DOW Gold Ratio Remains in Downtrend

At 9.17, the Dow Jones Industrial Average measured in how many ounces of gold it takes to buy the 30 stock DOW is up 30.4% from its 17-year March 6th low of 7.03. Despite that impressive gain, the DOW-Gold ratio remains 79.5% below its 1999 peak of 44.77.

• Gold quote and charts
  
  
• DJIA Charts & Quote

Here is a chart showing the current Dow to Gold Ratio, the ratio of the price of the Dow Jones Industrial Average to the price of gold. When measured in ounces of Gold, the DOW has been in a secular bear market since peaking in late 1999 at nearly 45.

chart courtesy of www.sharelynx.com (Click for full size image)

The markets, measured by the S&P500 (S&P500 Charts) and DIJA (DJIA Charts), may have recovered to new highs in 2007, but the DOW:Gold ratio told a different, truer story of just how unhealthy the US economy was.

• Back in 1999, it took nearly 45 ounces of gold to buy the DJIA.
  
  
• On Friday March 6 of 2009 the DOW-Gold ratio hit a low of 7.03
  
  
• As of today (March 2, 2010) it only takes 9.17 ounces of gold to buy the DOW
  
  
• Gold quote and charts
  

The scary part is the DJIA-to-Gold ratio got down near 1 in the early 1980s and was just under 0.2 in the early 1800s.

This 200 Year Dow/Gold Chart shows the DOW/Gold ratio from 1800 through August 2008.

chart courtesy of www.sharelynx.com (Click for full size image)

With the DOW:Gold ratio now at 9.17, it is trading below the green zone in the second chart. The ratio is oversold, but nothing says it can't get more "oversold."

CDs have been a "safe haven" for those wishing to preserve assets and get a small inflation adjusted return. See "Very Best CD Rates with FDIC" for a list of the best rates and terms.

US Treasury rates are so low, that they are paying less than long term inflation. See:

• US Treasury Rates at a Glance (charts)
  
  
• US Treasury Rate Quotes
  
  
• LIBOR Rates at a Glance

Disclosure: I own a very small amount of gold hidden in the house for bribes if we see Armageddon. For income plus inflation protection, I own and recommend in my newsletters TIPS, TIPS mutual funds and Series iBonds.

For more information, see:

• Kirk's Two Investment Letters
  
  
• Series I Bonds Explained (iBonds)
  
  
• TIPS Mutual Fund (VIPSX)

Question: Which way do you think the DOW-Gold ratio is headed?