diatribeyes I didn't mention goldbut from what I read, the banks...

diatribe
yes I didn't mention gold
but from what I read, the banks are now lending gold they don't have, in financial instruments not unlike the value of their paper or electronic money, which has as much value as the community places on it, or doesn't, at any given time

I would be disinclined to buy any gold instrument that wasn't either a share in a producer of gold, or physical gold itself
the rest it seems to me, is parasiting off the real thing

conjecture, not real knowledge on my part

cheers