Longs Waste Opportunity To Squeeze Shorts

Bulls just wasted a huge opportunity to squeeze non-commercial shorts in e-mini futures.  This is coming at a time when the Fed’s balance sheet is no longer growing at a breakneck pace, which stocks cherished earlier. Longs probably wasted a … Continued

Overbought Can Stay Overbought Longer Than Expected; In The End, Law Of Gravity Will Prevail

Stocks are ripping higher.  Sentiment is exuberant.  Several technical indicators are extended.  The Fed’s aggressive action was a catalyst in March when major US equity indices bottomed.  Its asset holdings continue to grow, but the pace of growth has decelerated.  … Continued

Russell 2000 Back Below 1250s; Shorts, Who Have Been Adding, Will Have Strengthened Odds Should 1170s Give Way

posted in: Equities, Technicals | 0

Two weeks after breaking out of 1250s, the Russell 2000 (1233) is back below it.  IWM shorts never bought into the breakout.  They were probably driven more by the sharp deterioration in small-business profit trend.  Longs will be on the … Continued

Tech Rally Propelled By Short Squeeze – For Now, Relief Awaits Bruised Shorts

posted in: Equities, Technicals | 0

Since March lows, large-caps led, and tech led the large-caps.  Short squeeze helped.  Amidst signs of distribution in the Nasdaq 100 the past several sessions, relief likely awaits bruised shorts near term. Shorts have gotten squeezed – for the most … Continued

Non-Commercials’ Record Bet On Lower VIX Could Get Vindicated N/T If Russell 2k Reclaims 1600

Inventory burn likely weighs on growth in future quarters, casting doubt on the sell-side’s expectations for a pick-up in earnings growth momentum as the year progresses.  This is a medium- to long-term issue.  Near term, recapturing of 1600 on the … Continued

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

Following futures positions of non-commercials are as of March 12, 2019. 10-year note: Currently net short 176.4k, down 56.9k. Non-commercials continue to cut back net shorts, which late September last year was at a new record.  The 10-year Treasury yield … 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

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

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