ONE-TWENTY TWO: Trading Financial Markets
Exploring the poetry in financial markets for students of money and economy since the year 2000.
Stock Market Analysis Summary The market initially welcomed the Fed’s rate cut, but rising long-term yields recreated the same headwinds seen after the October rate cut. A tired AI trade emerged as Oracle, Broadcom, NVIDIA, and semiconductors sold off sharply, pressuring market breadth. Major indices showed signs of topping despite prior strength, especially the NASDAQ … Read more
The bearish to bullish reversal ended for home builder stocks with a return to bear market territory. Today, October 9, 2025, the iShares U.S. Home Construction ETF (ITB) dropped under the threshold that defines a bear market: 20% below the all-time high (see chart below). The 2.6% slide on the day is part of a … Read more
Housing Market Intro and Summary What happened in the housing market in May, 2025? Tariff pressures and economic chaos subsided, yet the stocks of home builders did not benefit as spring failed to deliver sufficient demand to meet soaring inventories. Mortgage rates trended higher again and home prices continued higher. While new home sales reached … Read more
Housing Market Intro and Summary What happened in the housing market in January, 2025? The bear market that scarred the landscape for builders came to an end just ahead of an important December inflation report. Relief from that report combined with relief from a builder’s earnings report helped to seal the deal on the three … Read more
Housing Market Intro and Summary What happened in the housing market in May, 2024? Homebuilders suddenly soured on the prospects for the housing market. In my previous Housing Market Review, I pointed out signs of topping and sales headwinds. The data in May delivered a picture of broadening weakness as a follow-through to the warnings … Read more