We started our previous essay by describing several interesting facts about the U.S. Dollar. We wrote the following:

We've recently read something that can elucidate the enormous, almost incomprehensible, size of the U.S. government debt. The numbers are so huge that it is difficult for most people to get a handle them.

In a previous essay, we commented on the recent developments in the price of gold. The technical part of this week's essay is dedicated to the situation in the precious metals stocks and the general stock market. The prices of these stocks are highly correlated with the underlying metals, which means that the following analysis is useful also to Investors and Speculators following the spot prices of gold and silver.

We summarized that the precious metals market has moved higher, and it appears that it will need to take a small breather relatively soon, and this is what we've seen so far this week. Still, the long-term picture didn't change much. Let's take a look on the chart below for details (charts courtesy of Stockcharts.)

Investing your money in a long-term position can be likened to navigating a ship to port. The compass (fundamental and technical analysis) points you in the right direction as you head out to sea. Even if your ship is sturdy (you have made the right call and are heading in the right direction) every once in a while a big, unexpected wave seems to push you off course.

And without question, since the beginning of the economic crisis, the seas have become especially turbulent.