…..in them thar hills” (Origin Unknown). Despite the dubious construction and grammar (language buffs can check here) the statement has a certain ring. The reason is the enduring quality of gold as a store of value. In modern times, this means a value that is impervious to the actions of governments and central bankers.

The quest for gold is so powerful that a wise expert on the subject put it thusly: “I know what gold does to men’s souls.” That expert was a character in the 1948 Bogart classic, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre,

Investors need not risk their souls to consider gold mining stocks, but it is wise to take notice when this sector nears the top of our ratings list. It provides a strong signal of inflation concern and the need for a defensive posture. As usual, our weekly …