Precious Metals In Extremis?

The precious metals, which happen to be my anticipated next big macro (long) trade, have been bearish since HUI lost 460 for the last time back in oh, what, 2012?  And that was being lenient.  Not being a cycles guy, I was not able to time the top.  I merely observed support parameters and informed NFTRH subscribers of technical violations first, and early eLetter readers subsequently as well (the eLetter was launched after the bear market began).

So now here we are, with the precious metals doing what they usually do when looking to end a bear phase; they are becoming extreme, as in waterfalling…

There is a solid contingent of analysts and writers now bearish on the precious metals.  There are also the perma-pom poms and idiotic hallucinations like the “drop dead gorgeous bull wedge” on GDX above (it failed as expected about 15% ago).  There have still been too many of these guys out there, obsessing on the precious metals every step of the way calling play-by-play for transfixed gold bugs.

Anyway, what there also is is an HUI target from 2012/2013 of around 100, based on the old monthly H&S top.

This is crossed reference with a gross looking pattern on the weekly chart.  Below is the blown up view of a more detailed chart, showing the pattern.  Here’s the NFTRH 351 excerpt that went with it…

Below we blow up the above chart (no pun intended) to show the breakdown.  The little pattern measures roughly 210-150 = 60; 160 (breakdown point)-60 = 100.

 What I find interesting here is that for years now, the big H&S top on the monthly chart has had a target of 100 (+/-).  While nothing in TA is set in stone (it’s an art based on probabilities, not a science), confluence adds to the probabilities.  The weekly and monthly charts each have independent patterns indicating the same general target.

For years now the sector has been bearish, but at the same time, being a macro trend trader (i.e. my desired mode is not this daily and weekly trading I have had to do in the mature stock market bull, it is to try to anticipate a big new trend or macro theme and be positioned for it) I am thinking like a predator or hunter.

In a situation like this, all you can do is have patience and your best laid targets and plans.  I hold exactly 5 junior miners (as of this writing), all of which have charts that are vastly better than HUI and GDX (and GDXJ for that matter) above.  I also have been shorting NUGT and holding JDST for full protection against what has been an uninterrupted bearish technical view and an incomplete macro fundamental view.

While I have conflicts going on (like the still <barely> intact Semiconductor market leadership vs. the deplorably bearish looking Palladium-Gold ratio) I think we are heading into Extremis, Q4 2008 style.  Timing?  Not sure.  Only regular work will help tell that story.  A short-term bottom could come about in the PM complex at any moment, before THE bottom.  However, THE bottom could come sooner rather than later if that waterfall continues to spill.

Regardless, whether it is measured in hours, days, weeks or even months still, it is time for the real gold bugs (the ones who long ago tuned out the cartoon characters the sector holds aloft) to be ready to act.