The S&P 500 turned around at the open, and didn't look back. Is the selling over? Have the markets turned the corner? Buy the dip looks to have won the day. The VIX has been beaten back. And corporate credit markets scored strong gains. The benefit of the doubt went to the bulls as the Russell 2000 and emerging markets joined in the buying spree. Heck, even the option traders turned more complacent again.
The table looks set for brighter days, but it's the odd performance in value ignoring retreating yields, which the tech heavyweights strangely neither rejoiced. That reminds me of the story of dog that didn't bark. I'm looking for a daily consolidation of surprisingly easily gained ground without ruling out a weak downswing attempt. But the upside potential looks like it will be short term. The daily SPX chart doesn't give me confidence to declare this correction as not returning next week.
Nominal yields have again retreated a little, and inflation expectations are sending inconclusive messages. But don't forget that inflation is what the Fed ultimately wants.
But the higher commodity prices are sending a clear message to the contrary. Look for the PPI readings to be affecting CPI increasingly more. Markets aren't waiting for the Fed, and have been transitioning to a higher inflation environment, even though the Fed sold the transitory talking points quite well. It will indeed be 2022-3 when inflation supported by the overheating job market will kick in. That's the context decreasing nominal yields should be interpreted in.
Gold welcomes this reflation period with nominal yields becoming a tailwind, as reflation is also a time when commodities do great, not just the stock market. And we're in the decade of precious metals and commodities super bull runs – and these are well underway. The debasement of fiat currencies against real assets is set to continue, and will accelerate given the unprecedented fiscal and monetary support already and ahead. Sorry dollar bulls, the greenback declines are resuming. Just look at the yen and yields nodding to the metals upswing.
Let's move right into the charts (all courtesy of www.stockcharts.com).
Gold And Silver
Gold's upswing is still in a healthy shape, with miners outperforming. The retreating nominal yields have turned into a tailwind as gold gathers strength to break the $1,800 level shortly.
Yesterday was characterized by silver's strength, and that means an issue of varying proportions usually ahead. But I am interpreting the chart as a weak setback only, a very temporary one. This isn't any kind of turnaround.
Gold's Big Picture
This is the key chart proving that the precious metals upleg has started weeks ago. The inset caption says it all. Look for much higher prices ahead as weeks and months roll by.
Summary
Gold and miners are taking a little breather, together with silver. It is nothing unexpected or groundbreaking. The precious metals upleg is well established already, and $1,800 will be history as early as next week, when the rip-your-face-off rally continues.
The shallow S&P 500 consolidation won't likely continue today as another good unemployment figure came in, and I look for the sectoral imbalances to improve later today and tomorrow.