Market Strategist Doubles Down on Gold: Predicts $5,100

Vermeulen supports his aggressive forecast by drawing parallels between the current market environment and the period leading up to the 2008 financial crisis. Using comparative charts of the S&P 500 and gold, he notes a similar pattern where a sharp pullback in gold has occurred just as the S&P 500 experienced its first few weekly "red bars" after hitting all-time highs.

"Every time the market has a financial reset, it's always for a different reason. No two times are alike, but they are similar," Vermeulen explains. He views the recent price action as a shakeout for late-chasing momentum traders, noting that the precious metals complex, including GDX, silver, platinum, and palladium, experienced a "herd mentality" surge preceding the current dip.

The core of his argument lies in anticipating an eventual collapse in the stock market. "Eventually, the stock market will struggle and start to sell off. Gold will keep moving higher," he asserts, suggesting that a flight to safety will pull money out of equities and push it into precious metals.

"This isn't just a bounce, it's the prelude to a financial reset."

Vermeulen emphasizes that gold, silver, platinum, and palladium are the "smoothest play" during a market downturn because, as metals, they exist "outside of the stock market" and are therefore not affected by a falling tide. Stock-market-bound gold miners (GDX), however, will likely struggle, offering a "choppier, rougher play" since they are stocks "stuck in the stock market."

He believes a stock market sell-off would act as "the turbo or the nitro" for gold, creating an increased money flow into the safe-haven asset. While the S&P 500 does not have to crash for gold to rise, a market struggle would significantly accelerate the yellow metal's ascent.

Analyzing the current technical setup on the charts, Vermeulen sees a clean bull flag pattern following the recent correction, which allows for projection using Fibonacci extensions. This analysis points to a target of roughly $4,700 before the ultimate move up to the $5,100-$5,200 range. The path to the $5,000 mark is expected to be "very swift," potentially occurring in "no time at all" with just a couple of strong monthly candles, as the move will become "parabolic."

Beyond gold, the technical strategist offers a stark warning about the broader financial landscape, arguing that the stock market is in a "stage three topping phase." He points to the dominance of the "Magnificent 7" carrying most of the weight as an indicator of an unhealthy market.

Vermeulen believes the entire market is approaching the final chapters of a major financial cycle, driven in part by a massive bubble forming in the AI and Big Tech space. He cites the billions being spent by companies that are "so far away from turning a profit" as an unsustainable dynamic. "Gold and silver are telling us something bad is brewing... It's a huge warning sign," he warns, indicating that once the AI bubble stalls, a "mass exodus" from momentum stocks will cause the market to collapse. He notes that he believes the market is "very close" to this turning point.

On a final technical note, he advised caution on Bitcoin, calling its daily chart "pretty ugly" due to a series of higher highs and lower lows, known as a megaphone pattern, which is a broadening formation that "carries more risk."