Small-caps have spring in their step – so to speak – but major resistance is holding firm. In a month through Tuesday’s six-month high of $160.46, IWM (iShares Russell 2000 ETF) jumped 10.7 percent. But bulls probably are not too delighted with … Continued
The S&P 500 rallied strongly in the past month. Investors Intelligence bulls expanded eight percentage points in the last three weeks. In the options market, investors are taking off protection they bought earlier. Greed has replaced fear. Unwinding is the … Continued
US Manufacturing has contracted for three months now. Markets are not a least bit bothered. They are hoping the Fed’s three rate cuts this year would boost a decelerating economy. In the futures market, non-commercials are betting with record net … Continued
Following futures positions of non-commercials are as of October 29, 2019. 10-year note: Currently net short 116.1k, up 31.7k. As expected, the FOMC delivered a 25-basis-point cut in the fed funds rate this week. This was a third straight cut … Continued
The S&P 500 broke out to a new high Monday. Building on it can prove difficult – at least near term – as sentiment is rather elevated, even as the daily is in overbought territory. The S&P 500 large cap … Continued
The S&P 500 is itching to make a new high. The Nasdaq 100 achieved that feat last Friday. Lowered earnings estimates for the third quarter went a long way, among others. Bulls have momentum right now. Medium- to long-term, massive … Continued
Following futures positions of non-commercials are as of October 22, 2019. 10-year note: Currently net short 84.4k, down 15.3k. Next week, the FOMC meets. Wednesday, the Fed is expected to ease. Futures traders are betting with a 93.5-percent probability that … Continued
Medium- to long-term, both margin debt and foreigners’ purchases of US stocks need to cooperate for the S&P 500 to rally to a new high. Near term, the daily is itching to go lower. Bulls Tuesday were denied at trend-line … Continued
Amid continued signs of macro deceleration, next year’s estimates for small-caps continue higher. The Russell 2000 index, however, is not quite buying this optimism. Last week, it led its large-cap peers, but remains under crucial resistance. Should small-caps come under … Continued
Following futures positions of non-commercials are as of October 15, 2019. 10-year note: Currently net short 99.7k, down 22.9k. Most US economic data out this week continued to point to sluggish activity. Retail sales in September fell 0.25 percent month-over-month … Continued