After Dropping 19% Over 9 Weeks, ITB Bulls Defend 200DMA – Too Soon To Call All-Clear

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

After a 19-percent peak-to-trough drop, ITB defends crucial support Wednesday.  Is this part of a normal correction or something is amiss in housing? In the last several sessions, tons of stocks as well as equity ETF’s and indices were literally … Continued

S&P 500 Loses 200DMA, But Barely; VIX In Non-Confirmation Mode

The S&P 500 large cap index is testing the lows of February, but VIX acts nowhere near as panicky.  This could be a tell for stocks near term. The ISM manufacturing index dropped 1.5 points month-over-month in March.  February’s 60.8 … Continued

Stocks’ Path Of Least Resistance Up N/T – SPY Weekly Short Put For Premium

posted in: Derivatives, Equities, Technicals | 0

February and March wrought technical damage on major US equity indices, but the path of least resistance increasingly looks up near term. March-quarter earnings season is upon us.  This is the first quarter US companies will be reporting after the … Continued

CoT: Peek Into Future Through Futures, How Hedge Funds Are Positioned

Following futures positions of non-commercials are as of March 27, 2018. 10-year note: Currently net short 305.2k, down 8.1k. For the first time since mid-December last year, 10-year Treasury yields went under the 50-day moving average this week.  On March … Continued

Nasdaq 100 Getting Oversold – Turning XLK Credit Call Spread Into Iron Condor

posted in: Derivatives, Equities, Technicals | 0

Risks are building medium- to long-term, but the Nasdaq 100 is getting oversold on the daily chart. After major U.S. equity indices reversed on February 9, tech-heavy indices were the only ones to rally to new highs. The Nasdaq 100 … 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 March 1-15 period in nine S&P 500 sectors. XLB (SPDR materials ETF) During last week’s selling, XLB (57.17) not only lost the 200-day moving average but also … Continued

Stocks Once Again Under Pressure, But At/Near Crucial Support – Some Metrics Way Oversold

Stocks are selling off, but major indices are at/near crucial support, testing the will of the bulls. High-yield spreads are tightening.  In Chart 1, the ICE BofAML US high yield BB effective yield is pitted against Moody’s seasoned AAA corporate … Continued

CoT: Peek Into Future Through Futures, How Hedge Funds Are Positioned

Following futures positions of non-commercials are as of March 20, 2018. 10-year note: Currently net short 313.3k, up 41.9k. Chairing his maiden meeting as Fed chief, Jerome Powell probably could not have asked for more insofar as markets’ reaction was … Continued

Fed Hikes Wednesday, But Several Key Assets Key Off Of Technicals

Wednesday, the FOMC met.  The fed funds rate went up another 25 basis points to between 1.5 percent and 1.75 percent.  One would think this would drive market action.  But looking at a diverse set of assets, technicals played a … Continued

Some Chinks In Tech’s Armor – XLK Credit Call Spread

Post-February 9 reversal, both the Nasdaq composite and the Nasdaq 100 index went on to surpass the late January highs.  Other indices such as the S&P 500 large cap index and the Dow Industrials could not match that feat.  The … Continued