Fidelity Select Gold & Precious Metals Chart.
Ten market days ( seven hours / prices per day )
http://www.geocities.com/WallStreet/5969/agpm70.htm

Sheesh...

Construction worker in critical condition after rescue from trench

Copyright  1998 Nando Media
Copyright  1998 The Associated Press

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. ( December 15, 1998 3:22 p.m. EST http://www.nandotimes.com ) -- A construction worker buried in a sewer ditch for more than 15 hours was pulled out Tuesday morning after a grueling rescue, but the outlook for him was grim, doctors said.

Darby Wayne Patrick, 26, of Kingsport talked and joked with cheering emergency workers as he was lifted by crane from the 15-foot ditch where rescuers feared he would die.

He was airlifted to nearby Erlanger Medical Center in Chattanooga, where the euphoria surrounding his rescue dissipated when the extent of his injuries was established.

David Wharton, an emergency physician who spent more than eight hours inside the trench with Patrick, said the construction worker suffered "crushing injuries" that threatened his life.

Patrick was listed in critical condition after undergoing surgery this morning.

The five feet of soil that trapped Patrick damaged his muscles, causing them to swell and possibly cutting off the blood supply to them, Wharton said. A potentially fatal acid buildup also occurred in the muscles, Wharton said.

Only about one-fourth of people who suffer such injuries survive, he said.

"The prognosis is poor," Wharton said. "He's not out of the woods yet."

The surgeon who operated on Patrick, Charles Richart, said the damage was particularly severe in his pelvis and legs. He also had fluid in his lungs and was being kept under sedation, Richart said this afternoon.

Earlier, Wharton had described how Patrick joked with rescuers. "We asked him, 'How are you doing?' and he asked us how we were doing," Wharton said. "He told someone, 'Just get my arms free and I'll dig myself out."'

He had spent four hours completely buried, his moans the only sign to the first crews on the scene that he had survived. His face was then cleared of dirt, but more than 10 hours would pass before he could be completely freed without risking another cave-in.

"If this man wasn't spiritual before, he probably will be now," said Dennis Curry of the Hamilton County Cave and Rescue Team, who spent eight hours in the trench with Patrick. "When I saw him it was pretty grim. He only had part of his head and one arm out."

The accident occurred about 1:15 p.m. Monday as a crew was laying pipe along a highway. The ground gave way, trapping Patrick on his side facing out toward the road. Authorities said a bucket or pipe may have provided an air pocket.

Firefighters immediately began to dig but stopped when there was another cave-in. Specialists in trench rescue were called in and the hours of work began.

Rescuers pumped oxygen and heat to Patrick while crews used an industrial vacuum hose to remove dirt from around his body. A bucket brigade helped take away the soil.

Patrick's wife, Julie, his brother and other relatives prayed with a minister and awaited word of his condition in a building near the rescue site. An aunt in Kingsport, where the couple live, was caring for their 1-year-old son.

"I want to thank the people who are praying for him. He needs that support and help," Julie Patrick said Tuesday afternoon. She had tears in her eyes as she spoke at a news conference.

By RACHEL ZOLL, Associated Press Writer

oleman . . Tue, Dec 15, 8:02PM CST ( -0600 GMT )
gullly: Noticed you aint tawkin about a retracement of the last move on globex tonite. You're hard to fool! Herte's a challenge to all: Show me one single instance when the SPX showed this pattern without follow-thru
the following day.

14u24me . . Tue, Dec 15, 8:23PM CST ( -0600 GMT )
oleman... I bought s9n on the close today...aftger the 45 cent drop in the last 1 1/2 weeks, and with no more gov't reports in the grains for 1998, we may see consolidation which will lead to short covering...the bulls had the perfect set up today in the beanies...opened them near the highs and closed them on the lows...but still closed up for the day

14u24me . . Tue, Dec 15, 8:26PM CST ( -0600 GMT )
oleman...did you notice that the activity in s9f for the last 2 days finished filling the gap from the limt up move in the beginning of october?

oleman . . Tue, Dec 15, 8:30PM CST ( -0600 GMT )
14u: Agre on beans and hogs. dunno about the bondos. If we only get a partial day of followthru to upside in spoos ( thats the minimum ) bonds may revers to the upside tomorrow. If spoos bounce all the way back to the
highs, the 127 handle is realistic. This is one of topx's favorite patterns on the spoos, btw.

oleman . . Tue, Dec 15, 8:37PM CST ( -0600 GMT )
jedda: yup. but i think mits usually looks for it to retrace a considerable way down the up bar on his intra-day charts. This setup on the daily will most often result in a gap up open that never trades thru previous settlement during rth. See 6/3-6/5, 6/15-6/17, 8/14-8/18, etc..........

oleman . . Tue, Dec 15, 8:41PM CST ( -0600 GMT )
I have a resting order at 1166. I'll probably have to concede a little before bedtime in order to get filled. But I can lie down and sleep like a baby with a limit buy somewhere in the upper 1160's. That's how sure I am of follow-thru tomorrow. Not even the spies lurking here can stop that: )

oleman . . Tue, Dec 15, 8:43PM CST ( -0600 GMT )
jedda: we could be below ytd low by Fri in this mkt. We COULD reverse tomorrow. But we'll like close considerably high er tomorrow, and almost surely trade higher sometime in the a.m. during rth.

Bill - Bart posted yesterday something about the host changing up on him or something. Anyway use kitco.ca, not .com

All - Kitco really slow - use short text option

from Saving Private Ryan. I can still feel bullets whizzing over my head. Magnificent movie.
..............................
Aussie gold shares up 3% today, mostly on the backs of Normandy and Lihir. Industrials nervous. They are not following the US lead anymore. Do Aussie investors know something the Yanks don't ( but should ) ??

Serious political commentary that should be condemned, or a humorous skit? As reports circulating the Internet have asserted, on Fridays Late Night with Conan OBrien on NBC actor Alec Baldwin jumped from his chair to scream "We would stone Henry Hyde to death and we would go to their homes and wed kill their wives and their children!"

Baldwin is a well-known defender of Clinton who held a fundraiser for him last summer at his Long Island home. Monday night on CNBCs Upfront Tonight he charged that "the ultimate goal" of impeachment advocates "is what I would call election nullification" as "this is a group of people who want to undo the 96 election."

On the December 11 NBC show host Conan OBrien wrapped up his interview with Baldwin by asking Baldwin about Clintons plight. Baldwin answers but as he proceeds his voice rises as he jumps up from his chair and is screaming and flailing his arms by the time hes finished. Cutting to the punch line, OBrien then jumps up and puts an air mask over Baldwins mouth to calm him down. Funny political satire or, even if meant in jest, mean-spirited and violence-inciting words that would be condemned if uttered by a conservative?

Heres the exchange as transcribed by MRC news analyst Paul Smith.

Conan OBrien: "Before we leave, I gotta ask you. Its no secret that you are very political. You are a very political person. Its no secret that you have actually had some associations with the Clintons. That youre a liberal man and I thought you know today, this is a historic day and youre one of the most politically active actors out there. What do you think?"

Alec Baldwin: "I was in Africa. I go to Africa. I mean ladies and gentlemen I am in Africa. For three months I am in the bush and I come back. I come back here and I come back to what? I mean what is happening right now as we speak? Right now the Judiciary Committee, the President has an approval rating of 68 percent. The President is very popular and things are going pretty good and they are voting to impeach the President. They voted on one article of impeachment already. And I come back from Africa to stained dresses and cigars and this and impeachment. I am thinking to myself in other countries they are laughing at us twenty four hours a day and Im thinking to myself if we were in other countries, we would all right now, all of us together, [starts to shout] all of us together would go down to Washington and we would stone Henry Hyde to death! We would stone him to death! [crowd cheers] Wait! Shut up! Shut up! No shut up! Im not finished. We would stone Henry Hyde to death and we would go to their homes and wed kill their wives and their children. We would kill their families. [stands up screaming] What is happening in this country? What is happening? UGHHH UGHHH!!!!"

Now, in your mind substitute the name Al Gore or Hillary Clinton for Henry Hyde and the name of a conservative for Baldwin. What kind of reaction would the media establishment be expressing?

To see this exchange, go to the MRC home page where MRC Webmaster Sean Henry has posted a RealPlayer clip of what is transcribed above. Unfortunately, we taped the show on a bad VCR so, Sean reports, the sound level is rather low but if you turn your volume way up you should be able to hear it. After all, Baldwin is yelling. --Brent Baker

It is item number 5 with real audio clip...take a look and decide for yourself...

http://www.mrc.org/news/cyberalert/1998/cyb19981215.html#5

Anyone care to speculate on the prospects for a rate cut by the FED. My vote says they might pass this time in order to protect the dollar
from a further slide. The Dow Crash index is at -8 these days, but the DOW is still relatively high at 8823. Even though the transports are
down money is still churning within the paper markets from one sector to another. I don't think the DOW will really start moving south
until the second or third week in January, If at all. If AG cuts in January, the dollar is liable to come under serious pressure resulting in
more money out of bonds into equities. We will see profit taking for the longs early in the year in equities. If the equities do come under pressure at that point for liquidation sales then the metals will make
a significant move. We saw an inkling of this earlier this week as bonds, stocks, and the dollar were down while gold was pretty steady. I
think Pt will show strength as result along with Au. Pd is headed south when the russians announce the release for sale of this stuff to the
west. Silver is just too cheaply produced to move seriously beyond $5.4 even though demand for it is solid.

Don't get me wrong the dollars will be coming home from foreign investors, and the equities will take it on the chin in the first quarter. Question is will deflation out run the dollars slide? if it does then cash, if not then gold and Pt for me.

Would someone mind translating Oleman's S&P comments for me. *grin*. A little too much off the cuff trader lingo for me to understand what he was saying about the rest of the week.

If Alec Baldwin wants to "GET INTO" politics he should
start out as an intern, he does have a "BIG MOUTH".

I read in a Washington Post article tonight that Tom DeLay
was once a pest exterminator, seems to me like he has
returned to his prior vocation, sure hope he was good at it.

Go Tom, Whoooops, I mean Gold...................

http://www.geocities.com/WallStreet/Market/6749/
--
A "must read" media event.

The Merkins are on to us, mate. Perhaps we've looked too closely under their crotch wigs!!!

Now, if they had explored the subject further, they would have found that a merk is an old Scottish silver coin worth thirteen pence and 1/3rd of a penny sterling. Merkins only come second to Antipodea, but hey, all that glitters is not gold. Just ask their golfers!!

I think he means to say that the S&P will go up

Stocks goin' UP tomorrow ( today for you ) . Oleman's comment, not mine.

Thanks guys.

sheesh....

Peutz hasn't posted a crash warning and I haven't seen one from anyone else either. The Crash'a'Bear site I glance at sometimes even stopped updating his projections after the Summer move down, I think he got frustrated with the whole thing. U.S. Stock Market Crash Index was at 0 last Friday, went to -8 for Tuesday, and is still at -8 for Wednesday. I've been watching PUT options on the CBOE and they haven't had much action at all, especially for the relatively good decline we've had off the highs. Small stocks stopped going up in early November, and DOW Transports are locked into a down trend. The charts of this recent "FED ease top" look like the top we had in July to me, and the slope down looks like August. I dunno guys, I'm thinking maybe there's a possibility for new lows here, nobody seems to be looking for it. I guess the truth will come out on the tape.

Nick
Yup, We've been rumbled. Didn't spud want to nuke stralia? Not very friendly.

Good to see you kept The Ashes from the poms: we can all learn something from the Australian Cricket Board and Shane Warne. Like how to take bribes, throw a game and cover it up.. On second thoughts. Perhaps Warne should run for Senate.

Underarm bowling ...

I'm just going to hold my PUT options close and see how all this plays out. I think the bull trampled all the bears, there just doesn't seem to be anyone out there cheering for the bear camp these days.

what's really going to happen????

Metals flat overnight - a little positive....liking the looks of Transocean ( RIG ) at 25 - 8 times next years anticipated earnings.

Probably good longer term investment. But I can't decide if I like even the better the prospects of shorting the Diamonds of the DOW or the SPY of the S&Ps - much technical deterioration taking place in the broader market . . . suppose we'll get fake outs in every direction and not much will happen until the new year, when we'll get the new year rally followed by the next rate cut, followed by the Chinese New Year which if you will remember was the time when everything started up last year in to the April and July peaks.

Dow 10.000 before Gold 315???? Watch them hit their target on the same day for no reason I can give.

cause gold looks so ugly although Aussie gold index made spirited recovery, I am covering other interests. does anyone know where
I can find spot and future prices for the radioactive series of metals?.
Nick@C, g'day mate with a Coopers in me hand. That broker you are spending 12000k a year on would it be too much to ask from what firm he comes from?. Cheers Hedgehog..... if thats not possible what does he charge for trades?.

I got yer crotch wig.................HANGIN'!

( grin )

Wink is en route.....and a little somethin extry......ohmy!

Call off the inspectors........I have opened the palace gates and EVERYONE knows that the Californy Wink Museum is open to the public........fer a small fee.........he he he...

Now get yer sheep-shagg........ ( whoops ) ........go golF!

away.....to finish reading the BAZILLION posts from Kapex ;- )

laysoffthereloadbutton

G'day Kapex. I know that you were doing your best to break Ziva's record for using the most Kitco bandwidth in one day, but your seven lengthy posts are a tad short of the all-time best. You must come from Texas, you know, bigger and better!!! I am going to forgive you. In fact, your 7 posts were so good that I am going to compliment you by making it 8!!! One of the all-time best posts, Kapex, so you are forgiven your sins. Now say 7 Hail Marys and go buy some more gold coins. Post them immediately to Nick@C and full redemption shall be attained.
........................................
Date: Tue Dec 15 1998 23:11
kapex ( Heres some fun late night reading! ) ID#218248:
Copyright  1998 kapex/Kitco Inc. All rights reserved

100 Reasons to Buy Gold
Upgrading Barrick, Normandy and Prime Resources to Outperform
by Douglas M. Cohen,
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, New York

Part II - 100 Reasons to Buy Gold and Gold Equities

I. Good Times Don't Last Forever



1.MSDW strategist Byron Wien Dow forecast 2H98= as low as 7000; market presently 17% overvalued.
2.MSDW global strategist Barton Biggs forecast= a possible "ice storm" ahead, with 1998 as a year of "sack cloth and ashes" amidst an economic slowdown.
3.MSDW chief economist Steven Roach 2H98 forecast= 30Yr bond rate of 6.5-7.0%, inflation around 3% ( increasing to 3.6% in 1999 ) .
4.MSDW strategist Peter Canelo= recent expansion of U.S. money supply and credit is highly reminiscent of 1993 ( when the XAU doubled ) .
5.The 1980 gold price to Dow ratio was 1:1; now 30:1.
6.Gold stocks have very low betas and have tended to outperform in market declines. Insurance for your financial portfolio.
7.For the true fatalists, remember that Homestake was the top-performing stock during the Great Depression ( up over 700% ) .
8.Worried about deflation? Gold has tended to outperform in periods of severe deflation, when public faith in the monetary system erodes ( usually following a speculative bubble ) .
9.$250 billion flowed into equity and bond funds in 1997 alone. Total assets of gold-oriented funds are roughly $5 billion-potential avalanche of funds into the gold sector when the 15 year-plus bull market finally cracks.
10.The funds are becoming scared to stay short given the amount of bad news "successfully" absorbed by gold since late 1997 ( e.g., Asian dishoarding, Belgian gold sale, low inflation consensus, record run in equities ) .
11.Several unrecognized inflation factors ( e.g., MSDW above consensus oil price forecast of $18.75/barrel in 1998, Steve Roach's output-gap and wage-related arguments ) .
12.The strong dollar won't last ( trade deficit, fear of Asian over-reliance on the U.S. ) . 13.Commodities beginning to come back into favor, including oil from its $13 per barrel low.
14.Gold's decline is cyclical, not secular. No better buy signal than the recent plethora of "Is Gold Dead?" articles.
15.The blood is already in the streets-the seemingly "irrational exuberance" in stocks has been offset with "irrational despondence" toward gold.
16.Gold has served essentially the same role in the world for over 2500 years. Tigers, Spiders and other species for a lot less.
17.Faith in alternative safe havens such as U.S. Treasuries won't last forever ( perhaps not even the summer ) .
18.When the next crisis hits ( be it something "unpredictable" or something already lurking such as the Year 2000 problem ) , investors will put some of their debt and equity profits into precious metals.



II. The Central Bank Picture is Brightening



19.The "big 3" of EMU ( Germany, France and Italy ) are strong gold supporters. It's possible that gold sales from the ECB will be "prohibited" for several years at the insistence of these three countries.
20.Eighty-five million Germans are concerned that their currency is disappearing and want a solid Euro backed with gold.
21.Most gold not contributed to the ECB will likely not be sold, but will be held as insurance in case the ECB fails.
22.Total official gold holdings are down by 10% in the last 30 years; 1% in 1997.
23.Jean Claude Trichet, a gold stalwart, is a potential ECB head.
24.The countries most often considered "at risk" for sales, the Dutch and the Portuguese, may have already sold. The market has already acknowledged this and won't be surprised if/when a sale is announced.
25.The Europeans want a strong Euro; gold still perceived politically, if not economically, as a source of strength.
26.It is highly uncertain that a proposed Swiss sale of up to 45 Moz will go through; a sale would require a public referendum in 1999/2000 and support is not high. 27.Consensus view: ECB gold backing of the Euro of perhaps 10% at most; our view is 15% or higher ( recently supported by an estimate from the Bank of Italy of at least 30% ) . 28.More central banks have bought than sold the last two years.
29.Asian governments are underweight gold-do they want to be dependent on the U.S. dollar?
30.China and Russia have been true to their word in escalating their gold purchases. 31.The U.S., the world's largest holder is unlikely to sell ( especially with Greenspan in charge ) .
32.Only Canada and Argentina have had programs in place to sell virtually all their gold. 33.The silence of the central banks during the 1997 plunge in gold led to losses of over $50 billion for the gold holding countries; they have learned their lesson.
34.Central bank selling has been a regular feature of the gold market for the past 20 years, averaging around 400 tonnes per annum; virtually identical to most estimates of the amount sold in 1997.



III. The Worst is Over for Asia ( for Gold Anyway )



35.The Southeast Asian crisis may well have stabilized, less currency devaluation-inspired dishoarding of gold.
36.The economic crisis took almost $60/oz off of the gold price by some estimates ( we'd say more like $20-30 ) ; the impact should be temporary.
37.South Korean collection program largely over ( after raising over 230 tonnes ) . 38.Thailand's collection program has reportedly met with little success.
39.In the long term, the Asian crisis will re-establish gold's role as an unrivaled store of value; gold held its value while currencies plunged 70% or more.



IV. Increasingly Positive Supply and Demand Balance



40.Gap between physical supply and demand was 500 tonnes in 1997 ( and growing ) . 41.Markets don't continue in deficit forever-similar enticement as silver.
42.Gold demand is running at record levels ( up 9% in 1997 ) , even with the Asian dishoarding that now seems to have its course.
43.Demand in India, the world's largest gold market rose 52% in 1997 and continues to sizzle according to the World Gold Council.
44.Liberalization of the gold markets in India and China continues to increase, providing increased access to populaces with a high gold affinity.
45.A possible rally in oil prices= increased income in the Middle-East= increased spending on luxury items such as gold.
46.Mutual funds may be all the rage, but they can't fill a cavity ( dental use of gold holding up well ) .
47.The rally off of 18 year lows of $278/oz in January has revived fabrication demand-fabricators had been running down inventory in anticipation of lower prices. 48.Production from the largest gold producing country, South Africa, is mired at a four decade low; average cash costs of $300/oz are the worlds highest.
49.Environmental and permitting restrictions are becoming increasingly burdensome in North America and Australia; lower supply in the future.
50.Up to 70% of the world's gold production is uneconomic on a total cost basis at $300/oz gold; lower supply in the future
. 51.Word-wide exploration activity is down significantly; lower supply in the future. 52.Mine closures/reductions increasing ( e.g., Mount Todd, Lupin, Homestake, McCoy Cove, Paddington, Colomec, Hope Brook, Freegold ) .
53.Mid-1997 labor accord in South Africa has cleared the way for labor reductions and shaft closures.
54.Record mine supply was artificially high in 1997 due to high-grading-the high grading was done at the expense of mine lives and is largely unsustainable.
55.There have been few major technological breakthroughs in gold mining since heap leaching in the 1980's; none appear to be on the horizon.



V. Producers are Beginning to Take Action



56.The gold producers emerged from the World Economic Forum at Davos convinced that their message got across ( for both selling and lending ) .
57.Former Canadian prime minister Brian Mulroney and former Bank of Canada governor John Crow are actively lobbying on behalf of the producers for central banks to stop selling gold.
58.Peter Munk now bullish after having correctly predicted gold to $280/oz in early 1997; ABX share buy-back program announced, Munk replaced ABX shares sold by TrizecHahn shares with fresh purchases.
59.A potential millennium coin, presently under consideration, could raise investment demand by over 1000 tonnes, according to some estimates.
60.Producers have hinted at a new gold advertising campaign modeled after DeBeer's "diamonds are forever" ( our early nominee has Dana Carvey reprising his role as Saturday Night Live's ChurchLady with a "gold, isn't that precious?" tag line, but we're working on others ) .
61.Junior miners and exploration companies running out of cash; joint ventures with seniors on the rise.
62.Producer buy-backs of hedged positions have increased ( e.g., Western Mining, Newmont, Kinross, Western Areas ) 
63. with 30 Moz more as future possibilities from Ashanti, Barrick, Newcrest, Normandy, and Placer Dome alone.



VI. Good Value in Gold Equities



64.Consolidation opportunities, especially if producers get nervous that prices are headed higher.
65.Valuations now reasonable for several producers on a cash flow and asset value basis. 66.XAU still 50% off of 1996 peak; S&P 500 is up 85% from its 1996 low.
67.Possibility of a major Arequipa or Diamond Fields-type discovery to remove the Bre-X stigma and revive interest in junior's.
68.The decline in gold equity values in 1997 was largely indiscriminate; each of the 40 major companies we track lost value, with most ( hedged or unhedged ) down 45-60%. 69.We believe many gold-oriented producers ( e.g., Prime, TVX, Placer Dome, Barrick, Echo Bay ) could benefit significantly if silver resumes its 1998 rally.
70.TVX- Should go from 400 koz at $223/oz in 1997 to 1000 koz at 180/oz in 2001 if Greek mines meet expectations.
71.Freeport- World's best mine ( in our view ) at 45% off of 1997 high, 30% below implicit asset value before any future reserve additions.
72.Newmont- Lowest cost major producer at present, major long-term growth potential in low-risk Nevada.
73.Prime Resources- Trading at below fair asset value in existing reserves, major "blue sky" growth potential from highest-grade ore body in North America.
74.Normandy- Largest Australian producer has cut costs significantly, looking to grow with support of $625 million hedge book.
75.Barrick- Marquee name in the sector; growth about to resume after four flat years; declining costs as well.
76.Cambior- Eight key projects, seven of which require higher prices; gold is 80% of revenue, but stock trades at a base metal multiple ( 5 times 1999E CEPS ) .
77.Nine of the 14 stocks in our gold universe show good value based on 1999E reserves and a $325/oz gold price; 13 of the 14 show good value at $350/oz.
78.Gold equities are a call on the gold price; typical beta of around 3 relative to bullion. 79.The viscous cycle of tax loss selling, fund redemptions, panic selling and more fund redemptions that peaked in late 1997 has been broken.
80.As bad as it's been for the majors, it's been pure carnage for many juniors; 28 of the 40 juniors we normally track were off more than 60% in 1997 alone.
81.Several companies could benefit from the elimination of litigation risk within the next 1-2 months ( e.g., TVX, Normandy, Newmont, Placer Dome ) .
82.Good value in several Australian gold stocks which were beaten down excessively ( and illogically, in our view ) due to Australia's proximity to Asia.



VII. Wildcards/Miscellaneous



83.Possibility that a Buffet-like figure could go long gold and trigger a rally as Buffet did for silver
84.Much of the world wants to minimize the pain felt by South Africa.
85.Potential political instability ( Middle-east, Russia, FSU, Pennsylvania Avenue ) . 86.Technical breakout possible ( $300/oz gold, 80 on XAU were key ) .
87.Comex short interest is 10-15% off its 1997 highs, but
88.funds are still solidly short; they'll rush to cover when the tide really turns. 89.Don't let Bill Gates take over gold too; Microsoft market value=$200 billion, cumulative gold equity universe = $40-45 billion.
90.Gold is the only major financial asset that is not the liability of another party.
91.Gold is far more liquid than many alternative assets ( e.g., real estate, timberland, most commodities ) ;bid-offer spread for bullion is as narrow as the trading spreads for stocks and bonds.
92.Historical adage that an ounce of gold could always be exchanged for a high quality men's suit; either Barney's is about to have a heck of a sale, or gold must go up. 93.Statistical evidence compiled by the World Gold Council ( ok, perhaps there's a bias, but we'll take their word on it ) that gold is a more effective asset diversifier than emerging markets investments versus the S&P 500 and most other asset classes. 94.Can't, or don't want to buy derivatives? Substitute gold for S&P 500 puts.
95.Gold serves a major role in portfolio diversification as correlations between stocks and bonds have increased markedly in recent years.
96.Limited downside risk; a classic technical "double bottom" at around $280/oz. Average cash costs of around $260/oz the probable point of "maximum" downside risk. 97.Beware of conventional wisdom: "We'll never see $1.00/gallon gas again" ( late 70's ) , "never buy airline stocks" ( late 80's ) , "gold is dead" ( late 90's ) .
98.George Bernard Shaw: "you have to choose ( as a voter ) between trusting to the natural stability of gold and the natural stability and intelligence of the members of government. And with due respect to these gentleman, I advise you, as long as the capitalist system lasts, to vote for gold."
99.Alan Greenspan- "Deficit spending is simply a scheme for the 'hidden' confiscation of wealth. Gold stands in the way of that insidious process."
100.Charles de Gaulle- "There can be no other criterion, no other standard than gold. Yes, gold, which never changes, which can be shaped into ingots, bars, coins, which has no nationality and which is eternally and universally accepted as the unalterable fiduciary value par excellence.

You seem to be the lone wolf.......or rather bear....... Which means of course you win all the marbles......but I'm thinking there still is too much money holding this thing up and willing to come in on breaks. We need a sea change in sentiment - that has not materialized. I think that come mid next year it will in the form of worry over the Y2k thing.

I thought the take out of 1150 on the S&P was pretty significant, of course that was reversed in one day...and it occurred on the fifth day down before a reversal Tuesday. .....hard to get all the factors lined up for a good old fashion break. 1050 on the S&P possible downside target to me - then I be we rally right back up here. Once some negativity builds and the bad news gets factored in the buyers will reemerge .....that has been the pattern . . . . maybe next time will be different

perhaps we'll just teach you a little lesson on the golf course............... :- (

ohno!........... ( ugh ) .

away......to lick some still lingering, severe, deep, hurting, sickening, ugly wounds........and cry in a can-o-beer-o

sad..... ( sniffle ) .

As I stated a few days ago, the Great Double Top and Christmas Crash of 1998 just doesn't have a good ring to it. *grin*. That can't end up in the history books. It would read much better if it was the dip that happened before the huge blow-off that crashed out in spring, summer, or autumn of 1999.

I think it is something in the neighborhood of 35 consecutive posts........remember Glenn??

Perhaps the MacAuratorolebeanO can dig it up for us. It was during the first year of kitco's existence..........uh huh.

away....to wait for NickO to email me with that good pick he's jawin' 'bout....

waitingforalowflyingburritowaftingthisway......go gold.

http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/meast/9812/15/un.iraq/

But then again on the other, other hand, there is a lot of worry out there and earnings really are falling for Q4, which is forcing P/E's to even higher unrealistic values than the previous unrealistic values. Also, I read an article the other day that said that the individual investors didn't have much to do with the summer down-turn, that it was the big money that rushed for the exits, and that individual investors were net buyers during the slump. BUT, the investors I've been talking to recently ( individuals ) have changed their tunes, and are looking for the slightest hint of a big down-turn to jump ship. These same folks were chanting the "long haul" mantra a few months ago, but now they've seen what a few thousand points on the DOW does to their retirement money, and they don't like it at all. I dunno. Much better to be in gold where there is limited down-side, than stocks where there is unlimited up-side. The bill on this bull market has been due for a long time, somebody will have to pay the tab one of these days. Go Cash. Go PUTs.

EB--you are a gentleman and a scholar. In a million years I would not worry about your rectitude. My minders get a bit overzealous now and then. I reckon that I can discover EVERYTHING I need to know about a person after a two minute conversation. Part intuition, but mostly body language. I am a student of body language. I can spot a liar from a light year away. This is why I do not like your Prez. He wouldn't know the truth if it smacked him in the face.

On the internet it takes me longer than two minutes to figure someone out. I have a squillion minutes of EB on-line, and I would trust you to be above me on a rope on a cliff with no pitons in sight!! I can give you no greater compliment. Hope you have included your address, as I want to send you sumpthin. If not, email me.

Hedgehog-- my trades cost me A$49 each. This is a $98 turnaround on whatever size trade I make--and some of them are pretty big. %age wise it is inconsequential. If you are interested in trading in Oz, I can put you on to my brokers. Send Sharefin an email for me. Thanks finnie.

http://www.fm.co.za/98/1218/trends/diver.htm

I did send my address. Ya can't send anything 'till ya see what I sent to you. ohboyohboy!

away....to saw me some logs..............zzzzzzzzzzz

nytolteddO

http://www.fm.co.za/98/1218/trends/japan.htm

From the CNN
UNITED NATIONS ( CNN ) --
Chief U.N. weapons inspector
Richard Butler claims in a report to
the U.N. Security Council that Iraq
has failed to cooperate fully with his team of arms experts.

In the report, delivered to U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan late
Tuesday, Butler said Baghdad has not lived up to its promise to give
unconditional access to U.N. inspectors trying to determine if Iraq has
abandoned its biological, chemical and nuclear weapons programs.

"Iraq's conduct ensured that no progress was able to be made in either the
fields of disarmament or accounting for Iraq's prohibited weapons program,"
Butler wrote.

Meanwhile, weapons inspectors early Wednesday were en route to the
airport for an evacuation from Iraq - a necessary step in any American
military attack.

U.N. sources said a plane which could accommodate the roughly 120
weapons inspectors was expected to land Wednesday morning from
Bahrain to take out the inspectors.

The United States and Great Britain have warned they could launch
airstrikes without warning if Iraq does not cooperate. Baghdad narrowly
avoided such an attack in mid-November, when it pledged to resume
working with U.N. inspectors.


Maybe this is why oil is up 38 cents at 11.98 and gold up 35 cents


My hard drive got iced a while ago, lost all my hair, I mean, data. No longer the man with the long memory, like being exposed to kryptonite.


Nick@LetsGetPhysical
Body talk is difficult in cyberspace. That , 'e be O kay.

Now, last night I had some questions about the composition of
Red Gold
White Gold
Black Gold ( Is being looked into, thanks, esoterocist )

Can Noone help? what about this deal, discounting gold...Is it too true to believe, or are there more sinister tones to the offer?
http://www.kitcomm.com/comments/gold/1998q4/1998_12/981214.201200.auratoree.htm

Lets see, weapons inspectors leaving Iraq ( again ) . Allies threatening to bomb - where is the moon - oh look - the 18th is a new moon. The day after the President is impeached by the house we could have bombs falling on Iraq. Now, if that isn't a bullish scenorio for gold what would be...? Neverthe less I'm sure gold will stay comfortably under $300. Oil might rally over $12 for a day or two until Iraq convinces the fools at the UN that they will allow inspections, the bombing stops, and . . . and . .

what could throw a curve into this would be if Korea were to suddenly erupt while the US is preoccupied with Iraq, Impeachment and Christmas. iseL

For Tuesday 15th Dec calculated from data published in Today's FT.
Period------------1- month--------3-month--------6- month---------12- month
$LIBOR-------------5.53--------------5.22-------------5.06-----------------4.97

Mean GoldLR------4.02---------------3.99-------------3.76-----------------3.54
Gold Lease Rate---1.51---------------1.23-------------1.30-----------------1.43
( Change ) ------ ( + 0.11 ) ------- ( + 0.07 ) ------- ( + 0.01 ) ----------- ( 0.00 )

Silver Lend Rate----4.00--------------3.25-------------2.40-----------------2.00
Silver Lease Rate---1.53--------------1.97--------------2.66-----------------2.97
( Change ) --------- ( 0.00 ) -------- ( 0.00 ) --------- ( 0.00 ) ------------ ( 0.00 )
$LIBOR = BBA London rate fixed at 11am
Mean Gold Lending Rates and Silver Lending Rates are supplied to the FT by NM Rothschild
Lease Rate = $LIBOR minus Lending Rate .
( Change ) = change in lease rates since previous day

For comparison with $LIBOR, the FT rates for US Dollar CD's ( mid rates ) are as follows:
Period------------1- month--------3-month--------6- month---------12- month
US$ CD's-----------4.82-------------4.74---------------4.72---------------4.68
Regards.............Dabchick

Even those macs are vunerable........to the ice man. Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr....

How 'bout Green Gold.....or Gold Gold? Or Purple&Gold ( GoLakers...........stoopid B-ball players ) .............or Igot ( yer ) gold....... ( ? ) .

I tink I need some sleep now...........uh huh.

away.....to await the final ( ? ) drop......and then swoooosh in for some good deals :-O ( ohmy ) .

sugarplumsdancing

it's a new word.........yeah that's it.

With no central bank CABAL to surpress it PD is able to seek its true economic level. In a period of commodity deflation PD, almost alone, withstands the trend and maintains a premium over gold.

Good news for holders of SWC

Silver - there has been ALOT of talk regarding silver and it's recent rise. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm........well, I just broke out my straight edge and carved a line.......across the tops....................left to right.........................and guess what..............................uh huh...........................it went DOWN..............not up ( nope ) .....................but down. Hang in there MoonDog.......you will have your chance.............

@haikutime

Silver will fall down

like rain falling from the sky

silver shes a dog.

away...

earish

has anyone besides me had trouble getting on the kitco site today

Yes.But ramadan is still going on untill beginning of january:difficult to imagine an attack before the end of it.

Tuesday December 15, 8:50 am Eastern Time

Indonesia seeks new investors for gold
mine

JAKARTA, Dec 15 ( Reuters ) - Indonesia is seeking new
investors for two gold mines previously linked to the Canadian
based Bre-X , the official Antara newsagency reported on
Tuesday.

``The Toronto stock exchange has confirmed that ( Bre-X ) had released its right to the two mines,''
Antara quoted Mines and Energy Minister Kuntoro Mangkusubroto as saying.

Antara said the two mines are in North Sulawesi province and in the north Sumatran province of
Aceh.

Bre-X was involved in one of the world's biggest gold mining scams after it was revealed that its
reports on the discovery of gold in the eastern part of Indonesia's Borneo island were false.

The company shot from a penny mining stock to a $4 billion company on the basis of the reports and
collapse after discovery of the fraud.

Kuntoro said the two gold mines were currently not operating.
---------------------------------------------------------------

Putting this all into perspective or trying at least, I will start.
CRA or as they are now known as RTZ ( Rio Tinto Zinc ) ,now why did they change there name just after Busang drama ( well thats another story ) ,sold
the mother lode which was Busang for a whole pile of money. RTZ has a 12%
holding in Freeport Mc MoRan. And it was Freeport who tried to sign up with Bre-X. Hmmmmmmmmmmm or realy I should be Oming them anyhow we all
know how this drama ended with the suicide? of one geologist. We cant
dump this much gold on the market. Yehhhhh. We got a couple of years ahead of us to prepare for find of this magnitude or we could be shooting
ourselves in the foot , the thinking might have gone. So the cards are shuffled and voila! Indons reckon they have something to sell.
For more on CRA/RTZ go to http://avoca.vicnet.net.au/~seaus/gulliver/cra.html
Sorry I havnt read some posts yet been caught up in research.
Check this out also! http://www.igc.org/trac/feature/freeport/freeport.html

As quiet as it is on this board I can only conclude that there are in fact access problems ( though I'm not having any ) or complacency give-up has struck many of the normal posters.


For those not paying attention: oil is up 50 cents overnight, zooming past $12 per barrel. This will set off a rally in the oli service sector which has been tracing out a bottom. The likes of Diamond OffShore ( DO ) , Falcon ( FDC ) Tranocean ( RIG ) will ignite. RIG has put in a triple bottom without violation and closed very firmly yesterday....watch for a $1+ higher opening.
Silver is up 3 1/2 cents, PD is up $8 - gold is up a dime.

I will venture that the CRB index may be able to rally another day.

The quiet on this board may indeed mark the beginning of a new move led by oil....surprise.

Hi Jim!

Pd is going completely ballistic........do you smell the "fear" that there won't be enough metal next year?

Congrats on SWC and tell your friend that he "rocks!"

Have a nice day,

THC

LAst ten days trading of RIG - tracing out a lovely bottom - Wednesday - ignition!!!
http://www.tscn.com/wsc/Corporate_Snapshot.html?PH=2&nocache=18867&Symbol=rig&Timespan=10&Button=Submit&LastSym=SPY

http://biz.yahoo.com/rf/981216/d5.html

I really enjoyed your post this morning, the FIRST time numbers 2 - 8 were not really necessary. I suspect you were trying to post during a very busy period. ( I don't have that problem in Garmisch ) but sometimes it takes a while and each time you hit the submit button it will repost. Good info otehrwise. Shalom & Gruss Gott as they say here.

Negative.

http://biz.yahoo.com/rf/981216/ev.html

I see PD up $8... could be some excitement today. Looks like the IRAQi situation has things heating up. My friend was bemoaning his last PD entry which he had said would be $9 off the high at $304, or at $295, which brought up his average to $280. Has no plans to buy anymore, feels the price could go anywhere but thinks UP is the path of least resistance.

Think I'll add to SWC before it makes new highs, today.

I wouldn't be surprised if today we don't see the opposite of what hit the market on Friday. A quiet open followed by a surge rather than Friday's disstabalizing decline.

Got to be alert today....

If silver gets over $5 . . . if watch for PAASF to get going.

Lest I get to excited, shall I remeber we have seen these things before , right.

Sorry, forgot in a short span, ol'timers disease dontcha know.

From Little Rock to the Oval Office, Clinton trails a
stench of depravity and corruption

On every count, a moral bankrupt

It is not a good idea to make a charismatic sociopath the
leader of one's party, or the President of one's country.

When the Democratic Senator Bob Kerrey says that
President Clinton's conduct is "immoral", he is entitled to
say that. He lost a leg in Vietnam when Bill Clinton was
dodging the draft in Oxford; he ran against Clinton for the
nomination in 1992 and in 1996 observed that Clinton
was "an unusually good liar".

When Senator Joseph Lieberman says that the President
has "compromised his moral authority", he should add an
apology of his own. Senator Lieberman should say "sorry"
to the American people for helping to persuade them to
elect and re-elect a morally defective President.

The psychological truth about Bill Clinton is relatively
simple. He is not wholly a madman; he does not hate his
fellow human beings, as Hitler did, nor does he wish them
ill; he is obsessed with power and with women; he is a
brilliant emotional campaigner, but there is a piece missing.
He has no moral compass; he does not know right from
wrong. This was always apparent in the way he acted as
Governor of Arkansas, but the Democrats, the American
press and, worst of all, the American public, chose to
overlook that. It was equally apparent in his behaviour to
hundreds of women. He had a standard operating
technique, and had a staff to handle it. The women were
called "bimbo eruptions"; the technique was called
"rub-a-dub".

The "rub-a-dub" involved telling the women to lie about
the affair; if there was still a risk that she would talk, she
was offered the choice between a good job, if necessary
on the federal payroll, or having her character blackened.
Sometimes this was accompanied by physical threats,
given at second-hand; one woman has testified that an
emissary of the Democrats threatened to "break her pretty
legs". The Arkansas police say that they had to cover
assignations with more than 100 women. Apparently
President Clinton told Monica Lewinsky that he had
connected with "some hundreds" of other women since he
was first married. It is addictive conduct; it is also a
destructive abuse of women.

Yet this is the less important part of the President's moral
blindness. In the Arkansas years, he helped in the
cover-up of the mass importation of cocaine into Mena
airport, of which there is evidence that he had knowledge.
He set up the $700 million Arkansas Development
Finance Agency ( ADFA ) , which made crony loans in
return for kickbacks to the Governor's political funds. The
ADFA records have disappeared. His wife had corrupt
partners in the Rose Law Firm whose records were
shredded shortly after the death of Vince Foster, the
former White House counsel.

Clinton was the associate of Arkansas criminals, including
his bond-dealing friend Dan Lasater, convicted for a
cocaine felony and pardoned by Clinton. Lasater's
executive partner, Patsy Thomasson, is still in the White
House, and was one of those who went into Foster's
office to clear up after his death.

Clinton failed to seek proper investigation of the
suspicious deaths connected to these scandals. The
numbers are high: four Clinton associates died in doubtful
circumstances; eight people investigating allegations also
died; nine witnesses died. Of these 21 deaths eight were
found to be suicides, including those of Vince Foster
himself, of Kathy Ferguson, the former wife of the trooper
who allegedly solicited Paula Jones, and of Ed Willey, the
former manager of Clinton's campaign finance committee.
Five of the suspicious deaths occurred in plane crashes.

The pattern of abuse of public office continued in the
White House, in raising funds for campaign finance, in the
transfer of FBI files on political opponents, in the false
prosecution of the White House travel staff. Some of the
deaths occurred after Clinton became President. Jerry
Parks, a private detective in Little Rock, was shot two
months after Vince Foster's death. He had compiled a
dossier on Clinton's sexual conduct, apparently at Foster's
request. When Foster's death was announced on
television, Parks turned to his wife and said: "I'm a dead
man."

Mrs Parks alleges that the Clinton dossier was stolen
shortly before her husband's murder and that she had
been unable to secure a satisfactory Arkansas police
investigation. Arkansas politics have long been a violent
and corrupt affair, and neither as Governor nor as
President did Bill Clinton help to reform it.

The Republicans, Kenneth Starr and now the Democrats
have concentrated on the sexual scandals. There are a
number of reasons for this. The corrupt maladministration
and fundraising are very difficult to prove. Heaven knows
who did the Arkansas murders, or how many of the
suspicious deaths were murders. They belong to the
hinterland of corrupt Arkansas politics in which Bill
Clinton operated. The American people do not want to
recognise that their President is not only a sex addict but a
deeply corrupt politician.

Yet this is far more than a sex scandal. Democratic
congressmen running in the mid-term elections are
distancing themselves from him and after the elections he
will no longer have much power to reward or punish. The
loaves and fishes will be provided, if at all, by the
publishers. Monica Lewinsky's book is being offered for
$10 million.

After Watergate many of the participants, some of whom
had gone to prison, wrote their accounts of the Nixon
White House. What will Patsy Thomasson's memoirs be
worth? She knows what went on between Dan Lasater
and Clinton in the old days; she knows what she found in
Vince Foster's office; she knows the reality of Bill and
Hillary's relationship.

The next two years will see more and more of the truth
coming out. Some of it may even exonerate Clinton from
particular allegations. Unfortunately, much of it will be like
the evidence of Monica Lewinsky or Gennifer Flowers, at
first denied and then proved to be true. Once Clinton
admitted that he had lied about Lewinsky, all the other lies
he has told have ceased to work.

Clinton's position is therefore likely to get worse and
worse, as the Starr report is published, as the evidence
continues to flood out, and his party rejects him. The
American people will begin to understand how defective
he always was, how willing to abuse his power.

On The Frost Programme yesterday Chris Patten said
he thought the best thing to happen would be for the
American people to turn over the Clinton leaf and let him
finish his term of office. If it were all only about Monica
Lewinsky that might be possible, but there are too many
other scandals. Miss Lewinsky was the norm, not the
exception. There cannot be a clear-cut resolution of the
Clinton scandals so long as he remains in the White
House.

The authority of the President of the United States
depends on public confidence in his moral character.
Clinton now has no more moral authority in politics than
Robert Maxwell, another charismatic sociopath, had in
business.

Next page: How to save the monarchy

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Obituaries | Interface ( Wed ) | Opinion | Sport | Travel ( Sat ) ( Thu ) |
Vision ( Sat ) | Weather | Weekend ( Sat ) | Weekend Money ( Sat ) |
World News







World: Clintons
return to hostile
Democrat
reception

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to save the
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Copyright 1998 Times Newspapers Ltd. This service is provided on Times
Newspapers' standard terms and conditions. To inquire about a licence to
reproduce material from The Times, visit the Syndication website.

Can anyone confirm GOLD production cost around $195. Think it was posted within the past few days. Almost fell off my coin stack when I saw that!

Guten Tag aus Garmisch!! Don't enoucourage Kapex too much it was a good post but... and please no more of Ziva!!!

Yanks have been cornered and dem bastards are gonna shoot their way out of it. I hope they can suck thick-n-brown through a straw. Thanks Nick.
Do you get SEATS access with that.

http://www.tampabayonline.net/news/news101w.htm

Go easy on Ziva, I think oris was fond of her.

och man, don't tell me she is back ??????!!!!!!

"The end is near".......

.....AT LAST, the Russians ARE coping the Americans "style"....

Greenstone, no but she could be lurking from a kibbutz in the middle east somewhere, without the necessary phone line capacity to respond. Actually I was commenting on last nights ( or mornings ) posts...duh. I think oris was interested in her daughter. I take it she would be bearish for the pog?

...off to work============go gold & golf.

From Fleckenstein's Market Rap 12/15:

Metals with mettle... Speaking of capital spending, I would like to reiterate a fact that I find very interesting: We've seen industrial commodities get smashed, but so far silver, palladium and platinum - which are industrial metals but have a precious metal/store of value component - continue to do far better than their peer industrial brethren. Maybe we're seeing actual investment demand for some of these things. I don't know whether it's related to the Y2K problems or the dollar/Euro problem we've been discussing, but I do know that the behavior seems different. Maybe 1999 is finally going to be the year for
precious metals - something to pay close attention to.

So Bart, how about a nice sack of Rhodium for all of us faithful contributors to the Kitco discussion group? We could hold it until next Christmas and keep the profits. On Silver. On Platinum. On Gold. To the top of the wall. Merry Christmas to all. This little greating is only 8 days in advance but the exuberance seized upon me.

Japan, finding itself in a hole, keeps digging...
but, will they ever dig deep enuf to find gold.....?!

Japan, finding itself in a hole, keeps digging......
But will they ever dig down deep enuf, to find gold?

Wednesday December 16, 2:59 am Eastern Time

ANALYSIS-Japan credibility up a
tad, doubts deep

By Linda Sieg

TOKYO, Dec 16 ( Reuters ) - Tattered confidence in Japan's
ability to grapple with economic woes at home and abroad has
bounced off its lows of late, but few if any experts are ready to
declare that Tokyo has turned the
corner on domestic ills or provided a bold new plan for global financial
reform.

Japan's grand old man of finance, Kiichi Miyazawa, won rare praise from
some overseas specialists
for his broad call on Tuesday to revamp the world financial system, in
particular for a proposal to
provide liquidity to crisis-hit countries more quickly, in larger
amounts and with fewer strings
attached.

Financial experts in Tokyo praised Miyazawa's proposals as a skilful
presentation of ideas designed
to appeal to an Asian audience without ruffling feathers in the Group of
Seven.

But they added that the speech was best viewed as a lucid statement of
Tokyo's existing stance on
key issues on the global agenda rather than a ground-breaking fresh
initiative.

``Most of the ideas are already in the public domain, but this shows
that for once, you have a very
sophisticated Japanese politician pushing this line. Previous Japanese
attempts have been a bit
naive,'' said one diplomatic expert.

``It's not so much the policy, it's the presentation -- it's quite
unusual for Japan to get the
presentation right,'' he added.

Unlike most of his predecessors, Miyazawa -- a former prime minister who
first held the finance
portfolio in the late 1980s -- is well-versed in global monetary matters
and a Group of Seven
veteran with a vision of the role Japan should play.

A senior Thai finance official welcomed Miyazawa's call for quicker and
larger amounts of aid in
times of crisis.

``What Miyazawa said is very appropriate and should be seriously
considered by all parties
concerned. If there is room for a mechanism to allow the IMF
( International Monetary Fund ) to be
more proactive than reactive, the problem or crisis would be contained
much faster,'' the official
said in Bangkok.

Analysts said, however, that some of Miyazawa's ideas -- including a new
IMF facility that could
disburse funds without pre-agreed arrangements and a new version of
Japan's failed concept of an
Asian Monetary Fund to complement the IMF -- could well meet opposition
from Western nations
worried about moral hazard.

``My feeling is it will probably be opposed by some of the Western
countries. I think his proposal
at the moment is quite preliminary,'' said Daniel Lian, head of Asian
Markets Research at Australia
and New Zealand Banking group in Singapore.

Since seeing its call for an Asian Monetary Fund ( AMF ) slapped down by
the United States and
Europe last year, Tokyo has been treading a bilateral approach to aid
for the battered region while
refusing to let the AMF concept die.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi formally unveiled a $5
billion-plus package of cheap
loans for Asia to help fund Asia's economic reform effort over the next
three years. The loans come
on top of the $30 billion Miyazawa Plan to help the troubled region with
long and short-term
financing.

The Finance Ministry had been wary of the special loan package, for
which financing has yet to be
found and which could worsen Japan's deteriorating budget deficit.

That ballooning deficit, in fact, is a high-profile symbol of the
herculean task Obuchi's government
faces at home as Japan tries to spend its way out of recession despite
an already huge hole in its
public finances.

Obuchi -- attacked when he took office as an economic novice unlikely to
provide bold leadership
-- has done better than his worst critics expected in passing laws to
help clean up the bad
loan-laden banking system and in crafting a massive 24 trillion yen
package of stimulus steps that
the government says will turn the economy around next year.

Officials at Japan's new watchdog agency, the Financial Supervisory
Agency, have also won high
marks for their aggressive move to nationalise ailing Nippon Credit
Bank, a step many saw as a sign
authorities are abandoning traditional protective ways.

But doubts remain over how much policy momentum will be sustained and
over whether Japan can
solve deep structural problems that go far beyond its cyclical downturn.

``Obuchi's delivered what he undertook to deliver -- banking reform
( laws ) and a stimulus
package,'' one diplomatic analyst said. ``He's done a lot better than
expected. Is it good enough?
The answer is, it's not.''


Related News Categories: international

Thanks for the update on your friend.....I am sure he will make fat bankrolls on this one....he already has with futures bought in the $270 range.....

I added some silver leverage: Dec 99 strike @ $6.25..........I have a buy out for SSRIF at $5/8, but I doubt I'll be able to get any....wish me luck!

THC

My heart goes out to Americans young & old many of whom are my close relatives, new and old friends. Your President KLINTON is now as dangerous to the stability of this planet as Saddam or any other power hungry madman. He and his supporters have long ago lost the plot and now only serve their self interests. A cornered power hungrey man with a similar wife and support team, can now only provide destruction. "THEY" will force Saddam's hand. At this time Klinton would love a national emergency, war or anything that they could "spin" or create. An emergency would soon cause Klinton to envoke national emergency measures and nothing short of bombing the White House would have him/her removed from Office. Good Luck and God Speed to all Americans and may you soon be rid of the "SCUM" and blemishes that taint and soil the House that is White. Cheers and Good night from the land of "OZ".

Boy talk about your coincidences. Impeachment vote tomorrow. Saddam Hussein refusing to let inspectors inspect. Threat of imminent attach on Saddam. We sure couldn't vote to impeach a sitting president with all that on the line. Could we? It looks like Clinton is going to scare the hell out of him again with puffery. Please enough all ready. Send him to the showers. Its time to call the bull pen. More bull from Gore and Bill off to the pen. Just call me Doubting Thomas.

http://www.cbs.com:80/prd1/now/template.display?p_story=101406&p_who=network

Me thinks this will backfire on the USA big time. This is almost unilateral action between the US and Britan. US citizens will end up paying the price around the world. I used to be for teaching saddam a lesson or two, but bombing the poor struggling people that live under that regime will bring the rath of our creator. Not Good At All.............

Wednesday December 16, 1:36 am Eastern Time

ANALYSIS-Thai auction may signal
end of baht rally

By Chris Johnson

BANGKOK, Dec 16 ( Reuters ) - A spectacular rally in the Thai
baht that has pushed the currency up by more than a third against
the dollar this year may now have ended, dealers say.

The Thai unit fell by almost a baht against the dollar on Wednesday to trade at 36.50/36.53 by
0530 GMT, since hitting a high of 35.59 in the early hours of Tuesday. The currency hit an all-time
low of 56.9 in January.

Dealers attributed the baht's fall on Wednesday to rumours of capital outflows after the closing of a
Thai government auction of assets seized from defunct finance companies after they were shut down
at the end of 1997.

They said several large foreign investors had brought capital into Thailand ahead of the auction by
the Financial Sector Restructuring Authority ( FRA ) , encouraging speculative dollar/baht selling by
locals and offshore banks.

But economists said the auction also marked a significant psychological watershed for the Thai
currency.

``I think that 35.59 was the low for the dollar and might be the point at which we see a turnaround
for the Thai baht,'' said Satian Tanatansarit, head of treasury at Thai Danu Bank.

``This year I don't see much movement in the baht -- maybe in the range 36-37 to the dollar -- but
within the first quarter of next year we should see the Thai baht weaker.''

Ahead of the auction, many dealers were hoping a sale of most of the 371 billion baht ( $10.2
billion ) worth of assets on offer might signal a new beginning for the Thai financial sector and the
start of the recapitalisation of Thai banks.

Now the auction is past, and the government appears to be trying to down play expectations ahead
of the sale results that were expected late on Wednesday.

Thai banks are saddled with massive problem loans estimated at more than a third of their
outstanding lending and need $20-30 billion to make provisions loans and to restructure.

Although the International Monetary Fund said late on Tuesday that Thailand had won another
$500 million from a $17.2 billion bailout package sponsored by the fund, the news had little positive
impact on the baht on Wednesday.

``The good news is already discounted,'' said Satian.

For the first time in several months, the foreign exchange market is now concentrating more on
Thailand's economic fundamentals, and they don't look good, economists say.

In the next few weeks, most economists think the Thai baht will fluctuate close to, or a little below,
its current range.

``Maybe dollar/baht will be stuck in the range of 36-37 in the short-term,'' said Adisak
Teeramaswanich, senior dealer at Citibank in Bangkok. ``But I think the market now has high
demand for dollar/baht and maybe the baht can depreciate.''

End-year book-squaring may keep trading volumes low and the baht fairly stable, but this brake
will be loosened next year.

The baht will continue to benefit from Thailand's healthy trade surplus, which has built up in recent
months due to a collapse in imports rather than a significant jump in exports.

But economists say the baht could come under heavy pressure in the early part of next year as the
government struggles to re-fund the indebted Thai bank sector.

The best way to do this would be to attract foreign capital. If this comes into Thailand, foreign
investors will have to convert their currencies into baht, supporting the local unit.

But if foreign money is not forthcoming -- and the signs from the FRA auction are not promising --
Thailand may have to use other means. It could rely on the sale of domestic bonds or it may have to
print money to recapitalise the banks.

This would be the nightmare scenario for the baht and could have a dramatic impact on the
currency.

Barclays Capital thinks there is a high probability of this and has marked down the baht as a
consequence.

``Our forecasts for the baht on a three-month view is 38 to the dollar. On a six to 12-month basis
we see 45-50,'' said Kate O'Donoghue, regional economist at Barclays Capital.

Other houses think the nightmare scenario is unlikely and suggest the baht slide may be less
dramatic.

``I expect the Thai baht to be weaker to the level of 38-40 by the end of the first quarter next
year,'' said Satian.

( $1 equals 36.5 )


Related News Categories: currency, international



Wednesday December 16, 1:36 am Eastern Time

ANALYSIS-Thai auction may signal
end of baht rally

By Chris Johnson

BANGKOK, Dec 16 ( Reuters ) - A spectacular rally in the Thai
baht that has pushed the currency up by more than a third against
the dollar this year may now have ended, dealers say.

The Thai unit fell by almost a baht against the dollar on Wednesday to trade at 36.50/36.53 by
0530 GMT, since hitting a high of 35.59 in the early hours of Tuesday. The currency hit an all-time
low of 56.9 in January.

Dealers attributed the baht's fall on Wednesday to rumours of capital outflows after the closing of a
Thai government auction of assets seized from defunct finance companies after they were shut down
at the end of 1997.

They said several large foreign investors had brought capital into Thailand ahead of the auction by
the Financial Sector Restructuring Authority ( FRA ) , encouraging speculative dollar/baht selling by
locals and offshore banks.

But economists said the auction also marked a significant psychological watershed for the Thai
currency.

``I think that 35.59 was the low for the dollar and might be the point at which we see a turnaround
for the Thai baht,'' said Satian Tanatansarit, head of treasury at Thai Danu Bank.

``This year I don't see much movement in the baht -- maybe in the range 36-37 to the dollar -- but
within the first quarter of next year we should see the Thai baht weaker.''

Ahead of the auction, many dealers were hoping a sale of most of the 371 billion baht ( $10.2
billion ) worth of assets on offer might signal a new beginning for the Thai financial sector and the
start of the recapitalisation of Thai banks.

Now the auction is past, and the government appears to be trying to down play expectations ahead
of the sale results that were expected late on Wednesday.

Thai banks are saddled with massive problem loans estimated at more than a third of their
outstanding lending and need $20-30 billion to make provisions loans and to restructure.

Although the International Monetary Fund said late on Tuesday that Thailand had won another
$500 million from a $17.2 billion bailout package sponsored by the fund, the news had little positive
impact on the baht on Wednesday.

``The good news is already discounted,'' said Satian.

For the first time in several months, the foreign exchange market is now concentrating more on
Thailand's economic fundamentals, and they don't look good, economists say.

In the next few weeks, most economists think the Thai baht will fluctuate close to, or a little below,
its current range.

``Maybe dollar/baht will be stuck in the range of 36-37 in the short-term,'' said Adisak
Teeramaswanich, senior dealer at Citibank in Bangkok. ``But I think the market now has high
demand for dollar/baht and maybe the baht can depreciate.''

End-year book-squaring may keep trading volumes low and the baht fairly stable, but this brake
will be loosened next year.

The baht will continue to benefit from Thailand's healthy trade surplus, which has built up in recent
months due to a collapse in imports rather than a significant jump in exports.

But economists say the baht could come under heavy pressure in the early part of next year as the
government struggles to re-fund the indebted Thai bank sector.

The best way to do this would be to attract foreign capital. If this comes into Thailand, foreign
investors will have to convert their currencies into baht, supporting the local unit.

But if foreign money is not forthcoming -- and the signs from the FRA auction are not promising --
Thailand may have to use other means. It could rely on the sale of domestic bonds or it may have to
print money to recapitalise the banks.

This would be the nightmare scenario for the baht and could have a dramatic impact on the
currency.

Barclays Capital thinks there is a high probability of this and has marked down the baht as a
consequence.

``Our forecasts for the baht on a three-month view is 38 to the dollar. On a six to 12-month basis
we see 45-50,'' said Kate O'Donoghue, regional economist at Barclays Capital.

Other houses think the nightmare scenario is unlikely and suggest the baht slide may be less
dramatic.

``I expect the Thai baht to be weaker to the level of 38-40 by the end of the first quarter next
year,'' said Satian.

( $1 equals 36.5 )


Related News Categories: currency, international



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Copyright  1998 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content is
expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or
delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.
See our Important Disclaimers and Legal Information.

Six hundred sixty six, number of digits three,
Six hundred sixty six, mystical sign of symetry.
Triple this number of digits three to see the sign.
The year of the coming of six sixty six,
The year of the reawakening of the Phoenix.

As the last new moon of the year nears the nadir
The southern knight falls with dread and fear
And the falcon yawns and strecthes as stars align
As lovely Selene waxes toward the zenith
The falcon soars above earth beneath

The last full moon of the year looks down on wonder
Ashes and rubble and worlds asunder
With golden spread of wing so fine
The great bird of the cycles of the sun
Rises to meet the soaring falcon

What once was bold and noble
Now falls ignoble
and that which they malign
Now rises in splendor
On this December

Officials monitoring Iraq's oil for food imports told to leave the country. This means that all of the world body's international staff has left Iraq.

Gollum what is the source?

You are probably right ( no pun ) and as the libs say about impeachment, its all "political". What a creep. ( Hmmm, that sounds familier, wonder why? )

You are probably right ( no pun ) and as the libs say about impeachment, its all "political". What a creep. ( Hmmm, that sounds familier, wonder why? )

Feb Gold @ 296.30 // Mar Silver @ 5.01 // GO GOLD! GO SILVER!

The Falcon takes wing. Pulling Phoenix from the ashes at Dead Man's curve.

http://www.lunaranomalies.com/critic.htm

Japan.....they will not go down with the "Titanic" West.

For they are sitting on enuf 'cold-cash' to buy all the gold
available, everywhere.

So much so, that the lemming-mentality of the U.S.A.
may soon drive millions to feel compelled to put
their country - up for sale.......
and soon.......in feeble floundering hope of being rescued from a sea of flooding red-ink.

Japan is the fat, purring, quiet cat....
eyeing hungrily, yet patiently...

....as the West's scurrying flea-bit red-ink-debt-ridden mice
scurry for cover - and continued denial....
pursuing every distraction, with
each new credit card with expanded 'limit'.

negative savings rates ...
in the land of the free & the home of the brave,
do not bode well, nor hold much promise,
for the 'good life' in the west.....exhausting itself
in rampant consumerism-addiction.

meanwhile, deep pockets, bulging in private cash,
rest secure and patient
safely, in the hands and the land
of the setting sun, and elsewhere.....but here,
" in the land of the free, & the home of the brave " ....

The Orient may 'sink' a little more, before emerging
with its stealth submarine of hidden, discreet monetary power.

But the debt-riddled and -ridden west, esp. the USA,
will flood - as rink gushes in from all portals,
taking in a sea of on-rushing, crushing, deflating...
mushrooming lay-offs, burgening trade-wars,
spiraling debt-defaults ....
sinking, drowning .... in an on-rushing flood of red-ink


The U.S.A's Titanic economy is already shuddering....
since July, '98,
and now it's "lights" are flickering.....and about to go
dim, and go out,
as ankle-deep red-ink is fast rising to waist-deep,
and then
over their heads....
over-whelming both corporate and consumer,
and government "passengers" too ...all of them facing a
drowning fate.....
except for those who make it....
to the 'golden-lifeboats..... in time.....

( from my kitico post of 9/27/97:
"When the tent collapses,
it will not be the center-post that goes first;
but the side-posts,
and even the stakes.."

Lke proverbial dominoes, country after country
spirals into deflationary collapse,
exconomically exhausted
and monetarily stretched to the breaking-point,
from the inherent, inevitable excesses
of profligate, fiat currency & credit creation,
and expansion, on a rampant scale of uncontrolled growth and over-development.....as excess capacity strangles
the commmerce and vitality of
a world papralyzed -right at the dawn of the promise
and potential of a free-trade world economy,
committed to the dreamof prosperity for sll peoples, everywhere.

Un-ruled and rudderless of any discipline,
accountability, and moderating stability,
gold backing and convertibility would insure a solution
to this unfolding world-wide monetary crisis,
and portending deflationary depression.

The chickens must come to roost,
in recompense for the folly & excess of generations.

Economic Winter is upon us;
and it will be severe, and protracted...
esp. if the international montary system is not returned to,
and restored to
a gold standard of currency convertibility,
and including gold-backing for all credit instruments created.

As it't Titanic economy
shudders, flickers, and topples
ino the depths
of the deep

too late

Gold will be the only-lifeboat, and life-preserver,
for those with vision enuf,
to see the hand-writing on the wall.

Sincerely,
David Blair Macrory
goldfever@k-online.com
essene@k-online.com

Rumour that attempt will be made to postpone impeachment vote until new House sworn in. Bin-laden rumor in Times and Iraq action basis for delay. Leadership is furious but moderates see possibility of postponement through parliamentary moves, e.g., quorum. Public relations blitz to make leadership look unreasonable - i.e., new House reflects recent expression of Public Will, national security etc. Next 48 hours will be mud wrestling politics.

"There's a BHOR ( "big hairy outside risk" ) associated with this situation. Namely, Clinton has become so discredited that the world could back away from US following a strike, and the loss of confidence would be devastating. Hey, I said outside risk. But consider, after the "Bin Laden" strikes the airwaves were filled with "Wag the Dog" clips. Can you imagine the 60% of the country questioning Reagan on an air strike? The reaction of the global community could sting."

Gollum - excuse me if I missed it but please repeat the source of your 666 poem - which by the way, to those who didn't catch it, refers to the year 1998 as you are to take the three digit number and times it by three.

FYI - Gold just spiked to 295 there - now back to 294.50 see

http://www.aex-optiebeurs.nl/koers/GD.htm

Attention, Drop everything you are doing and tell your friends, Selling books on-line is the revolution of the millenium! Did you catch Oppenheimer's price target of 400 for AMZN? A 15 multiple of forward earnings sounds good to me. Well, with their 3 for 1 split they should cover the remaining territory to 400 in a few months...

New Zealand - Secret agents to be granted break-in right

DAVID BARBER in Wellington
The Government confirmed yesterday it will give its Security Intelligence Service ( SIS ) the power to break into private homes.

Prime Minister Jenny Shipley said a law change would be introduced into Parliament tomorrow to extend the powers of the SIS. It is already allowed to tap telephones and open mail on interception warrants signed by the Prime Minister.

The Government will also ask the Privy Council in London to rule on its right to withhold information to protect national security interests.

The moves follow a landmark Court of Appeal finding last week that SIS powers do not include the right to enter private homes without the owners' consent.

"It is vital that the SIS is able to carry out its functions properly in gathering intelligence on security threats to New Zealand," Mrs Shipley said. "In some rare instances, this may require covert entry to private property."

The amendment will be open to public submissions before approval by Parliament next year but this is likely to be a formality because Helen Clark, leader of the opposition Labour Party, backs it.

The Court of Appeal's ruling stemmed from a bungled break-in by SIS agents in Christchurch in July 1996. Two agents were caught entering the home of activist Aziz Choudry who was leading a campaign against a meeting of trade ministers from the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation organisation in the city.

Mr Choudry, who is suing the SIS, went to the Court of Appeal after a lower court ruled the SIS was empowered to enter his house.

http://www.scmp.com/news/template/Asia-Template.idc?artid=19981216140214064?=asia&template=Default.htx&maxfieldsize=1556

( 1 ) Japan revives fund plan-Move to create monetary pool in Asia will court controversy

Japan yesterday signalled that it planned to revive its controversial proposals to create an Asian monetary fund, even though the idea triggered strong opposition from the US and the International Monetary Fund last year.

Klichi Miyazawa, finance minister, said that an Asian fund was needed, as the current global financial system and the IMF had not effectively addressed the turmoil of the last year.

"I am thinking of a plan where the countries of the region put up money to forestall speculative attacks. There are nations in this region, such as JAPAN, CHINA and HONG KONG, WHICH CAN PUT UP SIZEABLE AMOUNTS OF MONEY," he said.

( 2 ) Nippon Life leads Asian move to euro-The world's largest life insurer, raising substantially the proportion of its overseas investments denominated in euros The move, announced yesterday, is the latest in a series of indications that Asian investors could shift large portions of their portfolios from dollar denominated securities to euro ones. China's central bank and the HKMA have let it be known that they were increasing their weighting in euro securities."

This is, in Churchill's words, "the end of the beginning."
Got gold? The Universal Currency.

"I've seen a venture capitalist figure the pre-money valuation of an internet company by counting web hits. Market Cap/Web Hit ratio! The new P/E!!!"

COMEX stocks down 1 and a quarter million to just under 77mil.

Hmmmmmmmm.

Took a look at a longer term silver chart to see if something could be made of this mess. Got a massive pennant still forming that will not be broken until 4.40 or 5.20, whichever comes first. Even though silver has been bearish, I'm still betting on the upside breakout. Been buying in the low 80s.

There does seem to be some support in the notion the silver has demonstrated some seasonal gains. The following chart is a simple look ( as all my charts tend to be ) at when silver goes up. Although it has rallied before and after, December seems to be a pretty good time to buy, historically speaking.

In any of the last five years, if one bought silver in December - and held onto it for at least four months, this somebody made money. This same somebody would have suffered a bit of a drop in 1993 and 1995 but, both times, the rally far outweighed the drop. Each time the buy would be made at or below the moving average. Each time the move was big.

Seems like December is a nice time to buy silver, yes?

Yes

Anybody out there??? Gold seems to be lagging the other PM's.

Why short a 'net stock to earn max 100% when risk is 200%-300% on the upside?

I am at quote.com watching all of this. If there is a PPT, what would indicate its activation? Funny, I'm not enjoying this crash thing, I suppose it's good for gold and thats good for me, but this is bad for just about everyone I know and care about. I am struck by a terribly elitist thought, that 401k's are a very bad thing to push on the common worker. I hope somehow things work out for everyone, but I know it can't. I hope it turns around today. I always thought I might have to supress the desire to gloat, but I don't feel like gloating at all. i hope there really is a ppt

Since we once again, ( last week or so, AAR ) we seem to be spending HALF our time around here discussing the disgusting current American political scene, I present a summary that can be used in lieu of 90% of these unnecessary space wasting posts.
( My fellow Americans ( he says, in an all encompassing way ) ... there are other sites where you can chat endlessly about this slop, take MOST of it there. ( PLEASE! ) O.K - If there is a flash bulletin that bombs are dropped or Klinter resigns - post it - but this endless regurgitation of your local polls and political newspaper items etc. is a shear waste of Bart's site and most people's speed reading and scrolling time. )
Here's the Summary:
"Ninty percent of the politicians give the other ten percent a bad name."
---Henry Kissinger

Ladies and Gentleman, I present for your reading pleasure, edification and comment,
most, of the first paragraph, of the Forward to "The Case For Gold", written as a minority Report of the U.S. Gold Commission by Rep. Ron Paul and Lewis Lehrman and dated July 1 1982.
"More and more people are asking if a gold standard will end the financial crisis in which we find ourselves. The question is not so much IF it will help or IF we will resort to gold, but WHEN. All great inflations end end with the acceptance of real money - gold - and the rejection of political money - paper."
" ... powerful forces whose interests are served by continuation of the present system cling tenaciously to a monetary system that no longer has any foundation. The time at which there will be no other choice but to reject the current system entirely is fast approaching. Although that moment is unknown to us, the course that we continue to pursue will undoubtedly hurtle us into a monetary abyss that will mandate a major reform."

All: It is pretty clear to me that the US markets are poised to go up again. Iraq bombing will not alter that, and neither will Impeachment, even if this is only the second time for the House -- first time 130 years ago.

Interesting -- if WJC is not impeached, the markets go up. If he is impeached, the markets go up -- becaause everyone 'knows' that the Senate cannot get a 2/3 majority. But gold/gold equities will go up if WJC is impeached. This is probably why silver is vanishing.

My guess is that after WJC is impeached ( highly likely ) , the US markets will rise for a time. Eventually all the commotion in the Senate, and the ChinaSatGate, other xxxGate revelations will introduce some doubt into the markets, and they will fall -- probably a month or more from now.

I found it amazing that there is a vocal person ( name forgotten ) who says we should not impeach WJC because he is black! And the actor who said they should stone rep Hyde and his family for wanting to Impeach WJC.

In WJC's defense on one item, he did make a parallel between the children of Palestinians, and the Israeil children -- that they were both deserved better. The Israeli reaction to this -- indignation -- indicates to me how far they are from resolving their differences. Well -- at least WJC got back to to US in one piece. Notice how all Americans have been evacuated from Iraq? 'Wag the Dog' again? Is WJC devious enough to 'stage' a terrorist attack on American soil so that he can declare martial law? Probably not -- but I don't think it would work anyway -- the American public is not sensitized enough -- and he wouldn't want to crash the markets.

Now that WJC is back, we can go ahead with the Impeachment process. And, I do get a big kick about why WJC does not to want publically admit perjury -- he is afraid of the sealed criminal indictment Kenneth Starr has given to some judge. The lawyer in him is getting the best of him -- thinking again about that court of law, rather than the truth. Looks like WJC has lied so much he doesn't know when and how to tell the truth.

I think if you watch $PREM.X you will see when someone is really wanting to buy futures and doesn't care what they cost. Guess who that might be.

Well, at least, in a small way, you tried to relate all that political BS to the market. BTW- Who is WJC and IS he Black, OR Jewish, OR Palestinian? And what do you mean fake terriorism on 'merican soil? Don't you mean AGAIN? And who is Kenneth Starr - BTW? And what does this word impeachment mean? And why is 130 years significant? And what is your reasoned opinion on the relationship of all this political BS to the present and future price of the precious metals markets?

Gwynne Dyer, political analyst and writer had a piece in a local paper, ( probably in a number of papers ) entitled " Brace yourself for the next big oil shock". I have tried to find it on the net, but have been unable to find a copy, so will summarize what he says.

His analysis and prediction goes a follows: The strategy of the mid-east producers ( as per that laid out by Sheikh Ahmed Zaki Al-Yamani, Minister Of Oil in Saudi Arabia in the mid '80's ) has been to let the price of oil drift down over the last 13 years. The result is that oil produced from all of those new deposits discovered after the dramatic rise in the oil price, is now being delivered at only break even or less than break even prices. Consequently no new money is going into drilling exploration. The result is that at present, about 50% of the worlds known remaining supply is now under the soil of the OPEC nations. Dyer contends "....at the half way point is where prices will start to soar again, and that is not far away at all. Giant oil companies, already secretly talking about new kinds of deals with Middle Eastern producers who sit on most of the worlds remaining reserves, will be well positioned to make a giant killing".

Take that strategy and apply the same scenario to gold, and you come up with a plausible plan being played out in the western world today. Only in this case, gold is being accumulated by the US, Europe and perhaps Asia while the price is kept down through manipulation. As the oil price goes up, let gold move up in a controlled fashion and dispose of it or use it as the currency of choice for the remaining oil. Alternatively, use that gold to now finance that much needed oil exploration program.

Its perhaps a silly leap of logic, but this game is leading me to believe there is more to it than just plain manipulation, even though that in itself is needed to keep gold with not interfering with the value of the US $$.

Can you email me at goldbug@ormetal.com... got a favor to ask.

Thanks

Ok, I will note if $prem jumps suddenly during a plung. The other day I saw during the last 2 or 3 min. that all of a sudden the $indu index was trading at exactly 8695.60 and the volume jumped up by 10 or 100 times. Is this normal end of day trading or was a floor price set up? Also are the actions of a PPT inflationary? Or is the money spent later withdrawn? And I may be wrong, but it looks like their having a bit of trouble selling 30y treasuries?

wrong as gold is THE political metal...no discussion of gold can take place without politics coming into play...to believe otherwise is to believe the world is flat...

Without looking at the political currents of the day is to ignore the single most important TREND in where the price of gold will untimately find its value in the global market...

Ok, WJC are the initials of William Jefferson Clinton who is in trouble because... just kidding...

Mooney: I am just happy I can post! How are you able to? By the way, here is something that is not about that unknown, WJC, or those 'merkans. Mexico has learned from the fiat currency crowd how to resolve their 60 billion ( US ) FOBAPROA debt that they generated after the 1994 criss. All they need to do is to set up a public institute of Bank Deposit insurance. All the debt in question will come off the official public debt log books, and each year the Mexican congress must vote for funds to service the debt pile. Sounds fishy to me --

http://biz.yahoo.com/rf/981214/bjq.html

Got all your Christmas presents yet? How bout something for the 'real' boss ( in the home ) . Hope all is well for you -- and you are poised to gain from what looks very promising for precious metals -- finally.

gave a major buy signal today.XAU resistances,69,72 and the major one 81/82.Interesting pendant forming in the weekly CDH9,breakout either
points are 64.5 and 65.5.Most of the time is a precursor to gold.

It's really quite simple, if Clinton escapes with no punishment then the rule of law along with the concept of the Magna Carta is history in the U.S. It will mean that the 'political class' can do as they see fit. Look at how Alan Dershowitz ( sp? ) phrased the whole argument over Clinton's impeachment, to paraphrase, it is not about Clinton, but the EVIL Republicans and those EVIL white men..." Now that is hate speech if I ever heard it!

The point is this, if Clinton gets away with 'it', all the gold, silver and whatever else you may have won't matter! You see, you have to be able to keep it to use it. If we accede to the rule of arbitraryness, then the law, 'is whatever I say it is, no more and no less.' To paraphrase something from Alice in Wonderland................

On a different note, it seems that the belief in an Iraq attack by U.N. forces is being 'bought' by the market. Check the XOI index.

I believe Henry Hyde stated that if an attack on Iraq happens, the impeachment vote will be delayed.....................

At the risk of being premature again, the silver and gold charts look fantastic, especially silver

Yesterday I directed your attention to the Heating Oil chart ( other energies are similar ) of the summer of 1990. The formation for June and the first week in July is a miniature version of silver over the last three months, including the news lows ( just barely ) right before the sharp move up.If this blueprint holds, today's action
and that of this week is just a warmup. An equivalent move would push us up well over 6.00, but I'd settle for 5.50.

Weekly silver reminds me of the Jun-Jul 83 kc Wheat chart

Gold is still a difficult one to read as far as the timing of the move, not the direction. We're running out of time for a bear move. Perhaps the slow holiday season will put things on hold for a week or two.

As usual I'm playing this with options, at least until the big moves get under way.

to Clintler.

But as far as American politics are concerned, I don't really think that the worst case scenario, Al Gore for president, will happen.

When I think of Al Gore, I associate Armand Hammer, the friend of Lenin, Stalin, Breschnew, and on and on. Armand Hammer made his first $400 million by selling art and jewellry and gold stolen from murdered Russian aristocrats. He had among many other companies his Occidental Petroleum Inc. with a head quarter in Moskau. YES, Al Gore and his links turn me on even more than Clinton.

will pay is immeasurable...this is a foul move and the speed at which the situation has escalated is as disingenuous as the man who supposedly will make the final decision to unleash the dogs of violence and war...

This man who is President is a dangerous unbalanced individual...the US will suffer horribly from this action if military strikes occur...I pity the fine men and women in our military as they are being used as pawns in a sick game of political maneuvering...

Latest London Bullion Fixings

Gold AM Fixing ( 16 Dec 1998 ) : 174.199 Pounds Sterling
Gold AM Fixing ( 16 Dec 1998 ) : 292.550 US Dollars

Gold PM Fixing ( 16 Dec 1998 ) : 175.519 Pounds Sterling
Gold PM Fixing ( 16 Dec 1998 ) : 294.100 US Dollars

Silver Fixing ( 16 Dec 1998 ) : 2.9393 Pounds Sterling
Silver Fixing ( 16 Dec 1998 ) : 4.9425 US Dollars

Excerpt taken from "...And the truth shall set you free", by David Icke.

"Funny money is the process by which banks lend money that doesn't exist ( credit ) and charge you interest on it! If I gave you something that doesn't exist and ask you to pay me for it, you might consider calling the police. If I gave you something that doesn't exist and said that if you don't pay me for it I will take you to court and take your property away, you might say we live in a fascist state. Yet what I have described is the banking system of the world and the means through which both people and governments are drowning in debt. And what does this debt equal? CONTROL."

This book contains many more gems worthy of ones consideration. Ever wonder why everything going on in this world seems such a paradox yesterday, today and tomorrow? If you want the big picture, read the book. What does this have to do with gold? PLENTY.

Wake up you unholy unwashed sheep

Darth Vadar in drag

Gold , we are on the verge of war, gold, our president is about to be impeached for the first time in 130 years. Gold, these are the times that you are supposed to provide a haven for the scared, the common man. Gold , be a good little pig and show some guts, OINK, OINK!

Just heard on Canadian radio news that the RCMP are advising everyone
to have 2 weeks water,food, and cash on hand for Y2K.

Hmmm - I think the momentum is starting to build.

Got gold, grub, water?

http://www.tampabayonline.net/news/news101s.htm

http://www.computerworld.com/home/news.nsf/CWFlash/9812152mouse

What about know your banker? How about know your regulators? The S&L
savings crisis proved that the regulators are incapable of monitoring
suspicious activity of a few thousand savings and loans. Who paid? The
taxpayers! Now the regulators feel qualified to monitor suspicious
behavior of a hundred million taxpayers? Get real!

This is illegal search and seizure at its worst. The fourth ammendment
provides protection against government searches without just cause.
That you are proposing that the banks provide you with just cause does
not circumvent this. By mandating that the banks do the government
spying just makes the banks agents of the state. The criminal case law
is very clear that any evidence collected without a search warrant,
evidence which leads to investigation or prosecution, evidence which
would not have been obtained otherwise, is illegal and will cause said
evidence and all related information to be thrown out.

On a practical note, this law will cause unnecesary suspicion from the
consumer towards the bank which will result in a larger cash market.
The whole point of deposit insurance is to promote faith in the bank.
If customers suspect the bank is watching them, distortions in banking
practice will occur.

Ed Kelly, if you ever see this, turn back from this oppressive path you
have started down.

Sincerely,
Steven Pollack
B.S.B.A. Economics

Send your own comments to: commentsoes@fdic.gov

Just read an advertisement for Louis Rookeyser's newsletter. In it, an ad for his book "10 Golden[?] Rules for Mutual-Fund Profits"...why not "10 Wooden ( paper ) Rules..." Louis?

Goldman Sachs reports huge drop in fourth quarter pre-tax earnings
NEW YORK, Dec 14 ( AFP ) - US investment bankers Goldman Sachs on
Monday reported pre-tax fourth quarter earnings of 107 million
dollars, an 81 percent drop from the previous year's 567 million
dollars.

Citigroup to eliminate 10,400 jobs in restructuring
NEW YORK, Dec 15 ( AFP ) - Citigroup, the world's biggest
financial services company, said Tuesday that it will eliminate
10,400 jobs, or six percent of its total workforce.
In a statement, Citigroup also said its board of directors had
approved a restructuring charge of some 900 million dollars after
taxes, the bulk of which will be recorded in the fourth quarter this
year.


...."The American sheople think " President should resign.......

....American Air Force strikes on Iraq against Russia's wishes are imminent....

....US dollar sulkily heading for the dog house as spanking new euro looks towards fires of hell currency markets to test it's metal ( mettle ) ....

.....Y2K finally being appreciated for enormity of problem and high level denial is becoming more evident....


ALL: Good solid well researched article in "Vanity Fair" ( I know but one must up spoon-feds diet somehow, right? ) on Y2K, titled 12:31:99.
Shows up President Nixon as asking for his TV set to be fixed when informed by high level technical advisers of the Y2K problem in 1970. Clinton, Nixon, Clinton, Nixon...the cycle is almost complete. Al Gore in denial thinking Intel, Microsoftcocks will come to the rescue.

LGB....your worst nightmare is Kitco is right...that's why you hang out here.

I see that many of you got my drift. I am not totally against politcal anaylsis per se as Gold IS the political metal, it is just the repititious day in day out low level stuff that aggravates. Enough with the daily anaylsis of Gore this, Dumocrats that, Repukagains forever, impeachment now stuff - Take it to the street corners. How many times do we, here at Kitco, have to hear that Clinton is scum? For those of you who are still not aware - just so that there is no misunderstandings - I am a Canadian. ( Sign # 12 That You May Be a Canadian - You don't know or care about the fuss with Cuba, it's just a cheap place to travel to and has good cigars. ) Many others here are from Israel, France, South Africa, Australia, England, Germany, Switzerland, Italy ( where is that guy? ) , South America, New Zealand, Hong Kong,...well you get the picture. Many of us don't believe that the daily rantings of the 'merican press and the sheeple's politics affect the price of Gold one way or the other. Prove otherwise and then we'll have something to talk about. Besides MOST of those here that insist on keeping this endless Clinton debate going are spouting lines from the same book. It's extremely boring ( I know that is hard for many of you to imagine ) and it makes many of us reach for the aspirin bottle. ( And I hate taking aspirins. ) If all of the above doesn't make sense, perhaps Sign # 14 That you may be a Canadian will better explain it. Sign #14. You're not sure if the leader of your nation has EVER had sex and don't want to know if he ( or she ) ever did.
BTW - Did everyone catch this political type post that has a LOT to do with our supposed raison d'etre ( ? ) for being at this site.
Date: Fri Dec 04 1998 19:53
LazloT ( Reprinted from The Spotlight ) ID#316200:
Copyright  1998 LazloT/Kitco Inc. All rights reserved
Wall Street's Golden Egg Is Scrambled

Borrowing gold dirt cheap, a leading hedge fund used the gold to finance its
investments. Then the house of cards came tumbling down.

Exclusive to the Spotlight -- By Martin Mann

New York City, New York - The White House is quietly assembling a task force of
federal investigators to look into reports that a back-room syndicate of Wall
Street's largest banks and hedge funds has been engaged in vast and risky
speculative maneuvers that involved, among other tactics, rigging the market value
and global supply of gold. ....Date: Fri Dec 04 1998 19:53
LazloT ( Reprinted from The Spotlight ) ID#316200:
Copyright  1998 LazloT/Kitco Inc. All rights reserved
Wall Street's Golden Egg Is Scrambled

Borrowing gold dirt cheap, a leading hedge fund used the gold to finance its
investments. Then the house of cards came tumbling down.

Exclusive to the Spotlight -- By Martin Mann

New York City, New York - The White House is quietly assembling a task force of
federal investigators to look into reports that a back-room syndicate of Wall
Street's largest banks and hedge funds has been engaged in vast and risky
speculative maneuvers that involved, among other tactics, rigging the market value
and global supply of gold." ... ( MORE - Go Back to the original post. - Mooney )

I wonder what a spineless, immoral, sociopath would do.

Of course, a brainwashed, braindead populace makes it very easy.

Oh well, it's just a tradeoff--prolonged misery for millions of innocent people for a chance to save his sorry ass.

If the American people don't rise up & protest against this impending atrocity, then I have lost all hope for America.

Today I put away my 1900 Liberty coin that I have been carrying and started carrying a Mountie. I bet the Mountie will be pretty well beat up by the time I switch coins again.

I will switch coins when gold hits $350.

Change...coming, even if not foreseen.

Tom

Now THAT is the type of political post that is MOST worthy. ACTION. HISTORY in the MAKING. Not just us wimps, gibber-jabbering back and forth at each other, flapping our gums, spewing forth our venom... - Shut-up already, Mooney.

Could you slow the silver train down for another day ot two...fri options expired and I had to take a break--call of nature...but I didn't figure the train would pick up speed so fast...puff...puff...almost there

Date: Thu Dec 10 1998 16:36
Gollum ( The Great Legend ) ID#43349:
Copyright  1998 Gollum/Kitco Inc. All rights reserved
stretches from the darkness of long ago into the mists of what is yet to be. Hitting some highlights for local times:

...

The First Great War

The Coming of the Evil Menace

The Second Great War and the Death of the Evil Menace

The Birth of the Evil Empire

The Coming of the First Camelot

The Brothers

The Assasins

The End of The First Camelot

The Death of the Phoenix

The Fall of the Evil Empire

The Birth of the First Web

The Rise of the Southern Knight

The Seduction of the Southern Knight by the Blue Lady

The Great Hurricane

The Great First Wall

The First Spike

The Great Eye

The Second Spike

The Great Second Wall

The Fall of the Southern Knight

The Rebirth of the Phoenix

The Year of Darkness

The Rise of a New Star

The Second Camelot

The Second Web

...

Looking good

13:34 WHITE HOUSE PRESS SEC. LOCKHART SAYS TIMING OF IRAQ CRISIS DUE TO BUTLER,IRAQ-DJ.
13:32 WHITE HOUSE PRESS SEC. LOCKHART SAYS WILL NOT SPECULATE ON DECISION MAKING.
13:29 WHITE HOUSE PRESS SEC. LOCKHART SAYS PRES. AND TEAM HAVE SPOKEN WITH HOUSE MEMBERS.
13:28 WHITE HOUSE PRESS SEC. LOCKHART COMMENTS ON IRAQ, NO COMMENT ON DECISION MAKING.

Well, At least once or twice more, I guess. I know - maybe we could do one of those weekly poll things?
Or maybe we could just change the name of this place to something like:
"Klinton - the spineless, immoral, sociopath. ( leader of the ) brainwashed, braindead populace."
Would that make all you 'mericans happy? Could we then start picking up the pieces and get this place back on track to its former greatness?

Fed looks to limit lending to "riskless" hedge funds
http://www.bloomberg.com/news2.cgi?T=news2_ft_topww.ht&s=345731672

U.S. Bank Earnings Down 7 Percent
WASHINGTON ( AP ) -- Financial turmoil overseas has derailed a
steady stream of record profits at the nation's commercial banks.
The country's 8,910 banks earned $15 billion in the
July-September quarter, down 7 percent from a record $16.1 billion
in the April-June period, the sixth consecutive quarter of record
profits, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. said today.

ASEAN looks into common currency as a long-term option
HANOI, Dec 16 ( AFP ) - Leaders of Southeast Asian countries still
reeling from the devastating effects of foreign-exchange turmoil
called here Wednesday for a study into the feasibility of a common
currency.
With the European Union launching monetary union on January 1,
the Association of Southeast Asian Nations ( ASEAN ) commissioned the
study as part of a plan to promote economic recovery and free trade
in the region of 500 million people.

12:41 STATE DEPT. SPOKESMAN RUBIN SAYS UNSCOM PROBLEMS FALL 'SQUARELY' ON IRAQ.
12:37 U.S. STATE DEPT. SPOKESMAN RUBIN SAYS IRAQ HAS NOT PROVIDED PROMISED FULL COOPERATION.

IMHO you won't get much response, Steve. I think that 80% of the people have little insight into what is really meant by privacy and those in power are using it to their advantage.

In my capacity as 'thought policeman' ( that in itself is a scary thought, that mentally ill people have to be arrested to get needed treatment ) I was called to testify for hospital commitment this week for a terribly deranged person who had made plans to murder his mother. While waiting for the court to open I had a long conversation with the bailif, a nice fellow, former military and a good citizen. The conversation drifted around to privacy and I asked him what he thought of being microchipped.

His reply was basically 'I have nothing to hide, I don't care if they microchip me and read all my mail, but it would sure stop the drug dealers.' We continued our chit chat in other directions but I can tell you that presumption of guilt which is the basis for conventional wisdom chilled my soul. True the police intelligence community is so overworked that they are not going bother keeping surveillance on the 99% of us who look most like good sheep, but it bothers me to think that there is no presumption of innocence except for persons like President Clitoris. And in today's punitive political and legal environment people are often punished for trivial venial sins or worse, for being members of target groups.

I can imagine this fellow's counterpart 60 years ago, some German civil court official, saying 'I am not afraid of the government registration of radios. But it will ferret out all those Communist J* dogs who are trying overthrow the Reich.'

Although shocking, I think perhaps the analogy here is stronger than one would think. As far as I can tell there is a similarity between the Nazi high command and the present US Executive Branch is that both were/are replete with persons of third rate intellectual ability who practice such conventional wisdom with ruthless efficiency. And there is similar targeting of ethnic groups as well.

In any regard it should prove profitable in the end for those goldbugs who can escape the prison camps and gulags.

THose Silver charts really did point the way! Now if only Sam-A and 6Pak would look at the charts ahead of time ( few days ago ) and then compare to now, we might actually convince them that sometimes charts are a valuable tool.
ALL - Bart posted an alternate site for the quotes page yesterday if the one you are presently using is not properly updating:
http://www.kitco.ca/gold.live.html

http://www.marketwatch.newsalert.com/bin/story?StoryId=CnNC:ub8ZtJe2mJa4nZm1&FQ=v%25reuter&Title=Headlines%20for%3A%20v%25reuter%0A

A 5 day window of darkness starts today. Good for stealth.

Go gold.

Phoenix is born as crescent leaves and gibbous comes.

Selene faces fully the new year of darkness.

http://www.tampabayonline.net/news/news101p.htm

http://www.tampabayonline.net/news/news1001.htm

Two nine five is not enough,
One more huff, and one more puff.

Every time has it's season
and every sign has it's reason

14:12 HOUSE LEADERS HAVE TENTATIVELY AGREED TO DELAY IMPEACHMENT DEBATE -- CNN.

You've seen the skirt; smoked the cigar and followed the soap opera......Now, play the game...
IMPEACHMENT

IMPEACHMENT: The Card Game is for those who want
justice "sooner rather than later, more rather than less."


http://politicalgames.com/

112

Fugging "A",
and just a good Y2K prep list, some of which many have already stored is all that is really need on that subject.

Just heard ( on Aussie radio ) that the House has delayed the impeachment vote because of the "crisis" in Iraq.

Here's the story on Nando
http://www2.nando.net/newsroom/ntn/top/121698/topstory_10389_noframes.html

with the recent issue for subscribers and can be found at local bookstores...the issue is brand spanking new so it will probably hit bookstores next week...

It is an interesting piece $4.95 is the cost and I think well worth it for information as well as gifts for people you may wish to give it to...

Last week I posted that I was jumping back in to SSC @ 9/16 and this time adding SSRIF at 13/16 as a diversification.

Now we have a nice break UP in silver, and what does SSC do? Goes DOWN to 1/2 !!!! What a dog stock it can be ( and for good reason as all of us who have studied it's genuine fundamentals knows.. ) ... points up the value of diversification. SSRIF is up 10% today.

Unrelated...Also, remember, I URGED you to join me in buying SII last week as oil support sector stock bearishness had bottomed. SII is up 6.0 % today! And it'll go a lot higher..... The oil GLUT isn't going away anytime soon, but the turning point bottom has been reached.

P.S. Mooney

Clinton is scum X 10 23rd power. That's my quota for the day.

Away...to sattelite science ( we don't build rockets JTF!! )

I couldn't agree with you more !
go gold___silver
l_b

PAASF is still very cheap at 5 1/2 and not only have you good leverage but the company which has proven reseves of 719 M ounces won't go belly up if SILVER goes to 4$.

contention that America and the world will not be the same afterwards...it is PURELY political and things will get ugly everywhere...count on it...

My thoughts and heart go out to those in the US military...

Picked up 2000 shares of Smith, up 8+ % today , let me know when you decide to load up on gold stocks.

I have seen butt ugly before and this stock looks worse. Maybe if I start drinking very early some morning I'll pick some up and take it home. Talent does win over appearance if one can just get past the bad looks. Reminds me of my youth. Thanks.

Tom

was no signal from one month lease rates. I would feel more
comfortable that we were in a strong move to the upside if I
I saw a parallel and strong surge in lease rates. Since this
is absent, I suspect this POG and POS spike will be too weak to
pierce resistance levels to the upside. IMHO Yawn..........

which is sorely lacking in the population at large. They're not all brainwashed & braindead--only about 85%.

http://biz.yahoo.com/n/z/z0003.html

be a jiggle based upon the news concerning Iraq. Clearly, volume was not that impressive in most of the leading stocks so it's still wait and see. On the other hand, I think that today the XAU approached, or even crossed over the downtrend line of the descending triangle that has been set up for the past few months. Supposedly, if it breaks thru, we should get a good move in gold stocks and bullion. The $300 barrier would be broken indicating that indeed, the long awaited confirmation of the long term bottom for gold is in, and that a new bull market in the metal is at hand. Knowing how things often work, if gold moves, it will be swift and far and will not give many a chance to climb aboard except at a steep premium to present prices.

COMEX Metal Warehouse Statistics for Dec. 16

-- TOTALS
Gold 811,666 + 0 troy ounces
Silver 76,916,402 + 0 troy ounces
Copper 89,113 + 1,315 short tons

If it's past midnight, and the bar closes at
1:00 AM, Cornucopia may start to look good to you.

She's got nothing but 25 % of the Ivanhoe property
that lies on the Carlin trend. GBG has the other
75%. To me, that DOES make this "butt ugly" girl a
take over candidate if the Ivanhoe, or the Carlin
Trend gets hot following a signifigant strike.

If Corny doesn't go broke in the next six months, she
just could be a 10 bagger. The last ugly girl in the
bar usually does get lucky.

Palladium! It end UP 23.25 dollars to 317.90! Wow! And how about
that CRB index? It closed up 1.7% to 195! Wow again! This is getting
interesting folks...We have possible air-strikes to occur on
Iraq ( wag the dog? ) and oil is rebounding nicely! Hmmmmmmmm
The impeachment debate scheduled for Thursday appears to be temporarily
delayed due to Iraq, but one way or another ( attack on Iraq or impeachment
of Clinton ) one of these scenerios will cause stirrings in both the
metals and the financials. GO GOLD! GO SILVER!

....deflect the spotlight overseas, become a "Statesman", become the "save" the human race, become a "man" of military power.....

Clinton is, afterall, a reflection of America TODAY !

haggis

....deflect the spotlight overseas, become a "Statesman", "save" the human race, become a "man" of military power.....

Clinton is, afterall, a reflection of America TODAY !

haggis

Live on CNN.
Not sure what they're shooting at.

I was feeling pretty pleased with that trade until I noticed that AMZN was upgraded & up 40 in about the same time. My 2K is chump change to those guys. Had I had the guts to go long 1000 AMZN, instead of short 1000 NVLR, I could have been up at least 30K in 3 hrs.

We are witnessing a mania/stock mkt bubble of unprecedented proportions. In the case of many of these stocks the mania is aided & abetted by the Analysts. This clown today upgraded AMZN, a Co that is not expected to have any earnings within the next 1 1/2 years & IMO, will never have any earnings. I think it's mkt cap is over 10 bil & in it's own way it is just as much of a fraud as BRE-X. I will be extremely surprised if there is not a class action suit within 1-2 years. Even the business model for AMZN is ridiculous. There are no barriers to entry & the margins are razor thin.

Having said all that, I think I'll buy the next dip. ( G )

Started at 12:49AM Iraqui time.

Klinter is bombing IRAQ right now.

12/16/98 -- 4:53 PM

BULLETIN



BAGHDAD, Iraq ( AP ) - Anti-aircraft guns opened fire in Baghdad, creating loud explosions over the Iraqi capital early Thursday.

I have problem understanding how one can get excited on Sunshine Mining when compared with First Silver or Silver standard. SSC's market cap of US$130M ++ is hard to explain given their unprofitable mines, large long term debt and very low cash resources. Pirquitas is certainly a very good asset...but you are loosing that leverage because of everything else.

SSRIF is a much better buy and here I agree with you. But there is only one pure silver mine that is profitable now and has strong reserves and high potential and it is First Silver. No wonder it was one of the best perfoming silver stock with a triple during the last silver rally.

a 3rd world Country with 1/15 of it's population & 1% of it's GDP.

Gold holding its own:

Gold 296.9 +.4

Bonds:

30-Year U.S.T-Bond

5.007% -0.029

Gold Lease rates inch upward:

SteveH ( 12/16/98; 02:21:42MDT - Msg ID:1369 )

One month lease rate up .11 at 1.51 now...

Doesn't this mean that gold carry is very unprofitable at this rate??? Isn't this one of the first times that the one-month is well-over the

longer-term rates. For comparison, the one-year rate is 1.43. Thoughts? What does this mean????

DOW is just hanging around until net year:

Dow 8790.60 -32.70 ( -0.37% )

Currency report shows some dollar pessimism:

The Financial Times notes that nearly all of a recent ECU 1 billion Finnish issue was taken by the Japanese.

The ultimate safe-haven Swiss franc and EMU-safe-haven pound will probably benefit. Overnight, Tokyo traders named 115-117.50 the new range but a new wave of dollar pessimism can easily push it to 113 or more; similarly, against the DM, traders may be inspired to test 1.64 again.

In the UK, the Treasury's "euro preparation unit" leaked a document to the press projecting that the UK could join EMU within 8 months of the

decision to call a referendum, 3 months after a government decision to join and the referendum, plus another 5 months.

....the "original" DR STRANGELOVE..........

Hope she does not leave early and go broke. Thanks.

Tom

Special request to you from an English lady ( lives in the US of A ) who has ( been lurking the past 4 months, but for some reason has not been able to get a handle from bart.?

She wishes to use your post as ID'd above when e-mailing the FDIC as it is copyright she would like yours & barts permission to use this.

can you & bart ok this please

go gold

cpo ( uk )

March Silver is @ 5.09

Tony Blair is a dirtbag...and an accomplice in this completely and politically motivated madness...England should be ashamed of him...

Just so long as the y2k "passes" before the talk of the euro and referendum ( which will be phrased with only one answer ) .
With klintler's lap dog blair yearning to get in I get scared!

A world without a leader

go gold 7 silver

cpo

Go suck up to your daddy Saddam! The US is acting on behalf of free peoples everywhere. Somebody has to do the dirty work of ridding the earth of scumbags like Saddam! Take your liberal mea culpa's and go hence without day!!

I had begun to think I was alone with regard to our hyena suporting every deed of the clown errect

politicians with "good ideas" make me shudder

go gold & silver and hide it

cpo

Haggis: I was prepared to take you to task for the WJC=US electorate comment. But alas and sadly, tis true.

Mooney: I vote with you. Those who hang on every dreadful turn in US politics should find themselves a life worth pursuing. Fixating on US politics is total waste of time and bandwidth. ...... In short: Off with their heads!

As a veteran ( ten + years as a US Airforce pilot ,Korea and afterward ) I am ashamed of our lying coward president and the fact that we as americans are too gutless to do anything about him.

Saddam deserves to be bombed. Saddam wants to be bombed. Saddam loves being bombed...else he'd have never made the multiple undreds of decisions to violate the Gulf War accords.

However...sadly....we have a President who doesn't have the credibility to do the bombing. When we must question the motives of our "Great leader" for taking such grave ( and overdue ) actions...the time for that leader has come.

Bill C.

Don't ask for whom the bell tolls
It tolls for thee

Mooney, Ladybug, et al

Sorry for exceeding my Bill C. "Scum" quota for today.
Bill C is however...well.....SCUM

Tomahawk Cruise Missile Unit Cost:about $750,000 ( over the last four years )

http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/factfile/missiles/wep-toma.html

Watching the Merkin president justify his belicose actions in contradiction to the UN Security Council's reaction. Just remind me once more who declared war here? Why are Iraq's arms "prohibited" while America's are needed for peace of the world? Tony Blair, running dog..

Your flag decal wont get you into heaven anymore,
It's already overcrowded from your dirty little war.
John Prine


Earl
Gidday. Maybe you should come down under and teach me how to fish?

Watching the Merkin president justify his belicose actions in contradiction to the UN Security Council's reaction. Just remind me once more who declared war here? Why are Iraq's arms "prohibited" while America's are needed for peace of the world? Tony Blair, running dog..

Your flag decal wont get you into heaven anymore,
It's already overcrowded from your dirty little war.
John Prine


Earl
Gidday. Maybe you should come down under and teach me how to fish?

All: Does WJC know what he is doing? The timing is highly suspicious. My guess is that as soon as the bombing stops, the House will impeach. This kind of defiance will only increase the resolve of the pro-impeachment forces.

Doesn't it seem like WJC has gone almost overnight from teflon coated to two left feet? I think he is going to find out that going by the polls and ignoring everything else does not always work. Telling the truth, and doing what is right still matters.

And -- the last I heard, the weapons of mass destruction were in hardened bunkers, and we don't know which ones, or where they are. What good are 'bunker busters' if you don't know where to aim them?

My guess is that all we are doing -- other than creating civilian casualties -- is blowing up some sand.

Thank-you for your service. It is truly shameful and sad that we
have a president such as ours. He loathes the military. Let's face
it. He is the worst of worst presidents to come along. Also, I get
sick to my stomach every time I hear a new poll come out that shows
how the majority of American people support this coward and think he
should not be impeached. He should have never been re-elected, much
less elected....
In regards to polls, I realize they must be scrutinized because of
the spin the media puts on them, or how the questions may be posed,
but it's still disheartening. We have lost our faith in God and turned
to such immorality. It's sad that we've become so. I hope things get
better some day for all of us.
Actually, I believe they will! We must 1st go through some hard times, though. But I'm optimistic about our future!

God willing, we shall survive!
Fox-man

gold will once again decline....but not for long.

The $750.000 is still in the U.S.A.. Saddam has the scrap iron.

What country was under immediate threat tonite that we needed to attack now. Especially when they ( Clinton & Albright ) dithered last time. We always before paid deference to Ramadan ...Why not this TIME. Can anyone think of a reason I am at a loss as to why the sudden policy change. HMM Puzzled????

There are a lot of historical analogs between this regime and the Nazis. Best I not say too much here as it is negative for the POG. I think that the European Jews 60 years ago would have been better served if they had each had a Mauser and 20 rounds and less gold.

What country was under immediate threat tonite that we needed to attack now. Especially when they ( Clinton & Albright ) dithered last time. We always before paid deference to Ramadan ...Why not this TIME. Can anyone think of a reason I am at a loss as to why the sudden policy change. HMM Puzzled???? What is is??

http://www.isgkc.org/ramtoc.htm

Ron Paul says:


WASHINGTON, DC -- As US troops prepared to once again be used as
political pawns by the President, Rep. Ron Paul called on Bill Clinton
to resign for the good of the country and the safety of American
soldiers.

"Once again President Clinton is using American troops to deflect
attention from his record of lies, distortions, obstruction of justice
and abuse of power," said Rep. Paul after arriving in Washington on
Wednesday afternoon. "Just a couple months ago, the president launched
an attack against the nation of Sudan in an attempt to cover over his
personal problems; an attack which we know now had no basis whatsoever
in protecting US interests."

Paul said the Clinton ruse with Iraq is not only shameful, but
recklessly dangerous.

"Even if one can look past the constitutional prohibition against the US
policing the world, the timing of this new attack against Iraq screams
of hypocrisy by a president who has shown a complete disregard for our
military, our Constitution and our national defense," said Rep. Paul, a
former Air Force flight surgeon. "Iraq has been 'disobeying' the United
Nations for years now, but suddenly, on the verge of his impeachment,
this president decides to launch an attack, in essence an
unconstitutional declaration of war."

Rep. Paul said that it is "despicable for a man who ran from military
service to now use soldiers as a shield from impeachment."

"How many American soldiers and innocent Iraqi children will die so that
this president can hide from justice? How many American citizens are now
at increased risk from terrorist attack because of this president? How
much innocent blood will have to flow to cover this president's sins?
This attack has no basis in protecting our national security and only
increases the danger to our people."

A friend of mine who used to work for a major poll taking outfit said they give the media what they want with selective target recipients and slanted questions. Never did think they were honest. And if they started getting answers they did not like they went on to the next person.

I hit the post to group button and it didn't do anything, so i hit stop. Then I checked to see if it posted because as we all know what happens when it geeeeeeettttttsssssss slllloooooooooooooooooooowwwwwwwwww! Then at one point I checked and it was posted twice. I guess the other times were temporarily in limbo. Sorry! .........oh, buy gold, silver and hecla!!!

Gold not mentioned in headline, but is mentioned in body of text. Oil stocks....yup. SII uo 10% + today

Wednesday December 16, 6:29 pm Eastern Time

US bonds, oil seen extending gains after strike on Iraq

By Holly Rosenkrantz

NEW YORK, Dec 16 ( Reuters ) - The flight to safe investment havens that drove U.S. bond
prices higher and stocks lower on Wednesday is likely to intensify in the wake of U.S. and
British military strikes against Iraq, analysts said.

Financial markets in the United States had already displayed a much more cautious tone ahead of the attack. U.S. Treasuries rallied
and investors also bid up oil and gold, while stocks -- with the exception of those in the oil and defense industries -- were mostly
weaker.

Within minutes of the launch of the attack against Iraq, described afterward as ``strong'' and ``sustained'' by President Bill Clinton
bond prices extended gains posted during the regular session and stock futures dipped.

Those moves offered an early glimpse into what many expect will be an unsettled open on Thursday.

``This is demoralizing and obviously the risks, in this case a risk of escalation and of an interruption of the flow of oil, became
much bigger as soon as things heated up,'' said Hugh Johnson, chief investment officer at First Albany Corp.

From last week.... sorry for redundance, but timing was decent. And it WAS after all, the first post along these lines I have ever made at Kitco. There were fundamentels behind it..but also some tips from abroad...and a gut instinct about something big this week.

The "gut instinct" factor thing isn't much better scientific "TA" than Full Moon / eclipse theories...but it has certainly had a high degree of accuracy by comparison!

Date: Thu Dec 10 1998 13:00
LGB ( @ Cherokee.... OIL will lead GOLD higher ) ID#269409:
Copyright  1998 LGB/Kitco Inc. All rights reserved
I've been ignoring banshee wails re oil for months now, believing as I did that the bottom was not in. The bottom is now here. Opec will make a move in the first quarter 99...I have it on good authority.

The move in oil will signal a bottom to CRB index deflation. It will also be the precursor for the coming move up in Gold during 99.

After the silver shares purchased yesterday and today, I finally just bought shares in Smith Intl Inc ( SII ) , a very high value Oil services sector company. I'm in love with this co. with it's almost $2.00 earnings per share and P/E of 14 ( during what I believe is the low for oil prices no less ) , and their potential to explode in an upward move over the next few months. The whole sector has been neaten down to obscenely low levels

Sideline positions in cash are almost gone. This was THE WEEK to make some moves...but there's still time. Once this sector explodes in value in the months ahead, I'll see my SII and move some of the proceeds into Gold shares, where I currently have no position.

Oil..... has seen its final days of pain and will now rise. Gold will follow

When ( and if ) the dust settles amicably over the next couple of years and the children are not unduly discommoded; I will look to sell this place and move. As far away as possible from this girted asylum.

By that time though, I'm afraid all civilized realms will require special visas for all 'Mericans. As they would for any harboring dangerous disorders.

same, same.

The earth will be an entirely different place by the time these two are finished.
Oxford old boys ring, a wink, a nod and the funny handshake...you know.

Just picked up my very own gun last week. A Beretta .380 Cheetah. My correligionists around here seem to take a dim view of the Second Ammendment but I have read enough about Y2K to become convinced. I may try to get a carry permit which is very difficult in Illinois but my occupation may get me access to it.

As to Tomohawk Diplomacy, I seem to remember them costing an even $1 million. If they are $700,000, maybe we are starting to get quantity discounts. I think this is a cowardly way to conduct war policy. It shows weakness in that it is the most a president can do without the will of the people. Techno-war does not cause the political backlash and need for high moral ground that committing ground troops does.

One cannot achieve any discernable goal through the exclusive use of missiles. Hell, we sent 70 against Osama Bin Laden and missed.

Early reports state that France, China and Russia are "INCENSED" at the US bombing.

More International turmoil at any rate...
UN General Assembly to meet tonight...

stay tuned...tick...tick...tick...*boom*

as I understand it, Saddam was - is, fooling the the world - americans ( since you guys started to play the world police years ago ) in saying to apply to inspections and than not, so that he is buying time and being able to finish what he wants to accomplish, namely ,building weapons for mass destruction ( gosh, haven't we heard that enough ) now, that it seems he is getting close, some "merikans" oppose Clintons decission to attack!
I spoke to a couple of canadians and europeans prior and each of them was releived that Clinton ( yes - so what about impeachment, he is still the president and has a job to do ) gave the go ahead to attack !

Now, what I don't get, would some people rather prefer that Saddam attacks ???
l_b

Sorry guys and gals!!As much as I want gold to go up, ( I own a lot of shares ) I make mistakes too, and I want Bill to finish his term. It took a lot of work to get to where he is, and he has probably done a lot of bad things, and I try to remember "If you are going to ride Elephants, you are going to step on ants!!!" Go gold!! GO Billy boy!!

encourage N. Korea to ....Naw...

tick ... tick...

snowball's chance in russia.....

http://www.russiatoday.com/rtoday/business/news/06.html

Reuters reports that Russia may abandon a 20% value-added tax on gold sales to citizens, with an eye to making possible the success of
Russia's planned gold coin issues for circulation. Finance Minister Mikhail Zadornov told reporters Tuesday that "We have supported
the proposal of some ( parliamentary ) deputies on scrapping VAT on gold sales to individual by commercial banks." Current rules
require a 20% tax, which is not compensated on the resale of the coins. The tax is seen as one of the major impediments to the success of
Russia's plans to begin issuing its own gold coins, which may serve two purposes. The first will be to partially replace the US dollar as
a haven currency or stable unit of account, the second benefit of the proposed gold coin issues would be to support Russia's domestic
gold industry. Meanwhile in Europe, EU finance ministers expressed favor for the idea of a gold euro coin, which helped to encourage
the gold market despite a strengthening of the dollar.

To all,
HE DID!!!! Sometimes a dictator is a lonely president's best friend ( with apologies to Delores ) ...So impeachment hearings are called off for the time being, is it true? Some timing!! Saddam is either very smart or very stoopid. There must be SOME reason why they let him stay around. Did you catch billie give his address? Talk about stressed out..the man was practically shaking. Well as a Canuck, I don't know what to think, but I am skeptical already. What is the consensus here? Is it political or just memorex?
MofromTo

Remarks by William J. McDonough President,
Federal Reserve Bank of New York

before the Economic Club of New York New York City

December 14, 1998

Within the United States, the fixed-income market is today a market of some $13 trillion, roughly the same size as the total equity market. Trading activity in fixed-income instruments is concentrated in
Treasury securities. On an average day, over $150 billion in Treasury securities changes hands, about seven times the value of stocks traded daily on the New York Stock Exchange.

troops all over the world...I would prefer that America was not the world's policeman...I would prefer not to have Clintler and Phony Tony speaking for the free world...and in PARTICULAR the AMERICAN PEOPLE...

But then...I am one of those Americans that thinks what America has learned about the Middle East is zip...zero...nada...

The excuse for attacking Iraq is so specious that it reminds me of Hitler's attack on Poland using a fabricated Polish "incursion" into Germany as justification. It also brings up memories of the phony Gulf of Tonkin incident used as justifaction for the Vietnam war.

Jude Wanniski is like a lone voice in the wilderness on this issue, but he speaks the TRUTH:

MEMO ON THE MARGIN

December 16, 1998

Keep It Up, Kofi

Memo To: Kofi Annan, Secretary General, United Nations
From: Jude Wanniski
Re: Straight Talk on Iraq

Well, it looks like we are back in another crisis over the arms inspections. Once again UNSCOM
has been successful in provoking Iraq into appearing non-cooperative. This time Baghdad
refuses to turn over documents it says it does not have. And it refuses to permit the inspectors to
rummage around in the political headquarters of the Baath Party, a private organization that
houses only records which might be useful to those who are organizing the international effort to
subvert and overthrow the Baghdad regime. Yours is the only voice of sanity left, which might
avoid military action that Ive always believed would lead to horrific unintended consequences.

I cannot tell you how happy I was to read in Tuesday mornings NYTimes that you have
decided to criticize Superpower USA for the shameful way it has been behaving toward the
United Nations in the Iraq matter. For President Clintons National Security Advisor, Sandy
Berger, to be running around calling for the overthrow of the Baghdad regime of Saddam
Hussein in itself should warrant the condemnation of the United Nations. It is a puzzle to me
why the several Arab or Islamic governments in the region do not attempt to pass a resolution of
censure through the General Assembly. The problem with the United States, sir, is that our
political establishment has lost its capacity to rationally debate U.S. foreign policy toward Iraq. It
has done such a good job of demonizing Saddam that none of the congressional leaders of either
political party are prepared to stand up and ridicule a policy that now states flat out that we will
never support the lifting of the oil embargo against Iraq -- no matter how cooperative the
government is with UNSCOM inspectors.

We are in essence telling Saddam after eight years of sanctions that unless he scale the heights of
the World Trade Center barefoot, we will not lift the sanctions because he will be hurled off the
tower once he gets there. The more you point this out in your interviews, the more irrational
criticism you will get from our political elites for interfering in our mindless power plays, but if
you do not speak out, who will? If the Emperor has no clothes, the UN General Secretary
should speak to his nakedness.

P.S. Im also delighted to see in the Times that you have taken a slap at chief inspector Richard
Butler, for his "megaphone diplomacy." I think you should dock his pay every time he shows
his face on our talk shows. He is supposed to be out inspecting, not making speeches solely
meant to provoke Baghdad into making angry statements.

* * * * *

Related Links:

U.N. Chief Says U.S. Goes Too Far in Calling for Iraqi's Ouster --
NYT

Too bad two out of three americans like bill's performance better than Hillary.

http://www.reagan.com/HOTTopics.main/HotMike/document-12.16.1998.2.html

LOLAWTROTW ( laugh out loud along with the rest of the world )

Clinton talked like an Apparatschick. The way the term "weapons of mass destruction" comes over his lips reminds me of former communists talking about the "facist aggressiveness of capitalists". His voice and his face sounded and looked like the features of a dead person. As an example, to make his speach sound more alive, he said that the leading party of IRAQ didn't allow the UN inspectors to inspect the party offices. What a reason to bomb IRAQ!

John Warner's head looks like a skull. He is a dead soul. He strongly believes that this bombing will go on for many days. And he completely approves of it.

How can all these monsters get away with their rottenness?

Clinton, coming back from Israel, earns now his permission to stay in office. Lieberman attacked Clinton several weeks ago. Today he praised him. I'm very curious to learn how Safire from the New York Post now judges about Clintler. I guess he'll be now be his good boy.

The excuse for attacking Iraq is so specious that it reminds me of Hitler's attack on Poland using a fabricated Polish "incursion" into Germany as justification. It also brings up memories of the phony Gulf of Tonkin incident used as justifaction for the Vietnam war.

Jude Wanniski is like a lone voice in the wilderness on this issue, but he speaks the TRUTH:

MEMO ON THE MARGIN

December 16, 1998

Keep It Up, Kofi

Memo To: Kofi Annan, Secretary General, United Nations
From: Jude Wanniski
Re: Straight Talk on Iraq

Well, it looks like we are back in another crisis over the arms inspections. Once again UNSCOM
has been successful in provoking Iraq into appearing non-cooperative. This time Baghdad
refuses to turn over documents it says it does not have. And it refuses to permit the inspectors to
rummage around in the political headquarters of the Baath Party, a private organization that
houses only records which might be useful to those who are organizing the international effort to
subvert and overthrow the Baghdad regime. Yours is the only voice of sanity left, which might
avoid military action that Ive always believed would lead to horrific unintended consequences.

I cannot tell you how happy I was to read in Tuesday mornings NYTimes that you have
decided to criticize Superpower USA for the shameful way it has been behaving toward the
United Nations in the Iraq matter. For President Clintons National Security Advisor, Sandy
Berger, to be running around calling for the overthrow of the Baghdad regime of Saddam
Hussein in itself should warrant the condemnation of the United Nations. It is a puzzle to me
why the several Arab or Islamic governments in the region do not attempt to pass a resolution of
censure through the General Assembly. The problem with the United States, sir, is that our
political establishment has lost its capacity to rationally debate U.S. foreign policy toward Iraq. It
has done such a good job of demonizing Saddam that none of the congressional leaders of either
political party are prepared to stand up and ridicule a policy that now states flat out that we will
never support the lifting of the oil embargo against Iraq -- no matter how cooperative the
government is with UNSCOM inspectors.

We are in essence telling Saddam after eight years of sanctions that unless he scale the heights of
the World Trade Center barefoot, we will not lift the sanctions because he will be hurled off the
tower once he gets there. The more you point this out in your interviews, the more irrational
criticism you will get from our political elites for interfering in our mindless power plays, but if
you do not speak out, who will? If the Emperor has no clothes, the UN General Secretary
should speak to his nakedness.

P.S. Im also delighted to see in the Times that you have taken a slap at chief inspector Richard
Butler, for his "megaphone diplomacy." I think you should dock his pay every time he shows
his face on our talk shows. He is supposed to be out inspecting, not making speeches solely
meant to provoke Baghdad into making angry statements.

* * * * *

Related Links:

U.N. Chief Says U.S. Goes Too Far in Calling for Iraqi's Ouster --
NYT

..Amen........you said it, gulps of Los Vascos 96 to you, sorry I don't smoke, different strokes for different folks , yea, that s the spirit
l_b

Jude Wanniski on Iraq:


MEMO ON THE MARGIN

December 16, 1998

Keep It Up, Kofi

Memo To: Kofi Annan, Secretary General, United Nations
From: Jude Wanniski
Re: Straight Talk on Iraq

Well, it looks like we are back in another crisis over the arms inspections. Once again UNSCOM
has been successful in provoking Iraq into appearing non-cooperative. This time Baghdad
refuses to turn over documents it says it does not have. And it refuses to permit the inspectors to
rummage around in the political headquarters of the Baath Party, a private organization that
houses only records which might be useful to those who are organizing the international effort to
subvert and overthrow the Baghdad regime. Yours is the only voice of sanity left, which might
avoid military action that Ive always believed would lead to horrific unintended consequences.

I cannot tell you how happy I was to read in Tuesday mornings NYTimes that you have
decided to criticize Superpower USA for the shameful way it has been behaving toward the
United Nations in the Iraq matter. For President Clintons National Security Advisor, Sandy
Berger, to be running around calling for the overthrow of the Baghdad regime of Saddam
Hussein in itself should warrant the condemnation of the United Nations. It is a puzzle to me
why the several Arab or Islamic governments in the region do not attempt to pass a resolution of
censure through the General Assembly. The problem with the United States, sir, is that our
political establishment has lost its capacity to rationally debate U.S. foreign policy toward Iraq. It
has done such a good job of demonizing Saddam that none of the congressional leaders of either
political party are prepared to stand up and ridicule a policy that now states flat out that we will
never support the lifting of the oil embargo against Iraq -- no matter how cooperative the
government is with UNSCOM inspectors.

We are in essence telling Saddam after eight years of sanctions that unless he scale the heights of
the World Trade Center barefoot, we will not lift the sanctions because he will be hurled off the
tower once he gets there. The more you point this out in your interviews, the more irrational
criticism you will get from our political elites for interfering in our mindless power plays, but if
you do not speak out, who will? If the Emperor has no clothes, the UN General Secretary
should speak to his nakedness.

P.S. Im also delighted to see in the Times that you have taken a slap at chief inspector Richard
Butler, for his "megaphone diplomacy." I think you should dock his pay every time he shows
his face on our talk shows. He is supposed to be out inspecting, not making speeches solely
meant to provoke Baghdad into making angry statements.

* * * * *

Related Links:

U.N. Chief Says U.S. Goes Too Far in Calling for Iraqi's Ouster --
NYT
Spokesman for the Secretary-General

Jude Wanniski on Iraq:


MEMO ON THE MARGIN

December 16, 1998

Keep It Up, Kofi

Memo To: Kofi Annan, Secretary General, United Nations
From: Jude Wanniski
Re: Straight Talk on Iraq

Well, it looks like we are back in another crisis over the arms inspections. Once again UNSCOM
has been successful in provoking Iraq into appearing non-cooperative. This time Baghdad
refuses to turn over documents it says it does not have. And it refuses to permit the inspectors to
rummage around in the political headquarters of the Baath Party, a private organization that
houses only records which might be useful to those who are organizing the international effort to
subvert and overthrow the Baghdad regime. Yours is the only voice of sanity left, which might
avoid military action that Ive always believed would lead to horrific unintended consequences.

I cannot tell you how happy I was to read in Tuesday mornings NYTimes that you have
decided to criticize Superpower USA for the shameful way it has been behaving toward the
United Nations in the Iraq matter. For President Clintons National Security Advisor, Sandy
Berger, to be running around calling for the overthrow of the Baghdad regime of Saddam
Hussein in itself should warrant the condemnation of the United Nations. It is a puzzle to me
why the several Arab or Islamic governments in the region do not attempt to pass a resolution of
censure through the General Assembly. The problem with the United States, sir, is that our
political establishment has lost its capacity to rationally debate U.S. foreign policy toward Iraq. It
has done such a good job of demonizing Saddam that none of the congressional leaders of either
political party are prepared to stand up and ridicule a policy that now states flat out that we will
never support the lifting of the oil embargo against Iraq -- no matter how cooperative the
government is with UNSCOM inspectors.

We are in essence telling Saddam after eight years of sanctions that unless he scale the heights of
the World Trade Center barefoot, we will not lift the sanctions because he will be hurled off the
tower once he gets there. The more you point this out in your interviews, the more irrational
criticism you will get from our political elites for interfering in our mindless power plays, but if
you do not speak out, who will? If the Emperor has no clothes, the UN General Secretary
should speak to his nakedness.

P.S. Im also delighted to see in the Times that you have taken a slap at chief inspector Richard
Butler, for his "megaphone diplomacy." I think you should dock his pay every time he shows
his face on our talk shows. He is supposed to be out inspecting, not making speeches solely
meant to provoke Baghdad into making angry statements.

* * * * *

Related Links:

U.N. Chief Says U.S. Goes Too Far in Calling for Iraqi's Ouster --
NYT
Spokesman for the Secretary-General

Jude Wanniski on Iraq:


MEMO ON THE MARGIN

December 16, 1998

Keep It Up, Kofi

Memo To: Kofi Annan, Secretary General, United Nations
From: Jude Wanniski
Re: Straight Talk on Iraq

Well, it looks like we are back in another crisis over the arms inspections. Once again UNSCOM
has been successful in provoking Iraq into appearing non-cooperative. This time Baghdad
refuses to turn over documents it says it does not have. And it refuses to permit the inspectors to
rummage around in the political headquarters of the Baath Party, a private organization that
houses only records which might be useful to those who are organizing the international effort to
subvert and overthrow the Baghdad regime. Yours is the only voice of sanity left, which might
avoid military action that Ive always believed would lead to horrific unintended consequences.

I cannot tell you how happy I was to read in Tuesday mornings NYTimes that you have
decided to criticize Superpower USA for the shameful way it has been behaving toward the
United Nations in the Iraq matter. For President Clintons National Security Advisor, Sandy
Berger, to be running around calling for the overthrow of the Baghdad regime of Saddam
Hussein in itself should warrant the condemnation of the United Nations. It is a puzzle to me
why the several Arab or Islamic governments in the region do not attempt to pass a resolution of
censure through the General Assembly. The problem with the United States, sir, is that our
political establishment has lost its capacity to rationally debate U.S. foreign policy toward Iraq. It
has done such a good job of demonizing Saddam that none of the congressional leaders of either
political party are prepared to stand up and ridicule a policy that now states flat out that we will
never support the lifting of the oil embargo against Iraq -- no matter how cooperative the
government is with UNSCOM inspectors.

We are in essence telling Saddam after eight years of sanctions that unless he scale the heights of
the World Trade Center barefoot, we will not lift the sanctions because he will be hurled off the
tower once he gets there. The more you point this out in your interviews, the more irrational
criticism you will get from our political elites for interfering in our mindless power plays, but if
you do not speak out, who will? If the Emperor has no clothes, the UN General Secretary
should speak to his nakedness.

P.S. Im also delighted to see in the Times that you have taken a slap at chief inspector Richard
Butler, for his "megaphone diplomacy." I think you should dock his pay every time he shows
his face on our talk shows. He is supposed to be out inspecting, not making speeches solely
meant to provoke Baghdad into making angry statements.

* * * * *

Related Links:

U.N. Chief Says U.S. Goes Too Far in Calling for Iraqi's Ouster --
NYT
Spokesman for the Secretary-General

Amazon.com is trading at 289 that is 0.976 oz of the yellow. CIBC Oppenhiemer analyst predicts $400 within four months. Will it beat gold to that number? If it does, it will shake my confidence in the intelligence .... no it will confirm my belief that internet stock investors are truely lunatics. ( Even crazier than us goldbugs. ) I am starting to feel like our wacky little kitco world is truly the sane faction of earthlings. God save us for and from the paper flurry. Get sane, get gold.

Moslem holy month of Ramadan starts? After that, Saddam has a whole month of 'peace' time to activate his moles.

tick..tick..tick

the hook has been set......the fish knows not it has been hooked...
he still thinks he is the big bad boy of his domain....the problem
lies with the murky water.......and with muddled thinking.....

http://nw3.nai.net/~virtual/sot/j41.html

back from a 3 week hiatus from the net.........

chop-asaki........you know who you are.........and chop-asaki
for the others....you know who you are.

gold in a channel........oil found bottom.....and my options
await.......$50bbl.......bbiafwtctpib.

cherokee!;.....dotssmfatimmb......

Is this for real!

Little pig went , oink ,oink.

Jesus, I read and I wonder how this world will survive. Piss Ants, being stepped on, and this is as it should be.

Common sense is most uncommon, most think to learn, but never learn to think.

Is this for real!

Is this for real!

gold........channelized..........

http://www.digisys.net/futures/chart/ts_cha21.gif

......gold is fixing to shine again.....a big time event for pog is close at hand...ALLABOARD!......


cherokee!;...

Maybe the got rid of the gorilla and dropped a Tomahawk
Cruise missile on it!!!!!!!!There are so many negative
and/or threatening factors and the price for all intents and purposes
just sits there around 292.Incredible!Maybe it is simply too
easy for the trillions at the disposal of the CB's to make
it do what they want for as long as it is expedient.

http://www.mrci.com/qpnight.htm

the crude one.......

http://www.digisys.net/futures/chart/ts_cha13.gif

and it was going to $8bbl.......yar.....and gullye foyle
ran out of oxygen.......

patience and long term options.......the taskmasters HAVE to
go to war to resolve the financial crisis......it is the
way of the peopleo......

'the farther backward you can look, the farther forward you can see'
winston churchill

look at recorded history......war is a certainty....war is at your doorstep......2 world wars in the first 50 years of this century......
we are outside of the curve......over-due so to speak........

the peopleo believe what they are told......i tell you now.......
prepare....or be prepared to answer the hard questions from your
children.....chaos and flux will reign........mortality will be a
daily issue....i'll not have to answer with words...i've spent 23
years preparing for what the past told me the future would bring..

history........a window on the future......doom and gloom? just
reality.....the reality of the few controlling the many........

cherokee!;...friend.of.the.wind....bud.to.the.mud...and.prepared.

http://www.hkabc.net/cgi-bin/mtl-cgi

I believe the gold price is right, mrci is not updating.

NEW YORK ( AP ) -- The cable TV business network CNBC temporarily pulled one of its guest analysts off the air today after ethics questions arose about whether he was trading and commenting on a stock at the same time. The network said that the move, involving James Cramer, a professional money manager, had to do with comments Cramer made two weeks ago about the stock of Internet company WavePhore Inc. Cramer is expected to return to his role as a biweekly guest commentator on the program, although no timetable has been set, CNBC spokesman George Jamison said. "By no means is this permanent or long-term," Jamison said. WavePhore, a developer of online broadcasting technology, complained that Cramer said on the Dec. 2 CNBC program "Squawk Box" that he had tried to "short" the company's stock -- a legal investment strategy based on the hope that a company's stock price will fall.

http://www.newsday.com/ap/rnmpfn1l.htm
--
Gimme a break. Like handing out speeding tickets at Laguna Seca.

while the futures is holding...DBC is holding, MRCI is holding...Kitco shows gold Spot down some $2.50...

If Kitco is correct ... Spot is down.
If Kitco is wrong...I'm PO'd ...no...I'm PO'd in either event.

Go Gold

Fidelity Select Gold & Precious Metals Chart.
Ten market days ( seven hours / prices per day )
http://www.geocities.com/WallStreet/5969/agpm70.htm

The Iraqi attack may be just a short term spur for gold, if anything. This is great for the short term big bucks trader who can afford a possible loss.
Goldbugs! The only real element that will push gold to its proper height will be determined citizen purchases on a scale that will force governments to admit that fiat money is not in their national self interest.

WASHINGTON ( AP ) -- The impact of foreign economic turmoil -- good and bad -- is showing up in a broad cross-section of the American economy. Production at the nation's factories, mines and utilities dropped in November for the fourth time in six months and bank earnings during the third quarter fell for the first time in two years, federal agencies said Wednesday. But low mortgage rates produced by the crisis helped push single-family home construction to a 14-year high last month. "Today's reports highlight the discrepancy between the booming domestic side of the economy ... and the wobbly external side," said Bank of Montreal economist Tim O'Neill.

http://www.newsday.com/ap/rnmpfn0f.htm

Gold spot as 295.00+ ///off about .10..

Seems as though only Kitco reporting the drop of 2.50US or so...hmmm

Go Gold

MRCI has spot gold +$.50. Kitco has it at -$2.50. One of these sites has to be wrong. Which could it be? Hmmmmm.

Something is not quite right.

I listened to WJC on the radio on the way home from work and heard what he said about his little thing in Iraq. You heard it here on Kitco first, we all knew he'd do it, it came as no surprise ( chop-a-saki remember ) . I then listened to SecDef William Perry speak while eating dinner.

And then I was sure something is not quite right.

I logged on to the Whitehouse website and downloaded the speech.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/WH/New/html/19981216-3611.html

Something IS NOT quite right. I then went to CNN's web page.
http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/meast/9812/16/pentagon.01/index.html
Now wait a minute... I could have sworn...

Off to the Yahoo/Reuters website then.
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/headlines/pl/story.html?s=v/nm/19981216/pl/forces_1.html

Ahh yes, the smoking gun. I knew something smelled. Something fetid and disgusting. More lies, collusion and cnnspiracy.

WJC referred to Saddam's weapons of mass destruction capabilities; " chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons" ( what I heard and read. )

WP referred to Saddam's weapons of mass destruction capabilities; " chemical and biological" ( as what I heard and Reuters reported. )

WP referred to Saddam's weapons of mass destruction capabilities; " chemical, biological and nuclear weapons" ( as what CNN quoted to WP )

Too nitpicky? CNN conveniently misquoting WP using WJC's words? These guys ought to be able to communicate the basic reason ( cover story ) correctly amongst the accomplices correctly. That's why we pay them the "big bucks".

Now either WJC was not prompted properly by the JCS, DIA, NSA & CIA,
or else WP is not with the program, or else bubba is up to his old tricks about the truth again. Maybe he just threw in nuclear weapons to spice up the brew? Who knows?

Hmmmm, door number one, door number two or door number three?

According to this abc Hong Kong site, gold is also
showing a spot price of 292.45.


http://www.hkabc.net/cgi-bin/mtl-cgi

According to this abc Hong Kong site, gold is also
showing a spot price of 292.45


http://www.hkabc.net/cgi-bin/mtl-cgi

According to this abc Hong Kong site, gold is also
showing a spot price of 292.45/90


http://www.hkabc.net/cgi-bin/mtl-cgi

Check out this gold decline and someone tell me what the heck happened.

http://www.kitco.ca/image/gold.gif

Gold was brought right down in one move

war against the Iraqi people you discredit your Country & attempt to legitimize criminal acts that the founders of your Country fought against.

If you really think that the USG is acting on behalf of free people everywhere, you are either brainwashed, stupid, deluded or callous. Probably a combination of the above.

When you celebrate the holidays & hug your kids or grandkids, maybe you should think about the 500,000 innocent Iraqi kids that have already died because of your Govts illegal, criminal opression. I hope you choke on your turkey. This planet would be much better off without heartless,souless robots like you.

on Bloomberg -site
http://www.bloomberg.com/@@Xo4ZvwcAZDziqmDk/markets/index.html?>http://www.bloomberg.com/@@Xo4ZvwcAZDziqmDk/markets/index.html?
gosh why is it so difficult to log on and post in here?

....off to the war
l_b

I have to say it, as I see it.....rightly or wrongly.

Haggis

http://quote.yahoo.com/m5?a=1&s=XAU&t=USD

http://www.quote.com/cgi-bin/jchart-form

this site is tooooo slowwww. good night to all and GO GOLD!

Just today I had a conversation with a coworker who expressed the opinion that Clinton was toast and about to be impeached. I cautioned him that counting Clinton out was hazardous to one's prediction batting average. Listening to the talk shows tonight I gathered that the Repubs are telling everyone to hang around because they want to debate impeachment in a few days. Talk is Saturday or Monday. Another administration official was on a talk show explaining that, although its not cricket to start bombing during Rahmadon ( excuse my spelling ) , its ok ( or least not such bad social blunder ) to continue a bombing during the Moslem holiday of Rahmadon. In other words, if they don't finish up in a couple of days to beat the Rahmadon deadline, then buy all means they will continue the bombing. Conclusion: It is within the realm of possibility that the administration will continue the bombing into next week and beat wrap on impeachment. If congress adjurns for Christmas without the impeachment vote, I presume they won't reconvene until the next sessiion when a more Clinton congress is in power. One last note. The wifey just told me that they forgot a few weapons inspectors in Iraq. I recalled the last time they threatened Iraq several days lapsed between the time they pulled the weapons inspectors and the planned attack. This time, if memory serves, they pulled them out yesterday and attacked today. I guess haste makes waste. Clinton and his handlers will do anything to stay in power. Market manipulation is part of the strategy. The general market is poised for a serious decline and gold a nice run. But, betting against Clinton can be hazardous to your financial health

Cramer is a nasty flake who is as much a part of the Wall Street Con Game as anyone. Nothing surprises about that one.

TOKYO ( AP ) -- The dollar rose against the yen early Thursday after U.S. and British forces attacked Iraq for defying U.N. arms inspectors. Japanese stock prices fell. The dollar bought 116.12 yen in early trading, up 0.50 yen from Wednesday in Tokyo and also above its level of 116.53 in New York. The Nikkei Stock Average shed 178.97 points, or 1.27 percent, to 13,917.33 in the first 30 minutes of trading. On Wednesday, the average closed up 85.11 points, or 0.61 percent. In currency dealings, the dollar moved as high as 117.17 yen at one point following the military action. But traders said the dollar then retreated slightly. The dollar is often regarded as a safe haven in times of international unrest.

http://www.newsday.com/ap/rnmpfn0v.htm
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CRB rallied nicely today.

http://www.chartingyourfutures.com/dailyworksheets.htm

Comments and comparisons, I also thought interesting.

Have a good day.

...that if all else fails, a "localised" National State of Emergency can always be created. Slick then calls all the shots.....

http://www.urbansurvival.com/y2k.htm

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OZ going to the pack on the heels of NZ
http://www.theage.com.au/daily/981216/news/news20.html

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And some power info
http://www.power-2000.com

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Just finished a major shuffle.
Lots of changes and more to come.

Year 2000 Links: http://www.cairns.net.au/~sharefin/Markets/Y2k.htm
Alternative Links: http://www.cairns.net.au/~sharefin/Markets/Alternative.htm

Next project will be my Gold and share market links.
And that will be enjoyable.

Slowly getting behind the eightball but I miss my Kitco.

Namaste

Agreed, wasn't trying to take up for Cramer *grin*. BUT, this kind of thing happens every single day on CNBC. So what Cramer was short when he was going to deliver a destructive blow to Company ABC. Every day on CNBC some market bull gets on the screen and starts talking about how Tulip.COM is going to the moon and is the best buy in town, are we to believe that these guys aren't long on the stocks that praise to the heavens ? If Cramer had been long and was saying the most amazing unrealistic crap about the company then nobody would have cared in the least. Since he was short, well, nobody sheds a tear for the bear. Why is Kitco so slow ?

Take a careful look at this:
August 21, 1998
The price of gold in DEM was 511.834 ---but forget that price for a moment and look at the reciprocal as publicly listed

8/21/98 -1 DEM = 0.001954 ounce of gold

now take your handy-dandy calculator and get the reciprocal of 0.001954
it comes out 511.7707267144

that is a difference of 0.06327

translated in dollars at the exchange rate for 8/21/98, that is $0.04

oh well $0.04

but that is $35,194.84 per million

and the market deals in hundreds of billions

and this not just for the DEM and not just on that day

but for each currency being monitored
[except-interestingly enough-the SDR]
and on every day for which data has been collected
sometimes the amounts are smaller, some larger
some ( under )
some over

and all of them significant
when one considers WHAT THEY ARE ABOUT

and one does wonder, "Who is picking up THIS tab?"

and one does think, "maybe a lil look at platinum? silver? yes."

http://www.chartingyourfutures.com/dailyworksheets.htm

Comments and comparisons, I also thought interesting, and in
checking back you may find it worthwhile to see the weekly
chart of gold at the bottoming of 1982, the comparison to now
is most unusually similar. If what happened after is any in-
dication, we should see a sharp strong move up from these levels
lasting possibly several weeks.

Have a good day.

a re-post of the past regarding the future....... war in the
middle east.....from a senate report.....worth reading.....
and this area is WAY outside of the war curve........yes...
the war curve......the entire world is outside of this curve!
me look-um back......see many, many wars.....on regular basis...
think-um arrow is curved and may shoot-um in circle.....
know-um another close-um.......smoke-signals seen here for many
moons........now see the fire.


http://www.aci.net/kalliste/mewar.htm

cherokee!;...standing.in.the.flames....7000.miles.away...

http://www.chartingyourfutures.com/dailyworksheets.htm

Comments and comparisons, I also thought interesting, and in
checking back you may find it worthwhile to see the weekly
chart of gold at the bottoming of 1982, the comparison to now
is most unusually similar. If what happened after is any in-
dication, we should see a sharp strong move up from these levels
lasting possibly several weeks.

Have a good day.

Did you know the Iraqis are big supporters of Bill Clinton? They're dying to keep him in office.
-EJ

Brazil going back into the valley of dread ?

http://quote.yahoo.com/q?s=^bvsp&d=b

[ When Johnny Comes Marching Home ]


Clinton Troopers, Are You Ready!!? YEEES SIIIR!!!
BATF helmets on!!! YEEES SIIIR!!!
Clinton Brand, Glow In The Dark, On!!! YEEES SIIIR!!!
KILL ARAB!!! YEEES SIIIR!!!

Sir? HMMMM!

What did Saddam do that Clinton did not?!

YOU WILL GIVE ME 500 FOR THAT ONE, SOLDIER!!! OFF TO WASHING LATRINES, SOLDIER!!!


[ When Johnny Comes Marching Home ]

Kitco is jammed up with lurkers - gold ralled a total of $3 to the upper part of the middle of its trading range, oil has jumped 50 cents, the bombs have fallen...everything will be ok in the morning, Clinton hangs on for another week.

The Central Bank CABAL is ready to defend gold at the $300 line, siliver has had a brief breath of that rarified air above $5 and has already begun to descend back to the depths from which it came and shall rest. Palladium's burst over $310 is an aberation, won't even be mentioned on CNBC. The bonds are firm right at 5%,the dollar index has found a comfortable home in the 94-93 range. The XAU and CRB have had relief rallies . . . it will be back to business as usual tomorrow . . bombs or no bombs - DOW 10,000 before Gold $315!!!

Kitco is jammed up with lurkers - gold ralled a total of $3 to the upper part of the middle of its trading range, oil has jumped 50 cents, the bombs have fallen...everything will be ok in the morning, Clinton hangs on for another week.

The Central Bank CABAL is ready to defend gold at the $300 line, siliver has had a brief breath of that rarified air above $5 and has already begun to descend back to the depths from which it came and shall rest. Palladium's burst over $310 is an aberation, won't even be mentioned on CNBC. The bonds are firm right at 5%,the dollar index has found a comfortable home in the 94-93 range. The XAU and CRB have had relief rallies . . . it will be back to business as usual tomorrow . . bombs or no bombs - DOW 10,000 before Gold $315!!!

I also wondering at what targets are they shooting if
they do not know where the stuff is...? Oh, well, who cares...

For the cost of couple of those missiles they could
hire Chuck Norris, who would quitly kick the butt of
each and every National Guard warrior w/o mercy and
in no time and would wack Saddam in some original way...
that the american people would really enjoy...

NOTHING GROWS TO THE SKY, says the old Wall Street adage. Except the 1992-? [!!!] Bush-Clinton economy. The recovery has been relatively weak ( see chart ) . But if it gets past November 2000, it will be the longest expansion in American history. It may not make it. "We're at the end of the rope," says former Federal Reserve Board member Larry Lindsey, now with Economic Strategies Inc. and author of the just-published Economic Puppet Masters ( American Enterprise Institute ) . Lindsey expects GDP to be only slightly ( 1% ) larger this time next year. He sees a significant chance that the year will include the two consecutive quarters of economic contraction that economists define to be a recession.

http://www.forbes.com:80/forbes/98/1228/6214072a.htm
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Anyone know where I can get free quotes on gold related instruments via a socket connection, it doesn't matter if they are delayed or not, and I can write code well enough to hack together something to speak a specific protocol if needed. NOT looking for web pages I can get quotes on or anything like that, NOT interested in ftp sites I can download the data from, etc, I want raw data that comes live across a socket connection.