Above the 40 (August 31, 2018) – A Pause for FOMO

AT40 = 57.1% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) AT200 = 57.5% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs VIX = 12.9 Short-term Trading Call: neutral Commentary In my last Above the 40 post, I discussed the early signs of a potential run-up driven by the “fear of missing … Read more

A Gold Bottom But Will the U.S. Dollar Cooperate?

Gold, and by extension the SPDR Gold Shares (GLD), has had a rough year. However, based on a historic flip in speculative positioning in gold futures, a bottom is likely in for GLD. According to the tweet and chart below, the net speculative positioning in gold recently went net negative for the first time in … Read more

Forex Critical: Mexican Peso Weakens As Traders Bail on Emerging Market Risks

In my post reviewing the strength in the U.S. dollar index (DXY), I neglected to note a related weakening in the Mexican peso. On Friday, USD/MXN rallied into its 200-day moving average (DMA) and faded. Per my plan, I faded USD/MXN at the 200DMA. Much to my surprise, USD/MXN readily backed off 200DMA resistance. I … 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

Forex Critical: Mexican Peso – A Breakdown and the End of A Trade

When I last wrote about the Mexican peso three months ago, I described the NAFTA-driven context surrounding the breakdown of USD/MXN below its 50-day moving average (DMA). I was still holding onto a long-standing short on USD/MXN. I managed to keep holding this short until Wednesday evening (April 4, 2018). Source: TradingView.com I closed my … Read more

Forex Critical: The Latest NAFTA Scare Reverses for the Canadian Dollar and Mexican Peso

Last week, financial markets were abuzz with rumors that Canada was preparing for the U.S. to exit NAFTA, the North American Free Trade Agreement. No official statement ever emerged and within three trading days the entire impact of the scare reversed. For example, the rumors weakened the Canadian dollar (FXC) significantly against the U.S. dollar … Read more

Forex Critical: British Pound and Mexican Peso – A Tale Of Resistance

In recent days I wrote about the British pound (FXB) and the Mexican peso. In both posts, I pointed out to resistance levels versus the U.S. dollar: GBP/USD and USD/MXN. In both cases, those resistance levels held. In the case of the pound, the technicals held against major fundamental news: the Bank of England (BoE) … Read more

Forex Critical: The U.S. Dollar Vs. Mexican Peso Soars To An Important Level

Against the U.S. dollar, the Mexican peso, USD/MXN, has left its 15-month low in the dust. For the past month, USD/MXN has neatly followed its upper-Bollinger Bands (BBs) straight through a bullish confirmation of a 50DMA breakout and then a bullish breakout above its 200-day moving average (DMA). Source: FreeStockCharts.com Most importantly, USD/MXN has now … Read more

Above the 40 (September 8, 2017) – Lingering Tensions for the Stock Market

AT40 = 44.9% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) AT200 = 48.9% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs VIX = 12.1 (up 4.9%) Short-term Trading Call: neutral Commentary The market has made no progress since my last Above the 40 post which covered the volatility and fizzle from … Read more