T2108 Update (July 8, 2016) – A Day to Be Long Almost Anything and Everything

(T2108 measures the percentage of stocks trading above their respective 40-day moving averages [DMAs]. It helps to identify extremes in market sentiment that are likely to reverse. 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 … Read more

From the United Kingdom’s Biggest Stocks: Thank You, Brexit

The vote by the United Kingdom (UK) to leave the European Union (EU), aka Brexit, kicked off a series of market events that collectively seem very surreal. First, there was the global rally in financial markets going into the vote. Relieved market participants appeared to anticipate a victory by the Remain side. Next came two … Read more

The Australian Dollar Confirms Bearish Bias By Quickly Losing Post-GDP Gains

There is nothing like a quick reversal of what is supposed to be good economic news to confirm a bearish bias. On May 31st (U.S. time), the Australia Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released its report on GDP for the March, 2016 quarter. GDP came in at a very strong 3.1% annualized rate thanks to another … Read more

The Australian Dollar Swings Wide On Repeat Information

In the wake of poor inflation data, a rate cut from the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), and then a dovish Statement on Monetary policy, speculators decided that this was not the time to have such a large net long exposure to the Australian dollar (FXA). Source: Oanda’s CFTC’s Commitment of Traders Roll forward to … Read more

Warren Buffett Is Tone Deaf on Diversity

{edited June 17, 2016 to add more commentary and clarity} Warren Buffett, CEO of the legendary Berkshire Hathaway, rightfully sits among the most respected and highly regarded business leaders in American history. When Buffett talks, his words matter: his opinions can shape minds and drive business practices. Buffett’s influence and potential for tremendous good turn … Read more

Australian Dollar Slammed By Inflation Data

In the last edition of “Forex Critical” I claimed that the Australian is not likely to maintain its current blistering pace of gains. Just three days later, the stubbornly persistent rally of the Australian dollar (FXA) may already be grinding to a halt. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released its inflation data for March, … Read more

The Canadian Dollar and Fiscal Policy Make the Bank of Canada “Non-Dovish”

The Bank of Canada released its latest decision on monetary policy a week ago on April 13, 2016 and left its target rate at 1/2% again. According to the Bank of Canada (BoC), the government’s fiscal policy saved the day for the Canadian economy. Global growth is slowing. The strength in the Canadian dollar (FXC) … Read more

The Canadian Dollar Rides Stronger Economic Signals – Can the Momentum Sustain?

(This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on April 5, 2016. Click here to read the entire piece.) Canada’s GDP report for January, 2016 confirmed renewed strength in the Canadian economy. {snip} Source: Statistics Canada Now that the Canadian economy has apparently stabilized, the weakening in the Canadian dollar … Read more

The Seasonal Trade On Home Builders Is Off to Its Worst Start Since 2009

(This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on March 28, 2016. Click here to read the entire piece.) Last December, I wrote about the shaky prospects for the seasonal trade on home builders. Sure enough, iShares US Home Construction (ITB) has not performed this badly on an absolute or … Read more

This Time Is Likely Different for the S&P 500 With Rising Margin Debt

A recent article in Business Insider by Jesse Felder from TheFelderReport.com raised a loud alarm bell over rising margin debt levels in the U.S. stock market (see “A closely followed indicator says a 20% drop in stocks could be coming soon“). The article used the following chart as part of an analysis concluding that a … Read more