re: "It's also feared the downgrades could trigger fresh market panic, and a new exodus to gold."
Why should anyone fear "a new exodus to gold"? The money that has gone to gold so far is TRIVIAL. Even at $5,000/oz, it would have a negligible effect on the world except, perhaps, in its impact on human psychology.
This is one reason why gold has extraordinary potential. *IF* the mountains of currency begin to collapse, there is only a little tiny bit of gold in the world to suck up a pretty good chunk (say, 2-3 percent) of all that value.
Gold is $1,581/oz today. When it hits $2,000, it will be up 26.5%. Let's see how long that takes. - De 3/11/2013 - ANSWER: 7 Years, 5 Months