Gold & Precious Metals

Fractal Analysis: 2012 Silver to $70++

Around this point in the fractal cycle in the late 70’s, Gold busted out of its channel to rise sharply higher, along with Silver. Silver’s channel top will lie up around $68 to $70 over the coming months which we believe will be reached in 2012. The next higher angled resistance bands for Silver run from $112 to $115, and then up at the $123 area. By the end of the Silver Bull, we expect to see Silver reach $500+.

Dollar Devaluation Drives The Fractal Relationships

The fractal relationships to the late 70’s are driven by the aggressive Dollar Devaluation in both periods, with the current period one Elliott Wave Degree higher.Both periods present as pure 5th wave parabolas in Dollar Devaluation, and thus, in the Gold and Silver Charts.We are seeing a price expansion in the current Vth wave versus the 5th wave of III in the late 70’s for Gold and for Silver.

We have noted for years that the Fed “owns” the psychology of the markets.The Fed is in the process of converting the Deflationary K-Winter into a period of Stagflation.“Stag” refers to the very sluggish economy, and “flation” refers to rising inflation created by the aggressive Dollar Devaluation.

The Fed and its banks blew out the loan multiplier system for providing new Dollars directly into the economy in 2007 and 2008.The 2nd round of Dollar Inflation is via the Fed printing new Dollars to buy US Government debt- pure debt monetization and default on debt.Thus, they are devaluing the huge load of debt by devaluing the US Dollar.

The Fed “shows inflation when it wants” and it “shows deflation when it wants.”It does so by suggesting that it will, or will not be printing Dollars, the liquidity that drives the markets.All of this jawboning is a joke since the Fed has no choice but to print Dollars at an accelerating rate yet, the markets and investors run a constant bi-polar gauntlet by taking the Fed at their “word.”

The big trading banks dominate the markets.They do the “bidding of the Fed at key junctures.”This is a process of rotating liquidity into the different asset classes that must be supported in the process of changing the cycle during the 2nd leg of debt monetization.

It is the devaluation of the US Dollar that ultimately creates the price rise in Gold, in Silver, and in the PM Stocks.The only true read on the Dollar Devaluation is through the rise of $Gold so the true devaluation of the Dollar can be hidden from the market at key times.In reality, it is the market that creates the devaluation of the Dollar against Gold creating the Gold Parabola so the psychological whims of the Fed can muddle the psychology of the markets.The Gold parabola rises in fits and momentum runs as the market devaluation of the US Dollar ebbs and flows around the psychological effects of what the Fed says; accompanied by the help the Fed receives from entities trading with the Fed’s words.

The spastic Gold market is also affected by a focus on the Dollar Index that has little to do with Dollar Value once Global Competitive Currency Devaluations start in earnest.

We Can Expect QE to Infinity

As Jim Sinclair says, this is complicated stuff.Per Mr. Sinclair we already have approximately $1.3 trillion that were printed and sent to Europe.The markets have not factored this into the price of Gold, yet.Once it does, we should see Gold rise sharply.Remember that it only took $600 Billion of new QE printing to drive Gold up to $1920 in 2011 as per my forecast back in January and April, 2011 in my article entitled Goldrunner: Gold on track to Reach $1860 to $1,920 by Mid-year(gold reached $1,917.20 in late August, 2011 and $1,923.70 in early September, 2011).

All of the US Debts must be on the US balance sheet before Gold goes completely parabolic, for full devaluation of the Dollar and the debts.This is the essence of the question that a Congressman asked Tim Geithner.Tim delayed until the Congressman tossed out the $20 Trillion and then $50 Trillion numbers.Mr. Geithner responded that the number would make the Congressman “uncomfortable.”GEITHNER IMPEACHED BERNANKE’S COMMENT ON “MAYBE NO MORE QE” WHEN HE BASICALLY ADMITTED WE NEED QE IN SPADES GOING FORWARD.Mr. Geithner confirmed that the number of Dollars that must be printed to cover off-balance sheet items is huge.This covers items like unfunded Social Security, unfunded Federal Pensions, future unemployment claims, and the losses of Fannie and Freddie through the end of 2012.

Unfortunately, investors generally keep looking at the trees on a short-term basis, rather than seeing the forest of Dollar Devaluation.As Jim Sinclair constantly notes, we will see QE to infinity.This means that Gold will go vastly higher than most expect in order to devalue the debt and to balance the US budget.

The current markets are completely managed by the Fed and its henchmen.The complete management is a complicated issue as Jim Sinclair has noted. For instance: the Fed and its helpers recently inhibited Gold and Silver at a time when the Greek debt issues were being worked out.It was the Fed’s helpers who had sold the OTC Derivative “insurance” on all of the failed Greek debt.It appears that they hammered inflation expectations to help the deal from go smoothly; and there were cycle timing issues that were already stretched a bit.In reality, most of the Greek Debt holders were forced to take on a different debt series before “default” was declared for a final few.This gives us “insight” that the time in the cycle is short, due to the necessary quick fix deal.

Mr. Sinclair has discussing how the US Dollar’s days as the World Reserve Currency are numbered.This begs the question of what effect this will have in terms of the Dollar’s “value.”Personally, I think that new Dollar Supply is most important, but freeing up huge numbers of Dollars with its loss of reserve status could be a reason for a sharp rise in US inflation if all of those Dollars head home – and a large number of those Dollars coming home to roost might find themselves “chasing Gold and Silver” which could add to the process of the markets re-valuing Gold and Silver much higher.

We are seeing a “price expansion” in the charts of Gold and Silver in the current period with little evidence of a “cycle time expansion” to go with it, other than the general increase in fractal time warranted at one higher Elliott Wave Degree.

In the late 70’s the top in the Gold Chart came as a momentum high into early 1980 with a lower final high coming later.It is possible that we will not see the momentum high before the final high this time, yet it is probable since the continuing deterioration in the economy demands a fairly quick devaluation of the debt before the economy completely rolls over.

THE SILVER CHARTS

The first chart of Silver is the current log chart where Silver is trading inside the black trend channel.We can see the exaggerated decline into the deflation scare bottom in late 2012.Silver appears to be correcting in a flag formation at this time.The measured target of a flag break-out to the upside would target the $65 to $70 area at the top of the black channel.We have break-outs on the RSI and the MACD with the RSI trying to hold the Bullish 50 mark.The Fed has already printed $1.3 Trillion to go to Europe, with more QE necessary to buy US Debt.As the markets factor the Dollar Devaluation in, we’d expect to see Silver explode upward on a fundamental basis.It only took $600 Billion in 2011 to drive Silver from around $20 up to around $50.Additional QE to buy US debt would suggest about 3 times the 2011 Dollar Devaluation from Dec. of 2011 to the end of 2012.The timing appears to be supported with this being a Presidential election year.

If you would like to have access to my detailed proprietary fractal analyses of what is likely to unfold for Silver, Gold, Copper, the HUI and a large number of specific mining company stocks in the months and years to come, the link to our subscription service at the bottom of the article (only $30/mo.). If you do not want specific information but would just like to keep abreast of my general views on the markets, you can send an email requesting to receive my coming free newsletter Goldrunner’s Fractal Corner. See the bottom of the article for further subscription and newsletter contact information.

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The Late 70’s Fractal Silver Chart

The next chart of Silver is an arithmetic 70’s chart.There was no “deflationary bent” in the late 70’s that caused the steeper retracements we have seen in the current period to create increased volatility in the ever expanding environment of Dollar Devaluation, yet it is obvious that we have not seen the first wave of sharp price expansion in Silver that occurred in the late 70’s.Fractal Cycle timing suggests that it should be directly in front of us, and it appears that the next round of aggressive Dollar Inflation is already underway to fuel that type of move as soon as the market factors the aggressive round of Dollar Devaluation into Gold and Silver.

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The Silver Parabola is not a smooth flowing form like the Gold Parabola is (as can be seen in a previous article here).We can see that the huge price rise in Silver came almost completely toward the tail end of the 70’s Bull.

We are still in a short-term period of potential cycle weakness until options expire for Silver and Gold futures into the end of this week – but the Fractal Cycle suggests that things will heat up soon to see Silver on its way to $70+ in the next up-leg. We have previously laid out our fractal expectations for Gold in 2012 via our article,Goldrunner: Fractal Gold Analysis Says Gold On Way to $3,500 Mid-year.

For the moment,

Goldrunner, THURSDAY, 03-29-12

NOTE: A link to the Goldrunner subscription service can be foundhere. If you would like to be added to Goldrunner’s mailing list to receive his new and Freenewsletter, Goldrunner’s Fractal Corner, send an e-mail toGOLDRUNNERBLOG44@AOL.COM“>GOLDRUNNERBLOG44@AOL.COM.

Please understand that the above is just the opinion of a small fish in a large sea.None of the above is intended as investment advice, but merely an opinion of the potential of what might be.Simply put: The above is a matter of opinion and is not intended as investment advice. Information and analysis above are derived from sources and utilizing methods believed reliable, but we cannot accept responsibility for any trading losses you may incur as a result of this analysis. Comments within the text should not be construed as specific recommendations to buy or sell securities. Individuals should consult with their broker and personal financial advisors before engaging in any trading activities. Do your own due diligence regarding personal investment decisions.In the interest of full disclosure, GOLDRUNNER is personally invested in the Precious Metals sector including various Precious Metals and other individual stocks.GOLDRUNNER reserves the right to modify or eliminate any or all positions at any point in time.

“Fascinating Interview With Martin A. Armstrong on the Sovereign Debt Crisis

The Hera Research Newsletter is pleased to present a fascinating interview with Martin A. Armstrong, founder and former Head of Princeton Economics, Ltd.  In the 1980s, Princeton Economics became the leading multinational corporate advisor with offices in Paris, London, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Sydney and in 1983 Armstrong was named by the Wall Street Journal as the highest paid advisor in the world.
 
As a top currency analyst and frequent contributor to academic journals, Armstrong’s views on financial markets remain in high demand.  Armstrong was requested by the Presidential Task Force (Brady Commission) investigating the 1987 U.S. stock market crash and, in 1997, Armstrong was invited to advise the People’s Bank of China during the Asian Currency Crisis.
 
Based on a study of historical gold prices and financial panics, Armstrong developed a cyclical theory of commodity prices, which lead to the pi-cycle economic confidence model (ECM), used to make long term forecasts.  Using the ECM, Armstrong predicted both the high-water mark of the Nikkei in 1989, months ahead of time, and the July 20, 1998 high in the U.S. equities market, as well as a major top in financial markets on February 27, 2007.  The ECM was called “The Secret Cycle” by the New Yorker Magazine and Justin Fox wrote in Time Magazine that Armstrong’s model “made several eerily on-the-mark calls using a formula based on the mathematical constant pi.” (Pg 30; Nov. 30, 2009).

…..read the whole interview HERE (scroll down a bit)

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Uranium Sector Review: Exploration, Development and Production Companies

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Resource Capital Research covers 9 exploration, development and production companies in this report. It is over 12 months since the Fukashima accident & the impact has been factored in. The market is expected to be broadly

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The Key Points:

“The crucial question over the next decade is not “where will my returns be highest?” but “where will I lose the least money?. The inevitable crash, or “rebooting the computer,” will simply have to be endured. He advises how investors should play this situation:

Equity-like corporate bonds – 25% of a portfolio. Another 25% made up of stocks, especially in emerging markets, with a further 25% in precious metals (which tend to be severely underweighted in a typical pension fund). Real estate in certain areas (such as Asia) for the remainder. He added that US house prices are looking decidedly cheap and that an investment in remote farmland could pay off, as growing social tensions could make urban life intolerable.

Marc Faber: Continuing Financial Crisis Must Be Endured – (The Entire Article)

Marc Faber, editor of “The Gloom, Boom and Doom Report,” kicked off the CFA Institute  Middle East Investment Conference by quoting Ernest Hemingway who said, “The first panacea for a mismanaged nation is inflation of the currency; the second is war. Both bring a temporary prosperity; both bring permanent ruin.” On this downcast note, Faber attacked short-term Keynesian spending and reviewed the implications for investors of the accelerating shift of world economic and political power from the developed countries to the developing world.

Central bank action to cut interest rates, whilst intended to boost consumption and hence economic growth, has had unintended and severely negative consequences. Faber argued that “dollar bills dumped by helicopters” all over the US have not been channelled into housing, as hoped, but into other more speculative asset classes, particularly commodities such as precious metals and oil. He added that expansionist monetary policies have contributed to higher financial and economic volatility, in addition to inflation. Since greater money supply does not flow evenly across sectors, this gives rise to asset bubbles, which are not easy to identify.

For Faber, at the start of any bubble, “promoters have the vision, and investors have the money.” But the reverse occurs as the bubble bursts: the promoters end up with the money, while most people lose out. Current negative real interest rates, which make cash a safe, but poorly-returning investment, penalize savers, and encourage them to speculate.  But Faber asked, “Is deflation such a bad thing?”  During deflationary periods in the nineteenth century, real per capita income apparently increased faster than it does now.

Faber also noted that excessive debt always contributes to risk. For example highly leveraged US developers became insolvent when the housing bubble burst, in contrast to their more conservative Hong Kong counterparts who managed to remain solvent. Borrowing has increased just to maintain a standard of living.  In 1980, US debt/GDP stood at 140%.  Now it is approaching 400%, if unfunded liabilities such as social security and Medicare are taken into account.  As a result, adjusted US government debt now exceeds $15 trillion, and continues to rise.  US spending is up, but taxes are down. Faber contended that the vast majority of tax revenue goes to mandatory expenditures such as medical care, social security and interest expense rather than to capital formation.  Given these imbalances Faber is unsurprised that the quality of US government bonds has been called into question.

By slashing interest rates, governments have also contributed to higher commodity prices, especially oil prices, according to Faber.  Any intended boost to consumption is undone by higher energy prices which act as an additional tax on the consumer.

Adding that the G7’s exports continue to decline, Faber contrasted this with climbing developing world exports, resulting in rapidly growing reserves among emerging economies.  These reserves will be spent on scarce resources such as precious metals and other commodities.  Faber believes that oil demand among the emerging economies now exceeds that of the developed world.  China is increasingly absorbing the world’s resources to feed its growth.  It is positioning itself carefully as a global economic and political power, assiduously dominating shipping lanes, forging alliances with neighboring states, and investing heavily, so much so that Faber argues China has now got its own domestic credit bubble.  Faber sees parallel scenarios being played out in India, Southeast Asia and Latin America. The growing economic power of these nations will inevitably lead to further geopolitical tensions where the MENA region is a potential powder keg.

So how should investors play this situation?  Faber states that diversification is key alongside low leverage.  His recommendations are as follows: cash and bonds are not hugely attractive, given negative real interest rates, but equity-like corporate bonds could form 25% of a portfolio.  Another 25% could be made up of stocks, especially in emerging markets, with a further 25% in precious metals (which tend to be severely underweighted in a typical pension fund).  Real estate in certain areas (such as Asia) could make up the remainder.  He added that US house prices are looking decidedly cheap.

Faber closed his speech by emphasizing that the crucial question over the next decade is not “where will my returns be highest?” but “where will I lose the least money?” In fact, he believes that losses of 50% should be considered as a relative success. He advised that an investment in remote farmland could pay off, as growing social tensions could make urban life intolerable. In his view the welfare state has evolved from the many helping the few to the few helping the many and that the inevitable crash, or “rebooting the computer,” will simply have to be endured. Whether this crisis occurs soon, as further credit expansion is voluntarily abandoned, or occurs later, as the currency system meets final and total catastrophe, Faber cannot predict.

The Big Picture Historical S&P Cycles: Nominal, Real, Gold & Silver (1928 – Present)

These four charts below are just the sort of Big Picture, long cycle perspective that so many investors overlook or simply have no knowledge about. These charts are not about making predictions, but rather, are about putting market action into some broader historical context. What has happened in the past? What is typical? Aberrational?


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