Information Sources

Some of the best analytical work these days is being performed not at the university level, or even in research departments of many large Wall Street firms, but instead in two quickly growing venues for information distribution. First, we have the independent newsletters; secondly, we have the investment-oriented Web sites. These include the wire services such as Reuters, Oster, Dow Jones and some of the major market news-oriented sites such as Bloomberg and CBS MarketWatch.

Additionally, some excellent Web sites devote themselves entirely to gold, like kitco.com, Gold Eagle.com, and USAGOLD.com. the expanded availability of research and information data through computerization has created an entirely new intellectual community who is not tied to college libraries or corporate databases.

Besides, the modern analyst who is equipped with a personal computer or laptop and has quick access to ample information is not institutionally restrained. These sources quite do not only produce interesting material, but also immense useful work for people who seek the truth. When you bring the World Wide Web into the mix, that information is made available to the public in a quick fashion – a huge advantage that at a previous time was only available in the limits of large financial and educational organizations. Take notice that both the best gold Web sites and the top newsletter writers are offering their points of view. At times they miht be right, and at times they might be wrong. Their points of view are at times quite controversial and at other times pretty off from the standard procedures. You are the final arbiter and decision maker. Read everything carefully, analyse, and make your own opinion.

You can get pretty thorough, day-to-day information through your local newspaper, TV news and financial publications – particularly the business television channels where you can regularly find information on gold. Most people think that it is fair to say that the traditional press, with a few exceptions, has a strong antigold bias. This must be noted. Another good source of general information and opinion is radio talk shows. Radio talk shows could be one of the last bastions of free thought in the United States. It doesn’t matter what your political persuasion is, these shows can be a good source of information, most of which you could not possibly find in the traditional media.

The challenge of the twenty-first century and the next stage of the Age of Information will be to absorb, segregate, find and utilize large amounts of information. With respect to investments, the level of the information you get and your own analytical capacity in processing it will make the difference between success and failure. This topic is true, not only for our rationale concerning gold, but is also used for the investments which you choose and the timing required on each of them. Strategy and overall portfolio design will weigh much stronger in your success than the latest hot tip or follow-the-crowd psychology driven by the mainstream press. Newsletters and the burgeoning internet with its sources of multiplicity will become an even more vital resource in the coming years. These are sources you will want to have with you at all times.