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

Following futures positions of non-commercials are as of August 21, 2018. 10-year note: Currently net short 700.5k, up 2.3k. The 10-year T-yield (2.83 percent) lost five basis points this week.  The neckline of a potentially bearish head-and-shoulders formation has been … Continued

QQQ Bull-Fear Tug Of War Intact, But Bulls Face Waning Momentum

posted in: Equities, Technicals | 0

QQQ bulls faced channel resistance a month ago, but defended channel support of different duration.  They are, however, facing headwinds of waning momentum. The bull-bear tug of war continues on QQQ (Invesco QQQ Trust).  On July 25, bulls were rejected … Continued

SPY Shorts With M/T Focus Have Option To Sell Weekly Puts

Bulls put foot down on major US equity indices last week.  They have the ball near term.  Shorts with medium-term focus can sell weekly puts to raise the short price. The greenback acts strong.  The US dollar index (95.98) hit … Continued

Russell 2000 Up Strong 9.1% YTD – At Critical Technical Juncture

posted in: Derivatives, Equities, Technicals | 0

Small-caps have rallied nicely year-to-date.  Supposedly, they benefit the most from last December’s tax cuts and are also considered insulated from negative effects of a trade war.  They now sit at critical technical juncture. Over the last eight weeks, the … Continued

SPY Once Again Rejected At Channel Resistance – More Downside Likely Ahead

SPY last week was rejected at channel resistance, coming up $0.63 short of surpassing the all-time high of $286.63 reached January 26.  The path of least resistance is down.  A covered put might help. There are interesting dynamics at play … Continued

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

Following futures positions of non-commercials are as of August 7, 2018. 10-year note: Currently net short 586.3k, down 3.8k. The 10-year Treasury yield (2.86 percent) continues to work on a potentially bearish head-and-shoulders formation.  On August 1, it hit 3.02 … Continued

QQQ Retreats After Testing Channel Resistance – Covered Put Possible Strategy

QQQ made an all-time high last week, but failed at channel resistance.  With the 2Q earnings season winding down, shorts may have better odds. QQQ (Invesco QQQ Trust) hit a new all-time high of $182.93 last Wednesday.  It has had … Continued

Shortly After Range Breakout, Russell 2000 Repelled At Rising Channel Resistance

Post-presidential election last November, a fire was lit under U.S. small-caps.  Between November 8 and December 9, IWM (iShares Russell 2000 ETF) jumped north of 16 percent.  QQQ (PowerShares Nasdaq 100 ETF) only rallied two percent during the period. As … Continued

Covering ITB Shorts — For Now

June’s housing starts will be published this Friday.  Month-to-month, this is a volatile series.  May was down 11 percent, while April was up 22 percent.  Historically, starts remain low.  As Chart 1 shows, it is not often the green line … Continued