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

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

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

NYSE Margin Debt Near All-Time Highs — Implications For Stocks, C&I Loans

posted in: Credit, Equities | 0

NYSE margin debt just made an all-time high of $507.2 billion in April.  It fell 1.6 percent in May.  This was the first month-over-month drop in four months.  In the first five months this year, it grew nearly $43 billion.  … 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

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

COT: Peek Into Future Through Futures

The following are futures positions of non-commercials as of July 7, 2015.  Change is week-over-week. 10-year note: After the June FOMC minutes were released, investors pushed back expectations for the first interest rate hike to March next year.  The minutes … Continued