As the stock market slumps, gold's unique appeal stands out again, Gold has risen nearly 4% so far this month. Major world stock markets have dropped up to 10%

Argentina is trying an end-run which may result in its being held in contempt of court, to avoid having to negotiate seriously with the hold-out hedge funds over its debt. These owners of ~10% of the bonds refused to join in the 2005 and 2010 deals to extend duration and cut yield on the bonds.

The largest plastic tube producer in Latin America moved to extend its domain again. This time the victim is US Dura-Line, maker of high density polyethylene precision tubes for telecom voice and data, energy transmission, and infrastructure with a blue-chip client base.

Britain and the US seem to be riding high but there are major political risks what with Russia and Israel. London is full of Russki oligarchs upon which its economy depends. The US needs to unhook its politics from Israeli excess, if only so both countries can hold their heads up.

The US is a piker on penalties for banking wrongs.. UBS had to post bail at euros 1.1 bn ($1.5 bn) before the Swiss bank's trial for aiding money laundering and tax fraud in France.

Both GLD, SPDR Gold, and individual stocks like IAG, IAM Gold, are up more.