The document discusses the role of gold and silver in investment portfolios, highlighting their historical significance as a hedge against inflation and economic downturns. It also addresses concerns regarding gold's lack of earnings and dividends and examines the factors influencing gold and silver prices, including currency stability and industrial demand. The authors express a positive outlook on gold and silver investments amid ongoing global economic uncertainties and increasing physical demand.

1. The Case for Precious Metals:
What Role Should Gold and Silver Play in Your Portfolio?
By Michael S. Finer and Gary M. Coon
Major League Investments, Inc.
June 7, 2012
As Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, "The desire of gold is not for gold. It is for the means of freedom
and benefit." Emerson's keen observation that since ancient times people have bought gold not simply
to own gold, but for what gold represents, certainly rings true for today's investment managers.
Historically, gold has served both as a safe harbor during economic downturns and as a valuable
hedge against inflation. Therefore, over the long-term, gold can be an effective tool for wealth
preservation.
And yet, because gold has no earnings and does not pay dividends, an investment in gold is often
categorized as "dead money." This traditional knock has particular merit in today's low interest rate
environment. As Warren Buffett, one of the great investors of our time and a famous critic of gold,
once quipped, "[Gold] gets dug out of the ground in Africa, or someplace. Then we melt it down, dig
another hole, bury it again and pay people to stand around guarding it. It has no utility. Anyone
watching from Mars would be scratching their head."
So, after a decade-long run-up in price, no actual earnings, no yield or other way to return cash to
investors, you might wonder whether it's still possible to make money in gold. With respect to gold
positions, our robust technical analysis generally leads us to subscribe to the 13 ½ month cycles that
technician Tom McClellan espouses. This cycle suggested as of the end of May 2012 that gold was
forming a bottoming pattern in the mid $1530 to $1570 range. Complementing technical timing
considerations, factors like currency stability, geostrategic/political context, and demand for precious
metals drive our investment decisions.
Of course, gold is a complicated measure of value because gold also reflects the currency that it is

2. measured in. As such, gold weakened in the last month or so because the U. S. Dollar strengthened
precipitously against the Euro. As a result, the weakness in gold prices does not just reflect a
weakening in demand for gold instruments, but also serves as a proxy for a strengthening dollar. The
consensus view seems to be that the dollar will strengthen against the Euro because of fallout from the
European debt crisis that has rocked global markets for more than two years.
Yet, while market volatility persists in Europe due to Spain's banking system teetering on the brink
and Greece's political future hinging on results from next month's elections, it's important to
remember that, with mounting debt and lingering unemployment, the United States has a significant
"fiscal cliff" of its own. What's more, last summer's fractious debate over raising the debt ceiling
certainly taught us that getting our nation's fiscal house in order is no small task.
Today's physical demand for gold continues to outstrip the production capability of the mines. While
this does not necessarily suggest that the price of gold must rise, it is a contributing factor that could
generate structural changes that shift supply and demand and increase the price of gold at each level.
Governments of the world also remain net buyers of gold and this is a positive contributor to increases
in price.
Although gold and silver appear fairly correlated from a price perspective, the case for silver's
underlying physical demand is a compelling one for the next five to ten years. In addition to silver's
use in coinage, silverware, jewelry and photography (although the latter is diminishing because of
digitization) industrial use is growing in such areas as cellular phones, photovoltaic cells in solar
panels, automotive electronics and medical applications. Notably, although it has sold off even more
aggressively than gold, silver tends to trade in sympathy to gold. Additionally, silver tends to be more
volatile than gold, bringing potential for additional opportunities as well as risk.
McClellan's 13 ½ month cycles, currency instability, underlying potential physical demand, geo-
strategic/political uncertainty, and future potential inflation continue to inform our dynamic
investment approach to gold and precious metals. Our consideration of these factors led us to take a
significant position in gold and silver throughout the month of May, 2012. We will continue to
examine precious metals in the coming quarter as part of our multi-asset wealth management strategy.
© Major League Investments, Inc., 530 Loring Avenue, Suite 302, Salem, MA 01970
Telephone: 978-740-1011 ? Please visit our website at www.majorleagueinvest.com
Disclosure
This article should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subjects discussed. All expressions of

3. opinion reflect the judgment of the authors as of the date of publication and are subject to change.
Information presented does not involve the rendering of personalized investment advice and should
not be viewed as an offer to buy or sell, or a solicitation of any offer to buy or sell the investments
mentioned herein. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk, and there can be no
assurance that any specific investment or strategy will be suitable or profitable for a client's portfolio.
All investment strategies have the potential for profit or loss. Major League Investments, Inc. is
registered as an investment advisor and only transacts business in states where it is properly
registered, or is excluded or exempted from registration requirements. Registration as an investment
advisor does not constitute an endorsement of the firm by securities regulators nor does it indicate that
the advisor has attained a particular level of skill or ability.
Major League Investments, Inc.
530 Loring Ave Suite 302, Salem, MA 01970
Phone: 978-740-1011
michael.finer@majorleagueinvest.com
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