There is lots of commentary written about the question “Will precious metals stocks decline with the overall market?”

Bottom line: your guess is as good as anyone else’s

One of the things happening in the markets right now is that major investors are being forced to sell precious metals investments when other markets decline – the precious metals always have a bid so when ‘cover your losses’ time comes these companies are selling the assets (precious metals) that common sense might expect them to hold

There is also the phenomena of ‘throwing the baby out with the bathwater’ – in a panic selloff, GLD might be sold along with Proctor & Gamble and Exxon just because they were all stocks

I continue to hold PM stocks inside and outside my 401K – I have cut my non-401K holdings about in half in the past few months (down to 3 companies – all junior silver producers in Mexico) – holding GLD, SLV, CEF and NG in my 401K but planning to liquidate this account in 2008 (hopefully Prudential will remain in business that long)