The Surprising Implications of Periods of Extremely Low Volatility – A Follow-Up

The volatility index, the VIX, has closed below 11 for 5 straight days and 22 of the last 25. These stretches of extremely low volatility (I will now shorten it to ELV for convenience) include a 14-year low for the VIX. The interruption in this streak of ELV included an abrupt wake-up call where the … Read more

Above the 40 (May 26, 2017) – The S&P 500 Hits More All-Time Highs Floating On Pillows of Caution

AT40 = 47.5% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) AT200 = 55.3% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs VIX = 9.8 (volatility index) Short-term Trading Call: cautiously bullish Commentary I should no longer be amazed, but I am still amazed: the inability of sellers to generate follow-through in … Read more

IHS Markit Jumps On News It Will Join the S&P 500 Index

Sometimes an uptrend tells traders everything they need to know. On May 22, 2017, I reviewed the results from my scan for stocks with relative strength during times of weakness in the S&P 500 (SPY). I lamented how last week’s flash of selling did not provide any good buying opportunities. So I indicated my plan … Read more

Above the 40 (May 19, 2017) – The Nut Job Stock Market: Nutty By Nature

AT40 = 42.8% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) AT200 = 54.3% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs VIX = 12.0 (volatility index) – a 17.9% decrease Short-term Trading Call: neutral (bullish only after the latest Trump Turmoil reverses OR oversold conditions, potentially bearish upon a retest of … Read more

Above the 40 (May 17, 2017) – One Day Suffices: S&P 500 Breakdown Lands the French Fly With A Thud

AT40 = 36.5% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) AT200 = 51.2% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs VIX = 15.6 (volatility index) – a 46.4% increase!!! Short-term Trading Call: neutral (downgrade from cautiously bullish) Commentary Time to downgrade my cautious bullishness to neutral. The S&P 500 (SPY) … Read more

Above the 40 (May 16, 2017) – Stock Market Drag

AT40 = 48.2% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) AT200 = 55.6% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs VIX = 10.7 (volatility index) Short-term Trading Call: cautiously bullish (downgrade from bullish) Commentary Time to downgrade my bullishness to “cautiously bullish.” While the S&P 500 (SPY) made a new … Read more

Above the 40 (May 11, 2017) – S&P 500 Snaps Back As SNAP, Well, Snapped

AT40 = 49.1% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) AT200 = 57.2% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs VIX = 10.6 (volatility index) Short-term Trading Call: bullish Commentary The week started with the volatility index, the VIX, plunging to a 14-year low. I held onto my put options … Read more

Above the 40 (May 5, 2017) – The S&P 500 Again Skirts Past A Bearish Divergence

AT40 = 54.4% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) AT200 = 59.4% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs VIX = 10.6 (volatility index) Short-term Trading Call: bullish Commentary Two hallmarks of this current stock market have been the 1) consistent weakness of sellers and 2) the persistent ability … Read more

Above the 40 (May 3, 2017) – Technical Setbacks Masked By Gains for Financials and Apple Comeback

AT40 = 53.0% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) AT200 = 59.0% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs VIX = 10.7 (volatility index) Short-term Trading Call: bullish Commentary The Federal Reserve effectively reaffirmed its commitment to two more rate hikes this year. The S&P 500 (SPY) yawned, but … Read more

Above the 40 (May 2, 2017) – Tech Stocks Snatch Center Stage As the Rest of the Market Awaits the Fed

AT40 = 58.3% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) AT200 = 61.1% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs VIX = 10.6 (volatility index) Short-term Trading Call: bullish Commentary At the end of April, I noted how the stock market headed into May trading with a mix of alerts. … Read more