From those afraid of hyperinflation, to those libertarians doubting the validity of fiat money, market participants have always found a way to justify their holding of the yellow metal.
Sears as a retailer, not aholding company, has always held value far beyond its stores in the names of its marquee brands: Craftsman, Die Hard and Kenmore.
As always on a Wednesday it's a very busy committee day -- with the Treasury Committee holding its third session on the Autumn Statement with George Osborne, Chancellor of the Exchequer.
The primary cause for this difference in debt-holding is that the US has been running a current account deficit for years, while Japan has historically always exported more than it imports.