Gold prices have climbed by around 8% year to date—close to what they gained for all of last year . . . .

Chinese trade data has showed that the most monthly silver imports in May since 2010, while platinum imports were the strongest in more than a year . . . .

Following this morning's flash crash in gold, in which a "fat finger" - usually a euphemism for any trade that cannot be logically explained yet one which reprices a given asset class substantially lower as happened with gold - suddenly sold $2.2 billion worth of gold in under a minute, taking out the entire bid-side stack, we were expecting banks to immediately come out with bearish reports on gold, piggybacking on the latest central bank-facilitiated smackdown, and allegedly allowing their prop desks to load up on the yellow metal on the cheap . . . .

After the 1.8 million-ounce Gold sale in just 60 seconds that caused a $20 drop yesterday, we are seeing the market stabilize . . . .

Last week we saw Gold break below the key $1,250 support level, reaching a low of $1,241.70 per ounce. On June 6, Gold made its second attempt at breaking above the key $1,300 . . . .

Someone sold 56 tons of Gold (1.8 Million Ounces) in just 60 seconds this morning . . . .

We are measured and surveyed around the clock, particularly regarding the facts of our economic lives — always of interest to companies trying to find a better way to sell us things. Yet there is at least one significant-seeming economic question with no reliable answer: How many Americans own gold? . . . .

Gold exports from Switzerland totaled 170 mt (metric tons) in May, up 39% from 122 mt in April, Swiss federal customs data showed Thursday . . . .

Gold is back on track to $1,300 per ounce after testing support at $1,250 and holding on good trading volume . . . .

During the 2008 financial crisis, gold was used in international settlements as a zero-risk asset after many decades of being sidelined in the monetary system. Since then the world’s central banks have been substantially increasing their official gold reserves . . . .