The photo was taken as we were crossing over Railroad tracks.

Most of us walk looking down. Perfectly logical to paint a sign on the ground that reminds folks to look UP both ways. Particularly when crossing train tracks.

This week, we have examined gold and gold miners.

We have also reviewed the Megatrends that influence society and the markets.

Today’s message of the Federal Reserve’s interest rate rise by ¼% also reminds investors to look both ways.

The Fed justified the raise by stating the economy is on solid ground. They predict lower unemployment rates yet with one huge variable-wages have not and most likely will not escalate any time soon.

Ditto with core inflation levels.

The Fed targets 2% inflation growth.  The struggle to hit that number dates back years.

This engendered the Fed to also state that although they just made it more expensive for folks to borrow money, weak inflation remains a concern.

Sure, gold fell hard from its intraday highs after the Fed announcement.

Nevertheless, when analyzing where interest rate sensitive gold could be heading, isn’t it still prudent to look both ways?

Today’s top headlines tragically align with my number 3 Megatrend from the top 10-Domestic Violence.

Gold and miners initially rose based on two separate incidents of gun violence. Then, the Fed put the kibosh on that rally.

Stocks also fell with some members of the Modern Family more impacted than others.

Sister Semiconductors, in response to what started last Friday, lost more ground.

Regional banks, which should have found relief from the Fed’s announcement, failed to.

Look both ways. Higher rates good. More cost for folks to borrow money, bad.

Besides, the 20+ Year Treasury Bond rates fell represented by the 1.5% gain in TLTs. An anomaly? Look both ways.

Biotechnology remained green. The most speculated of the family, IBB dropped a bit from the intraday highs. However, specs did look both ways. IBB has promise should it hold over 292.