31.   The increase in rates was primarily caused by a surge in demand for gold loans and forward sales from South African mining companies.

32.   The man who pioneered forward sales of gold is backing off -- forced, he says, by the realities of the marketplace.

33.   The risk of forward sales is offset in the futures market.

34.   There would be a corresponding capital loss on the forward sale.

35.   Toronto-based Barrick Gold Corp., the largest producer in North America, said this week it would trim its forward sales to two years production from three.

36.   Gold futures fell on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange after news that two large producers will boost their forward sales, traders said.

37.   Hedging gains on forward sales of both copper and gold cushioned the drop in metal prices.