COT: Peek Into Future Through Futures

The following are futures positions of non-commercials as of August 4, 2015.  Change is week-over-week. 10-year note: Federal Reserve Governor Jerome Powell told CNBC on Wednesday that he has not made up his mind yet on whether interest rates should … Continued

XLY And XLP Both Act Strong At First Glance, But Latter Leading On The Quiet

posted in: Economy, Equities, Technicals | 0

Markets tend to be either risk-on or risk-off.  For the most part, anyway.  One of the ways market participants can keep a pulse on risk-taking – or a lack thereof – is by simply looking at which sectors are outperforming. … Continued

EEM Looks Ripe For Buy-Write

posted in: Derivatives, Equities, Technicals | 0

After a three-month 17-percent drop, EEM, the iShares Emerging Markets ETF, looks ripe for an options trade. On May 22, 2013, Ben Bernanke, then-Fed chair, suggested that the Fed would begin tapering back nearly $70 billion in monthly purchases of … Continued

COT: Peek Into Future Through Futures

The following are futures positions of non-commercials as of July 28, 2015.  Change is week-over-week. 10-year note: The following from the FOMC statement drew a lot of attention: “The Committee anticipates that it will be appropriate to raise the target … Continued

In Wake Of Huge Tuesday Reversal, Short Put On IWM

posted in: Derivatives, Equities, Technicals | 0

U.S. small-caps have been through a lot in recent months.  Chart 1 says it all.  Will that change following Tuesday’s huge reversal? Since the Russell 2000 Index (1224.6) broke the mid-October 2014 trend line toward the end of April, it … Continued

TLT Caught In Limbo Between 50- And 200-Day Averages

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

Last week, non-commercials went net long 10-year note futures for the first time since September 2014.  For reference, they were net short north of 183,000 contracts as early as early May and 261,000-plus at the end of last December (Chart … Continued

Beat Up And Down In The Dumps, Gold Pulls Off Reversal Last Friday

posted in: Commodities, Derivatives, Technicals | 0

Another down week for gold – fifth in a row!  Last Friday’s action in the meantime points to potential relief ahead – at least near-term. At one point when the metal made a weekly low on Friday, it was down … Continued

Peek Into Future Through Futures

The following are futures positions of non-commercials as of July 21, 2015.  Change is week-over-week. 10-year note: Is global growth slowing?  The ongoing slump in commodities seems to suggest that.  In this scenario, it would make sense for investors to … Continued

Volatility’s Volatile Journey Of Late — Where To From Here?

posted in: Derivatives, Equities, Technicals | 0

Of late, volatility has been volatile. In the past month, VIX, the S&P 500 Volatility Index, has done a complete round trip – surging 68 percent in 11 sessions and then giving it all back in the next eight.  As … Continued