Housing Market Review – A Notable Change In Tone (August, 2017)

The last Housing Market Review covered data reported in July, 2017 for June, 2017. The month from there marked a significant change in tone for home builders. The change in tone starts with the iShares U.S. Home Construction ETF (ITB) and its failure to hold support at its 50-day moving average (DMA) for the first … Read more

The Future of Housing: The Senior Sell-Off Still Gives Way to Aging In Place

A month ago, Trulia published an article on the potential for renting out the spare rooms of Baby Boomers to millennials called “Boom-mates: How Empty Nesters Could Help Ease a Housing Shortage.” It was an interesting twist on the concept of multi-generational housing that generated a lot of related headlines. I took interest in the … Read more

Chipotle Mexican Grill: A Quick Lesson In Trending

Last week, I thought a quick burst of morning buying in Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG) was a potentially bullish sign for the hapless CMG. I anticipated buyers might finally be ready to stave off the relentless selling pressure. I even bought a call option and shares as a part of my speculation. So far, the … Read more

Above the 40 (August 22, 2017) – The Stock Market Gets A Reflex Bounce

AT40 = 35.8% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) AT200 = 46.9% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs VIX = 11.4 (14.0% decrease) Short-term Trading Call: neutral Commentary Since last Thursday when I lasted posted Above the 40, AT40 (T2108), the percentage of stocks trading above their respective … Read more

Above the 40 (August 17, 2017) – The S&P 500 Leads A Sharp Market Rejection

AT40 = 31.8% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) AT200 = 46.2% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs VIX = 15.6 (32.5% increase) Short-term Trading Call: neutral Commentary Looks like I was over-optimistic to switch my short-term trading call from neutral to bullish. Now I am right back … Read more

Above the 40 (August 15, 2017) – The Retail Wreck Runs Over Strong Data

AT40 = 39.5% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) AT200 = 50.4% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs VIX = 12.0 Short-term Trading Call: bullish Commentary Urban Outfitters (URBN) notwithstanding with its 19.5% after hours surge, Tuesday, August 15, 2017 was a signature day for the weakness engulfing … Read more

Lost in the Fire and Fury – Promising Earnings from ShotSpotter

As North Korean President Kim Jung Un and U.S. President Donald Trump shot barbs and threats at each other – threats which included Trump’s promises of fire and fury and perhaps more – ShotSpotter (SSTI), a gunfire detection and location technology company, reported earnings. I think the promising results were lost in the crossfire and … Read more

Above the 40 (August 10, 2017) – The Stock Market’s Bearish Divergence Resolves Into Broad Selling

AT40 = 35.0% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) AT200 = 48.9% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs VIX = 16.0 (volatility index) Short-term Trading Call: neutral Commentary The sellers finally put on a show complete with follow-through and a strong finish. The S&P 500 (SPY) cleaved right … Read more

Above the 40 (August 9, 2017) – A Stock Market Pushing Against A Bearish Divergence

AT40 = 45.5% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) AT200 = 53.5% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs VIX = 11.1 (volatility index) Short-term Trading Call: neutral (first day of downgrade) Commentary The stock market had a weak open but a strong close. On the heels of ratcheting … Read more

Forex Critical – Key Trends Continuing for the Aussie, Loonie, and Yen

The latest CFTC data on the Commitments of Traders (CoT) showed some key trends continuing: new heights of bullishness on the Australian dollar (FXA) and the Canadian dollar (FXC), and on-going depths of bearishness for the Japanese yen (FXY). Speculators increased net longs on the Australian dollar for the 8th week in a row. Speculators … Read more