Above the 40 (February 14, 2018) – A Bullish Tech Breakout Underlines the End of Oversold Conditions

AT40 = 27.5% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) AT200 = 48.3% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs VIX = 19.3 (drop of 22.9%) Short-term Trading Call: bullish PROLOGUE Valentine’s Day, February 14th, was a great day in the stock market and a fantastic validation of my strategizing … Read more

Periods of Extremely Low Volatility Remain Bullish – Now With Fresh Footnotes

The volatility index, the VIX, closed below 11 on April 24, 2017. That launched 184 trading days of extremely low volatility (ELV). The VIX is now just 1 more trading day away from finally bringing this historic event to an end. By my definition, it takes 20 trading days of the VIX closing above 11 … Read more

Above the 40 (February 5, 2018) – An Oversold Stock Market Weighed Down By Historic Volatility

AT40 = 19.4% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) – first oversold day after 19 percentage point plunge AT200 = 45.8% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs VIX = 37.3 (115.6% increase! The largest since at least 1990) Short-term Trading Call: cautiously bullish – oh so many caveats … Read more

Above the 40 (January 30, 2018) – The S&P 500 Trips Over the Volatility Speedbump

AT40 = 55.9% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) AT200 = 60.6% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs VIX = 14.8 Short-term Trading Call: bullish Commentary Last Friday, the S&P 500 (SPY) rolled over a volatile dollar on its way to another all-time high. The volatility index, the … Read more

Above the 40 (January 23, 2018) – An S&P 500 Back to Overbought And Ripping

AT40 = 70.5% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) – Day #1 of an overbought period AT200 = 66.0% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs (a TEN MONTH HIGH) VIX = 11.1 Short-term Trading Call: bullish Commentary The S&P 500 (SPY) made another all-time high as it continued … Read more

Above the 40 (January 19, 2018) – Government Shutdown Edition

AT40 = 66.3% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) – Day #1 of an overbought period AT200 = 63.6% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs VIX = 11.9 Short-term Trading Call: bullish Commentary When traders closed up shop on Friday, I am guessing they assumed, as I did, … Read more

Above the 40 (January 17, 2018) – The S&P 500 Invalidates Its Reversal But Not Cleanly

AT40 = 66.3% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) – Day #1 of an overbought period AT200 = 63.6% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs VIX = 11.9 Short-term Trading Call: bullish Commentary The S&P 500 (SPY) made a resounding comeback from the previous day’s reversal. The move … Read more

The Surprising Implications of Periods of Extremely Low Volatility – A Year of Records

Trying to chase volatility higher has been like chasing fancy footwork. The S&P 500 (SPY) last completed a drawdown of 5% or more on November 4, 2016. That ended a period of pre-election weakness that began in early to mid-August, 2016. The last drawdown of 5% or more before that occurred around Brexit when the … Read more

Above the 40 (August 14, 2017) – Another Fear Phase Fizzles

AT40 = 42.5% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) AT200 = 51.5% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs VIX = 12.3 (volatility index fell 20.5%) Short-term Trading Call: bullish Commentary As has been the pattern for quite some time now, the latest phase of fear fizzled out fast. … Read more

Above the 40 (August 10, 2017) – The Stock Market’s Bearish Divergence Resolves Into Broad Selling

AT40 = 35.0% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) AT200 = 48.9% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs VIX = 16.0 (volatility index) Short-term Trading Call: neutral Commentary The sellers finally put on a show complete with follow-through and a strong finish. The S&P 500 (SPY) cleaved right … Read more