They just got a different tool to use than we do: They kill innocent lives to achieve objectives. That's what they do. And they're good. They get on the TV screens and they get people to ask questions about, well, you know, this, that or the other. I mean, they're able to kind of say to people: Don't come and bother us, because we will kill you. Bush - Joint News Conference with Blair - 28 July '06

Tuesday, November 29, 2005

Gold highest since '83 - hedging Dollar risk

reuters:Hedge funds bet Asia will boost gold reserves

Hedge funds, after pushing gold prices to 18-year highs, are looking to China and other Asian central banks as the next big drivers of the metal.

This month Russia, Argentina and South Africa decided to increase the amount of gold in their reserves, reversing a six-year trend of central bank sales, mainly from Europe.

That helped push gold prices above $500 an ounce on Tuesday, the highest price since 1987 and double levels seen in 2001.

Hedge fund manager Juerg Kiener said it was now only a matter of time before Asian central banks follow suit and diversify more of their $2.6 trillion in foreign reserves holdings into gold to hedge against what he sees as an inevitable decline in the dollar.

Just a hint of Asian central bank buying would set the gold market on fire, said Philip Klapwijk, chairman of London-based consultancy GFMS Ltd. and a director of the Global Precious Metals Fund.

"That's going to be explosive," he said. Read more