At this point it’s pretty clear gold has completed a DCL. That would put it on day 3 of a fourth daily cycle. That’s late, but what are the odds a cycle is going to top on day 3? Slim IMO.

The dollar also appears to be rolling over so unlikely it has formed a final ICL. The obvious trigger event, barring something coming out of left field, would be the May FOMC meeting on May 7 for the dollar to find that elusive ICL

Gold has shown the greatest ability to ignore the stock market (just in case stocks roll over again) so I think we should stick with gold and wait for a proper ICL before considering GDX or SLV.

Now let me stress this because obviously some of you ignored my one contract recommendation on the SPY put and went heavy. You look like a genius at the moment but sooner or later the market will punish you for over committing. This could be the trade that it does that.

I can’t stress this enough. 1 or 2% of your capital. We aren’t going to risk very much of our gains on this trade. 

We’re going to make a bet that the dollar is going to continue lower up to the week of the FOMC meeting and while the dollar drops gold should continue to rise. 

The Trade:

GLD calls; June expiration; 282/283/284 strike.

Wait an hour or so for the spreads to tighten and see if there is a big pullback after the open. If there is we may reconsider taking this trade. Obviously you need to use limit orders.

And of course it’s perfectly acceptable to just let this trade pass and wait for a true ICL.

I’ve got a call in to the developer to see why the comments section disappeared. You can use the Apr. 9 report for the time being.

Leave a Reply

Comments (113)

  • 1
    OHara says:

    Sounds like a plan. Will keep it to 1-2%, don’t worry. Learned how important risk assessment is from you. Way too late to go hard in leverage, plus it might be a fakeout.

  • 2
    Learner says:

    Thanks Gary

    Second today.

  • 3
    jimmaureen1 says:

    Thanks Gary

  • 4
    Spec says:

    “The obvious trigger event, barring something coming out of left field, would be the May FOMC meeting on May 7 for the dollar to find that elusive ICL”

    One thing I remember from the previous Trump admin 2016-2020 is that the Tweets stole the show from the Fed – meaning the market turns started to happen at unpredictable times as a result of some random tweet.

  • 5
    allle7 says:

    Next ECB might be trigger for euro. 1st week of May GDP & NFP reports.

  • 6
    Gally says:

    I bought $10,000 of May QQQ Puts in the last hour of yesterday’s session. I’m down right now about $1,200, but looks like I will be selling for a profit today (fingers crossed). Then reenter with smaller GLD calls.

    What a market.

    • 6.1
      Jhegedus says:

      I bought 100 contracts spxs at 3:50. yeah I feel like a genius but not really because I have long term holdings to protect which I couldn’t sell

  • 7
    Can says:

    Thanks Gary, what about SPY calls/leaps?

    Could there be an entry point if we get back to sub 5000 levels?

  • 8
    AEagle says:

    How about silver ?

  • 9
    Happy says:

    https://www.tradingview.com/chart/2t440Q0B/

    What happens when USD cross the 2008 trend line $95 ?

  • 10
    John says:

    Gary,

    I see you updated the SM daily cycle to day 3. That makes it a really short cycle daily cycle and an extremely left translated IC and an even longer stretch in the 4 year cycle low….

    Doesn’t it seem more likely that we get another leg down in this current DC in a week or so to get an undercut and a washout to an IC and 4 year cycle low?

  • 11
    TheCartel says:

    I can see the comment section

  • 12
    MikeGT says:

    GLD call 20th June or 30th June 25?

  • 13
  • 14
    calcal809 says:

    Since I have plenty of trading capital idling, I plan to buy underlying to get equivalent exposure to “1-2%” calls. Probably will save some money on spreads and theta (less interest opportunity cost). Stops work better too.

    Anyone can think of any good reason to prefer using the options? Other than risk of having funds stuck in this trade before the ICL deploy_all_funds signal triggers

    • 14.1
      silvercrypto says:

      Stops would have to be pretty tight. Not sure which I’ll do, being in similar position. I have a big chunk just sitting in VUBX waiting to strike.

      • 14.1.1
        calcal809 says:

        Ah your point about stops points out the option advantage of inherent max loss limit at max 100% of deployed, useful in case the price tanks very hard.

        And the difference if underlying stopped out, then I’m out of sync with the positioning of the rest here (who probably will just keep the near worthless option).

  • 15
    Happy says:

    Did Gary said to get SPY put ( not more than 1% ) – what exp ?

  • 16
    silvercrypto says:

    Still seems like something is blowing up under the covers.

    Bond yields are down very little given the recent rise and downside miss on CPI.

    Backwardation in silver.

    Very odd market.

  • 17
    Jonny25k says:

    If you are right the EURO would break out of the downtrend Channel but it is pretty late in this IC

  • 18
    jimmaureen1 says:

    Lots of gaps down this morning . I would expect at least some partial gap closures early on , but not sure how the day progresses after that . GLTA

  • 19
    DG says:

    Yesterday was a good example of why you should not short if you have no idea what you are doing.

    1) Don’t short during extreme pessimism and during a crash (duh!). You short rallies not collapses

    2) Always enter a break even stop once you have room. You’d have lost $0 had you done so yesterday

    In any complex human endeavor there are lots of way to get it wrong. Getting something wrong does not mean it cannot be done. It means you are either undisciplined or ignorant. If you are either of those DO NOT SHORT. If you have bot of those things under control, it is no more dangerous than going long if you use inverse ETF’s

  • 20
    kenfriedman says:

    If gold makes new highs (and we aren’t there yet), would that suggest that this daily cycle should also be right-translated?

    • 20.1
      tedm says:

      No, “right-translated” refers to when the cycle top comes in the latter half of the cycle. For example, if we make a higher high on Day 4 and drop for another 20 days, it is extremely left-translated.

  • 21

    Gary, was the volume yesterday in NUGT significant enough to make you think the cycle has turned in the miners?

  • 22
    HumblePie says:

    The GLD call seems ballsy. You’re expecting a higher hi….. and potentially 296+ achieved 3%. Even if new DC isn’t it RT at this point? So far we have 2 topping tails on the hourly. But I always seem wrong when G makes these short-term calls. So what do I know? Thoughts welcome.

  • 23
    calcal809 says:

    To clarify, you’re saying if see a big pullback (how big?), then don’t buy?

  • 24
    LOGIC says:

    GLD250620C00282000 GLD250620C00283000 GLD250620C00284000 this ones?

  • 25
    Lasata says:

    Miners taking the lead…

  • 26
    mysteele says:

    Gary, I take your comments to suggest you think both gold and silver still have not printed a proper ICL. Is that right?

  • 27
    thatguy says:

    First time buyer here.

    At roughly what price or within what limit is “reasonable” to make this move?

  • 28
    Duderino says:

    Anybody trading VIX or UVIX? I’m just watching that – and everything – from the sidelines.

  • 29
    dsims3 says:

    It seems that GDX traders agree with Gary. Since the open, GDX has gone up while SLV and GLD have gone down and SPY has trended down. That is the first clear divergence I have seen in a couple months, and it suggests higher prices for PM in short term.

  • 30
    GoldenRule says:

    I have to think that if gold gets back in blue sky breakout, they’re going to start looking at silver for a catchup trade in this daily cycle.

  • 31
    TheCartel says:

    Anyone enter yet?

  • 32
    Gally says:

    Just had a great window to buy the GLD calls before it woke up. Green already.

  • 33
  • 34
    latersunset888 says:

    Bought a June $284 GLD call here. I’m happier being cautious then too eager at this point in time.

  • 35
    Lasata says:

    Miners were the clue today

  • 36
    GoldenRule says:

    This is the final blowoff move that let’s no one into GDX

  • 37
    tradecycles says:

    interesting – Insurance companies buying gold

    https://asiainsurancereview.com/News/View-NewsLetter-Article?id=90709&Type=eDaily

    Would this be comparable to MSTR & BTC?

  • 38
    robert says:

    this is for fun and games.

    But it looks like despite gold being up alot in the last couple days it is not close to hitting extremes in momentum indicators that have pre-saged turn -downs:

    red-line: extreme in Junior miners/GLD ratio
    Green-line: extreme in ROC indicator
    blue-line: extreme reading in both

    The only thing its close in is it is touching the RSI(4) over-sold line which in a down-trending or flatish market or a market in the process of printing and ICL rejects price but this does not seem to be the case obviously. On the contrary there is every reason to think price will embed.

    I hope I am not misleading anyoone I’m kinna new to doing this type of analysis

    Disclosure: Long GLD June 287 calls (up 13% ATM)

  • 39
    se7erin says:

    Thanks Gary!
    Will pass on this one in the hope of a better deal!

  • 40
    gabell727 says:

    I’m in with 284 strike June 30 calls.

  • 41
    BK817 says:

    In the trade

  • 42
    au10000 says:

    Gdx breaking out without me, oh well, I will be patient for a better entry. Unless we are now entering the parabolic stage, there should be a less risky entry.

  • 43
    Trent says:

    In with just one GLD call.

  • 44
    Pulari says:

    In on 3x contract for 248 20 Jun at 13.25

  • 45
    Willwaiting says:

    Hopefully you have a typo, 248 is way ITM, it was for 284

  • 46
    Pulari says:

    ah yea lol 284, ty

  • 47
    GuntherL says:

    I can’t deny that I feel regret at selling the call options on my miners looking at them the past few days. I never expected this kind of rally.

  • 48
    Gally says:

    For those who are new at options, it’s not easy to figure out what to buy, when to buy it.

    Start small. Get used to it. Read about them.

    Took me a few times to figure things out. Some thoughts…

    1. Not all calls and puts are created equal. The 3rd week of the month is generally the monthly call. That’s what I buy, more volume. If you’re really good, you can do the weeklies, but stay with the monthly as a novice. In the case of these calls we just bought… May 20th.

    2. The value of your option – they are valued at the bid price. That is NOT the value. Often, the market makers put low bids in, which does not reflect the value. The value is what someone will pay. So look at the bid and the ask to determine what the value is.

    3. If you’re buying, do stink bids (low) right at the open. Do not pay the ask. That’s the market makers or someone like me trying to take advantage of you. If your low bid at open doesn’t pan out, wait for the bid-ask spread to get closer.

    4. Watch the underlying index for clues as to when to buy. For calls, if you see lower highs and lower lows on the minute chart, and you have conviction to buy, wait for that to turn back up, then buy.

    5. With Puts, it’s the converse of course. I bought QQQ Puts at the close yesterday. I had conviction that today would be a down day. I used the SPX index as my underlying index, not Qs. But either would have worked. It kept going up and then when it flattened, I bought my Puts.

    6. Gary will tell you to buy “in the money” to avoid total losses. You still can get total losses, but your odds are better in the money. Of course, your upside isn’t as high, but in poker, this is called “pot control”. Try not to let your options expire worthless!

    Hope this helps. These are the things I’ve learned.

    • 48.1
      calcal809 says:

      Hi, if anyone has actually calculated and/or has a grasp of the cost comparison ATM and ITM I have a question –

      So if I bought an option $3 itm and then it expired same underlying price, returning me $3, it kind of sounds like I just took that $3 on a joyride since the price difference at different strike prices are seems fair. Is the reason for going ITM to do with option specific cost? trading psychology? (I’m sure newbie don’t like seeing very deep/complete loss)

      OTM pricing suggests to me I’m paying a premium for more leverage, quite clear to me there

    • 48.2
      Pool says:

      Thank you Gally, started to learn some of these on my skin.

    • 48.3
      HumblePie says:

      Thanks Gally. This is helpful and simple to understand. Small correction G rec’d jun 20th calls not may, maybe you took may? #2 are you saying stink bids at the bid price? Gary says mid price. the minute chart is interesting.
      And lastly, why did you choose to use spy instead of Qs yesterday? Specifically?

    • 48.4
      Humpwhat says:

      Thanks very much for sharing this Gally, very helpful.

    • 48.5
      RickyRicardo says:

      Thanks Gally, valuable tips. Wish we had a forum for newby education

  • 49
    OHara says:

    /gc right at the 5 day overbought. Tomorrow may reveal what is really going on.

  • 50
    robert says:

    Despite GDX being up alot it looks like it is not in the danger zone for any of these momentum indicators (red horizontal line for each), and I guess the reason is because its coming back from a point a price got whacked real hard.

    It looks like RSI hasn’t even embedded yet and MACD is just in the process of crossing.

    Maybe a good buy on a pull-back because me personally I chased rally in SM yesterday to get back in w/ 401(k) and now taking my lumps think that’s enough chasing for a while. ( Gary, glad to see you think the SM DC low is as noted in cycle counts.)

    Hope this is relevant or useful to someone.

    Thanks.

    PS: up about 23% in GLD calls rn and yes I bought more than 1 guilty as charge. Gary thanks for heads upon the trade.

  • 51
    ddr says:

    Glad I have my physical. No worries, Catches out of the blue rally’s!

  • 52
    feldman2920 says:

    With the ferocity of yesterday’s SM rally in response to a softening stance on the Tariff situation, I was almost certain that the Feb 19 to Apr 9 decline was a completed abc Wave A down, and with the rally yesterday, SPX was starting Wave B up to the 5700-5800 area on SPX. The problem here is that the SM rally stopped right at the first Wave down from Feb 19, which increases the odds that the first 3 waves down from the top were part of a 5 Wave impulse move. If this turns out to be true, yesterday’s move was an abc Wave 4 up, and we have started Wave 5 down to a new low in the vicinity of 4500 SPX in late April or early May. A move above SPX 5500 would keep the potential ABC scenario still alive, and Bullish for the next couple of weeks. Daily SPX attached with the Bearish interpretation.

    • 52.1
      Gally says:

      I think we get down to SPX 5150-5250 then we get a bounce.

      My current game plan, subject to change as things develop…

      I’m selling my puts when we get in the local bottom range above, then flipping to calls until we get to 5750ish. Then flipping back to puts because I think the rug gets pulled, and youur 4500 SPX might be a HIGH estimate.. I see sub 4000 (new lows)!

    • 52.2
      HumblePie says:

      Thanks feldman. I bought sqqq pre-mkt up 5+% at the moment. And thank you for your feedback on DRV the other day. I was stuck in a bad position for a long time that I got out of a little better than BE. Plus the divies so it tied up cash for a long time, but i didn’t sell at the bottom or lose $ which is good!

      I sold b4 your response but it confirmed my choice and then yesterday boy was i grateful.

  • 53
    sarah says:

    Good analysis thanks Feldman! I did not take the trade today but happy for those that did. Sitting on my hands. Such a bi polar market. SPXS 7.45 now 7.77 coming off lod

  • 54
    Dashmarine87 says:

    I didn’t end up buying the GLD call, but I did buy some GLD shares and sold covered calls on them that expire Friday. The market behavior is concerning, and I was a little late this morning. If gold goes up, they expire and I make a quick $1,800. If gold goes down I pocket the call premium and I have some GLD, which is not quite as good as physical, but at least it follows it.. yay.

  • 55
    bdk15029 says:

    spot gold just made ATH

  • 56
    honmag002 says:

    Just a reminder we are playing only a possible DCL in GLD.
    Gold should remain strong w/ only mild dips/ pauses into our ICLs.
    Pretty sure this is not an ICL yet, so I am going to let my ton of physical catch this ride w/o worrying about FOMO.
    Risking 1%-2% is ok as a R/R, but not really worth my time and energy for a very short-term trade.
    Reminder we are not out of the woods yet in timing (cycles) wise in anything yet (SM, PMs, Oil,) still too early.
    We still could have a 4YCL in the SM and that would pull PMs down with it going into the last few weeks of that PB.
    1 day does not change a trend, so Gary is right and only risk a very small 1% of ports.
    I for one will wait for the fat pitch! JMHO and 0.02c.

    GTTA/ GLTA,

    Hon

  • 57
    sarah says:

    dumb question what is SM in SM rally..smart money???

  • 58
    DirkP says:

    Are we still going for 282/283/284? I mean these are 8-10 strikes in the money (which seems a lot to me).

  • 59
    sarah says:

    HON,
    Sometimes we refer to SM. I want to be sure. Does this refer to Semi conductors and/or Smart Money? I know PM is Presious Metals.

  • 60
    HumblePie says:

    new post

  • Leave a Reply