Above the 40 (November 10, 2017) – A Flash Resolution to Bearish Divergence

AT40 = 48.1% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) AT200 = 54.9% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs VIX = 11.3 Short-term Trading Call: cautiously bullish Commentary It was by the slimmest of margins, but the S&P 500 (SPY) finally ended a week with a loss. After 8 … Read more

Housing Market Review – Stocks Racing Away from Swirling Data (October, 2017)

The last Housing Market Review covered data reported in September, 2017 for August, 2017. At the time, I described a growing rift between the data and the stocks of home builders. Instead of stumbling, housing stocks received a fresh breath of life and kicked up the momentum another notch higher in October. The iShares U.S. … Read more

Forex Critical: The U.S. Dollar Vs. Mexican Peso Soars To An Important Level

Against the U.S. dollar, the Mexican peso, USD/MXN, has left its 15-month low in the dust. For the past month, USD/MXN has neatly followed its upper-Bollinger Bands (BBs) straight through a bullish confirmation of a 50DMA breakout and then a bullish breakout above its 200-day moving average (DMA). Source: FreeStockCharts.com Most importantly, USD/MXN has now … Read more

Rio Tinto Vs. BHP Billiton: A Pairs Trade for the RBA’s Top In Iron Ore

On September 19th, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) released the minutes from its last meeting on monetary policy (September 5, 2017). Iron ore was perhaps the biggest headline coming out of those minutes. Surprisingly, the RBA called a top in the price of iron ore (emphasis mine): “Iron ore prices had been supported at … Read more

Above the 40 (September 15, 2017) – Another Missile, Another All-Time High for the S&P 500

AT40 = 60.4% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) AT200 = 53.2% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs VIX = 10.2 Short-term Trading Call: cautiously bullish Commentary North Korea launched another ballistic missile over Japan, this one with enough range to hit Guam. The general market response was … 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 (July 21, 2017) – A Stock Market Soaring High But On the Edge

AT40 = 64.0% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) AT200 = 60.4% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs VIX = 9.4 (volatility index) (2nd lowest VIX since at least 1990!) Short-term Trading Call: cautiously bullish Commentary The S&P 500 (SPY) is soaring high since its impressive breakout two … Read more

Forex Critical: The Australian Dollar – Too Much, Too Fast

Over two weeks ago I officially ended my bearishness on the Australian dollar (FXA). I made that call just in time. Source: FreeStockCharts.com The Australian dollar has powered higher against almost all major currencies and now threatens to retard the economy’s on-going adjustment away from mining investment. The Reserve Bank of Australia has consistently noted … Read more

Forex Critical: Speculators Ride the Wave Against the Japanese Yen

The Japanese yen (FXY) is the one major currency that has been notably weaker than the U.S. dollar for most of the past month. USD/JPY peaked in December, 2016, but it looks like the sell-off bottomed out in April. Source: FreeStockCharts.com This yen weakness has been particularly evident against strong currencies, like the euro (FXE), … Read more

Forex Critical: The U.S. Dollar Finally Gets Relief – ISM Manufacturing to the Rescue

It was a holiday shortened trading day in the U.S., but it was enough time to deliver a bit of relief for the U.S. dollar index (DXY0). The most significant move for the U.S. dollar was against the ever-weakening Japanese yen (FXY). USD/JPY broke out and stayed above resistance at its uptrending 200-day moving average … Read more