Commodities, basic metals, and precious metals

Here is a bullish case for basic metals and the increasing urbanization of the world's population, especially in emerging countries like China, India, and Brazil.

http://www.mineweb.com/mineweb/view/mineweb/en/page36?oid=96498&sn=Detail&pid=1

Here is an article on a shortage of physical silver coins.

http://www.coinnews.net/2010/01/24/us-mint-silver-eagle-sales-top-3-million-best-ever-january/

The shortage of physical silver due to investor demand is openly acknowledged, as coin dealers are buying at prices ABOVE the spot price, and selling at even higher premiums. The spot price and prices on the COMEX futures do not reflect this physical shortage--yet. That's because the bullion banks are artificially suppressing the price of silver by shorting paper certificates via the SLV ETF, and shorting COMEX futures contracts. This fundamental disconnect between the prices of silver in the futures contracts and available physical inventory of silver will eventually be resolved, resulting in a soaring price. Price manipulation can only work so long before basic economic laws of supply and demand eventually materialize.

Disclosure: long silver mining shares.