It seems buyback deceleration continued in 2Q17. Based on results from 85 percent of S&P 500 companies, S&P Dow Jones Indices points out that buybacks are on course for a 10.4-percent decline quarter-over-quarter. Buybacks were $133.2 billion in 1Q17. In … Continued
Last week’s mini sell-off in U.S. equities did not materialize all of a sudden. This was building for a while. The Russell 2000 small-cap index in particular peaked as early as July 25. Investors/traders in general gravitate toward small-caps when … Continued
Following futures positions of non-commercials are as of Aug 8, 2017. 10-year note: Currently net long 229.8k, up 19k. In the past several months, several Fed officials, including Chair Janet Yellen, have expressed concern over persistently rising stock-market valuations. Using … Continued
Here is a brief review of period-over-period change in short interest in the July 17-31 period in the Nasdaq and NYSE Group as well as nine S&P 500 sectors. Nasdaq Back on June 9, the composite (6352.33) developed a big … Continued
Dividends are a good source of income for Americans. Since Great Recession ended, U.S. personal income rose 35 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $16.4 trillion in 2Q17, while dividend income jumped 72.3 percent to $968.8 billion. Dividend … Continued
As of last Thursday, a little over four-fifths of S&P 500 companies reported 2Q17 results. Of the 422 companies, 70.1 percent beat on operating earnings, 20.6 percent missed and 9.2 percent met, as per S&P Dow Jones Indices. In the … Continued
Following futures positions of non-commercials are as of Aug 1, 2017. 10-year note: Currently net long 210.9k, down 69.8k. So far this year, there have been two rate hikes – and four altogether since the Fed started raising in December … Continued
The Russell 2000 small cap index is dangerously close to breaking down. On Wednesday, it violated a rising trend line from February last year – albeit only slightly. Of the four major indices, the Russell 2000 is the first to … Continued
Interesting dynamics are at play in U.S. housing. Sales of both existing and new homes are decent, but price has galloped ahead. Add to that household formation and supply of homes, housing could very well be at an interesting juncture. … Continued
Amidst 2Q17 earnings and elevated multiples, some signs of fatigue are showing up on major U.S. indices. As of last Thursday, 2Q17 operating earnings of S&P 500 companies were on course for $30.70. In the year-ago quarter, they were $25.70 … Continued