AND THERE IS NO FLOOR:

Gold and oil lure rattled investors, despite risks (Diana B. Henriques, 3/20/08, IHT)

Oil and metals prices fell sharply Thursday during Asian market hours on concern that a U.S. recession would reduce demand for raw materials. Oil fell below $100 a barrel to $99.59, well below a record $111.80 earlier in the week. Gold fell to $904.65 a troy ounce, down from a recent record of more than $1,000. Copper also lost ground.