Gold slid more than 1 percent on Monday as a stronger dollar dented interest in the metal as an alternative asset, with investors buying the currency as a safe store of value amid fears over the economic outlook.

Gold fell around 0.8 percent on Monday, heading towards $920 per ounce, with dollar strength against a basket of major currencies sapping the appeal of bullion and other commodities priced in the U.S. unit.

Euro at one-month low…  Trichet talks rate cuts…  Riksbank & Bank of Canada this week…  The Mogambo on a Monday! And Now… Today’s Pfennig!

Weber opens Pandora’s Box…  A record low for Capacity Utilization!  Do I hear a Chicken?  China’s economy grows 6.1%  And Now… Today’s Pfennig!

While American stocks stumble, Shanghai soars… why Chinese equities are bucking the global trend… More data disasters… ADP jobs report, auto sales register scary declines…Tired of shaking down U.S. taxpayers, GM aims abroad… EU begged for Detroit dollars…Obama, Bernanke talk up Uncle Sam’s book… Eric Fry on how rampant inflation still seems inevitable…Chuck Butler takes a stab at the $10 trillion question: “How long will this dollar strength last?”

Markets kick off 2009 with sizable rally… what’s behind the best New Year’s rally since 2003…  Obama bounce back in effect… Rob Parenteau on whether his $1 trillion plan will actually work… Dan Amoss on the difference between shorting in 2008 and 2009… Bullish factors for gold (and gold stocks) for 2009… The second wave cometh… more troublesome commercial real estate ripples on the horizon.

Rising dollar, falling oil prices weigh on gold… Platinum group metals weighed by poor economic data

Louis Basenese says those calling the death of the US dollar as the world’s reserve currency are forgetting one vital detail: there is no alternative right now. In addition, more global rate cuts, de-leveraging and uncertainty should sustain the current dollar rally for a while longer. Louis selects three ways to profit from this trend.

The winner is… Deflation!  Trading theme in place…  RBA cuts rates 75 BPS!  Manufacturing collapses! And Now… Today’s Pfennig!

Central Bank intervention is the reason… Busy data week… Australia’s central bank to mirror the BOE?… China to slow appreciation … And Now… Today’s Pfennig!