Small Cap Breakout, Pfizer COVID Anti-Viral Boost Bullish Market Breadth

Stock Market Commentary The first trading week of November was action-packed. At the start of the week I looked ahead to monetary policy from the Federal Reserve and the October jobs report as key catalysts. While those events were indeed important, the stock market was treated to an overlay of at least two other important … Read more

An October Extreme Sets Up A Bullish Start to the Market’s Strong Season – The Market Breadth

Stock Market Commentary The S&P 500 (SPY) bounced back from September’s woes for a 6.9% gain for the month of October. While the gain is extreme, I am even more interested in a different October extreme. Somehow, the index managed to skate through October without a notable drawdown. The maximum drawdown in October for the … Read more

A Key Breakout Cracked the Back of the Bear Cycle – The Market Breadth

Stock Market Commentary I turned bearish on the stock market over two weeks ago. Last week began with confirmation as sellers followed through on a fade from a brief rally. Mid-week, the downward momentum came to a screeching halt as buyers took over most of the trading action. I pointed out the key signs suggesting … Read more

Strong Start, Bearish End for September – The Market Breadth

Stock Market Commentary The strong start to September which characterized the persistent complacency in the stock market soon gave way to the kind of selling that characterizes one of the most dangerous months of the year. September came to a bearish end with a 4.8% loss on the month for the S&P 500. The index … Read more

Warnings from Early Divergences in the Oversold Bounce – Above the 40 (July 23, 2021)

Stock Market Commentary The oversold bounce last week exceeded my expectations. I did not expect the week to end with the S&P 500 and the NASDAQ hitting fresh all-time highs. Both indices seemed to offer limited upside for trading oversold conditions.The oversold bounce also disappointed me. I looked to beaten up stocks as the source … Read more

Fades and Breakdowns Contradict The Calm of the S&P 500 – Above the 40 (May 7, 2021)

Stock Market Commentary The stock market is a cauldron of contradictions and divergences. Breakdowns below key support levels abound. Stocks suffer post-earnings fades even after companies report strong results, especially in both beaten up growth stocks and resilient big cap tech. Yet, the S&P 500 just rises above the steady erosion of market breadth with … 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

Stock Market Rebounds Stronger Than Before – Above the 40 (October 9, 2020)

Stock Market Statistics AT40 = 61.1% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) AT200 = 53.2% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs VIX = 25.0 Short-term Trading Call: cautiously bullish Stock Market Commentary Without recognizing the bullish divergence that ended the previous week, last week’s trading dynamic of a … Read more

Stock Market Strengthens Breakaway from Oversold Periods – Above the 40 (April 17, 2020)

AT40 = 34.3% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) AT200 = 12.7% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAsVIX = 38.2Short-term Trading Call: cautiously bullish Stock Market Commentary Ever since the S&P 500 (SPY) bearishly broke down below its 50-day moving average (DMA) on February 24th, AT40 (T2108), the … Read more

A Growing Bearish Divergence Has Yet to Spoil Rally In Stock Indices – Above the 40 (November 8, 2019)

AT40 = 57.4% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs)AT200 = 54.9% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAsVIX = 12.1Short-term Trading Call: neutral Stock Market Commentary The stock market seems to be on a slow and steady march toward Christmas. The current bearish divergence and an exceptionally low volatility … Read more