Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Marc Faber the Great Depression all over again

Gold rush to mine precious metals in outer space

Original source

(CBS News) It's not science fiction. Some well-known investors want to send robots into space, land on asteroids and dig for precious metals.

Space tourism pioneers Eric Anderson and Peter Diamandis live by the idea that the future is now. "This company is not about thinking and dreaming about asteroid mining," Anderson said. "This company is about creating a space economy beyond the earth."

As far as they're concerned, mining asteroids in space is soon to be fact. The two men, backed by wealthy investors like Google CEO Larry Page and filmmaker James Cameron, say asteroids offer rich sources of metals like platinum - which go for $1,500 an ounce.

"This is smart money investing in one of the largest commercial opportunities ever," Diamandis said, "going to space to gain resources for the benefit humanity."

Within two years, the men want their company Planetary Resources to launch up to five telescopes for close looks at the 9,000 asteroids orbiting near Earth. Asteroids also contain chemicals like hydrogen and oxygen needed as man moves deeper into space.

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Apr 24, 2012 by

Central Banks continue to add to Gold reserves

By Rhiannon Hoyle
Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

Original source

LONDON (Dow Jones)--Mexico and Russia lifted their official gold holdings sharply last month, each adding more than half a million troy ounces to their reserves as a host of central banks around the world continued to beef up their stockpiles of the precious metal.

According to the latest figures from the International Monetary Fund Tuesday, central bank officials returned to the international gold market as keen buyers last month--a move that should be positive for gold prices, particularly after much softer demand from the sector in February, say industry participants.

"With [speculative] positioning light, participants could certainly use this as an excuse to become a little friendlier towards the yellow metal," UBS precious metals strategist Edel Tully.

Emerging markets' central banks have been buying gold in reaction to the sovereign debt crises affecting traditional reserve currencies, like the dollar and the euro. This has become a key support for gold prices, as it not only absorbs supply but boosts investor sentiment toward the metal, market participants say.

According to the IMF, Mexico's central bank purchased a net 541,000 ounces of gold in March, increasing the country's official reserves of the precious metal to 3.941 million ounces. Russia meanwhile returned to the market as a buyer after reporting net sales in February for the first time since early 2007. It purchased 532,000 ounces of gold, taking its official reserves to 28.799 million ounces.

Elsewhere, Turkey's central bank--which last year began to accept gold as collateral from commercial banks--reported a 369,000-ounce lift in its reserves in March, to 6.739 million ounces.

Kazakhstan's central bank lifted its reserves 138,000 ounces, to 3.092 million ounces, while Ukraine raised its official reserves by 38,000 ounces to 939,000 ounces and Tajikistan increased its holdings 13,000 ounces to 158,000 ounces. Belarus, Greece and Mongolia were also buyers.

"There is an increasing realisation amongst central bankers that gold is a less risky alternative to most paper currencies and a recent survey showed that the majority of central bank reserves managers were favorable towards gold," bullion dealer GoldCore said in a market report.

UBS's Tully said the data help to explain why the $1,600/oz price floor managed to hold last month, despite indicators at the time suggesting gold should fall below that level.

Lest we Forget

Today Australia and New Zealand commemorates ANAZC Day. We recognize the ultimate sacrifices that Aussies and Kiwis paid fighting shoulder to shoulder in thousands of pointless campaigns, where "our" 99% fought "their" 99% for the enrichment and carnal pleasure of The 1%. The wars may have been pointless but their sacrifices for each other were not. Lest we forget.


Lew Rockwell: The Government is A Gang of Thieves writ Large

Apr 24, 2012 by
 
On the Tuesday, April 24 edition of the Alex Jones Show, Alex talks with Lew Rockwell. Mr. Rockwell served as Ron Paul's congressional chief of staff from 1978 to 1982. He was a contributing editor to The Ron Paul Investment Letter and worked as a consultant to Paul's 1988 Libertarian Party campaign for president. Lew founded the Ludwig von Mises Institute where the Journal of Libertarian Studies is published. He is the author of Speaking of Liberty and The Left, The Right, and The State.

Keiser Report: Beggars Without Borders

Apr 24, 2012 by

In this episode, Max Keiser and co-host, Stacy Herbert discuss debt piles and thin dimes. They also discuss Christine Lagarde begging for money outside Penn Station while insider trading bankers 'charitably' talk to beggars at Grand Central. In the second half of the show Max talks to economist Michael Hudson about the austerity, debt and fraudulent conveyance.

Dr. Stephen Leeb can treat Paper Addictions

If you have people that are close to you that think you are odd for buying gold and silver, or if you have friends and relatives that you wish were saving in real money of gold and silver instead of paper promises then please sit them down in a darkened room and have them read, listen and watch all of the posts on this blog from Dr. Stephen Leeb. The good doctor will help treat them of their paper addictions. All of Dr. Leebs posts can be accessed by clicking on this search link here

To ease your patient into the treatment best start with the following video from Feb 2010 when silver was priced at US$15/oz:

Dr. Stephen Leeb on Gold, Oil and China

Dr. Leeb discusses the Holy Trinity of current economics, Gold, Oil and China. Listen to the KWN interview here

John Hathaway on Gold the Fed

John Hathaway discusses Gold, mining shares and possible actions of the Fed. Listen to the KWN interview here