Commodity Index Breaks Down - So Too Does Silver

Another payrolls report today; another down day in the precious metals. Not much of a surprise here as that has been the norm for many a year. In one sense, it really did not matter what the number was as there was more than likely going to be bearish selling pressure no matter what.

When it comes to silver, if the number was a poor one, the bears would point to the fact that the QE3 was already baked into the cake and so was a non-factor. They would then point to the fact that the poor number was sign that the economy was still muddling along without any risk of inflationary factors due to the sluggish growth. Silver MUST HAVE AN INFLATIONARY ENVIRONMENT if it is to mount any sort of SUSTAINED rally.

If the number was considered friendly, then the bears would cry up the idea that the QE was not going to be continued as long as some were initially thinking since the economy was mending.

In other words, Heads, I win; Tails, you lose.

Either way, take a look at the following chart of the Continuous Commodity Index or CCI and notice that it has broken out of the recent congestion pattern. The breakout however was to the downside. Guess what; silver also broke out to the downside of its recent consolidation pattern.

I have pointed this link out to readers here for some time now - Silver is inexorably tied to the hip of the broader Commodity markets and will remain so into the foreseeable future. Next stop for the metal is today's low near $31.25 followed by a test of $31.00 - $30.80 should that previous level fail to stem its decline.

The fact that the open interest in silver refused to sharply decline during its descent was a warning that the stubborn bulls were vulnerable to a breach of chart support. There were just too many stale longs in this market which had not experienced a good and necessary cleansing. We are now finally getting that which is what this market needs in order to generate a more lasting move higher when the conditions are correct for such an event.

Note on that CCI chart, that the red support line which has been violated came in very near the important 38.2% Fibonacci Retracement level. If the index cannot rapidly recover this support level by climbing back above it and holding, it implies a subsequent test of the critical 50% level is in store.

With this in mind, observe the silver chart and note how similar the pattern is to the CCI. As stated above, the two are linked together and will generally rise and fall together.

Notice also how silver has lost support at the bottom of the recent congestion pattern which also was rather close to its 38.2% retracement level. If it cannot reverse the decline and get back above the 32 level, it will more than likely drift first towards psychological round number support near $31 and stronger chart support down near $30.70 - $30.75.