Gold and gold stocks have hit bottom. The correction, in terms of price, is likely over. Time will tell if they push to new highs, or chop well into 2021. Regardless of the outcome, the downside potential in price is minimal.

Let me start with the stocks. Last week, GDX nearly tested its 400-day exponential moving average, which has often marked correction lows within bull markets. It looks like GDX bottomed right at the 38% retracement from the 2016 low. 

Also, consider the extremely oversold readings in breadth indicators. At the low, the percentage of HUI stocks that closed above the 20-day and 50-day moving averages was 0%, and only 44% closed above the 200-day moving average. The vertical lines display similar breadth readings. Since 2018, these kinds of oversold readings marked important lows.

GDX Daily Bars w/ Breadth Indicators

GDXJ bottomed just below $48, a level at which there was a significant confluence of support. It includes the previous seven-year resistance, the 200-day moving average, and it marked the 38% retracement from the COVID-19 low. Moreover, breadth readings at that point were also extremely oversold and argued for a rebound. 

GDXJ Daily Bars w/ Breadth Indicators

Gold, much like GDX and GDXJ, also bottomed around a strong confluence of support. There was strong monthly support around $1770, which also marks the 50% retracement from the COVID-19 low in March 2020. Furthermore, gold corrected in price exactly as much as it did at comparable points in history (2004 and twice in 2009). 

Gold Weekly & Gold/S&P 500 Ratio

The sector has bottomed or is in the process of bottoming, but the current negative element is that precious metals have underperformed in real terms, as the market has been focused on the potential for recovery more so than inflation. That is positive for stocks and commodities, but less so for precious metals.

The macro fundamentals for precious metals will remain bullish as the Fed stays at 0, the yield curve continues to steepen, and real rates decline. These fundamentals will support gold and gold stocks, but they must regain relative strength. Gold will not make a new high and run towards $3000 unless the gold to S&P 500 ratio breaks above 0.70. 

In short, precious metals have been trading at a low, and this is a buying opportunity, but don’t assume they are going to rocket to new highs as they did in the summer.