U.S. Dollar Holds Firm Despite Sharp Pullback in Fed Rate Hike Odds

A little over two weeks ago, I was just starting to concede that the likelihood of four Fed rate hikes in 2018 was trending in favor of the hawks. Last week, the rate on the 10-year U.S. Treasury fell back sharply and ended the week below the magic tripwire of 3.0% (starting Thursday). In parallel, … Read more

Above the 40 (May 25, 2018) – A Loitering Stock Market

AT40 = 64.0% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) AT200 = 52.5% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs VIX = 13.2 Short-term Trading Call: neutral Commentary The churn continues on the S&P 500 (SPY) while AT40 (T2108) loiters around just under its overbought threshold of 70%. The lethargic … Read more

Above the 40 (May 15, 2018) – Buyer Reluctance and Stock Market Exhaustion

AT40 = 59.7% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) AT200 = 49.1% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs VIX = 14.6 Short-term Trading Call: neutral Commentary Here we are again…again. In the last Above the 40 I observed “the stock market looks like it is breaking free, but … Read more

Higher Interest Rates Pound Home Builders Into Bearish Territory

The Housing Market Index (HMI) for May increased to 70 and is just 4 points off its post-recession high set last December. Just don’t tell investors home builders are as confident as ever despite rising rates. Today, the yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury bond soared to its highest level in 7 years and settled … Read more

Financially Vulnerable: A Critical Test for Financial Stocks

This week, I blithely accumulated call options on Goldman Sachs (GS) ahead of and after the Federal Reserve’s latest declaration on monetary policy. I assumed that the Fed’s calming influence would remind market participants that the economy is fine and the prospects are good. Under that scenario financial stocks would do well as long-term interest … Read more