We are seeing lower highs and lower lows for $GOLD and GLD:

Gold looks to be reversing, the confirmation is a move below $1075.00. A drop below that number could take it towards $1,020.00 and then $1,000.00.

How did I determine that? A new high, a failed high and now a challenge to the minor low (see chart for visual). It’s essentially a Dow Theory reversal setup.

Play with fire and you get burned – that’s what they say. I guess it doesn’t appear to be smart to leverage yourself (2x’s) with crude oil futures through an ETN but that’s precisely what I started to do in December. My tool of choice: DXO Oil Double Long ETN

• December 12, 2008: Dollar falls, Crude up
• December 02, 2008: Dollars, T-Bonds and Crude Oil
• November 26, 2008: Oil a Value Buy?

It’s still the trade that intrigues me the most. The official buy signal that we look for on this blog has not triggered so yes, I am playing with fire. I considered the position a “value play” in December and that is the truth but I also admit that I have not followed my traditional rules of entering a position.

I grabbed shares that represented 25% of my typical position size so my risk is greatly limited but I am looking to add shares, only this time with an official buy signal. I did not get a signal to enter DXO but the current charts are showing that potential with a jump above the moving average or abreakout on the point and figure chart.

A strong move above $3.75 on the point and figure chart will be a major buy signal, especially if it is accompanied with heavy volume. Buyers and sellers are struggling to take control of the commodity as the economic turmoil attempts to give us some type of direction across all markets.

I’ll be honest; it might be too early (still) as the chart could drag along the bottom of the moving average for months before it decides to pick a direction. However, when it does, I’ll be ready to pounce and add shares to my first position.

Let’s wait and see but don’t let this one off of you watch list.

What is a point and figure chart? Click here to learn!

Headlines:

DOLLAR IN NEW SPIRAL…

…biggest one-day slide against euro

OPEC deepest oil cut to rescue prices…

YET PRICE TUMBLES BELOW $40 FOR FIRST TIME SINCE ’04…

Let the charts do the talking…

The US Dollar violated the 50-day moving average for the first time in five months while the Euro Dollar crossed back above its 50-day moving average during the same period of time. Crude oil was up 10% as it closed above $48 a barrel and the ETN I highlighted from last week is now up 30% from its low. I do own 1/3 of my position in DXO but I can’t say I caught it below $3. I highlighted the three investments last week in a post titled:

12/02/08: Dollars, T-Bonds and Crude Oil

I started to mention Oil as a possible value buy in November:
11/26/08: Oil a Value Buy?

Here’s what I was thinking:

I mentioned my idea last week: Crude Oil ETN’s. My wife and I have agreed to start purchasing a stake in crude oil investments, starting this week with a 25% purchase of our fully anticipated position (DXO is the instrument). The crude oil charts have not turned positive and I have not received any buy signals such as the ones I highlighted in the dollar earlier this year but I am viewing this more from a value perspective rather than technical. Maybe I will strikeout big time but I am swinging for it anyway.

Too many Middle East talking-heads want to cut production and raise the price of oil. Maybe I am extremely early to this “rebound/ bottom-picking game” but I can’t seem to reason how oil will stay low for long (talking years here, not a short term position).

It will be fun to see how this plays out.