For the ninth year in a row Gold finished higher year over year. The close on December 31, 2008 was $879.98 and with an hour to go, Gold is currently at $1,096.30. That is a gain for the precious metal of 24.6%. Silver is currently just shy of $17 up from $12 on December 31, 2008, up 41%. The DOW is up about 24%