Gold Price and Propaganda

The propaganda has turned openly laughable. On the popular major financial news networks, the recent decline in the so-called Gold price has prompted quite the parade of clowns on the ship of fools to trumpet nonsense.

The widely published and posted Gold price is dominated by futures contracts, and thus as corrupted as meaningless. The entire global financial structure is crumbling before our eyes.

The gang of central bankers has applied their monetary policy for four and a half years since the implosion of Lehman, Fannie Mae, and AIG. The first is dead, while the second has transformed into a sanctioned subprime lender again, and the latter is a sinkhole.

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Gold Futures Drop as Investors Take Profits

After a couple of days of gold futures surging, investors decided to take some profits off of the table, as gold for April delivery dropped $19.80, or 1.2 percent, to close at $1,595.70 an ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Some media outlets suggested it was positive macroeconomic data out of the U.S. and Europe that resulted in the downturn, but that's doubtful after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke stated he has no intention of stopping stimulus measures, which of course confirms the extreme fragile global and American economy.

Another thing is any investor that believes in any way that Europe has anything positive economically to base an investing decision upon, is setting themselves up for failure, as Europe is and will continue to be an economic basket case no matter what positive spin the financial media attempt to put on it.

For example, some news reports said gold futures fell because Italian political parties are starting to work on the possibility of forming a government. So what? Italy is working on forming a government. That's meaningless. Italy is going to have a government no matter what the news reports say. So the idea is put forward that they are working on it is considered news and a reason for gold investors to sell. That would mean gold investors bought gold because there were concerns over whether or not Italy would form a government. It's irrelevant of course.

Britain also continues to be an economically challenged area, where its economy contracted by 0.3 percent from the last quarter.

The only positive economic news in the United States continues to be the housing sector, where pending home sales in January were up a little more than expected. Other than that, most of the economic news in America is dismal.

Durable goods orders were reported as having fallen in January, a nod towards extremely weak manufacturing sector. Durable goods orders in the U.S. plunged 5.2 percent last month, where economists were looking for a drop of about 4.0 percent.

As for currencies, the euro U.S. dollar rose to $1.3101. The dollar index, which measures the U.S. dollar against a basket of currencies, was also down on the day.

Gold May be About to Break Out, Here's Why

Gold could be about to soar after recent heavy downward pressure, based upon the probability the huge number of shorts will be forced to cover their positions, resulting in a huge, upward move in the yellow metal.

Gene Arensberg, editor of the Got Gold Report, noted this in an email:

“The producer merchants, the category that includes the natural hedgers, are at their lowest net short position since 2008 at the same time that the managed money traders, the funds, are record short and at their lowest net long position since Nov. 18, 2008.

“I have not seen the COT ‘rubber bands’ so over-stretched in opposite directions as they are now,” Arensberg said, noting that extreme lows for the managed money net long positions are “usually associated with important bottoms for the price of gold.”

Arensberg added that together, funds have slashed their long gold positions by almost 36 percent to a 42,810 contract net long position.

It is also thought the short position is much larger because this data only represents Tuesday of last week.

Gold for April delivery settled Monday at $1,586.60 an ounce  on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange, up $13.80, or 0.9%. That's the largest one-day move for gold futures in February.

Agnico (AEM) (AZK) (GSS) (RGLD) (GRS) Close Up as Gold Price Breaks Records Again

Agnico-Eagle (NYSE:AEM), Aurizon Mines (AMEX:AZK), Golden Star Resources (AMEX:GSS), Royal Gold (Nasdaq:RGLD) and Gammon Gold (NYSE:GRS) closed up as gold price records continue be broken.

Gold futures soared past $1,550 an ounce Friday as investors looked for an alternative to the U.S. dollar, which continues to collapse.

The most-actively traded gold contract, for June delivery climbed $25.20, or 1.6 percent, to settle at a record $1,556.40 a troy ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange.

It roared past its intraday peak to $1,569.80 in electronic trading after the close. May gold rose $25.20, or 1.6 percent, to end at a nearby record $1,556.00. Measured by percent and the U.S. dollar, it's the largest monthly gains since November 2009.

Most-active July silver jumped $1.058, or 2.2%, to a record settlement of $48.599 a troy ounce, while the May contract rose $1.064, or 2.2 percent, to $48.584, just short of its all-time settlement high of $48.70 hit on January 17, 1980. In April, the May silver contract rallied $10.712, or 28.3 percent, to its biggest monthly U.S. dollar gain in Comex history.

The ICE Futures U.S. Dollar Index was down 0.2 percent on Friday, increasing demand for the dollar-denominated precious metals by making them less expensive for foreign buyers.

Inflation concerns in America, Europe, China and Russia also has contributed to the jump in gold prices.

Other factors affecting gold and silver are the collapsing U.S. dollar, sovereign debt crisis in Europe, unrest in the Middle East and consequences of the Japanese earthquake.

Kinross (KGC) (GSS) (AU) (AUY) Close Down as Gold Breaks Another All-Time Record

Gold and silver prices are continuing their upward move, even as gold miners Golden Star Resources (AMEX:GSS), Yamana Gold (NYSE:AUY), AngloGold Ashanti (NYSE:AU) and Kinross Gold Corp. (NYSE:KGC) all closed down, as it seems investors took some profits as the yellow metal continued its upward run.

Gold closed at a new high, jumping $5.30 to settle at $1,509.10 an ounce at the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. Gold had ended the session above $1,500 for the first time last Thursday.

Today's Gold trading had the Globex June Gold contract trading at $1519.20 before a profit taking sell-off mid to latter part of the trading session.

Silver prices soared to a 31-year high again, settling at $47.15, up $1.09 for the day, or 2.4 percent. April silver futures in New York traded as high as $49.10 an ounce but dropped to close at $47.15 mark.

The more active May silver contract soared just shy of the $50 level, trading as high as $49.82 before falling back.

An incredible number of silver and gold contracts were sold Monday, reaching 109,000 for gold and 199,000 for silver. Silver prices were volatile, moving in a $4.18 range.

The majority of this is based upon the collapsing U.S. dollar, tightening in China, sovereign debt crisis in Europe, unrest in the Middle East, deepening inflation and consequences of the Japanese earthquake.

The DXY index of the U.S. dollar's value against a basket six other major currencies dropped 0.2 percent to 73.99, its lowest level since August 2008. It's down 6.4 percent so far in 2011.

Harmony (HMY) (UXG) (EGO) (AEM) Close Mixed Thursday as Gold Prices Break New Record

Gold futures hit another record high on Thursday, as gold gold for June delivery settled up $4.90 at $1,503.80 an ounce on the Comex. That was a new settlement high. The contract also reached an intraday high at $1,509.60 an ounce earlier in the day. Gold miners Eldorado Gold (NYSE:EGO), US Gold (AMEX:UXG), Agnico-Eagle (NYSE:AEM) and Harmony Gold Mining (NYSE:HMY) closed mixed Thursday as most have been running up with the breaking of gold price records on a daily basis recently.

Silver settled at a 31-year high just over $46 an ounce. The most active Thursday silver contract, for May delivery, settled at a record $46.059 a troy ounce, up $1.598 or $3.6 percent.

The front-month contract, for April delivery, settled up $1.597, or 3.4 percent, at $46.062 a troy ounce, a 31-year high. Silver is quickly approaching its record high of $50.36 an ounce, set in 1980.

A collapsing U.S. dollar continues to be a major part of the gold and silver price story, as the U.S. government refuses to cut spending and limit its size, while the Federal Reserve endlessly has its digital printing presses running, pushing down the value of the greenback.

The dollar index .DXY fell 0.4 percent to 74.092 after falling to 73.735, its lowest level since August 2008.

Other important factors include tightening in China, sovereign debt crisis in Europe, sovereign debt crisis in America, unrest in the Middle East, deepening inflation and impact of the Japanese earthquake.

The weak U.S. dollar and inflation concerns increased the attraction of gold. Spot gold XAU= hit a record high at $1,508.75 before cutting gains, while spot silver XAG= jumped to a 31-year high at $46.68 an ounce.

Spot gold prices rose during the first quarter from $1,380 an ounce on January 3 to $1,430 on March 31.

Agnico-Eagle closed Thursday at $68.03, jumping $0.59, or 0.87 percent. Eldorado Gold Corporation ended the day at $18.06, climbing $0.02, or 0.11 percent. US Gold closed at $9.51, falling $0.07, or 0.73 percent. Harmony Gold Mining ended the session at $15.42, up $0.407, or 2.66 percent.

Fortuna (FVITF) (SLW) (SSRI) (MGN) Close Mixed Thursday as Silver Prices Reach 31-Year High

Silver miners and companies Silver Wheaton (NYSE:SLW), Silver Standard Resources (NASDAQ:SSRI), Mines Management (AMEX:MGN) and Fortuna (OTC:FVITF.PK) closed mixed Thursday as most have been running up with soaring silver prices, which ended the week with silver settling at a 31-year high of just over $46 an ounce. The most active Thursday silver contract, for May delivery, settled at a record $46.059 a troy ounce, up $1.598 or $3.6 percent.

The front-month contract, for April delivery, settled up $1.597, or 3.4 percent, at $46.062 a troy ounce, a 31-year high. Silver is quickly approaching its record high of $50.36 an ounce, set in 1980.

Gold futures hit another record high on Thursday, as gold gold for June delivery settled up $4.90 at $1,503.80 an ounce on the Comex. That was a new settlement high. The contract also reached an intraday high at $1,509.60 an ounce earlier in the day.

A collapsing U.S. dollar continues to be a major part of the gold and silver price story, as the U.S. government refuses to cut spending and limit its size, while the Federal Reserve endlessly has its digital printing presses running, pushing down the value of the greenback.

The dollar index .DXY fell 0.4 percent to 74.092 after falling to 73.735, its lowest level since August 2008.

Other key influences include deepening inflation, tightening in China, sovereign debt crisis in Europe, sovereign debt crisis in America, unrest in the Middle East and impact of the Japanese earthquake.

The weak U.S. dollar and inflation concerns has boosted the attraction of gold. Spot gold XAU= hit a record high at $1,508.75 before cutting gains. Spot silver XAG= jumped to a 31-year high at $46.68 an ounce.

Spot gold prices rose during the first quarter from $1,380 an ounce on January 3 to $1,430 on March 31.

Fortuna Silver closed Thursday at $6.35, gaining $0.09, or 1.48 percent. Mines Management ended the day at $2.72, falling $0.01, or 0.37 percent. Silver Standard Resources closed at $35.02, climbing $0.30, or 0.86 percent. Silver Wheaton ended the session at $42.36, jumping $0.66, or 1.58 percent.

Randgold (GOLD) (GFI) (TRE) (JAG) Close Up Thursday as Gold Prices Break New Record

Gold futures hit another record high on Thursday, as gold gold for June delivery settled up $4.90 at $1,503.80 an ounce on the Comex. That was a new settlement high. The contract also reached an intraday high at $1,509.60 an ounce earlier in the day. Gold miners Randgold (NASDAQ:GOLD), Jaguar Mining (NYSE:JAG), Tanzanian Royalty Exploration (AMEX:TRE) and Gold Fields (NYSE:GFI) closed up Thursday as most have been running up with the breaking of gold price records on a daily basis recently.

Silver settled at a 31-year high just over $46 an ounce. The most active Thursday silver contract, for May delivery, settled at a record $46.059 a troy ounce, up $1.598 or $3.6 percent.

The front-month contract, for April delivery, settled up $1.597, or 3.4 percent, at $46.062 a troy ounce, a 31-year high. Silver is quickly approaching its record high of $50.36 an ounce, set in 1980.

A collapsing U.S. dollar continues to be a major part of the gold and silver price story, as the U.S. government refuses to cut spending and limit its size, while the Federal Reserve endlessly has its digital printing presses running, pushing down the value of the greenback.

The dollar index .DXY fell 0.4 percent to 74.092 after falling to 73.735, its lowest level since August 2008.

Other important factors include tightening in China, sovereign debt crisis in Europe, sovereign debt crisis in America, unrest in the Middle East, deepening inflation and impact of the Japanese earthquake.

The weak U.S. dollar and inflation concerns increased the attraction of gold. Spot gold XAU= hit a record high at $1,508.75 before cutting gains, while spot silver XAG= jumped to a 31-year high at $46.68 an ounce.

Spot gold prices rose during the first quarter from $1,380 an ounce on January 3 to $1,430 on March 31.

Randgold closed Thursday at $87.20, jumping $0.30, or 0.35 percent. Jaguar Mining ended the day at $5.94, climbing $0.04, or 0.68 percent. Tanzanian Royalty Exploration closed at $6.36, rising $0.04, or 0.63 percent. Gold Fields ended the session at $17.95, up $0.07, or 0.39 percent.

Barrick (ABX) (AZK) (GRS) (AU) Close Mixed Thursday as Gold Prices Break New Record

Gold futures hit another record high on Thursday, as gold gold for June delivery settled up $4.90 at $1,503.80 an ounce on the Comex. That was a new settlement high. The contract also reached an intraday high at $1,509.60 an ounce earlier in the day. Gold miners Aurizon Mines (AMEX:AZK), Barrick Gold (NYSE:ABX), Gammon Gold (NYSE:GRS) and AngloGold Ashanti (NYSE:AU) closed mixed Thursday asr most have been running up with the breaking of gold price records on a daily basis recently.

Silver settled at a 31-year high just over $46 an ounce. The most active Thursday silver contract, for May delivery, settled at a record $46.059 a troy ounce, up $1.598 or $3.6 percent.

The front-month contract, for April delivery, settled up $1.597, or 3.4 percent, at $46.062 a troy ounce, a 31-year high. Silver is quickly approaching its record high of $50.36 an ounce, set in 1980.

A collapsing U.S. dollar continues to be a major part of the gold and silver price story, as the U.S. government refuses to cut spending and limit its size, while the Federal Reserve endlessly has its digital printing presses running, pushing down the value of the greenback.

The dollar index .DXY fell 0.4 percent to 74.092 after falling to 73.735, its lowest level since August 2008.

Other important factors include tightening in China, sovereign debt crisis in Europe, sovereign debt crisis in America, unrest in the Middle East, deepening inflation and impact of the Japanese earthquake.

The weak U.S. dollar and inflation concerns increased the attraction of gold. Spot gold XAU= hit a record high at $1,508.75 before cutting gains, while spot silver XAG= jumped to a 31-year high at $46.68 an ounce.

Spot gold prices rose during the first quarter from $1,380 an ounce on January 3 to $1,430 on March 31.

AngloGold Ashanti closed Thursday at $49.98, jumping $0.24, or 0.48 percent. Gammon Gold ended the day at $10.78, closing level with the prior trading day. Barrick Gold closed at $55.63, rising $0.82, or 1.50 percent. Aurizon Mines ended the session at $6.76, up $0.08, or 1.17 percent.

Hecla (HL) (GPL) (PAAS) (AG) (AXU) Close Mixed Thursday as Silver Prices Reach 31-Year High

Silver miners Great Panther (AMEX:GPL), First Majestic (NYSE:AG), Hecla Mining (NYSE:HL) and Alexco Resource (AMEX: AXU) closed mixed Thursday as most have been running up with soaring silver prices, which ended the week with silver settling at a 31-year high of just over $46 an ounce. The most active Thursday silver contract, for May delivery, settled at a record $46.059 a troy ounce, up $1.598 or $3.6 percent.

The front-month contract, for April delivery, settled up $1.597, or 3.4 percent, at $46.062 a troy ounce, a 31-year high. Silver is quickly approaching its record high of $50.36 an ounce, set in 1980.

Gold futures hit another record high on Thursday, as gold gold for June delivery settled up $4.90 at $1,503.80 an ounce on the Comex. That was a new settlement high. The contract also reached an intraday high at $1,509.60 an ounce earlier in the day.

A collapsing U.S. dollar continues to be a major part of the gold and silver price story, as the U.S. government refuses to cut spending and limit its size, while the Federal Reserve endlessly has its digital printing presses running, pushing down the value of the greenback.

The dollar index .DXY fell 0.4 percent to 74.092 after falling to 73.735, its lowest level since August 2008.

Other key influences include deepening inflation, tightening in China, sovereign debt crisis in Europe, sovereign debt crisis in America, unrest in the Middle East and impact of the Japanese earthquake.

The weak U.S. dollar and inflation concerns has boosted the attraction of gold. Spot gold XAU= hit a record high at $1,508.75 before cutting gains. Spot silver XAG= jumped to a 31-year high at $46.68 an ounce.

Spot gold prices rose during the first quarter from $1,380 an ounce on January 3 to $1,430 on March 31.

Alexco Resource closed Thursday at $10.17, gaining $0.21, or 2.11 percent. Hecla ended the day at $9.46, rising $0.24, or 2.60 percent. First Majestic closed at $23.31, dropping $0.39, or 1.65 percent. Great Panther ended the session at $3.92, losing $0.08, or 2.00 percent.

Ivanhoe (IVN) (SA) (RGLD) (KGC) Close Mixed Thursday as Gold Prices Break New Record

Gold futures hit another record high on Thursday, as gold gold for June delivery settled up $4.90 at $1,503.80 an ounce on the Comex. That was a new settlement high. The contract also reached an intraday high at $1,509.60 an ounce earlier in the day. Gold miners Seabridge Gold (Amex:SA), Royal Gold (Nasdaq:RGLD), Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. (NYSE:IVN) and Kinross Gold Corp (NYSE:KGC) closed mixed Thursday after most have been running up with the breaking of gold price records on a daily basis recently.

Silver settled at a 31-year high just over $46 an ounce. The most active Thursday silver contract, for May delivery, settled at a record $46.059 a troy ounce, up $1.598 or $3.6 percent.

The front-month contract, for April delivery, settled up $1.597, or 3.4 percent, at $46.062 a troy ounce, a 31-year high. Silver is quickly approaching its record high fo $50.36 an ounce, set in 1980.

A collapsing U.S. dollar continues to be a major part of the gold and silver price story, as the U.S. government refuses to cut spending and limit its size, while the Federal Reserve endlessly has its digital printing presses running, pushing down the value of the greenback.

The dollar index .DXY fell 0.4 percent to 74.092 after falling to 73.735, its lowest level since August 2008.

Other important factors include tightening in China, sovereign debt crisis in Europe, sovereign debt crisis in America, unrest in the Middle East, deepening inflation and impact of the Japanese earthquake.

The weak U.S. dollar and inflation concerns increased the attraction of gold. Spot gold XAU= hit a record high at $1,508.75 before cutting gains, while spot silver XAG= jumped to a 31-year high at $46.68 an ounce.

Spot gold prices rose during the first quarter from $1,380 an ounce on January 3 to $1,430 on March 31.

Kinross Gold Corp. closed Thursday at $15.35, dropping $0.02, or 0.13 percent. Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. ended the day at $26.66, gaining $0.42, or 1.60 percent. Royal Gold closed at $60.20, rising $1.87, or 3.21 percent. Seabridge Gold ended the session at $33.62, falling $0.17, or 0.50 percent.

US Gold (UXG) (AZK) (TRE) (AEM) Close Mixed Even as Gold Prices Soar to Record High Again

While gold prices reached new all-time highs on Monday, that wasn't the direction for most gold companies, such as Aurizon Mines (AMEX:AZK), US Gold (AMEX:UXG), Agnico-Eagle (NYSE:AEM) and Tanzanian Royalty Exploration (AMEX:TRE), which closed mixed on the day.

Spot gold jumped as high as $1,497.20 an ounce Monday after Standard & Poor’s downgraded its credit outlook for the United States, revealing the risks associated with its own sovereign debt crisis.

U.S. gold futures for June delivery settled up $6.90 an ounce at $1,492.90.

The sovereign debt crisis in Europe continues to boost gold as well, as the euro and U.S. dollar continue to face pressures on out-of-control government spending and refusal to make meaningful spending cuts.

Global inflation and unrest in the Middle East also continue to be major factors in the gold price equation.

As to why most gold miners have been pulling back, a lot of that is based on the fact the majority of the miners are based in Canada, and so the weaker U.S. dollar as it relates to the Canadian dollar is a major factor a lot of investors in gold companies don't take into account.

Agnico-Eagle closed Monday at $63.60, dropping $1.64, or 2.51 percent. US Gold closed at $9.15, falling $0.26, or 2.76 percent. Tanzanian Royalty Exploration ended the day at $6.34, gaining $0.02, or 0.32 percent. Aurizon Mines closed at $6.70, losing $0.08, or 1.18 percent.

Ivanhoe (IVN) (NCMGY) (JAG) (EGO) Close Down Even as Gold Prices Soar to Record High Again

Even though gold prices reached new all-time highs on Monday, that wasn't the direction for most gold companies, such as Newcrest Mining (OTC:NCMGY.PK), Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. (NYSE:IVN), Eldorado Gold Corporation (NYSE:EGO) and Jaguar Mining (NYSE:JAG), which all closed down on the day.

Spot gold jumped as high as $1,497.20 an ounce Monday after Standard & Poor’s downgraded its credit outlook for the United States, revealing the risks associated with its own sovereign debt crisis.

U.S. gold futures for June delivery settled up $6.90 an ounce at $1,492.90.

The sovereign debt crisis in Europe continues to boost gold as well, as the euro and U.S. dollar continue to face pressures on out-of-control government spending and refusal to make meaningful spending cuts.

Global inflation and unrest in the Middle East also continue to be major factors in the gold price equation.

As to why most gold miners have been pulling back, a lot of that is based on the fact the majority of the miners are based in Canada, and so the weaker U.S. dollar as it relates to the Canadian dollar is a major factor a lot of investors in gold companies don't take into account.

Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. closed Monday at $25.65, dropping $0.95, or 3.57 percent. Jaguar Mining closed at $4.98, falling $0.14, or 2.73 percent. Newcrest Mining ended the day at $43.15, down $0.73, or 1.66 percent. Eldorado Gold Corporation closed at $17.76, losing $0.30, or 1.66 percent.

Newmont (NEM) (NXG) (HMY) (RGLD) Close Mixed Even as Gold Prices Soar to Record High Again

While gold prices reached new all-time highs on Monday, that wasn't the direction for most gold companies such as Northgate Minerals (AMEX:NXG), Newmont Mining (NYSE:NEM), Royal Gold (Nasdaq:RGLD) and Harmony Gold Mining (NYSE:HMY), which closed mixed on the day.

Spot gold jumped as high as $1,497.20 an ounce Monday after Standard & Poor’s downgraded its credit outlook for the United States, revealing the risks associated with its own sovereign debt crisis.

U.S. gold futures for June delivery settled up $6.90 an ounce at $1,492.90.

The sovereign debt crisis in Europe continues to boost gold as well, as the euro and U.S. dollar continue to face pressures on out-of-control government spending and refusal to make meaningful spending cuts.

Global inflation and unrest in the Middle East also continue to be major factors in the gold price equation.

As to why most gold miners have been pulling back, a lot of that is based on the fact the majority of the miners are based in Canada, and so the weaker U.S. dollar as it relates to the Canadian dollar is a major factor a lot of investors in gold companies don't take into account.

Northgate Minerals closed Monday at $2.91, dropping $0.03, or 1.04 percent. Harmony Gold Mining closed at $14.96, gaining $0.15, or 1.10 percent. Royal Gold ended the day at $56.18, rising $2.41, or 4.48 percent. Newmont Mining closed at $57.87, gaining $0.12, or 0.21 percent.

Hecla Mining (HL), Goldcorp (GG), Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF (GDX), Market Vectors Junior Gold Miners (GDXJ) All Up

Miners Hecla Mining (HL), Goldcorp (GG) are moving up today, as well as Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF (GDX) and the Market Vectors Junior Gold Miners (GDXJ), which are all jumping.

Gold futures were down slightly in New York in morning trading with contracts for April delivery at $1,405.60 an ounce. Spot gold was up $3.90 to $1406 an ounce as of 1:16 PM EST.

While a number of analysts believe there has been some downward pressure on the sector because of profit taking and what some assume are better alternatives at this time, there are just as many that see mixed signals and enormous uncertainty in the Middle East, sovereign debt crisis in Europe and soaring inflation as just as powerful factors in determing where capital will flow.

Eldorado Gold (NYSE:EGO), NovaGold (AMEX:NG), Goldcorp (NYSE:GG), Royal Gold (NASDAQ:RGLD) Jump as Gold, Silver Prices Climb

With the boost in gold and silver prices Tuesday, gold companies like Eldorado Gold (NYSE:EGO), NovaGold (AMEX:NG), Goldcorp (NYSE:GG) and Royal Gold (NASDAQ:RGLD) and enjoyed a nice increase in share price.

Gold prices found support even in the midst of china increasing its interest rates again. The market has been neglecting that, mostly because China still continues to operate in a negative interest rate environment even with the increase.

Of course the other side of the equation, which plays to gold's strength is the rising rate of inflation around the world, which is again causing capital to migrate toward gold and silver.

Gold futures rose to $1,367.50 an ounce Tuesday.

Eldorado Gold closed at $16.84, rising $0.38, or 2.31 percent. NovaGold closed Tuesday at $14.80, up $0.19, or 1.30 percent. Goldcorp closed at $42.94, gaining $1.70, or 4.12 percent. Royal Gold ended the session at $48.34, up $0.54, or 1.13 percent.

Yamana Gold (NYSE:AUY), NovaGold Resources (AMEX:NG), Royal Gold (Nasdaq:RGLD), Allied Nevada Gold (AMEX:ANV) in 2010

In this batch of gold companies, it's more mixed than some of the others, as two closed out Friday down and the other two ended positive. They are Yamana Gold (NYSE:AUY), NovaGold Resources (AMEX:NG), Royal Gold (Nasdaq:RGLD) and Allied Nevada Gold (AMEX:ANV). We'll look at how they did overall in 2010.

Spot gold and gold futures ended the year with a bang, as spot gold soared to over $1,420 an ounce.

Yamana Gold ended the year at $12.80, gaining $0.11 on December 31, up 0.87 percent. The company had a 52-week trading range of $9.16 to $13.123. They ended the year with a market cap of $9.49 billion. Yamana continues to frustrate true believers, who continue to think it's vastly undervalued and one of the gold miners expected to break out, but never seems to do it.

NovaGold Resources closed the year out at $14.27, losing $0.11 on the last trading day, down 0.76 percent. The trading range for 2010 was from $4.96 to $16.90. They ended the year with a market cap of $3.22 billion.

Royal Gold, a precious metals royalty company, finished off the year at $54.63, rising $0.23 on Friday, a gain of 0.42 percent. The 2010 trading range for them was $41.19 to $55.22. They closed off the year with a market cap of $3.02 billion.

Allied Nevada Gold ended 2010 at $26.31, losing $0.02 on the final trading day of the year, down 0..08 percent. Their range for the year was $11.57 to $26.79, reaching the top end of the range on December 31. Their market cap heading into 2011 is $2.34 billion.

Goldman (NYSE:GS) Likes Gold on Low Interest Rates

Believing interest rates in the U.S. will remain low for some time, Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) sees gold continuing to rise in price for 2011, along with other commodities, including oil.

They recently stated the believe gold will continue to rise through 2012, probably peaking at somewhere around $1,750 an ounce. That's hard to believe in light of the Federal Reserve continuing to inflate the money supply and doing nothing to alleviate the recession and little or no job creation.

Goldman sees gold futures rising to $1,690 an ounce by the end of 2011.

Much is this assumes the American economy will recover, which is a huge leap of faith in light of what's happening around the world, which should take years to work its way out; including the sovereign debt crisis in Europe, which most of us will probably find out is much worse than being revealed.

As for oil futures, Goldman sees them rising to about $105 a barrel in 2011, with increasing demand during the year.

Goldman said, "Energy is historically the best performing sector when the ISM is above 50, which seems increasingly likely given strong October ISM and our US economists upgrade to their 2011 growth outlook."

Gold Prices Today Up on Korean Military Tensions

Military tension between North and South Korea have pushed up the price of gold today, as gold futures on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange increased by $16.40, or 1.2%, to $1,374.40 an ounce.

It underscores the skittishness of investors in volatile times, as the bailout of Ireland revealed and the news Greece may still be hiding the depth of its deficit problem.

The European Union sovereign debt crisis is worsened by the fact there is little to trust in assertions made by many political leaders who are under enormous pressure domestically, having made promises they aren't able to meet, as socialism always results in.

They've also created a culture of entitlement, which those receiving the entitlements rise up in anger over when they're cut back because there has never been the money to pay for them.

For gold, these and many other factors like the quantitative easing put into play again by the Federal Reserve will support gold for some time to come.

The fall in value of the euro against the U.S. dollar is all that has been keeping gold from skyrocketing even further.

Spot gold was trading at $1,377.90 an ounce, up by $11.50.

Goldman (NYSE:GS) Says Take Long Position in December 2011 COMEX Gold Contract

Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) said recently traders should take a close look at entering a long position on December 2011 COMEX contract for gold.

According to Goldman's projections, gold, which closed at over $1,365 an ounce for spot gold Monday, should increase by over 20 percent over that mark in 2011, with estimates of $1,650 an ounce on the precious metal.

The giant financial institution said the reasoning behind their $1,650 an ounce figure is TIPS falling under 50 basis points at the 10-year mark.

That means lower interest rates will help push gold prices higher in 2011, according to Goldman, although there are a number of factors which support those conclusions as well.