Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's announcement in Jackson Hole today prompted optimism and increased commodities activity. While ambiguous, Bernanke's promise to consider further government support, invigorated oil, gold, wheat, corn and soybeans
Gold slid considerably today as a rising dollar, the result of a seemingly inevitable Greek default, made commodities less attractive. Only indirectly dependent on the strength of the dollar, miners experienced more moderate losses and even gains for some companies as gold bulls expressed their ongoing confidence.