51.   The Australian sales were the latest in a series of similar moves by central banks that have been selling gold instead of keeping it as part of monetary policy.

52.   The central banks in the Netherlands and Belgium have sold gold, Switzerland says it will and others are expected to.

53.   The concern that central banks could sell gold, adding supply to the market, came as Federal Reserve policy-makers meet tomorrow to consider raising U.S. interest rates.

54.   The central banks of Belgium and the Netherlands have sold gold in recent years.

55.   The couriers bypassed the Portuguese central bank and sold the gold locally.

56.   The island-hoppers then go into the usual feeding frenzy buying T-shirts and postcards and visiting the dozens of jewelry shops selling gold at very competitive prices.

57.   The miners then sell the gold at prevailing rates, and use the future output to pay the central banks back.

58.   The lower rates also make it cheaper for mining companies to sell borrowed gold at current prices and replace it with future output from their mines.

59.   The Russian government is seen selling gold to finance its military effort in the region if the fighting drags on.