U.S. Stock Market – My growling bear suit was hung up in my closet back in March 2009. Since that time the U.S. stock market has enjoyed an incredible rise during a period of rather pathetic economic growth. Not that many days pass without a reader asking how come I’m not shorting the stock market.

It’s been my opinion for quite some time that the U.S. stock market was tracing out a “megaphone” pattern and that the ultimate top appears to be somewhere over DJIA 16,000. I continue to act on that belief and feel with all other factors impacting the market it would be an ideal place to get short.

For now, the “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” crowd are dusting off their Santa Claus rally propaganda scripts and starting to calculate their year-end bonuses. If defaulting on our debt didn’t sway them, I can almost assure you they’re home free through at least year-end

U.S. Bonds – the high yield for the year was 3% on the 10-year and the rally anticipated from there is running its course. For those who didn’t like the taste of losses holding bonds, it was just a trial run to what’s going to happen in 2014 and beyond. Don’t be part of the fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me group in the coming economic, political and social upheaval forming in America as we speak.

Gold – Funny thing about its many critics. Throughout most of the year, they and the media who love to follow them said with “tapering” to come and a rising U.S. dollar, it will spell doom for gold. Yet, with the opposite, not one of them have showed class and said this.

A very significant bottoming process in near complete and a move back sbove $1,400 appears in the cards. The $1,500 – $1,550 area is critical resistance and a place you can be assured the gold haters will make a stand

U.S. Dollar – It’s terminally ill. End of story.