Above the 40 (December 6, 2018) – Arresting Developments At Another Oversold Edge

AT40 = 31.5% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs)AT200 = 25.5% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs (just off a 32-month low)VIX = 21.2 (as high as 25.9)Short-term Trading Call: cautiously bullish CommentaryI have become convinced that 2019 is going to deliver another one of those poor trading … Read more

Housing Market Review (November, 2018) – The Federal Reserve Takes Note As Housing Deepens Its Slowdown

I saw a flicker of hope for home builders in the May Housing Market Review. Traders decided to snuff that flicker out very quickly afterward. When I wrote June’s housing market review and described a “struggling flicker,” the iShares US Home Construction ETF (ITB) was once again bouncing off the bottom of 2018’s trading range. … Read more

Powell Takes Some Air Out the Dollar, Boosts Gold and Silver

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell delivered a speech at Jackson Hole, Wyoming last Friday that seemed to reassure financial markets. The S&P 500 (SPY) finally closed at a new all-time high, and the U.S. dollar cooled off a bit again. Source: FreeStockCharts.com Source: TradingView.com Fundamentally, the speech contained no new news, but it did reaffirm … Read more

The U.S. Dollar Idles While Rate Hike Odds and Trade Pressures Creep Higher

I am riding the long U.S. dollar index (DXY) trade based on two simple drivers: 1) a U.S. Federal Reserve pacing for four rate hikes in 2018, and 2) an expanding trade war, especially against China, which on balance will create more demand for U.S. dollars especially relative to those currencies who stand to lose … Read more

Above the 40 (June 13, 2018) – A Fed Buzzkill Ends Ambitions for An Overbought Market

AT40 = 66.1% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) (ended 1-day overbought) AT200 = 55.5% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs (a 4-month high) VIX = 12.9 Short-term Trading Call: bearish Commentary Flipping short-term bullish was fun while it lasted…all of two days. The Federal Reserve hiked interest … Read more

Above the 40 (February 2, 2018) – Janet Yellen Exits As Oversold Market Conditions Loom

AT40 = 38.3% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) AT200 = 54.7% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs VIX = 17.3 (28.5% increase!) Short-term Trading Call: bullish Commentary “We cannot tolerate pervasive and persistent misconduct at any bank and the consumers harmed by Wells Fargo expect that robust … Read more

As the VIX Plunges to All-Time Lows, Speculators Abort Their Seasonal Gold and Silver Rush

A month ago, I wrote about the near seasonal pattern of speculators accumulating net long contracts in gold and silver from July troughs to October peaks. THIS year, the speculators started up on schedule but aborted the mission as net longs peaked well ahead of October. Source: Oanda’s CFTC’s Commitments of Traders So seasonal patterns … Read more

Above the 40 (June 16, 2017) – A Post-Fed Market Still In Bullish Position

AT40 = 56.7% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) AT200 = 57.5% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs VIX = 10.4 (volatility index) Short-term Trading Call: cautiously bullish Commentary The Federal Reserve gave the permission to the stock market that I awaited…well, sort of. On Wednesday, June 14, … Read more

Quick note for readers: Waiting for the Fed’s “permission”

This is a quick note for readers. I am on hiatus through June 15th. Over this time, the Fed will issue its next proclamation on monetary policy on June 13th. The tone should be a key tell as to whether the current dip in tech should be bought aggressively and now or whether it should … Read more

Above the 40 (March 15, 2017) – Stock Market Rate Hike Celebration Forgot the Financials

AT40 = 47.9% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) AT200 = 62.5% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs VIX = 11.6 (volatility index) Short-term Trading Call: neutral Commentary The U.S. Federal Reserve hiked its interest rate as expected by 0.25%. The accompanying statement was remarkable only for being … Read more