From Sean Goldsmith in the S&A Digest:

Central banks purchased 148.4 metric tons of gold in the third quarter – more than double the level reported in the second quarter and nearly seven times higher than in the third quarter of 2010. This is the highest quarterly level since central banks became net buyers of gold in the second quarter of 2009. Says Marcus Grubb, managing director of investment at the World Gold Council…

While one can account for some of the purchases – from Thailand, Bolivia, Russia etcetera – there is an unaccounted amount out there. A clue probably lies in the fact that a lot of buying has been from central banks that have been in surplus, [in regions] like Asia, Central Asian and Latin America.

Grubb expects the unknown buyer to become public in a couple months. But we already know the "secret" buyer is China…

China is buying up the world's gold supply… And it can make you very rich in the process. In fact, China's gold situation may be the single best money-making opportunity traders will have to get rich in the next five years.

But first, a bit of background… Regular S&A readers are familiar with China's ravenous appetite for gold and silver. The country has a long and deep cultural affinity for gold and silver… which is why the Chinese government openly encourages its citizens to buy precious metals.

China has also "fast tracked" its mining industry over the past decade or so… And has become the world's No. 1 gold producer. China desperately wants to return to its status as one of the world's great powers… with one of the world's great currencies. But it knows it will need huge amounts of "real money" to back its currency. You can read about this incredible gold trend in this DailyWealth piece from two years ago.

China's massive gold purchases are a major reason gold has advanced for 10 consecutive years. And this year is a lock to make it 11 consecutive years. This week, the massive Chinese gold accumulation plan took another step forward when one of its state-owned gold companies made an all-cash, $1 billion buyout offer for Brazil-focused Jaguar Mining. The offer is a huge 73% premium over Jaguar's pre-offer share price.

You see, China isn't just buying gold bullion… And it's not just developing its own reserves… It's also looking to buy in-ground gold hoards all over the world. And it has the cash to do so. As one mining insider said a few years ago about China's resource acquisitions, "The Chinese are just a different kind of buyer."

So… as the Chinese and other Asian countries vacuum up the global gold supply… and as the United States and Europe debase their paper currencies… what is the single best way to play rising gold prices? What is the best way to get extremely rich from this uptrend?

For conservative investors, we recommend gold and silver bullion and high-quality gold stocks. Folks with some trading experience can consider smaller, "junior" gold stocks. You'll do well in those areas.

But option traders – specifically option traders who are following Jeff Clark's work in the S&A Short Report – stand to make truly spectacular amounts of money. In recent years, Jeff has worked out an incredible options trading strategy in the gold and gold stock market. His track record in just the past two years in gold and silver stocks is incredible. In particular, over the past six months, Jeff's readers have made the following returns…

- 70% in one month on Kinross Gold.
- 55% in two weeks again on Kinross Gold.
- 80% in two weeks on Market Vectors Gold Miners Fund (GDX).
- 100% in three weeks on Gold Fields.
- 140% in one week buying puts on SPDR Gold Shares Fund (GLD).
- 100% in three weeks on Seabridge.
- 65% in two weeks on Hecla Mining. 
- 85% in one week on Exeter Resources.

To show you how he's turned the gold and silver markets into a broken slot machine, Jeff is doing something he's never done before. He's put together a unique presentation that goes over his gold stock "key" and how this unusual trading system is likely the most profitable way you can play the uptrend in gold prices.

We warn you: This system is not for everyone. But if you consider yourself a trader… or if you're simply curious about making gains in the gold market… we strongly encourage you to hear what Jeff has to say.

Crux Note: You can access Jeff's presentation here.

More on gold:

Top manager Einhorn is making a big bet on gold stocks

Casey Research: Gold mining stocks are dramatically undervalued

Gold MANIA: Why we could be on the brink of the biggest bubble in history