Quote from Mecro:
Cause you can settle the delivery with a cash transaction, which is a better option if you just want to lock in gain based on the net dollar amount.
The premonition is that investors & dealers are buying contracts not to speculate but to take delivery at the spot price. So they will demand the actual product and won't settle for the equivalent cash amount.
There is no cash settlement for the COMEX gold contract.
"In fulfillment of every contract of gold, the seller must deliver 100 troy ounces (5% more or less) of refined gold, assaying not less than 995 fineness, cast either in one bar or in three one-kilogram bars by an approved refiner. The weight, fineness, bar number and identifying stamp of the refiner must be clearly incised on each bar by the approved refiner."
Shorts either cover or deliver, no other choice.
Go Gold go...