Scratches on the iPhone 5 are more noticeable because of the contrast between the outer color and underlying metal.

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Either high or low ph environments will strip the anodising (what is effectively a layer of aluminium oxide) from the underlying metal.

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Many of those who see higher prices point to the underlying support for the metal.

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Headline risk aside, gold-market watchers said the underlying fundamentals for the metal remain supportive given the ultra-loose monetary policy by the Federal Reserve and other Western central banks and continued strong demand for physical gold from Asian nations.

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Overall, a bevy of macro risks lie on the near term horizon, which could provide underlying support to the yellow metal.

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Thus, it will continue to be a major underlying bullish factor for the gold market that could support the precious yellow metal for weeks and months to come, or even longer.

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The EU debt crisis is still a major underlying bullish factor for gold and is prompting safe-haven demand for the metal.

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Even those young people who hated maths in school find themselves wanting to know the formulae underlying what they are doing, he says, pointing to the lathe on which the apprentices learn how to cut metal.

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