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Gold Seeker Weekly Wrap-Up: Gold and Silver End the Week with Slight Gains

By: Chris Mullen, Gold-Seeker.com


-- Posted 29 August, 2008 | | Source: SilverSeek.com

Please Note: US and Canadian markets are closed on Monday in observance of Labor Day.

 

 

Close

Gain/Loss

On Week

Gold

$829.15

-$2.45

+0.25%

Silver

$13.59

-$0.04

+0.52%

XAU

149.22

-1.19%

+0.26%

HUI

344.07

-1.26%

+0.36%

GDM

1036.48

-1.19%

+0.78%

JSE Gold

1794.31

-54.09

+2.56%

USD

77.31

+0.19

+0.65%

Euro

146.70

-0.31

-0.70%

Yen

91.88

+0.59

+1.12%

Oil

$115.46

-$0.14

+076%

10-Year

3.813%

+0.018

-1.40%

Bond

118.1875

-0.59375

+0.42%

Dow

11543.96

-1.46%

-0.72%

Nasdaq

2367.52

-1.83%

-1.95%

S&P

1282.83

-1.37%

-0.73%

 
 

 

The Metals:

 

Gold and silver rose to $838.60 and $13.91 in Asia and London before they fell back off in choppy New York trade and ended near their late session lows of $828.95 and $13.56 with losses of 0.29% each.

 

Euro gold stayed at about €566, platinum gained $4 to $1477.5, and copper remained at about $3.43.

 

Gold and silver equities fell roughly 1% by late morning and lingered at about that level for the rest of the day.

 

The Economy:

 

Report

For

Reading

Expected

Previous

Personal Income

July

-0.7%

-0.2%

0.1%

Personal Spending

July

0.2%

0.2%

0.6%

Chicago PMI

Aug

57.9

50.0

50.8

Michigan Sentiment

Aug

63.0

62.0

61.7

 

“The report's price gauge tied to spending patterns jumped 4.5 percent from July 2007, the biggest 12-month gain since 1991.

 

The Federal Reserve's preferred gauge of prices, which excludes food and fuel, climbed 0.3 percent for a second month. The so-called core price measure was up 2.4 percent from a year before, the most since February 2007.”

 

All of this week’s economic reports:

 

Michigan Sentiment - August

63.0 v. 61.7

 

Chicago PMI - August

57.9 v. 50.8

 

Personal Spending - July

0.2% v. 0.6%

 

Personal Income - July

-0.7% v. 0.1%

 

Initial Claims - 8/23

425K v. 435K

 

GDP - Q2

3.3% v. 1.9%

 

Chain Deflator - Q2

1.2% v. 1.1%

 

Durable Orders - July

1.3% v. 1.3%

 

Consumer Confidence - August

56.9 v. 51.9

 

New Home Sales - July

515K v. 503K

 

Existing Home Sales - July

5.00M v. 4.85M

 

Next week’s economic highlights include Construction Spending and the ISM Index on Tuesday, Factory Orders and the fed’s Beige Book on Wednesday, ADP Employment, Initial Jobless Claims, Productivity, and ISM Services on Thursday, and August’s jobs data on Friday.

 

The Markets:

 

Charts Courtesy of http://finance.yahoo.com/

 

Oil rose in early trade as Gustav strengthened heading towards the Gulf of Mexico and inspired traders to cut any short positions heading into the long weekend, but gains pared in late trade and turned to a small loss at the close after forecasts began to call for the storm to head further north and cause less damage than previously thought.

 

The U.S. dollar index fell in early trade, but it rose to find a slight gain by the close after oil erased its gains.

 

Treasuries fell as interest rates rose on better than expected readings from Chicago PMI and Michigan Sentiment.

 

The Dow, Nasdaq, and S&P fell about 1% on disappointing Personal Income data, worrisome comments from Dell, and worries over Gustav.

 

Among the big names making news in the market Friday were Nintendo, Microsoft and ciao.com, Delphi, Dell, and Boeing.

 

The Commentary:

 

“Dear Friends,

 

If anyone wants to know why bonds have been busy going nearly straight since the middle of July, just look at the charts linked below.

 

The first is Federal Agency Debt holdings in the New York Federal Reserve's Custodial Accounts. The second chart is US Treasuries holdings in those same accounts. The third is total holdings in the Custodial Accounts.

 

Foreign Central Bank holdings of US Federal Agency debt holdings hit a high water mark of $986 billion reported on July 17 of this year. This week's data shows that those same Foreign Central Banks are now down to $968 billion. In five weeks time, foreign central banks have sold $18 billion worth of US Federal Agency debt.

 

Over that same time period, they have increased their holdings of US Treasury debt from $1.363 trillion to $1.441 trillion, an increase of $77.33 billion!

 

For the entire 5 week period beginning July 17, 2008 to the present week, total custodial holdings have increased $59.71 billion.

 

Foreign Central Banks have been quite busy unloading US Federal Agency Debt and acquiring US Treasuries in its place and then some. One would easily get the idea that they do not feel comfortable with it any more. Even a cursory glance at the Agency Debt Holdings chart shows that the last five weeks have seen the largest drop in this category over the life of the data series that I am using. While we have seen reductions in their holdings from week to week on occasion over the data range, this is the first time we have seen a reduction in US Federal Agency debt holdings that has continued for this length of time.

 

As a side note – the huge amount of US Treasury purchases which has sent that chart nearly vertical helps to explain the continued rally in the US Dollar. It is a near certainty that something has been transpiring behind the scenes involving various Central Banks in regards to the US Dollar. Should any of this Foreign CB buying abate for any reason whatsoever, the Dollar will lose all of its support immediately. With yields on US Treasuries headed firmly lower only a foolish investor would see bonds or notes as a safe haven given what we all know about the real rate of inflation here in the US in contrast to the absurd and mentally insulting numbers that the knavish Feds are dishing out.

 

I repeat my main assertion - Foreign Central Banks are behind the rally in US Treasuries and as a consequence, the rally in the US Dollar. How much longer they remain willing to ply this gambit is unclear but one is not at all murky, someone is going to get stuck holding the bag.

 

Click here for today’s Custodial Holdings and Account Balance charts with commentary from Trader Dan Norcini- Dan Norcini, JSMineset.com

 

“December Gold finished down 2 at 835.2, 7.2 off the high and 1.2 up from the low.

 

December Silver closed up 0.002 at 13.707. This was 0.007 up from the low and 0.163 off the high.

 

The gold market might have disappointed some bulls with its action Friday, as the market was presented with a series of potentially supportive themes from the week and yet many of the potential flight to quality themes seemed to lose their influence during the trade Friday. Certainly the gold market was supported by concerns that the upcoming tropical storm might wreak havoc on the US economy and certainly some gold bulls were anticipating that another record insurance loss in the US Gulf States could put several US financial sector stocks back on the brink of failure. While the Dollar did show some periodic weakness this week, the Dollar was pretty impressive in its ability to hold up around and above the 77.00 level and that probably leaves some gold bulls on edge. In a positive note the gold market leaves the week with a series of very favorable gold coin stories in the marketplace and the market also seems to have reconfirmed ongoing strong gold ETF demand and that could help the market discount the lingering fears of too much slowing.

 

The silver market in general this week showed the capacity to continue its short covering impetus from the early August lows. Clearly the silver market continues to take its direction from the gold market and from flight to quality issues. However, with clear divergence between the precious metals markets and the industrial metals on Friday, it is clear that lingering concerns of too much slowing is serving to discourage some silver buyers. In the end, the biggest physical supply side news of the week in silver was supportive for prices, as Mexico (a key silver producer) posted a rather significant decline in June silver production.”- The Hightower Report, Futures Analysis and Forecasting

 

GATA Posts:

 

 

China makes it hard to believe commodity boom is over

No currency intervention? Jim Sinclair knows better

Russia may cut off oil and gas to Europe

U.S. appeals court validates gold clause in rental contract

 

The Statistics:

As of close of business: 8//2008

Gold Warehouse Stocks:

8,618,803

+15,245

Silver Warehouse Stocks:

138,584,838

+673,402

 

Global Gold ETF Holdings

[WGC Sponsored ETF’s]

 

 

Product name

Total Tonnes

Total Ounces

Total Value

New York Stock Exchange Arca (NYSE Arca) AND Singapore Exchange (SGX) AND Tokyo Stock Exchage (TSE) AND Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEx)

SPDR® Gold Shares

651.37

20,942,246

US$ 17,548m

London Stock Exchange (LSE) AND Euronext Paris AND Borsa Italiana AND Frankfurter Wertpapierbörse (Deutsche Börse )

Gold Bullion Securities

115.68

3,719,130

US$ 3,102m

Australian Stock Exchange (ASX)

Gold Bullion Securities

10.87

348,964

US$ 291m

Johannesburg Securities Exchange (JSE)

New Gold Debentures

28.19

906,362

US$ 759m

 Note: No change in Total Tonnes from yesterday’s data.

 

COMEX Gold Trust (IAU)

Profile as of 8/28/2008

 

Total Net Assets

$1,589,054,089

Ounces of Gold
in Trust

1,913,060.054

Shares Outstanding

19,400,000

Tonnes of Gold
in Trust

59.50

 Note: Change in Total Tonnes from yesterday’s data: 1.69 tonnes were removed from the trust.

 

Silver Trust (SLV)

Profile as of 8/28/2008

 

Total Net Assets

$2,867,088,706

Ounces of Silver
in Trust

208,145,124.600

Shares Outstanding

210,500,000

Tonnes of Silver
in Trust

6,474.04

 Note: No change in Total Tonnes from yesterday’s data.

 

The Stocks:

 

IAMGOLD’s (IAG) bid for Euro Resources (EURR.PA), Eldorado’s (EGO) project update, and Sterling Mining’s (SRLM.OB) lease were among the big stories in the gold and silver mining industry making headlines Friday.

 

WINNERS

1.  Gold Reserve

GRZ +20% $1.92

2.  Crystallex

KRY +14.91% $1.31

3.  Metalline

MMG+12.38% $1.18

 

LOSERS

1.  Vista

VGZ -6.50% $3.31

2.  Northgate

NXG -5.59% $1.52

3.  Allied Nevada

ANV -5.50% $5.84

Winners & Losers tracks NYSE and AMEX listed gold and silver mining stocks that trade over $1.

       

All of today's gold and silver stock news:

Evolving Gold Corp. - Annual General Meeting September 30, 2008 - More
- August 29, 2008 | Item | E-mail


Shoshone Silver Mining Company Reaches Agreement to Acquire Kimberly Gold Mines, Inc. - More
- August 29, 2008 | Item | E-mail


Infinito Completes $18,000,000 Convertible Note Financing To Fund Crucitas Development - More
- August 29, 2008 | Item | E-mail


Pacific Coast Nickel Corp. Options Yukon Property - More
- August 29, 2008 | Item | E-mail


Canadian Royalties Announces Management Changes - More
- August 29, 2008 | Item | E-mail


Breakwater Exercises Its 20% Property Conversion Option on Caribou and Restigouche Properties Pursuant to the Terms of the Convertible Debenture - More
- August 29, 2008 | Item | E-mail


Tournigan Files Kuriskova Technical Report - More
- August 29, 2008 | Item | E-mail


Joint Press Release - Coronation Minerals Inc./Guyana Goldfields Inc. acquisition of remaining 50% of Coppermine River Project - More
- August 29, 2008 | Item | E-mail


Iamgold files offer for France's Euro Resources - "Mid-tier Canadian gold producer Iamgold Corp (IMG.TO: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) said on Friday it has filed a cash offer for the rest of Euro Resources (EURR.PA: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) it does not already own in a bid worth about 71 million euros ($104 million).

Euro Resources currently holds a royalty on production from Iamgold's Rosebel gold mine in Suriname, which the acquisition would effectively eliminate. Based on current gold prices, that would result in a reduction in cash costs at the mine of about $50 an ounce, Iamgold said." More
- August 29, 2008 | Item | E-mail


Eldorado Gold Corporation: Efemcukuru Project Update - "The Company together with its consultants have completed a thorough review of the Project and has updated its estimates for initial capital investment, operating costs and schedule for commissioning. For comparison purposes these parameters are referenced against the feasibility study (the "Study") completed in July 2007." More
- August 29, 2008 | Item | E-mail


Inspiration Intersects 0.276% Ni Over 33.30m or 109.25ft (True Width) - More
- August 29, 2008 | Item | E-mail


TEAL Exploration & Mining Inc. - Report for the year-ended June 30, 2008 - More
- August 29, 2008 | Item | E-mail


Dia Bras Reports Second Quarter Results for 2008 - More
- August 29, 2008 | Item | E-mail


Northern Shield Receives Approval for Private Placement - More
- August 29, 2008 | Item | E-mail


Golden Valley Mines Ltd.: Otish Basin Uranium Exploration Project Update Phase I Drill Program and Airborne Survey - More
- August 29, 2008 | Item | E-mail


JNR Provides Update on Newfoundland Uranium Exploration - More
- August 29, 2008 | Item | E-mail


Randsburg International Gold Corp. Announces Closing of Sale of Its Interest in the Elephant Property to Duncan Park Holdings Corporation and Resolution - More
- August 29, 2008 | Item | E-mail


AXMIN Learns of an Amending Decree From the Government of the Central African Republic - More
- August 29, 2008 | Item | E-mail


ASX Grants Anvil Waiver from Listing Rule 7.1 - More
- August 29, 2008 | Item | E-mail


IAMGOLD Announces Filing in France of Cash Bid for Euro Ressources - "IAMGOLD Corporation ("IAMGOLD" or "the Company") announced today that it has filed a draft tender offer in France that will provide for an all cash offer of EUR1.20 per share to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Euro Ressources S.A. ("EURO")." More
- August 29, 2008 | Item | E-mail


Sunshine Calls on Sterling Mining Company to Comply With Lease, Federal and State Law - "In a recent letter to Sterling Mining Company and its attorney, Michael K. Branstetter, Sunshine clearly outlines a course of action needed to bring this project back into Federal and State compliance. Among many key issues raised in the letter, lack of access to project site for inspection, no evidence of BLM assessment payments or adequate insurance coverage. Additionally recent SEC filings concerning an alarming number of high interest loans, raises questions about Sterling's ability to satisfy the lessor's demands and continue operations." More
- August 29, 2008 | Item | E-mail


 

- Chris Mullen, Gold Seeker Report

 

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© Gold Seeker 2008

Note: This article may be reproduced provided the article, in full, is used and mention to Gold-Seeker.com is given.

 

 

Disclosure: The owner, editor, writer and publisher and their associates are not responsible for errors or omissions.  The author of this report is not a registered financial advisor.  Readers should not view this material as offering investment related advice. Gold-Seeker.com has taken precautions to ensure accuracy of information provided. Information collected and presented are from what is perceived as reliable sources, but since the information source(s) are beyond Gold-Seeker.com’s control, no representation or guarantee is made that it is complete or accurate.  The reader accepts information on the condition that errors or omissions shall not be made the basis for any claim, demand or cause for action.  Past results are not necessarily indicative of future results.  Any statements non-factual in nature constitute only current opinions, which are subject to change.  Nothing contained herein constitutes a representation by the publisher, nor a solicitation for the purchase or sale of securities & therefore information, nor opinions expressed, shall be construed as a solicitation to buy or sell any stock, futures or options contract mentioned herein.  Investors are advised to obtain the advice of a qualified financial & investment advisor before entering any financial transaction.

 


-- Posted 29 August, 2008 | |


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