When gold rises relentlessly compared to gold stocks, the Gold:XAU ratio chart has a very good, although not flawless, record of suggesting profitable entry points. When gold stocks finally respond and surpass gold for some time, a corresponding sell signal is given. Also, if both gold and gold stocks decline but gold declines at a greater percentage rate than the stocks ('96 - 2001), a buy signal will be triggered. A close look at the first chart below lays this out pretty well. We're at a classic buy signal which should be confirmed, or not, by the resolution of the GDX triangle.

With the buy signal given in the above chart, the apex in this GDX chart has to be descively broken and confirmed; until then we're just messing around. Confirmation levels are 49 & 46.3, more or less.
-Michael K