There are others far more expert than me, and some who profess to be experts as well. I think it was Myrmidon that said that it may be because no one knows the answer -- in that case you were lucky not to get an answer from one of the less knowledgable that claim to know everything.
You undoubtedly have been lurking for some time, so you probably know who to trust and who not to trust.
My intuitive guess is that Peter Munk ( who is very shrewd ) tried to get favorable gold forward derivatives trades so that production costs would not need to be reduced. I think he is eating crow on this somewhat, and now cutting costs. ABX is one of the world's biggest gold producers ( due mostly to Peter Munk ) , and should continue to do well under his management -- as long as he hasn't lost his 'Midas' touch.
I park my money in Fidelity Spartan 100% US treasury, apparently rated by Weiss ratings as one of the safest. I guess we need to find out if Weiss is rating mutual funds/mutual fund companies. Would be good for those of us who have retirement funds locked into particular MF companies. Does anyone have a current subscription to Weiss? Or -- know the phone number? Thanks in advance.
I for one appreciate very much the news he provides and the deep insight and views of other regulars ( Tolerant #1, JTF, sharefin, STUDIO.R. Avalon, Nick@C, - to mention just a few ) .
There are times when learner/observers ( such as The Hermit ) who usually find it difficult to post our thoughts feel there arises a time to speak out in a matter important to us. Such was today. Our belief in God and our respect for Him is our highest priority.
There was certainly no intent to have Donald or anyone else stop posting.
Respectfully,
The Hermit.
jump since October, sponsored no doubt by the Asian crisis. What this
says to me is, that since the second quarter of 1996, we have seen a gradual beginning ( like the clock passing midnight ) toward the light of a
day where real assets ( commodities ) appreciate more quickly than paper
assets. Warren Buffett's silver purchases would be a confirmation of this theory. Anyone have thoughts on this?
This in a nutshell is what's wrong with gold today. The never ending, blind faith in the 'Leader'. He can do no wrong now. Everything is wonderful. Ken Starr is the bad guy. My question becomes, what would happen to you, if you tampered with witnesses and obstructed justice? If and when that reality sinks in, gold will shine brightly and the dollar will hit the ground with a sickening thud.
The other problem I see is the emulation of our 'leader'. I never heard so much talk of oral sex and other related matters before on national radio and TV. Bill Clinton is having a definte effect, and the masses aren't noticing it. Indeed, they are partaking in it. Something about slippery slopes comes to mind here but this is a gold site...
Untill Buba screws up big time, and the U.S. loses credibility, there doesen't seem to be much sense in shorting the Central Bank ( buying gold ) . On the other hand... The old Boy Scout motto says be prepared...
I think sites such as Kitco are especially important, as much has been lost in the world in the last 60 years or so. The same ethic that leads to saving/frugality/family ethic/honesty is somehow connected to the concept of gold as an asset that cannot be corrupted by human hands. I wish there were a similar moral compass -- such as gold -- for the political leader -- but alas, we have nothing except what is built into each of us.
I am not saying that all gold bugs are free of human frailties such as greed, but I think we are more acutely aware of when 'things are not quite right' or that we are being fed lies. What I hope is that sites such as Kitco will provide the catalyst to protect us all from financial disaster, and with our assets and insight provide the starting point of the next major economic cycle if our current system does collapse. I know AG is of like mind, but must work with the system given to him.
Here's to the future of humankind, and may we overcome our challenges peacefully, and reach the stars! I know that we have the knowledge at our fingertips to do this -- we just need a stable economic platform! Good night!
The best way of putting this, I think, is that if God let us predict the future with certainty we would not learn anything. All Ed Ames is doing is telling us the possible, not what will happen.
You are a very bright person -- you need to calm down and smell the flowers some more. Get an anchor of some kind, please! You will benefit from this, and so will Kitco.
Please take care and think about what I just said.
With all of the evil we encounter in the world around us, as evidenced by the posts here each day, and as we try to side-step it in our lives, it is wonderful to have access to the group here at Kitco.
Thank you for the information and wisdom you and the others share with us each day.
Hopefully the site at Kitco can remain like the porch setting of years gone by! A group of good neighbors truly concerned about helping each other.
Respectfully yours,
The Hermit
thanks---grampa ( Evening Strad-Master )
thanks---grampa ( Evening Strad-Master )
thanks---grampa ( Evening Strad-Master )
Find out more about Kitco at info@kitco.com, or call 1-800-363-7053.
Copyright © 1996 Kitco Minerals & Metals Inc.
It is had to guess at predicting what is going to happen.
All I can see is lots of volatility - ever increasing.
And lots of effort being used to cover all the problems up.
I guess something will give soon.
Interesting watching the boys at work last night on the indexes.
The dow had about 25% of it stocks being propped with block orders.
These were the stocks falling.
The other stocks that where rising only needed a shove to get them up.
And all this happens when BC is going on TV.
Almost poetry in motion.
Some comments about MF's - IMHO
MF's will be the curse of this century when the dow falls.
The trouble with the MF's is that they have pyramided their profits
Using debt to balloon their positions.
And we all know what happens to pyramid schemes.
Say a MF starts up with $100 million and this grows to $500m.
It can then use $400m of its profits to buy $200m of debt which it then invests.
It now has $700m which grows to $1,000m with $200m debt.
And does it again.
So now the MF which started with $100 and has debts of $200m and profits of $700m.
So it borrows another $400m and has $1,400m in the market.
It is using its profits to buy debt to grow.
So now it has the $100m it started with and $600m debt and $700m profit.
If the markets correct 50% it now has assets of $700 and debts of $600m.
Which leaves only the $100m it started with.
And the MF will corner all of that.
When its assets fall it is left with debt.
The original investor is left with nothing.
All the Americans who have put everthing they have, all their life savings, all their super into this.
Could well end up with nothing.
What will start and cause the crash?
The MF's trying to lock in their profits when they realise that the markets are going down?
When they realise how locked in they are to an ever increasing market?
When they realise that if the don't lock in profits that they will go bancrupt?
Now I just showed a rough example to show pyramiding.
This example only has two steps and the debt/reinvestment figures are randomly picked.
Take some more exact figures and work out the power of ten steps.
Then these figures look real bad.
Now not only have they done this to their capital,
But they have also done the same to the stocks that they have invested in.
The pyramiding that has happened within the weighted indices is awesome.
It is a game of paper money begetting paper money.
There are more MF's than stocks.
And the whole system is built on pyramiding.
This is where a crash will be devastating.
Just recently we have had bad MF inflows and redemptions going on.
But the indexes where still going up.
I presume that one of the reasons that M2 was going up so fast is that the
Feds were supplying liquidity to the MF's.
This means that the Feds were lending money to the MF's so that not only could they met the redemptions but that they could also buy up the shares to keep the markets going high.
The Feds were meeting the liquidity shortage.
And the MF's were taking up more debt.
The biggest problem for the MF's here is that if their recently increased debt does not grow.
Imagine taking on a large debt just before the asset is devalued.
OUCH.
For the markets to have fallen recently would be devastating with all this new debt.
They must prolong the bubble bursting.
But that does not stop the bubble becoming even more dangerous.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mozel they were not my comments.
But wheat does look alright on a long term chart.
Lots of the commodities charts seem to be showing signs of trend reversals coming.