Morning Indications-Big events of 2009

It has all been a US dollar based move since yesterday. The USD was as low as 1.4275 yesterday and was as high as 1.444 this morning. The jobless claims came out better than expected and the USD strengthened on that news and precious metals lost some ground on the back of that news.. We expect it to go dead silent within the next few hours.
Feb-G Mar-H April-J Mar-H
12/31/2009
Gold Silver Platinum Palladium
Last 1,103.70 16.99 1,477.10 405.75
%Price Change 1.02 1.08 0.94 2.43
Current High 1,107.60 17.11 1,482.00 409.90
Current Low 1,093.10 16.78 1,463.00 395.50
EFP .50/.90 .01/.05 6/10 0/4
RH 2,500.00 RU 165.00
IR 420.00
London AM Fixes:
AU 1,104.00 PT 1,466.00
PD 402.00 AG 16.9900
Codes LAST LOW HIGH
EUR 1.4394 1.4323 1.4440
JPY 92.66 91.89 92.77
GBP 1.6204 1.6046 1.6236
Crude Oil -NYMEX 80.46 Copper 3.36

I have to say I am truly blessed with being able to travel. I hate flying but I love to visit different places and meet people. This year I had many new experiences and met some really wonderful people and made new friendships as well. There were three experiences I rank at the same level in terms of memories that will always be cherished.

If you recall my message of earlier this year when I went to Medellin, Colombia and enjoyed myself a little too much keeping up with the younger crowd. (a hangover I will never forget) It was a super time solidifying a friendship with truly wonderful people.

Then there was my trip to Austin, Texas where I was surprised with an afternoon out on Lake Austin. What a great time, speeding along on a boat and discussing business and life over a few beers. Another truly incredible gift that will never be forgotten spent with great friends.

Then there was the trip to London for Platinum week. I was allowed to attend the Platinum Dinner cocktail hour because Heraeus is a big supporter but the event was closed to limited seating and I didn’t have a ticket. Then as they began seating began my departure. As I was walking out the door the persons running the event were getting ready to close up and said they had a few no-shows and I could take a spot. I was gifted with the seat of Julian Wantling of UBS. It was a grand time as I sat with persons from all over the world and we enjoyed the event and new found friendships. We called it the Greatest Table Number 29. (Notice I am the newbie, I had no idea you are not supposed to take off your jacket before the toast to the Queen is made)

There are many more gifts that have come my way, maybe not as exciting but I treasure them all. So to all my friends new and old that I have shared time with I wish you all a fantastic Happy New Year filled with joy and prosperity.

Attached a photo of the famed table Number 29 at the 2009 London Platinum Week Dinner event.

Morning Indications-Sentimental New Year

Precious metals are looking very weak as the US dollar continues to rally and thin markets can move quickly in any direction. Tomorrow is the last day of the year and of course will be the biggest day of this week as Jobless Claims figures for the USA are released. So if you are working tomorrow that is what you should be looking for.

Date Feb-G Mar-H April-J Mar-H
12/30/2009 10:33
Gold Silver Platinum Palladium
Last 1,090.80 16.85 1,462.40 398.90
% Price Change (0.66) (1.54) (0.92) 2.58
Current High 1,098.70 17.18 1,482.90 401.50
Current Low 1,086.60 16.78 1,461.20 386.00
EFP .50/.90 .01/.05 6/10 0/4
London PM Fixes:
AU 1,087.50 PT 1,461.00
PD 393.00
London AM Fixes:
AU 1,092.50 PT 1,464.00
PD 391.00 AG 16.92
RH 2,200.00 RU 165.00
IR 420.00
CODE LAST LOW HIGH
EUR 1.4307 1.4289 1.4361
JPY 92.56 91.88 92.57
GBP 1.5976 1.5830 1.5976

Well as the year draws to an end, I am feeling a little bewildered. About what you may ask? I will tell you. You hear it all the time. How is it that we are turning this corner again? Wasn’t it yesterday that we did this? Wasn’t it yesterday that we had our Christmas party? Wasn’t it just yesterday my son was born? No, it was 20 years ago my first son was born. Where have these years gone? As years of my life have passed by in what seems the blink of an eye and the frailty of life has become so clear to me. It has made me set my sights on the true goal of my life. It is one I have tried to achieve and hope only that when I reach the end I can say I gave it my best. My goal has been and continues to be to help bring joy into this world. To live the gift of life to its fullest never forgetting that the end is near. To remember that the one commandment I must live up to is above all things in life. That commandment is to love my neighbor as I love myself. If I do this then all things will work to the good and joy will be there with me and around me. I hope my dear friends and acquaintances that we have shared that joy together and I hope that we will share many more. So the older I get the more sentimental I become. But there is one more thing I do hope. I hope I leave the biggest Carbon footprint on this planet so no one forgets I was here!

Have a great day and for those that are not in tomorrow Happy New Year!

Morning Indications-Environment

Even with London back in the precious metals market today prices are still expected to stay within range. Pt and Pd remain close to their high levels as investors await the new ETF offering in the USA. We have consumer confidence out at 10AM but even that news will most likely not create any major activity as many players remain out on vacation during this Christmas holiday week.
Date Feb-G Mar-H April-J Mar-H
12/29/2009 9:52
Gold Silver Platinum Palladium
Last 1,100.30 17.26 1,478.90 389.00
% Price Change (0.68) (1.73) (0.72) 0.03
Current High 1,109.20 17.56 1,494.00 392.50
Current Low 1,098.10 17.22 1,477.00 387.60
EFP .50/.90 .01/.05 6/10 0/4
London PM Fixes:
AU - PT 1,472.00
PD 389.00
London AM Fixes:
AU 1,103.00 PT 1,473.00
PD 388.00 AG 17.42
RH 2,200.00 RU 165.00
IR 420.00
CODE LAST LOW HIGH
EUR 1.4422 1.4351 1.4458
JPY 91.76 91.50 91.81
GBP 1.6009 1.5978 1.6069
Crude Oil -NYMEX 79.46 DJIA 3.30

I brought my daughter into the office today. It is always a joy to see how her eyes light up at the sight that this great city has to offer. Of course to the environmental extremists the city is odious. It gave me reason to pause and think about this. I believe that Human Life is the most precious thing on the earth and that we have been given this great gift of the planet for us to take care of as good stewards. But recently many people put animal life above that of human life. I think this is only possible because of the security that our modern society offers. I call this the “Disney Effect”. Because we are no longer directly threatened by the environment around us, due to our modern conveniences, we have created a plethora of fantasy films, books and stories about wildlife around us a peaceful loving creatures. If it weren’t for the modern conveniences we would quickly realize like those in less developed countries the real dangers that these animals pose in an unprotected environment. If we lived in the wild as in the days of old and one of your children was attacked and killed by a mountain lion, or your brother was killed by a bear or you lost your arm fighting a pack of wolves defending your family you wouldn’t be so extremely sympathetic to wild life. So as my daughter looks around the city at the glory that is Human progress and how we still allow plenty of room for wildlife outside of our protected environment. I thank God that we have these comforts and I don’t have to carry a Bowie knife as I walk down Fifth avenue to go for lunch in case we get attacked by a mountain lion.

Morning Indications-Avatar

Good morning! It is Boxing day in Great Britain so there an London precious metals fixing prices today. Canada is also closed and of course this is the traditionally one of the slowest weeks of the year as it falls within the 12 days of Christmas and New Years day. Pt an Pd saw big support from the market last week on the news of approval of the ETFs by SEC. It is expected that it may continue its attempts to further its move to the upside and PT may test 1500. But overall we expect to stay relatively stable until the New Year begins. We do have jobless claims on the 31st, this is usually a good stoke to the fire.
Feb-G Mar-H Jan-F Mar-H
12/28/2009
Gold Silver Platinum Palladium
Last 1,106.60 17.56 1,484.50 387.50
%Price Change 0.16 0.65 1.13 (0.55)
Current High 1,114.50 17.69 1,492.20 390.50
Current Low 1,105.10 17.49 1,468.80 382.20
EFP .70/.30 .02/.06 2.50/6.5 0/4
RH 2,450.00 RU 165.00
IR 420.00
London AM Fixes:
AU - PT -
PD - AG -
Codes LAST LOW HIGH
EUR 1.4397 1.4350 1.4414
JPY 91.54 91.39 91.77
GBP 1.5980 1.5930 1.6004
Crude Oil -NYMEX 79.34 Copper 3.31

Today I feel like critiquing the movie “Avatar” in 3D. I am a big Sci-fi buff and usually am thrilled with how popular the genre has become. Unfortunately the last few years it has become a tool for left wing environmentalist and socialist propaganda. True to form Avatar is the regurgitation of the same old propaganda except that they mixed up a whole bunch of them all at once. First on the menu was the how the Humans are destroying the earth, big surprise. As if we haven’t been subjected to enough end of the world propaganda films to make us puke, the great prophet Al Gore must have been squealing with pleasure. Then Disney meets Hollywood with “Colors of the Wind” a historical rewrite that the Indigenous Indians were all a benevolent peaceful race until the White man came. Of course anyone who reads any history would know that to be a bunch of bunk. Tell that to the Huron Indians who were often decimated by the Iroquois. It was a custom of the Indians to eat the heart of the warriors they defeated. Of course let us not forget the gauntlet where the prisoners were forced to run as the losers were beaten, tortured and had their fingers bitten off by the children of the winning tribe. Finally of course the evil business man whose sole purpose is to destroy and make profit on the backs of these peaceful loving people. This of course is an attack on the traditional way of life in the good old USA, painting the business man as a social criminal with no scruples. Not to say that some don’t exist but the truth is Hollywood is one sided and fails to mention that under this structure was created the largest ever known middle class society with freedoms and luxuries previously unreachable to the average man since before the fall of Rome. It has been a communist manifesto to manipulate education and media in this country and I have to admit it’s apparent that they have been quite successful. The film did not break any ground in Science fiction and the story itself had much to be desired. I walked out feeling ripped off.

Have a great day!

Being overshadowed

I had a tought time getting up this morning. I didn't sleep so well last night as I had some indigestion. I had to get up at one point and take some Alka Seltzer. My alarm went off and it seemed a little too soon for me. I shut it off and since it wasn't mandatory to get up I squeezed in another hour of sleep. But this meant skipping excercise. The day just doesn't feel right when I do this.

Anyway I finally got up and ready. I went this morning to mass at 6:30 am. This is the norm for me when I am not going into the city. It is such a pleasant way to start the day. Today for me it was important because it's my birthday. I wanted to be close to the eternal.

Then driving back home I was recollecting myslef. I couldn't help but be more focused on the Christmas than on myself. How can it be that God would humble Himself and come down to us as Jesus Christ to teach us the way? How is it that this great life be so easily dismissed by a generation of people who wander aimlessly and look for peace where there is none through drugs,alcohol,money and sex? Peace and happiness come easlily to those who follow the way of the Lord. So though my birthday has and always will be overshadowed by Christmas day. It is that overshadowing that has always guided me and brought me closer to the light.

My prayer for all my friends is that you find this Christmas season the bread of Life, which is Jesus Christ. That you bring Him into your heart and the joys of life will be opened to you.

Merry Christmas!

I will not post for the next two days. I will be back on the blog on Saturday.

Have a great day!