In the latest reporting period, SPY, the SPDR S&P 500 ETF, shorts stayed put. In fact, at 280.4 million, short interest fell a tad period-over-period – now at a two-month low (Chart 1). Odds favor shorts are about to get … Continued
Major U.S. indices are struggling at major resistance. Here are the levels indices were aiming to take out: Dow Industrials, 17000-plus; S&P 500, 1990; Nasdaq 100, 4350; Dow Transports, 7700; and Russell 2000, 1080, among others. The Industrials sought to … Continued
Since the February 11th low up until this Monday, if we just use small-caps to measure the pulse of investor mood, it has been risk-on. From that low through the intra-day high this week, the Russell 2000 rallied north of … Continued
U.S. stocks have come a long way since February 11th. Intra-day, off that low through last Friday’s high, here is how much major U.S. indices have rallied: Dow Industrials, 10.1 percent; S&P 500 large cap index (Chart 1), 11 percent; … Continued
The following are futures positions of non-commercials as of March 1, 2016. Change is week-over-week. 10-year note: Unbelievable! The Japanese government is getting paid to borrow money for a decade. For the first time ever, Japan sells 10-year bonds at … Continued
U.S. small-caps are rallying. Rallying hard. Harder than several of their peers. Since the intra-day low on February 11th, the Russell 2000 small cap index is up just north of 14 percent, also breaking out of 1035. This level approximates … Continued
Kudos to equity bulls for what they have achieved so far in the current run. And what a run it has been! Off the February 11th intra-day low, the S&P 500 large cap index is up nearly 10 percent, the … Continued
QQQ, the PowerShares Nasdaq 100 ETF, is showing signs of fatigue. Off the February 11th low through last Friday’s intra-day high, the ETF rallied nearly 10 percent in 11 sessions (Chart 1). Yes, this preceded a 17-percent drop since December … Continued
Arguably, if U.S. stocks followed crude oil or economic data, they probably would be a lot lower. Operating earnings of S&P 500 companies peaked at $29.60 in 3Q14, and have been decelerating since. With 474 companies having reported 4Q15 (as … Continued
The following are futures positions of non-commercials as of February 23, 2016. Change is week-over-week. 10-year note: Negative interest rates have suddenly become the topic du jour. Last month, Japan waded into negative interest rate policy (NIRP). This was totally … Continued