In effect, those banks buying gold was a contrarian signal.

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The deal may signal the start of a smart-grid buying spree for cash-equipped conglomerates like Toshiba eager to tap the vast capital outlays expected from electric utilities over the next decade.

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Economists viewed his speech as a signal that the ECB would resume its bond-buying program.

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Buying back shares and raising its quarterly dividend 25% is a signal that Merrill's management feels confident about growth targets, though analysts said it could also indicate that Merrill sees those actions as better alternatives than a big acquisition.

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