FT.com / MARKETS / Commodities - Gold coin shortage as demand soars

FT.com / MARKETS / Commodities - Gold coin shortage as demand soars: "The rush by retail investors into bullion coins is creating shortages as mints across the world struggle to meet the surge in demand, dealers and mint officials say."

UPDATE 1-Islamic gold security expected in Dubai-sources

UPDATE 1-Islamic gold security expected in Dubai-sources: "By Simon Webb DUBAI, Feb 24 (Reuters) - A sharia-compliant tradeable security backed by gold will be launched in Dubai next week, sources familiar with the plan said on Tuesday.
Investors have rushed into gold as a haven from the global economic storm and as insurance against potential future inflation. The price of gold rose above $1,000 an ounce for the first time in almost a year last week.

The Dubai gold security would comply with Islamic investment principles and offer regional investors a way to diversify into gold without actually buying the metal, sources said."

Stock Decline Hits Depression Levels - BusinessWeek

Stock Decline Hits Depression Levels - BusinessWeek: "Money invested 10 years ago in stocks have lost half their real value, matching the worst ten years of the Great Depression"

Failure to save East Europe will lead to worldwide meltdown - Telegraph

Failure to save East Europe will lead to worldwide meltdown - Telegraph: "The unfolding debt drama in Russia, Ukraine, and the EU states of Eastern Europe has reached acute danger point."

Madoff Witness Talks of Other Possible Schemes - NYTimes.com

Madoff Witness Talks of Other Possible Schemes - NYTimes.com: "WASHINGTON — The private fraud investigator who tried for years to ignite a federal investigation of Bernard L. Madoff told lawmakers on Wednesday that he had discovered another possible fraud that he would report to regulators on Thursday.

Harry Markopolos testified before the House Committee on Financial Services in Washington on Wednesday.

Witness on Madoff Tells of Fear for Safety (February 4, 2009)
DealBook: $946 Million Recovered So Far From Madoff Firm (February 4, 2009)

The witness, Harry Markopolos of Boston, said at a House subcommittee hearing that he would alert the Securities and Exchange Commission to the fraud, a $1 billion Ponzi scheme he has uncovered."

Sewage yields more gold than top mines | Oddly Enough | Reuters

Sewage yields more gold than top mines | Oddly Enough | Reuters: "A sewage treatment facility in central Japan has recorded a higher gold yield from sludge than can be found at some of the world's best mines. An official in Nagano prefecture, northwest of Tokyo, said the high percentage of gold found at the Suwa facility was probably due to the large number of precision equipment manufacturers in the vicinity that use the yellow metal. The facility recently recorded finding 1,890 grammes of gold per tonne of ash from incinerated sludge."