Barry Stuppler

HSBC Wednesday cut its outlook on silver prices for this year, but said that it remains "moderately bullish" on the metal and expects prices to rally later in the year amid renewed investor demand. HSBC expects silver to average . . . .

Gold demand in China, the second- largest user after India last year, may expand 13 percent to 870 metric tons in 2012, the World Gold Council said, dropping a forecast for consumption to reach as much as 1,000 tons . . . .

It has been an interesting week on the economic stimulus front with what looks like a coordinated effort by the major powers to ignite their respective economies. The European Central Bank (ECB) made the headlines with a widely anticipated cut to its key interest rate. Next up to the plate was The Bank of England (BoE) chipping in with STG50 billion. Then we have The People’s Bank of China who decided to cut its benchmark lending rate by 31 basis points to 6.0 per cent. Now we wait patiently for the next shoe to drop, which belongs to the United States . . . .

The current dislocation between gold equities and bullion has been heavily debated but, is it temporary or indicative of a fundamental change? . . . .