The World Gold Council (“WGC”) expects that demand for gold will be strong during 2010, driven by growing demand for jewellery in China and India as well as an increase in European and US investment in the context of continued economic instability, sovereign risk and the threat of a ‘double dip’ recession.
According to WGC’s Gold Demand Trends report, published today, demand in India and China will continue to grow, driven by jewellery demand, in spite of high local currency gold prices. In Q1 2010, India was the strongest performing market …

In the 2011 budget, Council Chairperson Gray has included another form to the cola tax. The beverages with artificial and natural sweeteners and all sodas could impose a 6% sales tax in the city. These beverages are considered grocery items and are tax exempt.
Last week, Mr. Gray cancelled the original proposal. That proposal had called for a tax on colas, excluding diet sodas, based on the ounce. The proposal was to fund a requirement that schools serve students more vegetables and fruits.
The Washington Post is stating this new proposal would …

Leading U.S. farm and forest products groups today called on Congress and the administration to help end tropical deforestation. The groups cited a new report showing that overseas agriculture and logging operations are expanding production by cutting down the world’s rainforests, allowing them to flood the world market with cheap commodities that undercut American goods. The report estimates that ending deforestation will boost revenue for U.S. producers by between $196-$267 billion by 2030 – approximately equivalent to the entire amount projected to be spent by farmers on energy during that …