Given that bonds usually fall when inflationary pressures rise, this suggests gold has not been playing its historical role as an asset for investors who believe that paper money will inevitably be debased.

ECONOMIST: Gold is a useful hedge��but only for a fortnight

In a 2002 paper James Speta of Northwestern University laid out three broad historical justifications for applying common carriage to regulate prices and access.

ECONOMIST: Economics focus

The paper's authors, Richard Zegers, Andreas Weigl and Andrew Steptoe, reached their conclusion by comparing historical accounts of the maestro's illness - fever, rash, limb pain and swelling - with illnesses prevalent at the time of his death.

BBC: Mozart 'killed by strep throat'