Larger allocations to gold are merited, then silver and investors should consider very small allocations to platinum and palladium.

Recent comments by the following analysts reflect the current uncertainty of the gold & silver markets.

What do cobalt, uranium, helium, titanium, and fluorspar have in common? According to the U.S. government, these are all minerals that are deemed critical to both the economic and national security of the country. The list of 35 minerals (listed below) includes those that are important for defense, economic, and industrial purposes – and it keys in especially on minerals that are not produced in substantial quantities domestically.

Investors got lulled into a state of inflation complacency [with] persistently low official inflation rates in recent years that depressed bond yields along with risk premiums on all financial assets - but that’s changing in 2018. Five drivers of higher inflation rates are now starting to kick in.

Recent economic data has bond yields jumping a little bit on the worry of higher future inflation. According to many this is the main concern behind the recent volatility in stock and bond markets so let’s see if we can’t put some of this data in perspective so we can better understand the risks to our portfolios.

This looks like an excellent point to short the dollar, which is expected to drop and probably accelerate away to the downside. This should provide a boost for the Precious Metals sector which...will increasingly be seen as a safe haven.

History tells us we should expect higher stock prices in the next quarter, mid-year, and by the end of 2018. The trillion-dollar question is, “When will this all end?”

Sentiment surveys clearly show how bears have given up, and neutrals have capitulated and this particular trend may have room to run further.

Is the bull market about to come to an end? If last year ends up being the top of this bull market, what does history say could happen to stocks this year?

The market is now officially in the largest bubble relative to the economy in history according to the stock market capitalization to GDP ratio, which, incidentally, is Warren Buffett's favorite means of valuing stock.