Mostly: Classical

[roni]

The Globe and Mail reports in its Thursday, Dec. 8, edition that employees at precious-metals dealer Kitco were scrambling Wednesday. The Globe's Wendy Stueck writes that Kitco workers were fielding hundreds of calls on one of the busiest days in the firm's history. Customers clamoured to buy everything from bars of gold to certificates for precious metal stored at an Australian mint. Jon Nadler, Kitco's investment products manager, said Wednesday's near 25-year high for gold -- after its recent breakthrough to the psychologically important $500 (U.S.) an ounce mark -- shows the public is waking up to gold's allure. Gold is back. Firms such as Kitco are on the front lines of a global trend that some say could see gold emerge as a "fourth global currency" that could challenge the dominance of the U.S. dollar, the Japanese yen and the euro on the world financial stage. Analysts say a supply-demand crunch is driving gold prices. Analysts say a ballooning United States government deficit is lessening confidence in the American dollar. Mined-gold production has fallen by an average 2 per cent a year between 2001 and 2004, Newmont Mining said Wednesday.

http://new.stockwatch.com/swnet/newsit/newsit_newsit.aspx?bid=B-507036-C:NMC&symbol=NMC&news...