RE:as far as the ratio goes I agree that the profit margins of a company like SIL will be partially and independently determined by the prices of gold and silver. My point is that the G/S ratio might be useful for anticipating whether gold is due for a push higher or silver is in for a correction. The ratio is not fixed, but it does vary in interesting ways that reflect physical demand as well as speculative buying. I would bet the ratio will be back around 83 in a month or so which might involve a gold rally or a silver retreat. The ratio is not meant to be a simplified number for the numerically challenged.