Housing Market Review (December, 2018) – Prices Are Still Too High

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

Toll Brothers: A Slowdown Continues In November, Guidance Holds Hope

It was the soundbite on the U.S. housing market heard from near and far: Despite a healthy economy, we are seeing a moderation in demand. Fourth quarter contracts declined 15% in dollars and 13% in units compared to a difficult comp from 1 year ago. Fourth quarter demand flowed to a per community pace more … Read more

Above the 40 (December 7, 2018) – Right Back Where the Stock Market Started, But Worse

AT40 = 25.5% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs)AT200 = 23.4% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs (just off a 32-month low)VIX = 23.2 (as high as 24.7)Short-term Trading Call: cautiously bullish CommentaryI am surprised the stock market has yet to close in oversold conditions. AT40 (T2108), the … Read more

KB Home Confirmed Longstanding Market Fears Over Home Builders

In most of my Housing Market Reviews this year, I chronicled the growing warning signs in the housing market and the on-going technical damage in the stocks of home builders. Until the last few months, I remained hopeful that a turn-around waited around the corner; I kept looking for the reassurances of the home builders … Read more

Above the 40 (November 2, 2018) – The Bounce from Oversold Survives An Early Test

AT40 = 22.0% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) – ends an 11-day oversold period that followed a 4-day oversold period AT200 = 31.6% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs VIX = 19.5 Short-term Trading Call: bullish Commentary If you are a long-term passive index investor, you can … Read more