The past few years have seen the development of the notion that GLD and SLV represent uncorrelated plays on the market, making them safe haven bets for your portfolio. Looking at historical trends (aside from 2011), [however,] one would have to go back to 2007 to find a year where these two metals weren’t highly correlated to the S&P 500. For all of 2011, both ETFs have featured low correlation, but as recent trading weeks have shown, old habits die hard, as the two ETFs have fallen back into a highly correlated trend. Let’s take a look at the particulars.] Words: 672
November 17th, 2011 | Posted in Gold/Silver,Investing | Read More »
Investing is often a study of inconsistencies and contradictions. If it weren’t, the markets would be a simple game and there would no back and forth between buyers and sellers, greed and fear and technical analysts, fundamentalists and momentum players. Our experience with silver since the end of last year illustrates this [but] we [still] think it makes sense to get exposure to the metal. [Let us explain.] Words: 820
November 8th, 2011 | Posted in Gold/Silver,Investing | Read More »
A look at the chart for SLV from September 2007 to August 2008 (11 months) and from November 2010 to October 2011 (11 months) is remarkably similar – almost identical in fact. Therefore, if silver continues to trace out a similar path to what transpired in 2008, what are the possible implications for stocks, bonds, currencies, commodities, and precious metals? Take a look at the following 19 charts for some possible outcomes. Words: 731
October 18th, 2011 | Posted in Asset Allocation,Investing | Read More »
Now that Q4 is underway, investors are scrambling to find the right asset class for this rocky environment. Last quarter wreaked havoc on a number of investments and portfolios alike, as the global economy seems to be on a downward spiral. Given the current environment, various investors have flocked to their favorite safe havens to wait out the storm. Gold is perhaps the most popular safe haven in troubled markets, though its actual use as a metal is relatively low. As such, there has been much speculation over whether or not the metal is overvalued, scaring a number investors out of gold and into another precious metal, silver. Words: 3422
October 7th, 2011 | Posted in Gold/Silver,Investing | Read More »
I have always been leery of the two big exchange traded funds, SLV and GLD, because they lease the gold and silver that they sell you. I much prefer the ETFs SGOL, CEF, PSVL and PHYS which actually own the gold and silver they sell you and store it for you segregated vaults. Words: 717
August 30th, 2011 | Posted in Investing,Mutual/ETFunds | Read More »
We are in an environment where gold bugs boldly proclaim that gold is going to the moon, and gold bears strongly protest that gold is in a bubble. At such a heated stage, this article attempts to answer the question, “What is a prudent investor to do now?” Words: 575
August 21st, 2011 | Posted in Gold/Silver,Investing | Read More »
Silver is a popular investable asset, attracting investors from around the world thanks to its numerous industrial applications as well as its traditional role as a store of value and an inflation hedge. There are a number of different options for investing in silver, including exchange-traded futures contracts, stocks of companies engaged in the extraction and sale of the metal, and both physically-backed and futures-based ETFs and ETNs. Investors also have the option of buying coins or bars of the metal in order to obtain physical exposure. Let’s discuss the merits of investing in silver and review what the options are. Words: 2319
July 15th, 2011 | Posted in Gold/Silver,Investing | Read More »
The commercial investment industry [- from Wall Street to your personal financial advisor/planner -] is more interested in milking its clients for fees and spreading lies, deception and propaganda than in actually acting to preserve and build their clients’ wealth. In my opinion, “safe diversification” and “less volatile” strategies are nothing but pure absolute rubbish invented by and regurgitated from the mouths of such consultants. [Let me explain and show you some graphs to make my case.] Words: 1680
July 4th, 2011 | Posted in Gold/Silver,Investing | Read More »
Now that we are at a crossroads in both commodity and equity markets heavy technical analysis, in addition to a standard fundamental outlook, may prove useful in identifying the next big swings – before they occur – for gold, silver), and crude oil… [and answer the prevailing question of those looking to establish, or re-establish, commodity positions: "Is now the time to jump into one or more of these markets or should I] sit on the sidelines a bit longer. [Let's take a look.] Words: 2012
May 23rd, 2011 | Posted in Gold/Silver,Investing,Oil and Gas | Read More »
Whole oceans of ink have been spilled detailing the good and not-so-good points of the closed-end fund CEF (Central Fund of Canada) and the twin ETF’s GLD (SPDR Gold Trust) and SLV (iShares Silver Trust) funds. My goal here is to distill the salient points down to the fewest words possible to help make your due diligence task somewhat less…well…tasking. [Let's go!] Words: 650
May 18th, 2011 | Posted in Investing,Mutual/ETFunds | Read More »
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