GaG, Saint? Does this mean that China's economy was a bubble after all?

Lowering their expectations for gold, along with their fairly rosey picture of the "recovery". I think it's sent the short term gold traders into a bit of a panic.

It's a confluence of events. Yes China is part of the story, but gold has been in a downtrend since its peak in Sept 2011. Also, just about all commodities have been taken out to the woodshed. Look at silver, copper and oil, which their plunges bodes well for the consumer.

Throw in a little Cyprus where they may have to sell gold reserves to raise some money. Plus a lot of people bought gold last year, and are all underwater, so they are liquidating their positions.

Commodities in general are extremely volatile in their price swings, and that is what you are seeing.

One major factor I forgot to mention with respect to gold's decline is that the Rapper and Hip Hop gold futures index is down significantly.  That one is for GaG.

Nice March Jobs and Consumer Retail reports.
How's Afghanistan/The Gitmo Closing coming along?

Who said Iraq would be a quote, cakewalk, unquote?
And anyway, from a historical/military perspective, it has.

You got any links? Bush specifically said it would take time. It's been pretty much over for four-five years.
And it has paid for itself as Iraq has rejoined the world economic community, and we no longer have to fund and provide a no-fly zone, embargoes and inspections of a rogue nation; in addition to the financing from the rest of the world to not have to do that work (Yes, we still export something. Security), freeing up our own budgets for domestic social programs and pork we all like.
Ten years, huh? We're still in Germany, Japan, and Korea after sixty-seventy. Have you been tabulating the actual dozens of trillions spent over the decades, as opposed to, uh, one? Does that reflect on FDR, or Truman?
Anyway, feel free to argue as to the beneficial alternative history of still existing Husseins in this world. Don't look now, but in the entire geographical region loosely termed as "the Middle East," from Algeria all the way through to Baldisti Pakistan, the one place currently relatively stable, actually Arab-Springy, is ....Iraq.

You're welcome.
BTW, Obama was just on TV sounding awfully Bushy in his attempted butchness.

And goal post shifting.

We still have people getting killed in Iraq? Why, I haven't heard any casualty reports since January 19, 2009.
BTW, we have had people killed in Germany and Japan by terrorists in relatively recent years. And -cough- Libya, too.  

 
Explain how Iraq hasn't paid for itself based upon federal receipts and expenditures since 2003. Certainly quicker and easier than WWII, which we're still paying for, in various resources. I won't even mention the relative cost of Stimulus.

I am sure the Rapper and Hip Hop traders will see this as a buying opportunity.

As for your assessment of the situation, I mostly agree with you, I'd like to add that this was just like a breakout on the upside, once certain support levels are broken a lot of program trades automatically kick in, adding to the perception that the world is ending. Additionally a lot of long term gold owners are seeing their gains evaporate, it's natural for many of them to think "lets get out while the getting is good" and lock in their profits while they still can.

I don't think this is the end to any kind of bubble, just one of those perfect storms that happen from time to time.

I'll put it this way, oil has taken a beating over the last few days as well, and I am not losing a minute of sleep over it. Oil just like gold is still trading at historically very high levels, five or ten bucks in either direction doesn't mean much to anyone but the traders.