Now Overbought, the Summer of Loving Stocks Stares Down the Fed – The Market Breadth

stares down (Credit: Animal Kingdom - The Stare Down by Jeff Krause Photography on Flickr)

Stock Market Commentary On Thursday, good economic news scared Wall Street yet again. Initial jobless claims came in well below “expectations” and set off a cascade of reactions. Interest rates shot up and the stock market dropped down. The stubborn strength of the labor market allows the Federal Reserve to stay hawkish and keep its … Read more

Renaissance IPO ETF A Less Volatile Way to Speculate Than ARKK

speculate (Credit: Booby Stare-Down by Scott Ableman on Flickr)

Almost a year ago, I claimed that investing in ARK Innovation ETF (ARKK) was little different than speculating on initial public offerings in the Renaissance IPO ETF (IPO). I was both right and wrong. On the way down, IPO far out-performed ARKK in 2021 and 2022. However, ARKK has benefited more than IPO in this … Read more

A Breakout Week Ends with A Key Setback – The Market Breadth

key setback (Credit: Levee L550 Upper Breach Aerial of Setback Construction 4 by OmahaUSACE on Flickr)

Stock Market Commentary The stock market pushed into overbought conditions last week. After one follow-through day, small caps wilted and dragged down market breadth toward the overbought threshold. That key setback raises the stakes of the current earnings period. I will try to look through the likely “chop” in the trading action, to identify on-going … Read more

Bulls Fail Again at the Overbought Threshold – The Market Breadth

overbought threshold (Credit: Frustration by Leo Laporte on Flickr)

Stock Market Commentary The summer of loving stocks is staring down its second major test just two weeks after its first major test. Like the first test, the latest test is happening in the wake of the stock market’s failure to break through the overbought threshold on market breadth. Unlike the first test, the important … Read more

Itching for Another Scratch At Overbought Conditions – The Market Breadth

itching (Credit: When it's itching... by Tambako the Jaguar on Flickr)

Stock Market Commentary The summer of loving stocks survived its first major test. The numbers for the first half of the year put an exclamation on a rally that has defied most expectations. The S&P 500 (SPY) had its 12th best first half since at least 1933 (per Cater Braxton Worth) with a 15.9% gain … Read more

Bulls Fade Fast from the Overbought Frontier – The Market Breadth

fade (Credit: Hercules Wrestling the Bull by carfull...from Wyoming on Flickr)

Stock Market Commentary: The summer of loving stocks is facing its first real test. In the middle of the week, the rally finally failed at the threshold of overbought market breadth. The stock market closed the week with market breadth confirming the end of the primary rally and the start of an important test of … Read more

A Looming Collision Between Overbought Trading and the Fed – The Market Breadth

collision (Credit: Collision Course by charlieishere@btinternet.com on Flickr)

Stock Market Commentary: Market breadth almost reached overbought trading territory last week. The Federal Reserve is issuing yet another missive on monetary policy this coming Wednesday. The market’s script is arranged for the potential drama of a collision between the euphoria of overbought trading and a Federal Reserve that is eager to moderate the market … Read more

Key Endorsements for the 2023 Run-Up In Stocks – The Market Breadth

endorsements (Credit: Air salute by The U.S. Army on Flickr)

Stock Market Commentary: The summer of loving stocks may have begun. In a list of debt ceiling winners and losers, Vox failed to list the stock market as one of the biggest winners. The lingering and residual angst accompanying the manufactured drama of the debt ceiling released its hold on the market’s bias to go … Read more

Wake Me Once the Market’s Sleepwalking Ends – The Market Breadth

sleepwalking (Credit: Photocapy on Flickr)

Stock Market Commentary: The no worries stock market is sleepwalking its way through April. The major indices are stuck in tight ranges near or at key technical resistance and support levels. Yet, market breadth remains relatively low as many of the big market leaders hold up the tent. Meandering economic data induces some of this … Read more

Can A Market Be Both Complacent and Oversold? – The Market Breadth

complacent and oversold (Credit: sonstroem on Flickr)

Stock Market Commentary: Yes. The stock market can be both complacent and oversold. A week ago I described how stocks left regional banks behind. Last week, the overall market took comfort in the on-going, yet narrowing, strength in big cap tech stocks even as industrials and other economically sensitive stocks stumbled into weakness. The resulting … Read more