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

posted in: Derivatives, Equities | 0

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?

posted in: Commodities, Economy, Equities | 0

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

Range-bound SMH seems ripe for neutral option strategy

posted in: Derivatives, Equities, Technicals | 0

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

Peek into future through futures

The following are futures positions of non-commercials as of March 31, 2015.  Change is week-over-week. 10-year note: At some point, the streak had to end.  For 12 months to February, U.S. non-farm payroll grew 200k-plus month-over-month.  Consensus was for that … Continued

SMH still range-bound short-term, Fib possible roadblock medium- to long-term

posted in: Equities, Technicals | 0

SMH’s latest rally attempt gets rejected at underside of broken Oct 2014 trendline Past 3 months, some semi outfits have seen estimates revised up, some down ETF has retraced 61.8% of Mar 00-Nov 08 decline; may mean pause/stop In the … Continued

U.S. personal interest income on decline; more seniors than ever staying in workforce

posted in: Economy, Equities | 0

Ratio of personal interest income to payments declines for three years now Persistent rise in number of 65 years and over who are employed Suppressed rates past six years no good news for seniors In his inaugural blog post on Tuesday, … Continued

Rare for U.S. corporate profits to drop during expansion — what to make of 2014 drop?

posted in: Economy, Equities | 0

U.S. corporate profits down in 2014, but not S&P 500 earnings Since ’46, corporate profits have only dropped 4 times during expansion Twice since 1989, corporate profits fell but not SPX earnings, latter fell following year  U.S. corporate profits were down … Continued

Peer into future through futures

The following are futures positions of non-commercials as of March 24, 2015.  Change is week-over-week. 10-year note: After what these traders heard out of the FOMC last week, they decided to step on the accelerator.  Net shorts went up 67 … Continued

Bids show up on SMH on support, asks likely will show up on resistance

posted in: Economy, Equities, Technicals | 0

Semi rout after months of decline in orders for business capX proxy From INTC to TSM to SNDK, semi heavyweights pointing out biz slowdown SMH shorts stand no chance until longs are bothered by worsening earnings scene It is not … Continued