Daily Dispatches

China seeks direct talks with OPEC

From the Financial Times, London
Monday, December 4, 2006

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ft/20061204/bs_ft/fto120420061642266991

Asian central banks appear divided on how to respond to the falling US dollar. Several countries, including Thailand, South Korea, and Singapore, appear to have intervened to curb its decline against their currencies, while heavyweights Japan and China are taking a more benign approach.

5p ET Monday, December 4, 2006

Dear Friend of GATA and Gold:

Silver market analyst Ted Butler's new essay is a speculation on which silver-related investments will do best as the price of silver reaches $100. Butler's preference is for real metal rather than mining shares -- particularly U.S. silver eagles. His essay is titled "What Happens at $100 Silver?" and you can find it at GoldSeek's companion site, SilverSeek, here:

2:25p ET Monday, December 4, 2006

Dear Friend of GATA and Gold:

Today's Financial Post / National Post in Canada has a wonderful profile of Agnico-Eagle Mines Ltd., GATA's oldest financial supporter among producing mining companies. The company has reaped spectacular success in recent years by avoiding hedging and concentrating on what this profile calls organic growth.

Continuing its support, Agnico-Eagle was a sponsor of GATA's reception at the New Orleans Investment Conference last month. The company has been with us from the beginning, back in the days when it was considered bad for business and before GATA's case was proved and widely accepted. So we're deeply grateful for Agnico-Eagle's principled and fearless work on behalf of the gold cause and delighted with its well-earned recognition here.

OPEC to take weak dollar into account

By Ghaida Ghantous and Karin Strohecker
Rtuers
Monday, December 4, 2006

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061204/bs_nm/oil_opec_dc_7

OPEC is worried by a fall in the dollar that is eroding member states' purchasing power and ministers will take up the issue when they meet next week to discuss new output curbs.

On Monday the dollar hit a 20-month low against the euro, punishing producers who sell their oil in dollars, when they buy goods and services from Europe.