The Speculations of Morgan Stanley

The raging bull market has helped facilitate instant excitement any time a company announces a cryptocurrency-related project or product. Xunlei Limited (XNET) is one of several companies that have enjoyed such a boost. XNET soared from just over $4 to $25 in less than two months on the heels of crypto-news. Source for charts: FreeStockCharts.com … Read more

Canadian Dollar: Economic Data Overriding the Brakes of the Bank of Canada

The Canadian dollar (FXC) is at an interesting juncture. Strong economic data has strengthened the currency but the Bank of Canada (BoC) has applied brakes on currency’s rally. The Canadian dollar weakened in the wake of policy statements in October and December. The last word of 2017 went to the economic data as hot inflation … Read more

Retailers Continue Positioning for a Strong Recovery in 2018

The reports on U.S. holiday shopping are coming fast and furious. The early tally looks quite bullish, and retail stocks responded. The SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) jumped 1.1% today to a new high for the year. Surprisingly, trading volume of 3.7M shares remained well below the 90-day moving average of 5.0M. Source: FreeStockCharts.com Reuters … Read more

Above the 40 (December 13, 2017) – A Time to Rest With New Signs Of Stock Market Fatigue

AT40 = 57.0% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) AT200 = 58.8% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs VIX = 10.2 Short-term Trading Call: cautiously bullish Commentary The stock market is looking a little tired. The S&P 500 (SPY) closed at another all-time high on Tuesday and at … Read more

Housing Market Review (November, 2017) – A Tax-Driven Day of Angst Transforms Into Another Unrelenting Rally

The last Housing Market Review covered data reported in October, 2017 for September, 2017. At the time, I lamented having too small an exposure to home builders while the entire sector rallied nearly non-stop. I was counting on seasonal patterns to deliver at least one buyable dip ahead of the seasonally strong period starting in … Read more

Above the 40 (November 29, 2017) – Bullish Divergence Powers Through A Wicked Rotation

AT40 = 59.8% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) AT200 = 59.1% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs VIX = 10.7 Short-term Trading Call: cautiously bullish Commentary “Time is ticking away for the bears and sellers as the period between Thanksgiving and Christmas is typically a very mild, … Read more

Above the 40 (November 17, 2017) – The Stock Market Sharply Switches to A Bullish Divergence

AT40 = 47.9% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) AT200 = 54.6% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs VIX = 11.4 Short-term Trading Call: cautiously bullish Commentary The S&P 500 (SPY) failed to follow-through on Thursday’s snapback rally, but a bullish divergence kept the short-term prospects looking good. … Read more

Above the 40 (November 16, 2017) – A Swift Break from the Market’s Downward Drip

AT40 = 45.8% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) AT200 = 53.8% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs VIX = 11.8 (10.4% loss) Short-term Trading Call: cautiously bullish Commentary It was one of THOSE days for anyone or anything standing in the way of the buyers. Source: Twitter … Read more

Republican Tax Plan Does Not Worry KB Home

The angst may already be fading away. Last week, I chronicled the carnage across the stocks of home builders that erupted in response to the Republican plan for tax reform that includes a reduction in the cap on the mortgage interest deduction. The sell-off that likely had roots in the extreme displeasure emanating from the … Read more

Above the 40 (November 3, 2017) – Strong Market Indices Still Fail to Move the Needle

AT40 = 52.9% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) AT200 = 55.9% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs VIX = 9.1 (a new all-time low!) Short-term Trading Call: cautiously bullish Commentary A week ago, I complained that AT40 (T2108), the percentage of stocks trading above their 40-day moving … Read more