ONE-TWENTY TWO: Trading Financial Markets
Exploring the poetry in financial markets for students of money and economy since the year 2000.
“One-Twenty Two” is a different narrative for students and fans of financial markets. This blog often examines the investing and trading implications of extremes in financial markets. By definition, an extreme condition marks a top or a bottom in prices and invites contrary thinking. For example, the cyclical concepts of “overbought” and “oversold” measure temporary … Read more
The Misdirection The New York Times (NYT) created buzz with a report alleging that members of the Trump administration enabled “elite traders” to profit off the coronavirus-driven collapse in the stock market. While the administration confidently reassured the public about the coronavirus (COVID-19), members of the administration reportedly shared their concerns about “uncertainties” at a … Read more
When the stock market last flipped to oversold trading conditions, I expected at least one more spike in the volatility index (VIX) before oversold trading ended. I define oversold as a period of trading in the stock market when AT40 (T2108), the percentage of stocks trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs), closes below … Read more
The Warning The CNBC headline warned investors: “Widespread overconfidence is putting investors in a dangerous situation, Invesco’s Kristina Hooper warns.” I typically skip right past such headlines. Yet my recent switch to a cautiously bearish short-term trading call made me more receptive to the big tease. I expected to read stock market predictions about the … Read more
In early July, I rolled out an “economic reality” index to provide a sober summary of the economic trials and tribulations facing millions of Americans even as those of us with trades and investments in the stock market enjoy the largesse of monetary and fiscal stimulus. I am now putting the chart comparing continuing claims … Read more
The financial markets have presented numerous extremes during the coronavirus pandemic. I rely on the percentage of stocks trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs), aka AT40 (T2108), as a measure of oversold (below 20%) and overbought (above 70%) extremes in the stock market. In just three months, the stock market went from printing … Read more
The stock market crash in March was stomach-churning and generated a lot of panic. At its lowest point, the S&P 500 (SPY) was down 33.9% from its all-time high set just the previous month. The rebound from that stock market sell-off has been heroic with a 32.1% gain taking the index within another 14.6% rally … Read more
Technically Speaking “…the most technical trade in almost any instrument has got to be Telsa stock….Investors love the company…there are some long-term and substantial holders…who are not inclined to sell…” – Michael Khouw, CNBC, May 8, 2020 The technicals are the main way I have come to understand and appreciate Tesla (TSLA). Once again, the … Read more
As I scrambled to write my update on a “suddenly oversold” market stock market, I listened to Jim Cramer’s Mad Money. Cramer is naturally entertaining, and I particularly like hearing his take at key market moments like these. On Tuesday, February 25th, Cramer was firmly in the bearish camp on his Mad Money show. He … Read more
AT40 = 40.5% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) AT200 = 37.4% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs VIX = 16.4 Short-term Trading Call: bullish Commentary Financial markets made their votes very clear after the U.S. 2018 midterm election. via GIPHY Apparently, today’s rally in the S&P 500 … Read more