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Dealers make a profit on each sale, so why would they turn away customers? There is no need to keep people buying, there are more buyers than sellers now, plain and simple. We keep tossing it back and forth on this site, but maybe the most obvious answers are best. Gold is one of the few practical stores of wealth, in times of financial crisis its value will increase.

 

You didnt answer my question. If they have to pay spot price for the stock. And the next week the spot price drops $100. How can they make a profit. They make a loss. I am not interested in theories but hard facts.

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You didnt answer my question. If they have to pay spot price for the stock. And the next week the spot price drops $100. How can they make a profit. They make a loss. I am not interested in theories but hard facts.

 

They can hedge their stock via the futures market.

This is the PRIMARY purpose of any Futures market (which was invented by the Chinese or Japanese for Rice I believe - and I speculate there was not much market manipulation by PPT teams there :P ).

 

Lets say I am a dealer, today I buy all my stock of 100,000oz in the Cash market at $12. At the same time I would sell the same amount in the Futures market (which should more or less track the spot price) so Short 100,000oz at ~$12

Tomorrow the spot price is $11: my stock has lost $100,000 but my futures contract has gained $100,000 - I havent lost anything.

I sell 10,000oz at a 5% premium and this is my profit - no profit or loss on the silver itself as it is hedged. As my stock is now 90,000oz I can reduce my short Futures position by 10,000oz

and so on until the stock is finished...

 

I recommend this article from Antal ekete which contains a part on the silver basis which also covers agricultural futures explained as a hedge:

http://www.gold-eagle.com/gold_digest_04/fekete050404.html

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I agree with this, hopefully you will post another one of your excellent charts that confirms this is the bottom at some point next week. Thanks for the concern and I look forward to that chart! Keep up the good work.

 

it may be the bottom, but we will going to test it very good, because we have little volume. i am not expecting it to jump up straight on monday, if it jumps on no volume, it will go back very fast.
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You didnt answer my question. If they have to pay spot price for the stock. And the next week the spot price drops $100. How can they make a profit. They make a loss. I am not interested in theories but hard facts.

 

You forget dealers do not pay spot price they buy around 5% lower.

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They can hedge their stock via the futures market.

This is the PRIMARY purpose of any Futures market (which was invented by the Chinese or Japanese for Rice I believe - and I speculate there was not much market manipulation by PPT teams there :P ).

 

Lets say I am a dealer, today I buy all my stock of 100,000oz in the Cash market at $12. At the same time I would sell the same amount in the Futures market (which should more or less track the spot price) so Short 100,000oz at ~$12

Tomorrow the spot price is $11: my stock has lost $100,000 but my futures contract has gained $100,000 - I havent lost anything.

I sell 10,000oz at a 5% premium and this is my profit - no profit or loss on the silver itself as it is hedged. As my stock is now 90,000oz I can reduce my short Futures position by 10,000oz

and so on until the stock is finished...

 

I recommend this article from Antal ekete which contains a part on the silver basis which also covers agricultural futures explained as a hedge:

http://www.gold-eagle.com/gold_digest_04/fekete050404.html

 

Thanks. That makes a lot more sense but I now have another question.

 

Say the furtures market thinks that the price of gold is going to go down. So they charge a high premium for a short contract. Or no one wants to cover the short postion as they think they will make a loss. Is it possible that the premium for the futures contract can be more than the commission that they can charge on the sale of 10,000oz of gold in your example?

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alright, sorry to keep banging on about this but here is a perfect example of what I mean. From Doug Casey's subscriber letter:

 

 

 

Always the wrong reasons. Always time to buy on dips. Always an opportunity for great profits (unless you bought in two years ago in which case you'd be looking at 80+% losses).

 

Really don't worry about banging on about it, I for one, would like to see more balance on this forum. I'd hate it to be a cheerleading forum.

 

For me, the primary reason behind the underperformance of gold stocks, has got to be based upon predictions on the longevity of the gold bull. Juniors are underperforming majors which are underperfoming the metal. This would indicate investors are expecting the bull to be short from here. If the outlook changes and the gold bull is confirmed to be strong then I expect to see some very big moves in gold stocks.

 

If anyone has any insight into this then I'm keen to read it too.

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I think we need to step back a little and look at what is actually happening here.

 

1. In the past week physical gold has gone from being in plentiful supply to, at times, practically out of stock. When is the last time that happened?

2. BV has posted a warning that the market is very thin and it is trading on wide margins. When is the last time that happened?

3. Gold as a safe haven is now being discussed in the mainstream media, on chatshows and by people on the bus. When is the last time that happened?

4. Gold spot price this week came close to year high in EURO, and very high in STG. Price for coins is at year high.

 

So what does all this mean? We know that there are a myriad of factors influencing the spot price of gold, and gold is a manipulated commodity. So prices will fluctuate depending on those factors. But one thing is for certain, when gold becomes scarce its value will rise. I think the talk of waiting for the dip to buy is irrelevant, the shortages we saw this week may become the norm. And at the rate that things are unfolding, and with the growing shortages, there is a real risk of being caught out. You have been warned.

 

Good points. But also consider that buyers may be in different circumstances and have different needs. So for example, if someone has no gold I ask them what are they waiting for. If another person had most of their net worth in gold... well, they could happily wait for a possible dip... given the deflationary circumstances at the moment. :)

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If the outlook changes and the gold bull is confirmed to be strong then I expect to see some very big moves in gold stocks.

 

I've listened to the FS team discuss gold stocks until my ears bleed, but although I see the geared attraction of stocks, especially the right juniors (whatever that means!), my concern is that with gold getting more and more expensive to mine (energy costs, local politics, mining regulations, the easy stuff -- like with oil -- largely mined out, etc.) the people actually doing the work could get squeezed between those costs & complexities and the reluctance of purchasers to pay more for their shiny stuff.

 

Obviously if China suddenly decides to turn their reserves into gold, all bets are off and shares ought to soar with the price of gold. But as a long term bet I worry that imminent peak oil factors with have a highly geared effect on energy-intensive operations like mining. Especially mining for PMs where you have to pan a lot of dirt to find a speck of gold.

 

Of course if oil continues its miraculous fall towards $50 (where's Zapata George and his predictions now? :-) maybe miners will have an easier time of it. But I can't help feeling that the current dip in energy cost is very temporary. Recession or depression, people all over the planet still need their plastic & petrol, and geology is taking its time topping up reserves.

 

Andrew McP

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I've calculated the difference between Puplava's Q2 and Q3 holdings. Here is the P&L and the number of shares bought or sold in each at the time of reporting.

 

This isn't very accurate but it's the best I can do from the data. I've removed any companies that he has sold between Q2 and Q3 (e.g. Newmont Mining) and removed any companies he has added to the portfolio during that time. Here is how things are shaping up. Seniors looking healthy, Juniors dragging their knuckles.

 

* P&L is in dollars.

 

 

Holding P/L Delta Shares

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

ABCOURT MINES INC CL B ISIN#CA -1000 0

ABERDEEN ASIA PACIFICINCOME FD -37000 5500

AGNICO EAGLE MINES LTD ISIN#CA 2313000 -17150

ALAMOS GOLD INC ISIN#CA0115271 -17000 2500

ALEXCO RESOURCE CORPCOM ISIN#C -18000 0

ALLIED NEV GOLD CORP 20000 873

ALLSCRIPTS HEALTHCAR ESOLUTION 172000 -2700

ALMADEN MINERALS LTD -36000 2000

ALTIUS MINERALS CORP ISIN#CA02 -748000 -2800

ANDINA MINERALS INC COM ISIN#C 146000 -14500

APACHE CORP -55000 749

APPLIED MATERIALS INC -113000 3167

AQUA AMERICA INC -102000 -19250

AQUILINE RES INC ISIN#CA03839N -136000 -10400

ARCHER DANIELS MIDLAND -358000 2405

AUEX VENTURES INC ISIN#CA05103 -6000 3300

AURELIAN RESOURCES INC ISIN#CA -6870000 80400

AURIZON MINES LTD ISIN#CA05155 13000 -600

AXMIN INC ISIN#CA05461V1022 SE -11000 3000

BAKER HUGHES INC 448000 -3150

BARNWELL INDUSTRIES INC 25000 0

BHP BILLITON LTD SPONADR ISIN# 466000 5375

BP PLC SPONADR REPSNTG ORDSHRS 931000 -6282

CALEDONIA MINING CORPCOM ISIN# 0 0

CAMECO CORP ISIN#CA13321L1085 618000 -50

CANARC RESOURCES CRP ISIN#CA13 -3000 4500

CANDENTE RESOURCES CORP ISIN#C -3000 0

CANPLATS RES CORP ISIN#CA13805 1048000 -185300

CATERPILLAR INC -2170000 25275

CENTRAL FD CDA CL A ISIN#CA153 1191000 -57300

CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION -1101000 33960

CHESAPEAKE GOLD CORP ISIN#CA16 281000 -12500

CHEVRON CORP NEW 18000 555

CIMAREX ENERGY CO 49000 400

CISCO SYS INC -74000 814

CLAUDE RES INC ISIN#CA18287310 -13000 2000

CMQ RES INC ISIN#CA12600Q1019 0 0

COEUR D ALENE MINES CORP -27000 0

COLUMBUS GOLD CORP COM ISIN#CA -2000 0

COMMITTEE BAY RES LTD ISIN#CA2 -3000 4000

CONOCOPHILLIPS 781000 438

COPPER RIDGE EXPLORATIONS -1000 0

CORNERSTONE CAP RES INC ISIN#C 0 0

DELL INC 64000 3542

DENISON MINES CORP COM ISIN#CA 37000 2145

DIAMOND OFFSHORE DRILLINGINC 2188000 -10600

DU PONT E I DE NEMOURS& CO 28000 -6100

E REX INC 0 0

ECU SILVER MNG INC ISIN#CA2683 -10000 0

ELDORADO GOLD CORP NEW ISIN#CA 55000 1200

EMGOLD MINING CORP COM ISIN#CA 3000 -16000

ENCANA CORP ISIN#CA2925051047 115000 -500

ENDEAVOUR SILVER CRP ISIN#CA29 -41000 2200

ENERPLUS RES FD TR UNITSER G N -60000 1752

ENSCO INTERNATIONAL INC -13000 9850

ESPERANZA SILVER CRP ISIN#CA29 -260000 -38000

EXETER RESOURCE CORP ISIN#CA30 263000 -54100

EXXON MOBIL CORP 23000 35

FARALLON RESOURCES LTD ISIN#CA 589000 -718100

FIRST MAJESTIC SILVERCORP COM 165000 -29700

FISSION ENERGY CORP -18000 766

FORTUNA MINES INC ISIN#CA34991 22000 -10850

FREEPORT MCMORAN COPPER& GOLD 934000 -2150

FULL METAL MINERALS LTD ISIN#C -55000 3400

GENERAL ELECTRIC CO -974000 -12139

GOLDCORP INC NEW ISIN#CA380956 2848000 -15754

GOLDEN ARROW RES CORPCOM ISIN# -2000 0

GOLDEN STAR RES LTD CDACOM ISI -638000 53500

GOLDRUSH RESOURCES LTD ISIN#CA -3000 0

GREAT BASIN GOLD LTD ISIN#CA39 -35000 4000

GREAT PANTHER RES LTD ISIN#CA3 -38000 -28100

HATHOR EXPL LTD ISIN#CA4190181 -1801000 766200

IAMGOLD CORP ISIN#CA4509131088 -135000 14074

ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS -4000 0

IMPACT SILVER CORP ISIN#CA4525 -8000 0

INTEL CORP -45000 3142

INTERNATIONAL ROYALTYCORP ISIN 130000 -9885

INTREPID MINES LIMITEDSHS ISIN 4000 0

JNR RESOURCES INC -92000 3800

JOHNSON & JOHNSON 403000 -6901

JOY GLOBAL INC -1402000 30300

KIMBER RES INC ISIN#CA49435N10 -162000 18100

MAG SILVER CORP -369000 3000

MARATHON OIL CORP ISIN#US56584 279000 1073

METALLICA RESOURCES INC ISIN#C 25000 800

MINCO GOLD CORP COM ISIN#CA602 -7000 0

MINEFINDERS LTD CORP -362000 -94835

MINERA ANDES INC ISIN#CA602910 -182000 -50800

MIRANDA GOLD CORP ISIN#CA60467 -3000 2800

MOYDOW MINES INTL INC 0 0

NABORS INDUSTRIES LTD(BERMUDA) -489000 408550

NEW GUINEA GOLD CORP ISIN#CA64 1000 0

NEW PAC METALS CORP COM ISIN#C 64000 0

NOBLE CORPORATION SHS ISIN#KYG 383000 -2600

NORTHGATE MINERALS CORPFORMERL -4000 -2500

NUVEEN CALIF MUN MKTOPPORTUNIT -1000 0

NUVEEN CALIF QUALITY INCOMEMUN -1000 0

OREZONE RESOURCES INC ISIN#CA6 -236000 -18800

PALADIN RESOURCES LTDSHS ISIN# 34000 0

PAN AMERICAN SILVER CORP ISIN# 174000 -10100

PENN WEST ENERGY TR TRUNIT ISI 2165000 -38627

PETRO CANADA COM ISIN#CA71644E 17000 1360

PETROLEO BRASILEIRO SAPETROBRA 1437000 -35874

PFIZER INC -308000 -5650

PITCHSTONE EXPLORATIONSLTD COM -6000 -2000

PMI GOLD CORP COM ISIN#CA73015 -2000 0

POWERSHARES DB MULTI SECTORCOM 3963000 -90700

PRECISION DRILLING TRUNIT ISIN 318000 301

QUEST DIAGNOSTICS INC -65000 4700

RADIUS GOLD INC ISIN#CA7504681 -1000 0

RIMFIRE MINERALS CORP ISIN#CA7 -19000 2500

ROYAL GOLD INC 364000 -8770

ROYAL STANDARD MINERALSINC -126000 59203

RUBICON MINERALS CORP ISIN#CA7 -3000 3500

SAMEX MINING CORP -2000 0

SAN JUAN BASIN RTY TRUNIT BEN 422000 1567

SASOL LTD SPONADR 268000 7500

SCHLUMBERGER LTD ISIN#AN806857 1325000 -3275

SHOSHONE SILVER MNG CO -1000 0

SILVER STANDARD RES INC ISIN#C 119000 -27545

SILVER WHEATON CORP COM ISIN#C 31000 -59890

SILVERCORP METALS INC ISIN#CA8 -1899000 -65520

SOHO RESOURCES CORP -4000 0

STRATHMORE MINERALS CORP ISIN# 357000 -112500

SUNOCO INC -460000 4000

SUPERIOR ENERGY SERVICESINC 445000 15350

SYNTROLEUM CORP 62000 3000

TANZANIAN RTY EXPL COM ISIN#CA -41000 500

TERRANE METALS CORP COM ISIN#C -3000 5000

TESORO CORP COM FORMERLYTESORO -960000 18050

TIDEWATER INC 1958000 -21519

TOURNIGAN ENERGY LTD CANADA IS -1000 0

TRANSOCEAN INC NEW SHS ISIN#KY 1327000 -5618

TRINITY INDS INC DEL FRMLYTEXA 1257000 -7101

TYHEE DEVELOPMENT CORP ISIN#CA -2408000 183250

U S GOLD CORP -28000 5650

US GOLD CDN ACQUISITIONCORP SH -4000 0

VALERO ENERGY CORP -114000 -200

VISTA GOLD CORP REORGANIZATION -69000 -38100

X CAL RES LTD -4000 0

XTO ENERGY INC 102000 -267

YAMANA GOLD INC ISIN#CA98462Y1 1645000 -49984

YPF SOCIEDAD ANONIMA SPON ADR 86000 -1400

YUKON NEVADA GOLD CORP ISIN#CA -66000 3910

ZIMMER HLDGS INC -270000 940

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I've listened to the FS team discuss gold stocks until my ears bleed, but although I see the geared attraction of stocks, especially the right juniors (whatever that means!), my concern is that with gold getting more and more expensive to mine (energy costs, local politics, mining regulations, the easy stuff -- like with oil -- largely mined out, etc.) the people actually doing the work could get squeezed between those costs & complexities and the reluctance of purchasers to pay more for their shiny stuff.

 

Obviously if China suddenly decides to turn their reserves into gold, all bets are off and shares ought to soar with the price of gold. But as a long term bet I worry that imminent peak oil factors with have a highly geared effect on energy-intensive operations like mining. Especially mining for PMs where you have to pan a lot of dirt to find a speck of gold.

 

Of course if oil continues its miraculous fall towards $50 (where's Zapata George and his predictions now? :-) maybe miners will have an easier time of it. But I can't help feeling that the current dip in energy cost is very temporary. Recession or depression, people all over the planet still need their plastic & petrol, and geology is taking its time topping up reserves.

 

Andrew McP

 

The neutral energy to product ratio for miners is one that rises with rising product price. The sell off in the HUI has actually coincided with a fall in the oil to gold ratio, so I don't consider energy costs to have been a significant factor here.

 

see: http://stockcharts.com $WTIC:$GOLD and $HUI:$GOLD

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On September 22nd Jim Sinclair wrote:

Dear Extended Family,

 

Today's events have put two very important criterion in place for the markets that you must be aware of going into January 14, 2011.

 

1. The dollar has a solid roof above it that now cannot be penetrated.

2. Gold has a solid floor underneath it that now cannot be penetrated.

Selling the dollar on strength and buying gold on weakness with attention to what I have taught you has lost 90% of its risk factor.

 

With a solid floor under gold, the gold mining business becomes a more sound investment than it ever has been. That is simple logic and is now fact.

 

I made a comment at the time that Jim hadn't specified exactly where this floor is. Given Sept 22nd was shortly after the shoot up from the 750s, I'd assume he feels it's somewhere above 750. Here's hoping it's Ker's $828. Silver's performance yesterday cheered me up a little.

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This still confuses me. I don't understand who is borrowing gold or who is selling it at the moment it certainly doesn't seem to be the private investor.

Could the increase in lease rates reflect a serious drop in borrowing demand?

 

And that would presumably reflect a general sentiment that prices are not likely to drop much and maybe go up?

 

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Having caught up with the last two or three pages of this thread, I'm left on balance feeling like the PoG is heading south for now. Is that a fair assessment of people's average feelings (assuming one can average feelings! :D)?

 

Also: British Bulls on Gold.

Yesterday's early trading in New York hinted at a bottom to me. The price tried to punch down through $820 and was forced straight back up. Closing at nearly $835 when it'd been as low as $818 gives me some hope. The light volume makes me slightly nervous, but we know the fundamentals are in place. A huge amount of gold's recent "weakness" has been down to a strong dollar - and honestly, how long can that continue?!?

 

Reading around, the general concensus appears to be that the passing of the bailout bill was already priced into the markets - hence the disruption and volatility earlier in the week when it was blocked. So I don't forsee any fallout from it on Monday.

 

British Bulls now have "BUY-IF" alerts for Gold and (significantly, IMO) Silver. I've never traded their signals - but they've been spookily accurate lately.

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here are some guidelines for monday, remember, this is not a secure outlook, it is just an idea and it maybe wrong, always use stops:

gold-live-or-die.png

 

Ker for those not trading gold futures etc how do your greatly appreciated charts look in sterling as most other available charts are $ based?

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here are some guidelines for monday, remember, this is not a secure outlook, it is just an idea and it maybe wrong, always use stops:

gold-live-or-die.png

 

Ker,

I think you deserve a few of these happy65.gifhappy65.gifhappy65.gif

 

for an excellent explanation and the work you've put in doing it.

 

I don't trade Gold, but it's very interesting reading your explanation.

No doubt this week will be very interesting.

 

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Interesting work, Ker.

I also think we are at a key inflection point.

To me, the high lease rates, make it better than a 50/50 bet that it will be UP.

 

But it is far from 100% guaranteed.

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