Daily Dispatches

9:30p ET Tuesday, March 30, 2004

Dear Friend of GATA and Gold:

Wheaton River Minerals and IAMGOLD announced their
merger tonight in a plan that was said to vault the
new company to the ranks of the top 10 gold producers.

The merger would be accomplished by exchanging
each Wheaton River share for just more than half a
share of IAMGOLD, which is said to be a 22 percent
premium over the average price of Wheaton shares

By Theodore Butler

The latest Commitments of Traders Report (COT) was a
shocker for gold, as the tech funds plowed onto the long
side and dealers went short in massive numbers.

Adjusting for the trading since the Tuesday cutoff, the
commercial net short position in COMEX gold is at the
highest level ever. This raises the strong possibility of a
selloff, where the funds sell out their long positions and

Prices rising despite low inflation rate;
key indicators questioned

By Greg Burns
Chicago Tribune
Sunday, March 28, 2004
http://www.chicagotribune.com

At the same time the federal government is reporting inflation
at rock-bottom levels, the cost of medical care, tuition and
housing have shot up. From gasoline to coffee to gold,
commodity prices are soaring to heights not seen in years.

By Nicole Mordant

http://biz.yahoo.com/rc/040329/minerals_barrick_newmont_2.html

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 29 (Reuters) -- Barrick
Gold Corp. termed "wild speculation" Monday a report over the
weekend that Newmont Mining Corp. was getting set to make a
takeover offer for it, but added it would vigorously defend itself