A mixed bag in the metals sector today, which bears close watching for the iShares Silver Trust (SLV), Silver Wheaton (SLW), the SPDR Gold Shares (GLD), and Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold (FCX).

The SLV is pushing up towards a challenge of its Jan high at $30.44, although for the first time since the pivot low on Jan 25, the SLV is not leading the charge today. Instead, SLW is out front. The change in profile is bothersome to me, as the SLV needs to retake the leadership role.

While this bears watching, let's also notice that SLW has hurdled its Dec-Feb resistance line (36.25/30 area), which could represent a potentially potent upside breakout if the stock can close above 36.30.

The GLD gapped, up too, but is not as strong as the SLV, and has the look of near-term exhaustion ahead of a pullback. FCX smacked into its Jan-Feb resistance line at 56.50, and has since reversed to the downside in what looks like the end of an initial upmove off of its Jan-Feb lows at 52.30/76.

What is bothersome about FCX is what appears to be a significant downside reversal in copper prices today from multi-year highs, despite the strength in gold and silver. Increasingly, the fortunes of FCX appears to be attached to copper rather than gold, which must be watched closely in the days ahead.

By Mike Paulenoff

Mike Paulenoff is author of MPTrader.com (www.mptrader.com), a real-time diary of his technical analysis and trading alerts on ETFs covering metals, energy, equity indices, currencies, Treasuries, and specific industries and international regions.

© 2002-2011 MPTrader.com, an AdviceTrade publication. All rights reserved. Any publication, distribution, retransmission or reproduction of information or data contained on this Web site without written consent from MPTrader is prohibited. See our disclaimer.

Mike Paulenoff Archive

Only logged in users are allowed to post comments. Register/ Log in

The Market Oracle is a FREE Financial Markets Forecasting & Analysis web-site.
(c) 2005-2024 MarketOracle.co.uk (Market Oracle Ltd) - Market Oracle Ltd asserts copyright on all articles authored by our editorial team and all comments posted. Any and all information provided within the web-site, is for general information purposes only and Market Oracle Ltd do not warrant the accuracy, timeliness or suitability of any information provided on this site. nor is or shall be deemed to constitute, financial or any other advice or recommendation by us. and are also not meant to be investment advice or solicitation or recommendation to establish market positions. We do not give investment advice and our comments are an expression of opinion only and should not be construed in any manner whatsoever as recommendations to enter into a market position either stock, option, futures contract, bonds, commodity or any other financial instrument at any time. We recommend that independent professional advice is obtained before you make any investment or trading decisions. By using this site you agree to this sites Terms of Use. From time to time we promote or endorse certain products / services that we believe are worthy of your time and attention. In return for that endorsement and only in the cases where you purchase directly though us may we be compensated by the producers of those products.