Bulls Use Up Buying Power In Defense Of 2600-2630 on S&P 500 – VIX Itching To Rally

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

Bulls continue to defend 2600-2630 on the S&P 500.  Breach risks are rising.  VIX, which since October has stayed rather elevated, is itching to rally. After a three-month, 20-percent drop, the S&P 500 large cap index (2640) bottomed intraday on … Continued

Bulls Defend 2600-2630 On S&P 500 Last Week – Market Reaction To FOMC Meeting This Week Likely Tell

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

Bulls last week defended support at 2600-2630 on the S&P 500, which has rallied massively since bottoming on December 26.  Daily conditions are deeply overbought, pricing in a dovish Fed.  A two-day FOMC meeting begins Tuesday.  A ‘buy the rumor, … Continued

After 39% Collapse Between Jan and Dec ’18, ITB Trying To Stabilize But In No-Man’s Land

posted in: Economy, Equities, Technicals | 0

US home sales peaked in November 2017, homebuilder sentiment in December 2017, and housing starts in January 2018.  From its January 2018 intraday high through December low, ITB collapsed 39 percent.  It is trying to bottom, but currently in no-man’s … Continued

After 17-Session, 14% Jump, S&P 500 Frothy

posted in: Equities, Technicals | 0

Bulls are snorting – again.  From the Boxing day bottom, the S&P 500 is up 14 percent.  Last week, it recaptured 2630 as well as the 50-day.  While healthy, the rally has come too far, too fast. Equity bulls deserve … Continued

After Double-Digit 3-Week Jump, Major Equity Indices At/Near Crucial Resistance

posted in: Equities, Technicals | 0

Post-late December bottom, major US equity indices have rallied strongly to what could turn out to be strong resistance.  Odds favor longs begin to lock in profit and/or shorts begin to get active. US stocks suffered quite a rout in … Continued

After Nice Rally Since Early Oct, GLD Approaches Decent Resistance

posted in: Commodities, Derivatives, Technicals | 0

Gold has had a nice rally since early October, and is extended on both daily and weekly charts.  It is also at dual resistance.  Near term, recent longs can get tempted to lock in profit. Spot gold ($1,288.40/ounce) looks tired.  … Continued

SPY Rallies To Just Under 260 – Sideways At Best, Downward At Worst Likely Path N/T

Since the intraday low on Boxing Day, SPY is up nearly 11 percent.  Too far, too fast?  Possibly, as the ETF is just a hair breadth away from support-turned-resistance at 260, which it lost mid-December. The Fed has a dual … Continued

Long And Short Of Short Interest

posted in: Equities, Technicals | 0

Here is a brief review of period-over-period change in short interest in the December 17-31 period in nine S&P 500 sectors. XLB (SPDR materials ETF) Shorts got aggressive during the reporting period.  XLB (52.48) dropped to 47.05 intraday on December … Continued

Soothing Words From Powell Help Stocks – Momentum Lies With Bulls For Now

Fundamentals are still a suspect, but US stocks were treated with soothing comments from Fed chief last week.  Bulls have the ball, but bears are likely to show up at $260 on SPY. Speaking at the American Economic Association’s annual … Continued