July 22nd I wrote an article Nice Run Up In Gold and Silver Prices – Expect a Pullback where I called a short term top for gold. July 23rd, GLD topped out at $130.14 and proceeded to fall to $124 by August 7th. We are now testing $130 again on GLD as seen in the following chart.
As you can see from the chart, we are at a short term double top and I do expect a fall from here for a couple reasons. One is that the volume is not that great. If we are breaking out to higher highs, you want the volume to be there and it simply isn’t. The second reason I don’t see gold moving higher over the short term is the dollar has bottomed out as seen in the following chart.
The Dollar Index chart shows that yesterday we came close to the June low of the dollar which would have given us a perfect short term double bottom as today the dollar moved higher. The dollar fell quite quickly from the June highs where it came close to hitting 85 on the index.
Still Dollar Bullish
As many of you know, I have been dollar bullish since about September of 2011. This has not changed. I realize this goes against most people you read, especially those that sell gold like I do, but I have to call things like I see them and be able to look at both sides of an issue and the data to come to a conclusion as to what’s really going on. While some who sell gold talk of manipulation in the markets, I simply state that’s what Market Makers do. They love to tease investors and then switch on a dime.
The fact is that I think treasuries will get stronger from here as well and the Fed, with as much QE as they have thrown at the economy, can’t seem to get the data to where they want it. Their efforts of throwing QE out there are ineffective and they won’t be tapering anytime soon. This is actually bullish for stocks over the short term, but not mining stocks which have had a nice bounce up of late. The Fed is indeed stuck between a rock and a hard place and I don’t think will be doing anything soon except watch the markets. Bernanke did his job in spooking the stock market in May with his “talk” of tapering. But that’s not going to happen anytime soon as I said. It does show you that the market is trading based on what Bernanke or the Fed says and does, and not on valuations. This is not how markets are supposed to work, but for now, do pay attention to what the Fed says.
False Breakout In Gold
What I believe we are seeing occur over the last few days, and possibly for a day or two longer (but not if the dollar keeps rising), is a false breakout in gold, and especially silver. Some of this most recent euphoria stems from reports from China that industrial output was better than expected.
Growth in industrial output in July was far better than expected, coming in at 9.7% compared with a year ago, according to data released Friday. That followed a surprisingly weak 8.9% rise in June, and it was well above expectations of a 9% rise, according to a Wall Street Journal poll of economists. Some economists noted that the July industrial output data benefited from a lower base of comparison.
Separately, the central bank announced that total social financing, a broad measure of credit in the economy, was down sharply in July at 808.8 billion Yuan ($132.09 billion) from 1.04 trillion Yuan in June, partly reflecting the effects of a credit squeeze in China’s interbank market. The upturn in industrial output in July likely reflected the stepped-up levels of credit in the first half of the year, but the sharp drop in July raises questions about the sustainability of the expansion.
Wasn’t it just 10 days before that report that we were seeing China reporting tepid growth?
Seventeen of 30 provinces and provincial-level cities said first-half expansions trailed goals, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The figures highlighted the possibility China will miss its annual growth target of 7.5%. Copper has slumped 17% this year amid concern that China’s slowing economy will reduce metals consumption.
I do still think we will test the lows in the price of gold and silver in the weeks ahead, especially when the traders come back from there summer vacations. Keep an eye on the volume and be patient with your investment dollars. Dollar cost averaging into your allocation of gold and silver is still the way to go. As I have said multiple times, this is the tortoise vs. the hare approach that one should take with gold and silver. Once you are fully allocated into your position, then go about your daily lives and don’t watch the ups and downs of gold as one week you’ll be happy and the next week sad. Investing in physical gold is insurance for your portfolio. It’s the peace of mind knowing that no matter what happens in the economy, you have true wealth. You have purchasing power. You don’t need to go to a bank that’s closed to get dollars to spend, although I do feel it prudent to keep cash on hand as well.
I will reiterate that I am spending time writing my next book, Illusions of Wealth, which I hope to have finished in another 4-6 weeks. As many of you know, I don’t write too many articles because there is no need to guess at what is going on with gold and silver on a day to day, up and down basis. For those that are new to buying gold and silver, dollar cost average into a position which is what many of my clients are doing. For those that have already allocated their position into gold and silver, see you on the other side of $2,000 gold and $40 silver (if not higher) in the next few years.
No other investment has as much potential as gold and silver and the prices you are buying at today, and hopefully lower tomorrow, takes the guessing game away from the equation. You aren’t going to catch the exact bottom. You know gold and silver are selling at a discount today from where they were. You know dollar cost averaging into a position will get you a better overall price.
Your hardest decision is “when to sell?” That, I can help you with in the future. It will be happy times for all who are invested in gold and silver.
If you haven’t yet signed up for our newsletter, please do so with the form on the right. It will drop into your email box any of the articles I write.
Related posts
About Doug EberhardtDoug Eberhardt is a 28 year financial services veteran and precious metals broker selling gold and silver at 1% over wholesale cost. Doug has written a book to help investors understand how gold and silver fit into a diversified portfolio, how to buy gold and silver, and what metals to buy. The book; “Buy Gold and Silver Safely” is available by clicking here Contact phone number for Buy Gold and Silver Safely is 888-604-6534
Disclosure:
Commodity Futures Trading Commission Futures and Options trading has large potential rewards, but also large potential risk. You must be aware of the risks and be willing to accept them in order to invest in the futures and options markets. Don’t trade with capital you can’t afford to lose. This is neither a solicitation nor an offer to Purchase/Sell futures or options. No representation is being made that any account will or is likely to achieve gains or losses similar to those discussed in this outlook. The past track record of any trading system or methodology is not necessarily indicative of future results.
All trades, patterns, charts, systems, etc. discussed in this outlook and the product materials are for illustrative purposes only and not to be construed as specific advisory recommendations. All ideas and material presented are entirely those of the author.