Weekly Covered Call Post-GLD Breakdown

The yellow metal cannot catch a break. GLD, the SPDR Gold ETF, broke down last week, losing eight-month support at $110.  The corresponding support on spot gold lies around $1,140.  Friday, gold closed at $1,132.20 and GLD at $108.65. The … Continued

Peek Into Future Through Futures

The following are futures positions of non-commercials as of July 14, 2015.  Change is week-over-week. 10-year note: Fed Chair Janet Yellen during her mid-week Humphrey-Hawkins testimony reiterated her desire to hike interest rates later this year, if data cooperate.  On … Continued

Weekly Cash-Secured Put On TLT

posted in: Credit, Derivatives, Technicals | 0

As expected, Fed Chair Janet Yellen, in her Humphrey-Hawkins testimony yesterday, reiterated what she, and other Fed officials, have been saying for a while.  They are data dependent, and if data cooperate, a rate hike is coming later this year.  … Continued

U.S. Sales Of Light-Weight Vehicles Bright Spot — Some Yellow Flags Rising

posted in: Economy | 0

June U.S. auto sales 17.1mn units, preceded by cycle high of 17.7mn in May Auto loans nearing $1tn; sharp rise since 3Q10; non-revolving consumer credit $2.5tn Potential problems in autos: extension of average maturity and rise in average amount financed … Continued

Can Bulls Use Short Interest To Their Advantage?

posted in: Derivatives, Equities, Technicals | 0

In the right circumstances, U.S. stocks have room to rally – at least in the near-term.  After the recent pullback, U.S.-based stock funds attracted $14.1 billion in the week ended July 8 – biggest inflows since mid-December (courtesy of Lipper).  … Continued

Covering ITB Shorts — For Now

June’s housing starts will be published this Friday.  Month-to-month, this is a volatile series.  May was down 11 percent, while April was up 22 percent.  Historically, starts remain low.  As Chart 1 shows, it is not often the green line … Continued

COT: Peek Into Future Through Futures

The following are futures positions of non-commercials as of July 7, 2015.  Change is week-over-week. 10-year note: After the June FOMC minutes were released, investors pushed back expectations for the first interest rate hike to March next year.  The minutes … Continued

Conditions In Place For Pendulum To Swing Other Way — Can Bulls Deliver?

posted in: Equities | 0

Of late, equity bulls have pulled in their horns.  Just a tad.  Will they be rewarded for their steadfast bullishness in the near-term? Investors Intelligence’s survey of bulls this week registered at 44.8 percent.  This was the sixth sub-50 reading … Continued