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Raising the gold standard

May 29, 2009 - 00:00 GMT

Gold has never been just another metal. Throughout history it has been a symbol of riches, and the pursuit of it has played no small role in the creation of countries and empires. Today, even if fewer battles are fought over it, it is still unique in that its chief assets are in its store of value and its aesthetic appeal. While research continues to try to expand gold’s utility, its industrial end-uses – chiefly in electronics – amounted to just over 11% of total identifiable demand last year. About three-quarters of gold demand is used for human ornamentation in various forms...

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