If interest rates rise then governments will begin to default en masse as they are already technically bankrupt. They will cap rates and let inflation run which would be hardly negative for precious metals. The massive attacks that we see on the gold/silver sector will almost certainly have something to do with this prognosis. The fraudster proxies will also almost certainly be in the gold stock sector on the short side to create fear and try and prevent interest in the sector. This is outright war of the populace against the criminal banking and political class.