SPY – Medium-Term Risks Building, But Can Rally Near Term

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

On the weekly chart, SPY remains grossly overbought, but near term there is room to rally – duration and magnitude notwithstanding.  Options can help. US core PCE (personal consumption expenditures) increased 1.96 percent year-over-year in May – essentially two percent.  … Continued

Early Signs Of Large-Cap Fatigue Spreading To Small-Caps, Tech

posted in: Economy, Equities, Technicals | 0

Signs of fatigue are showing up in US equities.  It began with large-caps, and now there are early signs it is spreading to small-caps as well as tech. The small-cap switch was turned on right after Donald Trump was elected … Continued

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

Following futures positions of non-commercials are as of June 19, 2018. 10-year note: Currently net short 359.5k, up 23.5k. Volatility remains suppressed – pretty much across the investing landscape.  In US equities, both small-caps and tech – considered risk-on – … Continued

Trump’s China Tariffs Versus China’s Trump Card

posted in: Credit, Economy | 0

China’s holdings of Treasury securities fell $5.8 billion month-over-month in April to $1.18 trillion.  It remains the largest holder of these securities.  In China versus the US, if the current trade spat turns into a trade war, these securities could … Continued

ITB Acts Tentative – Any Message For Builder Sentiment/Home Sales/Starts?

posted in: Economy, Equities, Technicals | 0

ITB (iShares Dow Jones US home construction ETF) continues to search for direction.  As did lots of other ETFs/indices/individual stocks, it fell drastically late January-early February.  Unlike many others, however, recovery since has been tentative, to say the least. From … Continued

Signs Of Fatigue Showing Up On S&P 500

Large- and small-cap divergence continues.  Versus the Russell 2000 and the Nasdaq 100, the S&P 500 is beginning to show signs of fatigue. Large-caps continue to fall behind small-caps.  Not to mention tech.  The S&P 500 large cap index was … Continued

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

Following futures positions of non-commercials are as of June 12, 2018. 10-year note: Currently net short 336k, down 61.6k. With this week’s 25-basis-point raise, the fed funds rate now stands at 175-200 basis points, up 175 basis points since December … Continued

Fed Tilts Slightly Hawkish, 10-Year T-Yields/Yield Curve Yawn

posted in: Credit, Economy | 0

The long end of the Treasury yield curve is doing it again.  It refuses to go along with the Fed’s tightening campaign, particularly so Wednesday as policymakers were a slightly more hawkish than previously. Wednesday, the Fed raised the fed … Continued