US equity bears had an excellent opportunity to push prices lower. Indices did come under pressure. But it looks like once again bulls managed to put their foot down on time. The S&P 500 large cap index made a new … Continued
Even though trade tensions particularly between the US and China have heated up, small-caps – supposed beneficiaries of a trade war – have stalled of late. Medium term, downside risks are huge. In the very near term, it is a … Continued
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
Here is a brief review of period-over-period change in short interest in the July 16-31 period in nine S&P 500 sectors. XLB (SPDR materials ETF) XLB ($59.54) bulls continued to defend a rising trend line from early April. At the … Continued
The top five in the Nasdaq 100 are done reporting 2Q. They have had their post-earnings reaction – mostly positive. This is occurring even as the index just got repelled at six-month channel resistance. If bulls do not put their … Continued
Following futures positions of non-commercials are as of July 24, 2018. 10-year note: Currently net short 509.5k, up 40.4k. Bond bulls have an opportunity. Remains to be seen if they can cash in on it. The 10-year Treasury yield (2.96 … Continued
Following futures positions of non-commercials are as of July 17, 2018. 10-year note: Currently net short 469.1k, up 30k. Speaking to Congress in his Humphrey-Hawkins testimony this week, Jerome Powell, Fed chair, downplayed the risks posed by debt, saying nothing … Continued
Following futures positions of non-commercials are as of July 3, 2018. 10-year note: Currently net short 500.1k, up 144.8k. Minutes for the June 12-13 FOMC meeting were released last Thursday. The Fed raised interest rates in that meeting. This was … Continued
It is increasingly getting difficult to discern if US markets are in risk-on or risk-off mode. There is a bid under the long end of the sovereign bond market. This in general is a risk-off behavior. Both the S&P 500 … Continued
On the weekly chart, SPY remains grossly overbought, but near term there is room to rally – duration and magnitude notwithstanding. Options can help. US core PCE (personal consumption expenditures) increased 1.96 percent year-over-year in May – essentially two percent. … Continued