Nasdaq 100 Last Week Retreats From Crucial Level – Action This Week Could Be Telling

The Nasdaq 100 index/QQQ could be potentially forming the right side of a bearish head-and-shoulders pattern.  This week’s action could provide further clues. The US economy is one month short of completing nine years of expansion.  The recovery has been … Continued

US Stocks Beginning To Reflect Elevated Optimism Near Term

posted in: Derivatives, Equities, Technicals | 0

The S&P 500 just broke out of trend-line resistance from late January, and apparently spent tons of energy in doing so.  Near-term, the options market is reflecting elevated optimism.  Unwinding is likely. US stocks enjoyed a nice rally in the … Continued

Small-Caps Act Strong – On Verge of Major Breakout Or Triple Top?

There are some interesting dynamics in play in the small-cap sector – encompassing both fundamentals and technicals. Post-tax cuts of last December, earnings estimates were sharply revised higher.  The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 was signed into law … Continued

SPY Puts Together 7-Session, 5.4% Rally – Breather/Reversal Path Of Least Resistance N/T

Intraday over seven sessions, SPY rallied 5.4 percent.  If not an outright reversal, at least a breather is the path of least resistance near term, creating opportunity to earn premium in options. The 1Q18 earnings season is nearly over.  As … Continued

CoT: Peek Into Future Through Futures, How Hedge Funds Are Positioned

Following futures positions of non-commercials are as of May 8, 2018. 10-year note: Currently net short 408.6k, down 37k. The 10-year Treasury rate (2.97 percent) once again is hammering on three percent.  On April 25, yields retreated after rising intraday … Continued

Long And Short Of Short Interest

posted in: Equities, Technicals | 0

Here is a brief review of period-over-period change in short interest in the April 16-30 period in nine S&P 500 sectors. XLB (SPDR materials ETF) Since peaking at 64.17 on January 26, XLB (58.49) has persistently made lower highs.  A … Continued

Little Too Early To Conclude, But Watch Out If US Consumers Start Saving More

posted in: Commodities, Credit, Economy, Equities | 0

There are some signs US consumers are beginning to save up a little and cut down on credit card debt.  If – big IF – sustained, this will have consequences for the economy, not to mention stocks. In general, a … Continued

SPY Bulls Once Again Defend 200-DMA, Room To Rally N/T – Short Put For Premium

First-quarter earnings are coming in strong, but stocks are stuck in a rut.  There is room to rally near term, with tons of overhead resistance. One common complaint among the bulls is that US stocks of late have failed to … Continued

CoT: Peek Into Future Through Futures, How Hedge Funds Are Positioned

Following futures positions of non-commercials are as of May 1, 2018. 10-year note: Currently net short 445.7k, down 16.5k. US inflation of late has firmed up.  Core PCE – the Fed’s favorite measure of consumer inflation – jumped 1.88 percent … Continued