To get a decent indicator of whether the risk trades are on or are back off once again, this ratio is as good an indicator as anything. During times when risk is in, silver has been leading gold to the upside or not dropping as hard as the yellow metal to the downside. In other words, it outperforms gold when the hedge funds are in love with risk. This will be reflected by a ratio moving lower on the chart.
When risk trades are out of vogue and risk aversion is the play, then gold outperforms silver as it is viewed as a more substantive safe haven than the gray metal. This will be reflected in a widening of the ratio.
One can see the concerns over the Greek debt situation through the price action of this ratio chart. As traders became convinced the last few days that Greece will get the bailout and their government will approve the austerity program, the ratio has moved lower with silver outperforming gold.
Lingering fears however concerning the well-being of several other Euro-zone countries, is keeping safe haven buying coming into gold and that has kept the ratio from dropping too severely right now.
I would watch to see the 40 level to see whether it holds or not. A break through this level accompanied by a sharp move lower in the long bond would indicate a shift back towards inflation fears on the part of traders/investors. Discerning any clear trend in these extremely volatile and illiquid markets at this time is an exercise in futility given the erratic price action.
Following below is a daily chart showing the current negative posture of the gold market from a technical perspective as it remains below the 50 day moving average which is also flattening out and attempting to turn down. This level needs to be regained to put a more friendly face on the daily chart. Note also the longer term 100 day moving average which continues to rise and above which gold remains. That brings added technical significance to the $1470 level which closely corresponds to the horizontal support level noted on the chart.
Momentum is currently bearish and will need to break above the steeper downtrending red line to give evidence that some hedge fund type buying is picking up.
