Central Bank Unease: Fed Caps Week of Emergency Actions As Markets Panic

In an earlier post on Sunday, I provided reasons to believe that the market was finally drawing a line in the sand for a sustainable bottom. With anticipation, I pronounced I would go on a shopping spreed down to S&P 500 (SPY) 2600. At the time of writing, it looks like I may have to … Read more

A Viral Cure from the Federal Reserve: An Ambulance Full of Rate Cuts

Fed to the Rescue If you are sitting at home wringing your hands about catching a virus from the outside world, I am guessing you are not exactly relieved to hear that the U.S. Federal Reserve may try to come to your rescue with more rate cuts. Yet, easy money is what central banks know … Read more

Policy Pressures Significantly Weaken the Canadian Dollar

After hitting a 15-month low, the U.S. dollar versus Canadian dollar (USD/CAD) bounced nearly straight up to the top of its range.

For months, I have tried to stay bullish on the Canadian dollar (FXC), particularly against the U.S. dollar (USD/CAD). Bit by bit, the Bank of Canada has undermined my bullish narratives. The tune from the Bank of Canada (BoC) notably changed in the November report on monetary policy, and last month’s report on monetary policy … Read more

Forex Critical: Mexican Peso Hits Key Milestone After USMCA Passage

The U.S. Senate approved the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) trade agreement on Thursday, January 16th. That timing may mark a major milestone and turning point for the Mexican peso against the U.S. dollar (USD/MXN). The following day, USD/MXN sliced through the low of 2019 and hit a 17-month low. I have been bullish on the Mexican … Read more

Forex Critical: A Sharp Rally Ends for the South African Rand

It was just two weeks ago when I pointed out an important technical change in the U.S. dollar against the South African rand (USD/ZAR). The USD/ZAR currency pair proceeded to decline nearly straight down until it reached toward the July lows. Based on the strong rebound underway, I am assuming the rally in the rand … Read more

The U.S. Dollar Resumes Its Dance With Long-Term Support

The U.S. dollar index (DXY) has bounced along its 200DMA support all year long.

With the U.S. dollar index (DXY) last tested its 200-day moving average (DMA) support, I pondered the possibilities for a breakdown. The U.S. dollar index typically sustains moves through its 200DMA, whether a breakout or a breakdown, so I braced myself for the need to jettison my long dollar positions. Instead of follow-through, the U.S. … Read more

Trade War Pairs Trade: Best Buy Vs. Emerging Markets

Best Buy (BBY) dropped 10.8% on news of the expansion of Trump's Trade War with China.

The Extreme: Best Buy Regular readers know that my favorite trades come on the heels of extremes in financial conditions. After President Trump announced a 10% tariff on $300B of Chinese imports, I saw a lot of extremes that made me sit up and take notice. One of the biggest extremes occurred in the shares … Read more

The Surprising Dollar Holds Its Trendline – Is A Breakout Next?

The U.S. Federal Reserve is set to cut interest rates by 25 basis points in the coming week (July 31). The odds for at least another 50 basis points by next January are around 61.9% according to the CME FedWatch Tool. Yet, the U.S. dollar index (DXY) has regained new life. After breaking critical support … Read more

Rate Cut Cheer Not Yet Enough to Push Stock Market To Overbought – Above the 40 (July 12, 2019)

After a bullish run-up, AT40 (T2108) struggled all week to break through the overbought threshold.

AT40 = 68.2% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) AT200 = 54.9% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs (essentially matches the 2019 high and is a new 10-month high)VIX = 12.4Short-term Trading Call: neutral (caveats below) Stock Market Commentary After the report on June jobs, financial markets got … Read more

Stock Market Trades Near Overbought As the Good Equals Bad Formula Blurs – Above the 40 (July 5, 2019)

Overbought conditions loom as earnings season approaches, and the stock market eagerly anticipates rate cuts.

AT40 = 68.0% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) AT200 = 55.1% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs (essentially matches the 2019 high and is a new 10-month high)VIX = 13.3Short-term Trading Call: neutral (caveats below) Stock Market Commentary Good news is bad news….oops, nevermind The search for … Read more