Came across a fascinating article regarding gold and the future of the American dollar. I have included an excerpt from the article below but for those with an interest in the possible return to a gold standard and the decline of the dollar I would strongly recommend a read of the full article.
"One more question to ask in all this is – how far have the big banks and brokerages managed to turn even gold and silver (at least gold and silver held in the West) in to another fiat currency? Gold and bullion bugs among you might argue the question makes no sense. But consider re-hypothecation. How much gold and silver has been pledged and re-pledged, hypothecated and re-hypothecated? How many more paper contracts for and claims upon gold and silver exist above and beyond the amount of actual physical gold and silver? After all gold and silver are the ultimate in ‘good’ assets which counterparties will happily accept. So it seems likely to me that gold and silver (or contracts for them) will have been in demand in those repo and hypothecation markets. If so then I wonder how many conflicting and contesting claims will surround every ounce of gold and silver in the West when investors start demanding to see their ‘investment’.
I think the big old sterling silver coin may already have dropped for some investors. That is why prices for physical silver are surging above the price for paper claims on silver. I think some traders are getting nervous about buying paper claims on silver and now want only the metal itself. They suspect that in the end, if you have only a paper claim or contract for, silver that is exactly all you will ever have – the paper. Only those with the actual metal in their hands will get what they paid for. I think there is a fiat, paper currency version of gold and silver floating around and parasitizing the metals themselves. Those who own that paper stuff may get…well … stuffed."
http://www.veteranstoday.com/2012/01/11/a-new-reserve-currency-to-challenge-the-dollar-whats-really-going-on-in-the-straits-of-hormuz/
Add to My Watchlist
What is My Watchlist?