Venezuela Begins Liquidating Its Gold.
"Which likely explains why in an attempt to secure some stability, i.e., funds, now that Venezuela is no longer able to tap Chinese bailout loans as last-recourse funding, Reuters reported that Venezuela’s central bank is in talks with Wall Street banks to create a gold swap that would allow it to monetize some $1.5 billion of the metal held as international reserves, according to government sources familiar with the operation.
Under the swap, the central bank would provide 1.4 million troy ounces in exchange for cash, said a central bank source.
After four years, it would have right of first refusal to buy the gold back, added the source, who asked not to be identified.
Of course, by then Maduro will almost certainly no longer be the ruler, so the “gold buying back part” will be someone else’s problem, and what is actually happening is that Maduro is “pawning” some 1.4 million ounces of gold to a banker syndicate, one organized by Bank of America and Credit Suisse according to Reuters, in exchange for $1.5 billion.
It also explains why there is an implied 7% discount to market prices in the swap, since 1.4 million ounces equivalent to $1.5 billion translates to about $1,070 per ounce, or a 7% discount to market."
http://etfdailynews....ating-its-gold/
-tria