On the Cusp Again:

THE DOW/GOLD RATIO

December 2000

GOLDEN SEXTANT ADVISORS LLC

INTRODUCTION

The three great bull markets of the Twentieth Century are dramatically reflected in a chart of the Dow/Gold ratio, which is simply the quotient of the Dow Jones Industrial Average divided by the gold price in US Dollars. It is basically the price of the leading index of paper claims on productive assets, divided by the dollar price of an ounce of gold.
When the ratio is high, as it is in a boom, equities are expensive and gold is cheap. When the ratio is low, as it is in a bust, equities are cheap and gold is dear.

Today, the Dow/Gold ratio is at its highest level ever. We believe this signifies the financial world is on the cusp of a huge inflection point, similar to that of the two prior peaks.
Just as at those prior peaks, financial assets are grossly overvalued, and gold is grossly undervalued. Just as those prior valuation extremes resolved themselves through dramatic reversals in both the numerator and the denominator of the Dow/Gold ratio, so will todays, and soon.

DECEMBER 2000

GOLDEN SEXTANT ADVISORS

INTRODUCTION
At about 40, the Dow/Gold ratio is at a record high:

Dow/Gold Ratio: 1915 - 2000

45.0 40.0 35.0

1999: 39.61

Dow/Gold Ratio

1965: 27.30

30.0 25.0 20.0 15.0 10.0 5.0

1920: 3.48

1928: 14.51

1932: 2.90

1980: 1.65

1915

1925

1935

1945

1955

1965

1975

1985

1995

2005

DECEMBER 2000

GOLDEN SEXTANT ADVISORS

INTRODUCTION
The key to understanding the Dow/Gold ratio and what it portends lies in isolating the principal factors that affect the numerator (equity prices) and the denominator (the price of gold).
At every peak, we find the same phenomena:
Overvaluation of equities Over-ownership of equities Excessive liquidity Excessive credit

At every trough, we find their opposites. And at each extreme, we find a background of breakdown in the global monetary system:
Collapse of gold exchange standard (1929 - 1934) Collapse of Bretton Woods standard (1961 - 1971) Collapse of floating rate standard (pending)

Today, gold is dead. In 1980, equities were dead. We know how this chapter ends.

DECEMBER 2000

GOLDEN SEXTANT ADVISORS

THE NUMERATOR
Price/Earnings Ratio: S&P 500
35
1933: 32.3
1999: 33.4

S&P 500 Price/Earnings Ratio

30
1961: 22.4

By every rational measure, equity values are off the charts, exceeding their 1929 and 1966 highs. Here are just a few examples.

25
1904: 17.4

20

AVG = 14.8

15

P/E ratios are at an all-time high.

10
1917: 5.2

1948: 6.6

1979: 7.4

1900

1910

1920

1930

1940

1950

1960

1970

1980

1990

2000

Price to Book Ratio: S&P 500

5.0

4.0

Price/Book Value

So are Price to Book Ratios.

3.0

2.0

1.0

1925

1930

1935

1940

1945

1950

1955

1960

1965

1970

1975

1980

1985

1990

1995

2000

DECEMBER 2000

GOLDEN SEXTANT ADVISORS

THE NUMERATOR
Percent Household Participation in US Equities
45% 40% 35% 30%
1968: 38%

Its been so good for so long, Everybodys in.

25% 20% 15% 10% 5%

Public participation in the stock market today dwarfs prior levels.

Billions

1950

1955

1960

1965

1970

1975

1980

1985

1990

1995

2000

Aggregate Market Capitalization/GDP

180% 160% 140% 120%
1999: 171%

Relative to GDP, the aggregate capitalization of the stock market is at an all-time high

Billions

100% 80% 60% 40% 20%

1930: 76%

1965: 75%

1925

1930

1935

1940

1945

1950

1955

1960

1965

1970

1975

1980

1985

1990

1995

2000

DECEMBER 2000

GOLDEN SEXTANT ADVISORS

THE NUMERATOR
Cumulative Growth: M3 and the Monetary Base
2100% 1900%
M3

1700%

Cumulative Rate of Growth

A peak in the Dow/Gold Ratio is at heart a monetary phenomenon. The fuel for the imbalance is always the same: excessive liquidity and excessive credit.

1500% 1300% 1100% 900% 700% 500% 300% 100%

MONETARY BASE

Since 1960, the aggregates known as M3 and the Monetary Base have increased by over 2000% and 1300%, respectively.

1960

1970

1980

1990

2000

Household Debt as a Percentage of GDP

70%

60%

During the same period, Household Debt as a percentage of GDP has grown by more than half to over 65%.

Household Debt/GDP

50%

40%

30% 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000

DECEMBER 2000

GOLDEN SEXTANT ADVISORS

THE NUMERATOR
Total Debt (All Sectors)/GDP
2.75

2.50

Total Domestic Debt/GDP

Despite the fanfare associated with the recent paydown of the long bond, the United States economy is saturated with debt.
TOTAL DEBT/ GDP

2.25

2.00

1.75

1.50

Total debt as a percentage of GDP is at record levels.

1.25
SOURCE: CITADEL RESEARCH & ANA LYTICS

1920

1930

1940

1950

1960

1970

1980

1990

2000

Margin Debt versus NYSE Market Capitalization

350% 300%
MARGIN DEBT

Cumulative Rate of Growth

250% 200% 150% 100% 50% 0%

Margin debt has grown by over 300% to more than $250 billion since 1993.

NYSE MARKET CAP

12/93

12/94

12/95

12/96

12/97

12/98

12/99

12/00

DECEMBER 2000

GOLDEN SEXTANT ADVISORS

THE NUMERATOR
US Quarterly Current Account Deficit
$40

Quarterly Current Account Balance (in billions)

$20 $0 -$20 -$40 -$60 -$80 -$100

The US economy and its capital markets are increasingly reliant on the kindness of strangers.

The Current Account Deficit is at record levels.

-$106.14 Billion

12/60

12/63

12/66

12/69

12/72

12/75

12/78

12/81

12/84

12/87

12/90

12/93

12/96

12/99

12/02

Net Foreign Investment in US Equities

$140 $120 $100

NET FOREIGN INVESTMENT

Foreign ownership of US financial assets is also at record levels.

$80

Billions

$60 $40 $20 $0 -$20

SOURCE: FEDERA L RESERVE BANK

1980

1982

1984

1986

1988

1990

1992

1994

1996

1998

2000

DECEMBER 2000

GOLDEN SEXTANT ADVISORS

THE DENOMINATOR
Gold Valuation Index versus Gold Price
* SOURCE: CITADEL RESEARCH & ANALYTICS

$900 $800

Conversely, gold is extraordinarily cheap.

2.00

Valuation Ratio (GVI)

1.50

Gold Undervalued

1.00

GOLD VALUATION INDEX* (left)

EL

TE E
PRICE OF GOLD (right) Gold Overvalued

$700

$600 $500 $400 $300 $200 $100

0.50

This chart compares the Gold Valuation Model (GVM; left scale) with the actual price of gold (right scale) since 1971. The GVM is derived by dividing the Federal Reserves Adjusted Monetary Base by the price of gold bullion. The model indicates that gold is as cheap today, relative to the Monetary Base, as in 1971.

Dollars Per Ounce

12/55 12/58 12/61 12/64 12/67 12/70 12/73 12/76 12/79 12/82 12/85 12/88 12/91 12/94 12/97 12/00

Annual Gold Mine Production

3000

2500

New mine supply has peaked and will decline for the next few years irrespective of gold prices.

2000

Tonnes

GOLD MINE PRODUCTION

1500

1000

500
SOURCE: W ORLD GOLD COUNCIL

1970

1972

1974

1976

1978

1980

1982

1984

1986

1988

1990

1992

1994

1996

1998

2000

DECEMBER 2000

GOLDEN SEXTANT ADVISORS

THE DENOMINATOR
And yet, while precise estimates vary, it is generally accepted that annual bullion demand substantially exceeds supply.

Gold Supply/ Demand - 1999 Tonnes (a) DEMAND (b) SUPPLY Mine Scrap Total SHORTFALL 2,500 600 3,100 (1,400) 4,500

Notes (a) One "tonne" is a metric ton containing approximately 32,150 oz. (b) Estimated total global demand for jewelry, bar, coin & other

DECEMBER 2000

GOLDEN SEXTANT ADVISORS

THE DENOMINATOR
Official Sector activity makes up much of the difference between annual demand and new mine production. This consists of outright sales of monetary gold reserves as well as leasing of physical gold by central banks. Gold leasing is basically gold banking in a new guise, and results in adding new supply to the physical market while at the same time creating a short physical position typically hedged with paper gold derivatives such as forward contracts, futures or options.

Anatomy of a Short Sale

3 1 2 Gold Mine Bullion Bank Speculator Spot Market

Central Bank

In a typical lease transaction, a central bank deposits gold with a bullion bank on a demand or other short term basis at the current lease rate (1). The bullion bank in turn lends the gold to a gold mine or a speculator such as a hedge fund (2), generally at a longer maturity and higher lease rate. In each case the leased gold is sold short (3) and the proceeds are expended or reinvested in financial assets. The central bank now holds the bullion banks promise to return its gold. Similarly, the bullion bank now holds its customers promise to deliver gold in the future. Both sets of promises are typically hedged through the use of derivatives. In the case of the gold mine, future delivery is presumed to be possible out of future production. In the case of the speculator, future delivery must be purchased in the spot market. In practice, most leases and related gold loans are rolled over, so the cumulative balance continues to increase. The gold, meanwhile, likely finds its way to India.

DECEMBER 2000

GOLDEN SEXTANT ADVISORS

THE DENOMINATOR
The cumulative exposures created as a result of leasing and related derivatives activity are substantial in relation to the worlds total supply of physical gold.

The Gold Derivatives Market: Fun Facts Tonnes Total Above Ground Supply of Physical Gold Total Physical Gold Nominally Held by All Central Banks Total Physical Gold Nominally Held by Central Bank Signatories & Other Observers of Washington Agreement Total Notional Amount of Gold Derivatives on Books of G-10 Banks, December 1999 (Source: BIS) Total Notional Amount of Gold Derivatives on Books of Chase/JP Morgan, December 1999 (Source: OCC) Total Physical Short Position (high estimate) Total Physical Short Position (low estimate) Notes (a) Conversions between tonnes and US $ expressed at $275/ ounce. (b) Veneroso Associates. (c) Gold Fields Minerals Services Ltd. > 125,000 33,500 28,500 27,485 7,352 10,000 (b) 5,000 (c) US $ (Billions) (a) 1,105 296 252 243 65 88 44

DECEMBER 2000

GOLDEN SEXTANT ADVISORS

THE DENOMINATOR
The cumulative effect of this activity has been devastating to the gold market and the shares of gold producers. In effect, Everybodys out, and many are short.
At under $40 billion, the market capitalization of the entire gold sector is a fraction of that of GE, Cisco or Microsoft as of September 30, 2000. Meanwhile, aggregate holdings of gold shares by mutual funds have declined to de minimis levels.

$600

$564

$500

$395 Billions
$400

$300

$287

$200

$100

$30 $4
GE CISCO MICROSOFT 31 LARGEST GOLD STOCKS M UTUAL FUND GOLD STOCK HOLDINGS

DECEMBER 2000

GOLDEN SEXTANT ADVISORS

THE DENOMINATOR

A steady drumbeat of negative news and commentary captures the pessimism in the gold market: Precious Metals Funds Sinking - Associated Press, November 26, 2000 Gold Production from Yukons Placer Mines Hits 21-Year-Low - Associated Press, November 20, 2000 Gold No Longer Glitters for Investors - Chicago Daily Herald, November 15, 2000 In the Golden Sunset / Is gold the dog that barked and may even be dead? - Financial Times, October 6, 2000 Golds Slide Triggers Exit by Long-Patient Investors: Spotlight - Bloomberg, October 5, 2000 Homestake Announces Closure of the Homestake Mine; Expects Further Reductions in Overall Cash Costs - Homestake Press Release, September 11, 2000

DECEMBER 2000

GOLDEN SEXTANT ADVISORS

THE DENOMINATOR
The first stirrings of change are evident. Liquidity to support further leasing/derivative activity will be severely restricted going forward. The text of the Washington Agreement, September 26, 1999:
Oesterreichische Nationalbank Banque Nationale de Belgique Banca dItalia Banque centrale du Luxembourg Banque de France Deutsche Bundesbank Banco do Portugal Schweizerische Nationalbank Banco de Espaa Bank of England Suomen Pankki De Nederlandsche Bank Central Bank of Ireland Sveriges Riksbank European Central Bank

In the interest of clarifying their intentions with respect to their gold holdings, the above institutions make the following statement: 1. 2. Gold will remain an important element of global monetary reserves. The above institutions will not enter the market as sellers, with the exception of already decided sales. The gold sales already decided will be achieved through a concerted programme of sales over the next five years. Annual sales will not exceed approximately 400 tonnes and total sales over this period will not exceed 2,000 tonnes. The signatories to this agreement have agreed not to expand their gold leasings and their use of gold futures and options over this period. This agreement will be reviewed after five years.

3.

4.

5.

DECEMBER 2000

GOLDEN SEXTANT ADVISORS

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY CONTEXT

The factors which inform the Dow/Gold Ratio do not operate in domestic isolation, but are instead a function of global monetary conditions. Each peak in the Dow/Gold Ratio corresponds to a backdrop of excess global credit and liquidity arising from progressive loosenings of constraints in the international monetary system.
The post-World War I boom of the 1920s occurred in the context of the gold exchange standard, which permitted a much larger expansion of credit than would have been possible under the classical gold standard in place prior to the Great War. The post-World War II boom of the mid-1950s to the mid-1960s occurred in the context of the US dollar-based gold exchange rate system of Bretton Woods, which allowed a similar unprecedented expansion. The post-Cold War bubble of the 1990s occurred in the context of the US dollar-based floating exchange rate system, which has permitted the greatest explosion in international credit and liquidity in history.

DECEMBER 2000

GOLDEN SEXTANT ADVISORS

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY CONTEXT

Neither the gold exchange standard nor the Bretton Woods system produced permanent prosperity. Rather, they resulted only in larger and more destructive economic cycles: two great global booms ending in the worst economic decades of the 20th century: the 1930's and the 1970's. Each peak marks the beginning of a swift descent into near complete international monetary breakdown, from 1929 to 1934 in the first cycle and from 1966 to 1971 in the second, although gold did not reach its peak price until 1980. The Dow/Gold Ratio and Global Monetary Regimes (1915-2000)

45.0 40.0 35.0

GOLD EXCHANGE STANDARD (1918-1934)

BRETTON WOODS AGREEMENT (1945-1971)

FLOATING EXCHANGE RATE (1971-Present)

DJIA/Gold Ratio

30.0 25.0 20.0 15.0 10.0 5.0

1915

1925

1935

1945

1955

1965

1975

1985

1995

2005

DECEMBER 2000

GOLDEN SEXTANT ADVISORS

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY CONTEXT

In both prior cycles, gold prices were held at unrealistically low levels during the peak years to hide inflation and make governments look good. In each case, much higher gold prices were subsequently a necessary part of the adjustment process. By the end of the last cycle, gold prices were so low relative to mining costs that much of the gold mining industry had closed down amidst a level of devastation not since approached until today. Gold Market Interventions (1915-2000)
$700 $600 $500 $400 $300

FED LOWERS RATES TO FIGHT BRITISH GOLD LOSSES (1927-1929)

Dollars Per Ounce (Log Scale)

$200

$100

LONDON GOLD POOL (1961-1968)

EXPLOSION OF GOLD DERIVATIVES (1995-Present)

$50 $40 $30 $20

PRICE OF GOLD

1915

1925

1935

1945

1955

1965

1975

1985

1995

DECEMBER 2000

GOLDEN SEXTANT ADVISORS

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY CONTEXT

Foreign Currency Volatility
SWISS FRANC GERMAN D-MARK

20%

BRITISH POUND

HEDGE FUNDS ATTACK BRITISH POUND

Annualized Volatility

15%

The signs of impending monetary breakdown include increasing direct interventions in commodity and currency markets, bouts of extreme volatility in stocks, currencies and gold, and the emergence of the US Dollar as the dominant official reserve asset. With no anchor to windward, currencies have blown hither and yon since the collapse of Bretton Woods.

10%

5%

1973

1976

1979

1982

1985

1988

1991

1994

1997

2000

Gold and US Dollar Reserves of Foreign Central Banks

SOURCE: IMF
PAPER RESERVES: Reserves in Central Banks, Plus Reserves at IMF, Plus SDRs and Foreign Currencies (Almost Exclusively U.S. Dollars)

$1200

$1000

The buildup of US Dollar reserves corresponds to the decline in gold reserves among central banks.

Billions

$800

$600

$400
U.S. CLOSES GOLD WINDOW

$200

METAL RESERVES: Gold at Constant Price of $35/ oz. In 50 Years, Physical Reserves have Increased Only 12.3%

1950

1960

1970

1980

1990

2000

DECEMBER 2000

GOLDEN SEXTANT ADVISORS

PROJECTION
Our message is really pretty simple. The broad investment and financial picture in late 2000 parallels quite closely the previous super bull market tops of 1929 and 1966. All our analytic studies show, and all our anecdotal evidence supports, the proposition that the world is on the cusp of a similarly huge investment inflection point today. We don't claim clairvoyance. We cannot yet tell precisely when or how quickly the Dow/Gold ratio will collapse to more normal levels. But we are convinced that it will, and that five years from now a Dow/Gold ratio chart is quite likely to look something like this:

Dow/Gold Ratio: 1915 - 2005

45.0 40.0 35.0

Dow/Gold Ratio

30.0 25.0 20.0 15.0 10.0 5.0

1915

1925

1935

1945

1955

1965

1975

1985

1995

2005

DECEMBER 2000

GOLDEN SEXTANT ADVISORS