A constant struggle in writing about the precious metals is in trying to be clear about the differences between the gold stock sector and other sectors when it comes to inflation. That is because there are two types of bullish environments for gold stocks…
- The ‘play’, where all the inflatables rise with inflation expectations; this would be the ‘gold is silver is copper is oil is hogs is corn’ trade. This is the play where the inflation and commodity gurus tell you to buy resources to protect yourself from the US dollar crash that is going to happen any day now. A problem is that in this environment many resources often out perform gold, thus hurting miners’ fundamentals.
- The other is a longer trade or dare I say it, investment. This is where commodity prices are declining and the USD is firm. Gold is stronger than silver and the inflation oriented gold bugs get bearish because they can’t understand how gold will not go down with oil and indeed, inflation expectations.