Precious Metals
Gold’s London AM fix this morning was USD 1,815.50, EUR 1,270.73, GBP 1,118.95 per ounce. The gold fix was lower than yesterday’s AM Fix in dollars and pounds but higher in euros - USD 1,826.00, EUR 1,264.19, GBP 1,121.14 per ounce.

Gold is trading at USD 1,819.50, EUR 1,274.10 , GBP 1,121.30, CHF 1,455.50 and JPY 140,320 per ounce.

Silver is trading at USD 41.46, EUR 29.04 , GBP 25.56, CHF 33.16 and JPY 3,196 per ounce.

For the month, gold rose 12.8% in US dollar terms. Gold rose 12.1%, 13.0%, 12.2% and 14.6% in euros, British pounds, Japanese yen and in Swiss franc respectively.

For the month, silver rose 5.5% in US dollar terms and by similar amounts in other currencies.

Precious Metals in US Dollars in August

Equities
The MSCI All-Country World Index of stocks fell 7% as did the FTSE All World Stock Index.

In the US, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 4.4% in August, its fourth consecutive month of declines. For the month, the broader S&P 500 fell 5.7%, also its fourth straight monthly loss.

In Europe, the benchmark Stoxx 600 fell 11%. The FTSE fell 7.4% and the Dax plunged over 20% (the ISEQ fell 8.6%).

In Asia, the MSCI Asia Pacific Index fell 9.8% in August. The Nikkei 225 (NKY) fell 8.9 percent in August. There was a dramatic rise in the level of concern about the U.S. economy resulting in falls of 2.9% for the Australian index to 11.9% for the South Korean index.

The much smaller fall in the MSCI world index again showed the benefits of global diversification.

Commodities
Commodities saw a very mixed performance.

The Standard & Poor’s GSCI Total Return Index of commodities lost 1.8%.

 Crude oil on the NYMEX fell 7.2% on US and global growth concerns. Copper fell 6.1% for similar reasons.

Economically sensitive nickel and zinc on the London Metal Exchange led the monthly declines on concern demand may weaken, declining 11% and 8% respectively.

Coffee was the biggest gainer in August, advancing 20%, the most since June 2010. Wheat advanced 11% as dry weather damaged the U.S. crop. Corn rallied 15% as the U.S. Department of Agriculture cut its estimate for the country’s crop, the world’s biggest.

Bonds
US Treasuries returned 2.8% while the global bond market gained 1.99% according to Bank of America Merrill Lynch index data.

German bunds also gained and the German bund yield fell more than 30 basis points over the month to yield 2.23%.

Periphery European nations bonds also saw gains after panic selling earlier in the month saw euro era record high interest rates.

Ireland’s 10-year yields declined 2.23% in August amid speculation that the nation may be able to grow its way out of its massive debt burden.

However, it is too early to tell whether the gains in the so called PIIGS debt markets are sustainable. The real risk is that the ECB intervention and bond buying programme may have merely bought more time and may ultimately lead to contagion in the Eurozone.

Currencies
The euro, the Danish krone, Japanese yen, Norwegian krone and the US dollar were the top performing G10 currencies in August (see ‘G10 Currencies and Precious Metals in US Dollars in August’ table above).

The worst performing currencies were the New Zealand dollar, Australian dollar, Canadian dollar and Swiss franc.

Cross Currency Table

All fiat currencies fell against gold and silver as global currency debasement continues.

For the latest news and commentary on financial markets and gold please follow us on Twitter

NEWS 
(WSJ) -- PRECIOUS METALS: Gold Range-Bound In Asia As Risk Appetite Improves
http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20110901-701780.html

(Bloomberg) -- Silver Poised for ‘Golden Cross’ Advance to Record $50: GoldCore Technical Analysis
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-09-01/silver-poised-for-golden-cross-advance-to-record-50-technical-analysis.html

(MarketWatch) -- Gold ends higher, gains 12% in August
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/gold-steady-after-retaking-1800-2011-08-31?dist=countdown

(Reuters) -- Gold steady after U.S. data; eyes on Fed
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/01/us-markets-precious-idUSTRE7781Q420110901

(CNBC) -- Gold Rush Series Hits the Mother Lode: The GLD Vault
http://www.cnbc.com/id/44339966

(Reuters) -- Emerging central banks boost gold holdings in July
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/31/gold-cenbanks-idUSL5E7JV18N20110831

COMMENTARY
(Casey Research) -- Behind the Scenes at GLD
http://www.caseyresearch.com/cdd/behind-scenes-gld

(ZeroHedge) -- Some Observations On Bob Pisani's Visit To GLD's Vault
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/some-observations-bob-pisanis-visit-glds-vault

(ZeroHedge) -- The Ever Diminishing Returns Of Central Bank Intervention, Or QE As
The Godfather Trilogy
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/ever-diminishing-returns-central-bank-intervention-or-qe-godfather-trilogy

(The Economic Collapse) -- 25 Signs That The Financial World Is About To Hit The Big Red Panic Button
http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/archives/25-signs-that-the-financial-world-is-about-to-hit-the-big-red-panic-button

(Barron’s) -- Gold Gains 12% In August; Some Might Scoff, But Gartman Re-Enters Market
http://blogs.barrons.com/focusonfunds/2011/08/31/gold-gains-12-in-august-some-might-scoff-but-gartman-re-enters-market/?mod=BOLBlog

(MONEYWEB) -- Roubini Interview: Gold Price Becoming a Bubble – Advises Owning US & German Cash and Bonds
http://www.moneyweb.co.za/mw/view/mw/en/page292670?oid=551007&sn=2009+Detail

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Disclaimer: The information in this document has been obtained from sources, which we believe to be reliable. We cannot guarantee its accuracy or completeness. It does not constitute a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any investment. Any person acting on the information contained in this document does so at their own risk. Recommendations in this document may not be suitable for all investors. Individual circumstances should be considered before a decision to invest is taken. Investors should note the following: Past experience is not necessarily a guide to future performance. The value of investments may fall or rise against investors’ interests. Income levels from investments may fluctuate. Changes in exchange rates may have an adverse effect on the value of, or income from, investments denominated in foreign currencies. GoldCore Limited, trading as GoldCore is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. The provision of precious metal product or service does not require licensing, authorisation, or registration with the Irish Central Bank and, as a result, it is not covered by the Irish Central Bank's requirements designed to protect consumers or by a statutory compensation scheme.

-- Posted Thursday, 1 September 2011 | Digg This Article