Chart Review: Gold Finally Breaks Out, TLT Cracks Resistance

While writing about the attractive price of Pan American Silver (PAAS) and the seemingly imminent breakoout for silver (SLV), I neglected to note that SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) has already broken out from its extended downtrend. This move is of course inspired by Ben Bernanke’s Jackson Hole speech. At the same time the market anticipates … Read more

Time to Hedge A Little As Homebuilders Surge to Multi-Year Milestones

(This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on August 19, 2012. Click here to read the entire piece.) In 2010, the SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF (XHB) rallied sharply only to peak in parabolic fashion in April. That Fall, I reaffirmed my belief that housing would bounce along the bottom … Read more

T2108 Update (May 31, 2012) – Still Flirting With Oversold

(T2108 measures the percentage of stocks trading above their respective 40-day moving averages [DMAs]. To learn more about it, see my T2108 Resource Page. You can follow real-time T2108 commentary on twitter using the #T2108 hashtag. T2108-related trades and other trades are posted on twitter using the #120trade hashtag) T2108 Status: 24.4% (Last oversold period … Read more

Step Aside British Pound, The Japanese Yen Is Back As the Safety Currency Of Choice

(This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on May 20, 2012. Click here to read the entire piece.) I have written about my skepticism regarding the British pound’s newly found “safe haven” status (for example, see “Hard Currency: My Reactions To The Financial Times’ Promising Podcast“). During my last … Read more

Bearish Signs Mount As The Bottom Drops Out of ProShares UltraShort 20+ Year Treasury (TBT)

(This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on May 15, 2012. Click here to read the entire piece.) So much for that bottoming process in ProShares UltraShort 20+ Year Treasury (TBT) that I noted two months ago (see “Looking Like A Bottom For TBT“). Interest rates are headed lower … Read more

Chart Review: TBT’s Bottom Already In Jeopardy

Almost a month ago I made another case for a bottom in TBT, the ProShares UltraShort 20+ Year Treasury. The related breakout include some large, upward one-day moves. The churn included a convincingly successful retest of presumed support at the upper channel that formed the consolidation pattern for TBT’s bottom. Alas, that was not enough … Read more

TBT Successfully Retests Support From Breakout

A little over two weeks ago I pointed out that it looked like TBT, the ProShares UltraShort 20-Year Treasury, had finally bottomed. TBT broke out from an extended consolidation pattern that is the classic hallmark of a sustainable bottom. On Friday, TBT surged 3.3% after having erased all the gains from the breakout. TBT made … Read more

Chart Review: Looks Like A Bottom for TBT

(This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on March 14, 2012. Click here to read the entire piece.) For the past few years, trying to call a top in Treasurys has been a fool’s game. From the manipulation of the Federal Reserve to fears of deflation to fears of … Read more

Reflections on Eastman Kodak and the “Bankruptcy Trade”

(This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on January 22, 2012. Click here to read the entire piece.) So Eastman Kodak (EKDKQ.PK) was rearranging chairs on the deck of the Titanic after all. Late Wednesday night (January 18), Kodak announced that it will file a voluntary bankruptcy using an … Read more

A False Choice Between Democracy and Financial Markets

Robert Reich recently asked “Which do you trust more: democracy or financial markets?” His article was written in response to Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou’s proposal to hold a national referendum on whether to accept the conditions of a bailout on their unserviceable government loans. He concludes the piece asking readers whether we should “…rule … Read more