Buffet Buys Metal Casting Business

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Buffet knows the stock market is on shaky ground and he's buying REAL tangible businesses. Is it a coincidence that he's buying a "metal casting (commodity based) company?" I know we can't all invest like Mr. Buffet but we can invest in real tangible assets like precious metals. Take this as a sign of things to come.   BK

Heraeus Market Report

GOLD
Positive US data sent gold into a tailspin last week (low at 1,212 $/oz). US monthly production figures were the best in 2 ½ years this November which again brought with them the question of the timing of the reduction in the US bond-buying programme (currently $ 85 bn / month). Technical selling did its bit to enhance the slide as funds and investors sold their metal or went short. Gold in euro terms also fell drastically and only at around 891 €/oz did it find some support; a 3 ½ year low. For the first time since 2004 (in €), it looks like gold is going to finish the year with a loss (at the moment ca. -30%). On Thursday losses were quickly recovered (buy-back of short-positions), though the recovery was limited. The outlook for the recovery of the US employment market and the publishing of the non-farm payroll data for November on Friday pulled out support for the metal. Further developments in the Indian gold market remain of importance in the coming year: it is unlikely that the effective import-duty of up to 10% introduced this year is going to be reduced and a trade body official assumes that this will halve demand to around 550-550 tonnes. Illegal imports have already gone up. For example, buying from Thailand doubled in the third quarter and according to assumptions by the World Gold Council, the metal gets smuggled into India from there. We continue to see no reasons that could give sustainable support to gold. With continuing positive data from the US, some market-participants are speculating that tapering could well start this year. Some clarity is hoped for in the coming FED Strategy Meeting of 17/18 December. We expect the present volatility to continue and the 1,200 $/oz mark to be tested; then followed by supports at 1,180 $/oz and 1,150 $/oz.

SILVER

The precious metals markets have an energetic week behind them. Silver lost the most in the complex (-2.36%) as it dropped below 19 $/oz during the course of this reporting period to a 5 month low. Though a short-covering rally on Wednesday saw it recover somewhat, Thursday’s good Q3 US-GDP of 3.6% again put pressure on the price of silver. Additionally the metal got little support from the weak US coin sales. Technically silver is still in an intact downtrend. Resistance is at 20 $/oz with support at 18.90 $/oz and again at the years’ low of 18.20 $/oz. This week, among others, the precious metals markets could be influenced by the following: Inflation data from Germany (Wednesday: 08:00 hours), Industrial production Eurozone (Thursday: 11:00 hours) as well as the US Retail Sales (Thursday: 14:30 hours).

PLATINUM

Driven by high inflows into the NewPlat ETF, platinum ETF’s, as in previous weeks, know only one direction. Despite this platinum had to book mild losses in this reporting period (-0.68%). The metal dropped from 1,362.50 $/oz to 1,353.25 $/oz. After European automobile sales in October and November had recovered, the US-automobile market also reported positive sales figures. These latter were up 8.7% in November; as high as they were 10 years ago. Presently platinum is showing a tendency for falling prices. We expect a sustainable price-rise if and when South Africa is subjected to continuing strikes (see report from 11.11.2013).

PALLADIUM

Year-to-date, palladium remains the precious metal with the best performance (+ 5%). Also during this reporting period it was up slightly (+ 2.60%). On the industrial side, the picture appears to be mildly brighter. An indicator for this is demand for palladium sponge, which has improved slightly. Technically support is at the low of November and December at 705.50 $/oz and resistance at the November high of 762.25 $/oz. Outlook for 2014 as per the prognosis of the analysts questioned by Reuters is an average price of 786.70 $/oz, which implies rising prices. One explanation for expectations of rising prices could be Norilsk Nickel’s – world’s largest nickel and palladium producer – suggestion that the market will have a supply-deficit in the face of stronger demand from the automobile market and an unpredictable “above-ground-stock” situation: “Strong demand from the auto sector and an unpredictable supply from above-ground stocks suggest a physical shortage could take place in the palladium market as early as next year, an executive at the Russia's Norilsk Nickel said on Thursday.”

Precious Metals Storm Ahead

Notice in 2007, total Gold Eagle sales were only 198,500 oz, but after the banking and housing collapse in 2008, buying more than quadrupled to 865,500 oz. Furthermore, when the broader stock markets continued to tank in 2009, Gold Eagle sales reached 1.4 million oz.

As the Fed and central banks continued to print, prop-up and backstop their respective fiat currencies and broader stock markets, the demand for gold continued to decline. In 2011, Gold Eagle sales slipped to 1 million oz. and down to only 753,000 oz. in 2012.   LINK...

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After a more than 40% correction in precious metals since the 2011 high, I think a rally is sure to come very soon?   BK

Heraeus Market Commentary

Good Morning,

We could be in for a rather uneventful day in the precious metals complex as market participants await the conclusion of the FOMC meeting tomorrow. At this point, it seems the consensus isn’t if the Fed will begin tapering the $85 billion-a-month asset purchase program but by how much. A $10 billion reduction in the program may have already been priced into the market so any deviation could make Wednesday afternoon very interesting. Until then it’s a wait and see atmosphere as the metals hover at or slightly below yesterday’s closing levels. Gold closed the previous session at $1317.80 and touched as low as $1307 in overnight trading. The yellow metal now trades $1312.60.  Silver ended Monday’s session at $22.009 and now trades nearly .75% lower at $21.850 after reaching as high as $22.14 overnight. Platinum trades about .5% lower at $1434 while palladium trades relatively flat to yesterday’s close and continues to hold above the $700 mark at $705. In economic news, The Labor Department released its consumer price index which rose .1% last month compared to a .2% increase in July. Have a great day!

Tom Hungerford

Heraeus Metals New York LLC

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Royal Canadian Mint Revenue Reaches $3.2 Billion

Royal Canadian Mint

May 7, 2012 By Michael Zielinski
 The Royal Canadian Mint achieved record revenue of $3.2 billion for 2011, representing an increase of 42.9% from the prior year. The increase in revenue was driven primarily by the bullion and refinery segment, although numismatics and collectibles also put in a strong performance.   LINK...

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How many other businesses are showing this kind of growth (42.9%)? Any question about the investment demand for gold and silver?   BK

Marc Faber Says EVERYONE Should Own Some Precious Metals For Insurance

Chris Martenson interviews Marc Faber: LINK
www.chrismartenson.com
www.gloomboomdoom.com
Key Points:

• Keep your gold and silver in private vaults.
• Look at gold and silver as your insurance.
• The FED will continue to print money.
• Precious Metals are still undervalued.

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