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Hi Arbroath, quite agree. I've been investing in the market since 1968, and this is one of the most uncertain periods that I can recall. The fact is that the world is in financial turmoil, and no-one can predict with any certainty where we're heading, because these circumstances have never existed before.

The debt situation in so many countries, including majors such as the USA, Japan and Britain, is a new experience for everyone. Let's face it, all those three major economies are actually insolvent. It's only the printing of money (alias quantitative easing) which is keeping them afloat, otherwise they would default. In fact, they are probably all in a worse position than Greece, which gets all the defaulting limelight.

Keeping a substantial part of your assets in cash is usually attractive in times of market uncertainty, but cash/fiat currency is now tainted in many countries by the destruction of its value due to QE, and the threat of hyperinflation. Real estate is on the slide in much of the world. But GOLD seems to be the one shining light in the gloom.

If the market as a whole tanks, no doubt the gold producers' shares will go down for a time, but over the next couple of years or so, I think that shares in profitable gold producing companies will be one of the safest places to put your hard-earned cash, and it's likely to grow substantially in value as the major currencies continue to slide.