Above the 40 (May 11, 2018) – The Stock Market’s Time to Test Buyers’ Resolve

AT40 = 65.3% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) AT200 = 51.5% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs VIX = 12.7 Short-term Trading Call: neutral Commentary Here we are again. The stock market looks like it is breaking free, but there are major caveats which keep me wary … Read more

Deconstructing Materials Stocks

The deconstruction continues in material stocks. The culprit this time around was a poor reading and interpretation of construction spending. Per AP News: “U.S. construction spending dropped 1.7 percent in March, the biggest setback in 11 months, with weakness in a number of sectors including the biggest plunge in home building in nine years. The … Read more

Forex Critical: Turkish Lira Snaps Back with Snap Elections

“…I decided to fade [USD/TRY] in anticipation of the next pullback. I also hope to collect a decent amount of carry as financial markets settle down a bit with earnings in the U.S. Still, until the CBRT takes definitive action, it makes sense to short the lira in the middle of what looks like an … Read more

Forex Critical: Mexican Peso – A Breakdown and the End of A Trade

When I last wrote about the Mexican peso three months ago, I described the NAFTA-driven context surrounding the breakdown of USD/MXN below its 50-day moving average (DMA). I was still holding onto a long-standing short on USD/MXN. I managed to keep holding this short until Wednesday evening (April 4, 2018). Source: TradingView.com I closed my … Read more

Above the 40 (March 29, 2018) – A Stock Market Bent Out of Shape But Not Quite Broken

AT40 = 38.7% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) AT200 = 42.4% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs VIX = 20.0 Short-term Trading Call: neutral Commentary The bears did their best to spook the market, but they failed to break it down. The foundations felt wobbly for most … Read more

Above the 40 (March 27, 2018) – Source of Funds Trading Action

AT40 = 31.2% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) AT200 = 39.4% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs VIX = 22.5 Short-term Trading Call: neutral Commentary The market from another planet continues to wobble wildly on its axis. Today was the day for investors to make more withdrawals … Read more

Above the 40 (March 23, 2018) – A Stock Market From Another Planet: Yet Another Oversold Test Looms

AT40 = 25.6% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) AT200 = 37.5% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs (2-year closing low) VIX = 24.9 Short-term Trading Call: neutral Commentary On Friday, President Trump characterized the pre-Trump stock market as something “from another planet.” Surely he meant the last … Read more

Above the 40 (March 13, 2018) – Here We Go Again – Stock Market Trips Over Trade War Talk

AT40 = 48.7% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) AT200 = 51.9% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs VIX = 16.4 Short-term Trading Call: bullish Commentary It’s like deja vu again. The smoke just barely cleared from defusing Trump’s tripwire over trade wars, and now the market is … Read more