The sound of Ron Paul’s head exploding

CHINA PHOTOS/Getty Images I happened to catch Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul’s rambling concession speech after last night’s loss in the New Hampshire primary. He had many crazy things to say (closing down the Federal Reserve?), but returned to one of his major campaign themes: a call to return to the gold standard of yesteryear ...

By , a former managing editor of Foreign Policy.
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597214_maoglod_05.jpg

CHINA PHOTOS/Getty Images

CHINA PHOTOS/Getty Images

I happened to catch Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul’s rambling concession speech after last night’s loss in the New Hampshire primary. He had many crazy things to say (closing down the Federal Reserve?), but returned to one of his major campaign themes: a call to return to the gold standard of yesteryear as a means of combating the falling dollar.

Well, Dr. Paul isn’t going to like this news:

China’s gold futures advanced as much as 10 percent on the first day of trading as the world price of the metal climbed to a record on a weak dollar and concern rising energy and food costs will spur inflation.

Gold for June delivery, the most active contract, rose as much as 21 yuan, or 10 percent, to 230.99 yuan a gram, or the equivalent of $988 an ounce, in Shanghai. That’s almost $100 more than the $891.70 peak reached by the world gold price today.

Blake Hounshell is a former managing editor of Foreign Policy.

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