Today the SILJ etf closed at $14.18, just above last October’s high. After this zone with a top end around $14.44, the fund will have little resistance on its way up to its all-time highs, and I truly think SILJ will trade significantly higher than its all-time highs before bull is over. In fact, while there will be painful pullbacks all along the way, the gains that will be made will make up for any pain bulls have felt over the last few years. But you will have to be invested in them, and with a substantial enough bet size, to make any significant difference in your financial future. Simply put, all the stars are aligned now for the miners, both fundamentals and now technicals on the charts. While I am prepared for the occasional turbulence that will jolt the group lower and in a very scary manner, the future upside potential and probability of it occurring is where I keep my focus. The weekly chart below goes back 10 years, note the 2016 run that occurred as the market decided to transition from a mauling bear into a future bull. That run only lasted about 6 months, but we more that tripled our money here at itrade4real.com, aka realprotrader.com. I’m happy to say I nailed it back then, and while I was a fervent bull during the move, I also followed my sell signals when they came, just about top-ticking the market. I don’t want to gloat, but then again, facts are facts.

The more important issue is what about today? Well, I can say that today is more clear than any other time in a bull market. The gains we are seeing in precious metals now, are still just a part of the bigger bull, but the very best part. For those that haven’t been involved, this is the stage where the biggest gains are made, and in the shortest amount of time. Along that thought process, this time will be different from the last highs in silver, for example, made in both 1980 and 2011, because this time silver will blow through those highs so that the $50 level will be the new floor. That means we can only guess what the new ceiling will be in the new trading range that will exist, but I can tell you that a $50 floor on silver has gigantic implications for the prices of mining stocks. They are simply the most hated group ever, and that means just about everybody is a prospect to change their mind once they prove to be the best investment month after month, year after year. There is so much money out there that will be looking to invest in not only the best performing group, but also a group that trades contra to what will continue to fall out of favor, in bonds and the general stock market. Yes, a pullback can and will come at any time, don’t try to sidestep it, use it to add to your positions if its scary enough, and remember that bull markets will correct errors in timing. The important thing to remember is that you have to be involved, the earlier the better. One can’t afford to miss two-day gains in their overall portfolio of 12-13% when they come along, you have to be in them ahead of time, and able to endure the shakeouts.

Not only are GDX and GDXJ making new bull market highs today, they are at prices not seen since 2011-2012. SIL and SILJ, the silver miners etfs, are not far behind, either. SIL got within a few pennies of a new bull high, while SIL has already achieved the mark. Many of our miners continue to make new highs, both for this bull, and in many cases all-time highs. It’s not too late, but I’ve learned that chasing moves can hurt, especially in the short term. If not already loaded, one has to weigh the risk of chasing vs the rewards that still lie ahead, and in this observers opinion, it still pays well to get long if you haven’t been invested in the group. That said, I am not buying or adding to positions today, as our accounts are already heavily invested and pushing for more. The best part is today’s huge move up, rare for a Monday, is occurring on no particular news. That is odd, because with so much volume being traded, somebody big is doing plenty of buying. Here is a weekly chart of GDX going back sixteen years, it should be clear to everybody that miners are going higher still.