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

Weekly Naked Call Write On SPY, Which Looks Tired Near-Term

posted in: Derivatives, Equities, Technicals | 0

When VIX (12.22), the S&P 500 Volatility Index, spiked past 20 nine sessions ago, there was a lot of chatter as to if this time the breakout was real.  It was not.  In the subsequent eight sessions since that peak, … Continued

Weekly Covered Call Post-GLD Breakdown

The yellow metal cannot catch a break. GLD, the SPDR Gold ETF, broke down last week, losing eight-month support at $110.  The corresponding support on spot gold lies around $1,140.  Friday, gold closed at $1,132.20 and GLD at $108.65. The … Continued

Peek Into Future Through Futures

The following are futures positions of non-commercials as of July 14, 2015.  Change is week-over-week. 10-year note: Fed Chair Janet Yellen during her mid-week Humphrey-Hawkins testimony reiterated her desire to hike interest rates later this year, if data cooperate.  On … Continued

Weekly Cash-Secured Put On TLT

posted in: Credit, Derivatives, Technicals | 0

As expected, Fed Chair Janet Yellen, in her Humphrey-Hawkins testimony yesterday, reiterated what she, and other Fed officials, have been saying for a while.  They are data dependent, and if data cooperate, a rate hike is coming later this year.  … Continued

Can Bulls Use Short Interest To Their Advantage?

posted in: Derivatives, Equities, Technicals | 0

In the right circumstances, U.S. stocks have room to rally – at least in the near-term.  After the recent pullback, U.S.-based stock funds attracted $14.1 billion in the week ended July 8 – biggest inflows since mid-December (courtesy of Lipper).  … Continued