Money and Metals

Bloomberg reports on the markets. "Gold rose in New York, capping the third straight weekly gain after a U.S. report showed economic growth slowed in the third quarter, weakening the dollar and boosting the metal's appeal as an alternative investment. Gold is up 16 percent this year, while the dollar index has fallen 6 percent against a basket of six major currencies."

"'There's a big focus on what could happen to the dollar,' said Carlos Perez-Santalla, a gold trader and president of Hudson River Futures in New York. 'I'm liking gold again.'"

"Gold futures for December delivery rose $1.20, or 0.2 percent, to $601 an ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange, the highest closing price since Oct. 19. Prices gained 0.8 percent for the week."

"The U.S. economy grew at a 1.6 percent annual rate in the third quarter, the Commerce Department said today. The increase was less than forecast and the slowest pace in more than three years, as housing slumped and the trade deficit widened."

"Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan said central banks and private investors are beginning to shift holdings from the dollar to the euro. 'We're beginning to see some move from the dollar to the euro, not only in the private sector, but by monetary authorities, by central banks,' Greenspan said yesterday."

"'Mr. Greenspan's comments about migration into the euro is on the supporting side for gold,' said Frank McGhee, head metals trader at Integrated Brokerage Services Inc. in Chicago. The metal faces resistance at $600, analysts who study price charts said. Today is the third time gold has closed above $600 this month."

"'Gold needs to get through a series of important resistances between $602 and $605 to attract substantial fresh buying,' said Robin Bhar, an analyst at UBS AG in London."

"The dollar fell the most against the yen in more than five weeks and declined versus the euro after a government report showed U.S. economic growth slowed in the third quarter. 'The GDP number was the catalyst to sell dollars,' said John McCarthy, director of currency trading at ING Financial Markets LLC in New York. 'For the dollar to fall and break out of the ranges we've seen all year, you've got to have the yen participating.'"

"The U.S. currency fell to 117.58 yen at 4:01 p.m. in New York from 118.38 yesterday. The dollar declined for a fourth consecutive day against the European currency to $1.2735 per euro, from $1.2694 yesterday, the longest losing streak in more than five months. The dollar also fell against the Danish krone, British pound and Swiss franc, and was weaker versus 13 of 16 major currencies tracked by Bloomberg."

"The Canadian dollar jumped to its highest point in nearly a month against the U.S. currency on Friday, as data showing a much bigger than expected slowdown in U.S. third-quarter growth sent the greenback down sharply."

"This reinforced the somewhat dovish tone of the U.S. Federal Reserve's statement earlier this week and drove the greenback decisively below the C$1.12 level for the first time since Oct. 3. 'Purely from a psychological point of view, that's an important level,' said Matthew Strauss, senior currency strategist at RBC Capital Markets. 'I think from this point forward the market will much more sensitive to any news that might indicate a further slowdown in the U.S. economy.'"

"However, if the U.S. weakness persists and begins to affect Canadian growth via trade performance, the Canadian dollar could find itself cooling as well, he said, particularly versus overseas currencies."