Most readers will be more than vaguely familiar with the mythological character, King Midas (pictured), the man 'blessed' with the dubious talent of turning everything he touched into gold. Including members of his family.
Readers will also be aware of the real-life bank manager Adam Applegarth (inset) who for a while convinced the City that he too had something of a 'Midas touch' turning a provincial former-building society into a high-flying darling of the investment fraternity - until it gradually dawned on everyone that unemployed Americans couldn't afford mortgages on six-bedroom homes and the credit crunch unfolded.
The whole sorry tale, well both of them actually, raises the questions of what it is we want out of life and our investments and who we can trust. Over the past few months bank shares have plunged in value and the price of the price of gold has risen dramatically.
But more recently gold has fallen in price and bank shares are picking up again. We can't do investment advice but if you want to understand the gold market, read this excellent piece by our investment writer Philip Scott: Is gold the ticket out of the market storm?
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