ONE-TWENTY TWO: Trading Financial Markets
Exploring the poetry in financial markets for students of money and economy since the year 2000.
Housing Market Intro and Summary “…the level of housing activity is at its highest level since before the global financial crisis in some measure. So we’ve had a very strong rebound in housing. Some of the tightness in housing markets — which has led to the significant price increases this year — we think is … Read more
Stock Market Commentary The Presidential inauguration is a hallowed American tradition. The stock market celebrated the incoming Biden and Harris administration with new all-time highs on good trading volume. The start of a new American administration is as good a time as any to back down from my recent short-term bearish call. While this overbought … Read more
Stock Market Commentary The weakening overbought conditions finally gave way to a full breakdown. The abrupt end of the overbought period ushers in the bear. Ironically, trading started well with the S&P 500 (SPY) gapping slightly higher at the open. The selling pressure started after the open and did not relent until lunchtime on the … Read more
Stock Market Commentary The stock market quickly moved away from its close call with overbought conditions to pulling off a refresher for extended overbought conditions. The acquiescence of President Trump in signing a heavily negotiated, highly contentious pandemic relief bill seemed to provide the spark for the buying in the major indices. The Stock Market … Read more
Housing Market Intro and Summary A divergence in the housing market is emerging between slowing home builder stocks and strong housing data. The housing boom in the U.S. continued to make its mark in the middle of the pandemic-induced recession. While new home sales took a bit of a pause in October, housing starts, existing … Read more
This week’s housing data were impressive. The Housing Market Index (HMI) for October reported another all-time for home builder sentiment. Subsequently, starts for single-family homes hit a fresh 13-year high. Yet, the stock market yawned. Housing-related stocks demonstrated rare signs of weakness not seen in a long time. Several stocks suffered breakdowns below their respective … Read more
Housing Market Intro and Summary The housing downturn ended almost as quickly as it began. V-shaped recoveries are evident across a spectrum of data, especially in home builder sentiment and new home sales. Home builders continue to describe extremely strong demand that, in many cases, goes beyond the release of buying power pent-up by the … Read more
Housing Market Intro and Summary Could the housing downturn already be coming to a swift end? The stocks of home builders are delivering this message. They have enjoyed a very healthy rally and recovery from the depths of the March stock market crash. The challenges ahead are large: worsening economic conditions, unemployment at historically high … Read more
A Startling V-Shaped Recovery Meritage Homes (MTH) has become a poster child for the near V-shaped recovery for housing-related stocks. MTH achieved a startling feat on the heels of a 3.5% gain: at its highs of the day, Meritage Homes reached its post-earnings stock price on January 30th which in turn was close to a … Read more
Housing Market Intro/Summary The short-term outlook for the housing market is clouded by the current global turmoil generated by the coronavirus. The housing data discussed below were all collected before the virus came to the forefront of the minds of Americans. While demand for housing in the U.S. should remain strong (and certainly times like … Read more