Why Is HSBC Clearing Out So Much Physical Gold?

WHISKEY AND GUNPOWDER
By Doug Hornig

That’s the directive that came down from HSBC USA in late November.

It seems that everyone these days wants gold. Real, physical gold coins that they can hold in their hands, or bars that they’re assured are resting safely in a well-guarded vault. HSBC’s New York vault, for example, buried deep below its 5th Avenue tower, where it has stored people’s gold since it inherited the facility from Republic Bank a decade ago.

But no more.

HSBC has served notice to its retail customers — many of whom are simply middle-men and custodial services which store gold with HSBC on behalf of hundreds of their own account holders — that all their gold must be out of its facility by July 2010. Otherwise, folks, prepare for an unwelcome knock at your door. HSBC’s letter says that, in the absence of directions to the contrary, clients’ metal “will be returned to the address of record… at your expense.”

HSBC has cast its vote. It clearly believes that it’s going to be getting more gold from the COMEX, maybe a lot more, and it’s making room by giving the boot to other depositors. Perhaps the bank knows something we don’t know, or perhaps it’s just acting out of reasonable expectation.

Either way, it’s telling us that the demand for gold is going to continue rising. And coming from a major bullion bank, that’s about as bullish a signal as anyone could want. If you don’t own any physical gold, it’s time. FULL STORY