The market is in a transition. It has been in a bear since 11/1/07. The top was in that time period.
Remember the decade of 7's, that is the years of the decade that end in seven when the decades year of 2 was a bottom. So this is a long term force of events that make the market behave the way it is. Now the metals are making new highs. They are a result of inflation. That means people buy gold and silver because they finally realize that inflation is here and they want to protect their money. Gold and silver are a store of value.
The fed is doing everything it can since August 16, 2007 to pump up the economy. They don't tell you why but you hear about why in the news eventually. (Subprime mess, Credit ratings, Financial mess, Housing bust etc.)
Money usually takes 6 months to work its way through the economy. Six months from 8/16/07 is Feb 16th, 2008.
But wait the market didn't bottom then. True, there was a double whammy. First the sub-prime mess then the bank fallout. So the bear is being extended and the Fed has been aggressively fueling the fire of inflation trying to get the economy kick started. But by doing that they are pouring more created money after the bad money which is inflatiionary. Gold and silver react to the inflationary forces not predict. The Market does not like inflation therefore down it has gone.
Now what to expect. Gold and silver and even platinum have gone up so quick that they need to rest. The market needs to digest the rise. Consolidation, is the metals market adjusting to the new higher levels. As this happens the stock market thinks that the inflationary forces are stopping and it will start to rise. The stock market will rise here soon but not make new highs. Why because inflation is still here. The metals are setting themselves up for the last big push this fall to start the journey to $2000 gold. So if you are a long term investor hang onto your gold stocks and in 2 years you will be rewarded beyond your beliefs.
Copper was the first metal to make new highs. Platinum was the next to make new highs and it isn't done. Now gold just made new highs this year and silver is way behind. Silver right now is the weakest of the metals.
But right now is they are the cheapest of the metal stocks. For a long term investment silver stocks are the best buy now.

Just look at the patterns of ROY, CDE, AXU which are all sideways patterns, compared to GG.
Remember the pleading I did for you all to buy into gold stocks this last fall. I hope you bought then.
Buy on dips now because the final inflationary blowoff is coming in the next 2 years.