Stocks in general essentially began 2018 where 2017 left off. Take financials. XLF (SPDR financial sector ETF) was up 20 percent last year. In the first four sessions this year, it is up another 1.8 percent. Although major indices have … Continued
Following futures positions of non-commercials are as of January 2, 2018. 10-year note: Currently net short 75.8k, down 7.8k. It is on. Doves versus hawks. At least for now. FOMC minutes for the December 12-13 meeting highlighted the growing tension … Continued
Gold shows nice price action, just broke past $1,300/ounce, and has room to rally further, particularly if non-commercial futures traders continue to keep the faith and/or the U.S. dollar weakens further. Most recently, the yellow metal bottomed at $1,238.30 on … Continued
Non-commercial futures traders tend to be trend followers, and do a pretty good job of it except at inflection points. Chart 1 plots these traders’ holdings in Russell 2000 mini-index futures (ICE and CME combined) with the cash. The two … Continued
Following futures positions of non-commercials are as of December 26, 2017. 10-year note: Currently net short 83.7k, up 39.4k. No one said a breakout of this significance would be easy. Last week, 10-year yields closed right underneath a three-decade-old descending … Continued
Tactical shorts in XLF (SPDR financial sector ETF) have a decision to make. The ETF has essentially gone sideways the past couple of weeks. The bulls are staying put, having defended the 10-day moving average last Friday. Things can always … Continued
Following futures positions of non-commercials are as of December 19, 2017. 10-year note: Currently net short 44.2k, down 89k. Is the big one around the corner? The big breakout, that is? Ten-year Treasury yields, at one point at 2.5 percent, … Continued
Driven by tax-cut optimism and favorable seasonality, trader/investor sentiment is giddy, but small-caps are not getting their fair share. The latest Investors Intelligence numbers will be out later today, but as of last week, bulls have been 60 percent or … Continued
XLF shorts who are slightly underwater can use options to repair the damage. Hypothetically last Thursday, XLF ($28.06) was shorted intraday at $27.96 ($27.84 adjusted for dividends). Here was the thought process. The ETF remains overbought on nearly all timeframe. … Continued
Following futures positions of non-commercials are as of December 12, 2017. 10-year note: Currently net long 44.7k, up 30.4k. The Fed and the Administration are not on the same page when it comes to expected growth in the U.S. economy. … Continued