It was Bob Prechter of Elliott Wave fame, likely among others who noted that correlations between all asset classes are quite strong during a Depression. This is true in a cyclical sense but not in a structural sense. Stocks tumbled in the 1929-1941 period while commodities, led by Gold and gold producers, increased in value. We’ve experienced similar phenomena in the past 12 years. Cyclically, there has been a correlation between these asset classes. Structurally, stocks have been in a bear market and resource sector has been in a bull market. The driving force has been a weak economy and bear market which usually leads to more inflationary policy, which in turn benefits the resource sector. Are we soon to see a replay of this scenario?

Despite unprecedented monetary inflation, stimulus and bailouts, the economy has barely recovered. The chart below (from Doug Short) displays post-war real gdp growth. The black line shows the 10-year average which has been in a steep decline since 2006. At the time, the Bush II recovery was the weakest on record. It has been surpassed by a pathetically weak recovery (statistically) under Obama. The growth rate in each of the past seven quarters has been below the the 10-year moving average.

Meanwhile, economic data as a whole is okay but is currently failing to meet expectations. The Citigroup Economic Surprise Index, (economic data relative to expectations) has gone negative for the US, and the rest of the world is not far behind. Clearly, continued disappointing economic data combined with any weakness in equities would prompt more Fed action. Judging from what happened in 2010 and 2011, it is a near certainty.

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