Understandably, bottom lines aren't as robust as in prior years, in part due to slips in utilization, declines in investments and, in some cases, losses on interest-rate swaps.

FORBES: Bonds

The European sovereign-debt situation has many market watchers citing it as gold price-friendly, but there are several who said if Europe slips into recession and the U.S. growth is feeble, this could ultimately dent interest in gold because the metal will have lost the inflation-hedge aspect.

FORBES: METALS OUTLOOK: Gold Could Advance As European Concerns Linger