Barry Stuppler

GOLD At 11am PDT Gold was down $15.90 for the day, trading at $1,634.80 per ounce, but up $19.80 for the week. Gold prices eased today as fears about a S&P credit downgrade of France and Austria drove the value of the U.S. Dollar higher versus the Euro.  The Euro also dropped today as talks over Greece’s debt restructuring collapsed...

GOLD Gold prices were up today partly because of lower borrowing costs for Spain and Italy which pushed the euro higher versus the U.S. Dollar, resulting in a rally for gold and silver. At 11am PDT, Gold is up $11.10, trading at $1,650.70 per ounce on excellent global exchange volume. $1,650 is a minor resistance level and if gold can...

China’s latest gold figures look unrelentingly bullish. Too bullish perhaps…

SO “GROWTH has [now] replaced inflation as Beijing’s top policy concern,” says Qu Hongbin, Asian economics expert at HSBC in Hong Kong, forecasting three cuts to China’s banking reserve requirements by July.

“There is developing in Beijing, I think, almost a panic about global economic prospects and the impact of the European crisis on China,” agrees Michael Pettis, finance professor at Peking University. He goes one further and forecasts debate – if not the fact – of a currency devaluation in 2012.

Yes, you read that right. In a US election year, Beijing’s policy wonks are arguing over cutting the Yuan’s foreign exchange value, not raising it....

GOLD Today’s report showing record gold imports to China late last year has reassured investors that physical off-take is underpinning the gold market. Mainland China bought 102,779 kilograms from Hong Kong in November, up from 86,299 kilograms in October (19% increase), according to the Census and Statistics Department of the Hong Kong government. China doesn’t publish gold trade data. China...

As someone who has been buying gold and other commodities since 2002, I can say with some authority that it is difficult to predict the price of any commodity.

However, one thing I’m fairly certain about is that after 12 consecutive years of increasing value, gold will continue to go higher in 2012.  Here’s why ....

GOLD A combination of a weaker U.S. Dollar caused by possible progress toward implementing tougher budget rules across the Eurozone, and Gold breaking above its 200-Day moving average, drove Gold higher this morning. A widening of the Chinese trade surplus in December was another positive factor for Gold.  At 11am PDT, Gold is up $21.40 per ounce, trading at $1,633.50...

GOLD The gold rally continues, up another $50 last week and above the important $1,600 per ounce level all week.  Last week’s gold trading was on heavy volume, which is an excellent indicator that the 2012 rally to a new all-time high price is on. Gold closed at $1,616.80 per ounce on Friday, surprisingly in the face of strong U.S...

 GOLD Gold traded in a very supportive narrow range this morning. The low/high was $1609/$1623, a very tight $14 per ounce trading range on excellent volume.  At 11am PDT gold is at $1,612.10, down $6.90 per ounce.  Gold prices lost more than half a percent today. This, after the momentum that pushed prices up 3 percent last week fizzled, the...

GOLD It appears that gold has established a solid trading range in the $1,605 to $1,635 area.  This is an important, and very bullish base building period, which will allow the market to continue its 11 year record of setting new all-time highs every year. At 11am PDT, gold is trading at $1,617.80 per ounce, down $3.60 for the day...

GOLD Gold had an active trading range today, reaching $1,595 on the low side and $1,624.60 was the high of the day. At 11am, PDT the price is trading at $1,622.90, virtually unchanged from yesterday. While the tensions between Iran and the West will continue to bolster gold, as safe-haven interest, the ADP Employment report, released this morning, showed an...