The situation in Europe should provide a strong driver for gold prices for quite some time. The media focus is now on Italy where they are failing to accept the austerity measures demanded by the ECB and union protests are planned(Greek redux). The problems with Ireland and Portugal still exist but don't make the news anymore amd Greece is predicted to default by March by a member of the IMF. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-09-05/sovereign-bank-credit-default-swaps-surge-to-records-in-europe.html