GOLD PRICE IN JAPANESE YEN — DECEMBER 18, 2002

On Wednesday, December 18, 2002, the gold spot price was C$461.84 per troy ounce in Canadian Dollars, equivalent to ¥48,169.91 JPY per ounce or ¥1,548.70 JPY per gram. Gold rose +1.39% from the previous trading session.

Currency fluctuations between CAD and JPY significantly impact the effective cost of gold for international investors. Japan is the world's third-largest economy and a significant gold consumer, particularly for jewelry and industrial applications. The Bank of Japan's ultra-loose monetary policy has historically supported higher gold prices in Yen terms, making Japan an active gold market for both institutional and retail investors.