Thank you!
One year ago today, having just left a senior analyst position at a hedge fund and itching to do something new, I decided to embark upon an uncharted territory. That something new turned out to be this blog. Yes, it … Continued
Spring in financials’ step as they prepare to report 1Q
Despite a down day in stocks in general, financials had a lot of oomph yesterday. KBE continues to hug the upper end of the one-plus-year range it is in (Chart 1), as if the ETF wants to break through resistance. … Continued
Buyback-induced breakouts — signal or noise?
GE stages massive breakout Friday on back of massive buyback announcement S&P 500 companies splurged $565 billion on share repurchases in 2014 As/when buybacks dry up, support zones become more vulnerable Before last week, GE shares had been on a … Continued
End-March short interest: Indices flat, lots of changes industry- and sector-wide
Short interest as of the end of March was flat on an index level, but action was hot and heavy on an industry/sector level. On the NYSE, short interest was 15.68 billion, down from 15.69 billion two weeks ago. On … Continued
Peek into future through futures
The following are futures positions of non-commercials as of April 7, 2015. Change is week-over-week. 10-year note: Interesting times, indeed! Mexico this week issued a 100-year bond denominated in euros. This is not the first time that nation has tapped … Continued
Limp signal out of vol of vol, but VIX:VXV probably sides with bulls N/T
Both bulls and bears holding on to turf; S&P 500 remains range-bound VIX:VXV pokes head out of oversold zone but unable to make further progress Volatility of volatility jumped to highest four months ago; in no-man’s land currently Bulls and … Continued
Pace of energy job cuts slowing, even as hourly earnings holding up, what gives?
Energy stocks correlate with oil price; former holding up better in current decline Sector job cuts mediocre; oil and extraction hourly earnings another high in Feb Companies acting as if bottom is in for oil; investors buying into this optimism … Continued
Bill Dudley’s Monday comments, shot across bow of dollar rally?
Exports’ share in U.S. GDP not as high as industrialized peers but increasingly important Fed’s rate-hike-this-year message significant tailwind for greenback’s relentless rally Fed officials not enamored of buck surge; how long before they start jawboning? There is a wide … Continued
Range-bound SMH seems ripe for neutral option strategy
SMH, the semiconductor ETF, has been range-bound since last September. Looking at a weekly chart (the one below is daily), the path of least resistance seems down in the medium-term. Bears had a great opportunity seven sessions ago to push … Continued
Can U.S. dollar become victim of its own success?
Dollar has benefited from growth/interest rate differential among countries Recent spurt of weak U.S. data has pushed back rate-hike expectations to late 15 Dollar index retreats after approaching crucial Fib retracement; other levels to watch In 2014, the U.S. economy … Continued