From Growth Tantrum to Growing Complacency for the Stock Market – Above the 40 (April 16, 2021)

Stock Market Commentary The growth tantrum is almost a distant memory. Complacency is more the order of the day as the volatility index sinks further below 20 and the S&P 500 (SPY) hops and skips through all-time highs. Big cap tech is popular again. These stocks are helping to drag both the S&P 500 and … Read more

As the Growth Tantrum Calms, the Stock Market Extends Bullish Signals – Above the 40 (April 1, 2021)

Stock Market Commentary All March long the stock market wrestled with inflation fears. After the S&P 500 (SPY) successfully rallied away from its 50-day moving average (DMA) (red line in the chart below) in early March, I recognized signs that the stock market’s churn was a sign of digestion of these fears. Yet, so-called growth … Read more

Sharp Rebound in Stocks Flashed Signs of Refreshed Bullishness – Above the 40 (March 25, 2021)

AT40 (T2108) sharply rebounded off a 5-month intraday low.

Stock Market Commentary After today’s open, the rolling interruption to the reopen trade started to look like the beginning of a real pullback. Sellers got about 90 minutes to enjoy the pressure before buyers took control. The back and forth between selling pressure and buying relief has taken a toll on a swath of the … Read more

A Rolling Interruption for the Stock Market’s Reopen Trade – Above the 40 (March 23, 2021)

Stock Market Commentary After writing the last Above the 40 post, I thought the market would soon force me off the fence and onto the bullish side of the pasture. Even with post-Fed churn in play, the market looked like it was digesting inflation fears pretty well. Instead, a rolling interruption for the stock market’s … Read more

The Stock Market Continues to Digest Inflation Fears – Above the 40 (March 19, 2021)

Stock Market Commentary A great stock market divergence continued last week. However, the market overall is looking more and more resilient as it continues to digest inflation fears. Even the biggest victim of the great divergence, the NASDAQ (COMPQX), remains well above its lows for the month. A very dovish session with Federal Reserve Chair … Read more

A Great Stock Market Divergence – Above the 40 (March 12, 2021)

Stock Market Commentary A great stock market divergence clarified itself last week. Growth stocks, especially the expensive and/or speculative kind, took a back seat to industrial and consumer names and other stocks primed to benefit most from the global economies reopening on a fresh wave of liquidity. This divergence renders a generalized view of the … Read more

High-Tech Stocks Break Down In Fallout from Fierce Bear-Bull Battle – Above the 40 (March 5, 2021)

Stock Market Commentary The stock market continued its streak of trickiness. Buyers and sellers played a fierce bear-bull battle starting with one of the biggest fake-out one-day rallies since last September 2nd’s near parabolic run-up. Fresh money flowed into funds to start the month of March to for gains of 2.4% on the S&P 500 … Read more

Tricky Trading Quickly Took Stocks from Strength to Weakness – Above the 40 (February 26, 2021)

Stock Market Commentary The stock market got quite tricky last week. A day after buyers re-established control, sellers returned with a sustained fury. The selling on Thursday reflected the stock market’s split personality while the follow-up selling on Friday seemed broader. The pressure on the the stock market looks like an ominous setup for March … Read more

A Split Personality Market Emerges from the End of Overbought Conditions – Above the 40 (February 19, 2021)

Stock Market Commentary The week ended with a split personality. While the S&P 500 meandered and the NASDAQ flattened, small caps rebounded convincingly. Financials also forged ahead. As a result, the recent end to overbought conditions may only signal (mild) bearish conditions for a portion of the stock market. The Stock Market Indices The S&P … Read more

Stock Market Almost Overbought After Sweeping Away Bearish Signals – Above the 40 (February 5, 2020)

In a major display of buying power, AT40 (T2108) surged from 41% to 69% in just a week's time.

Stock Market Commentary Sellers beat a hasty retreat from the stock market as another bearish signal enjoyed a fleeting existence. The last bearish period lasted about three days. The previous bearish period barely survived a day. The stock market’s ability to quickly wipe away bearish signals is impressive. The buying force over the last week … Read more