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14Aug

Potential risk reversal in global markets

Alex Bonds, Commodities, Economy, Energy, Finance, Forex, Stocks, Technical Analysis 0 comment

It looks like safe haven assets like bonds, yen and dollars are becoming more attractive vs. risky assets like commodity currencies, commodities, equities and emerging markets in general.

I think we may be entering the next leg down as Mohamed El-Erian and others have expressed the same sentiment I have. The rally is running on fumes.

We probably will retest the lows in the market and bring some fear back in to the trading. VIX is up 6%+ today and we’re seeing a lot more put buying as institutions either bet against or insure profits in stocks.

Consumer sentiment was terrible and there is now some question as to whether the FDIC is solvent after taking over Colonial Bank. All the Maes are probably completely toxic now, too. I hope foreign central banks continue their generosity or the falloff here could become a disaster.

07Jul

S&P 500 head and shoulders pattern confirmed

Alex Stocks, Technical Analysis 0 comment

A repeat performance of the bear market rally breakdown seems to be in the works now.  The first downside target is 875, then I believe we could see a large sell off to around 775-800 if that level breaks.  After that a retest of the lows is almost certain.  The image below illustrates the pattern on a three month / one day bar chart.  There may be some support at the 200 day moving average around current levels as the market is oversold.  A bounce before continuing downward is not out of the question.

S&P 500 head and shoulders pattern

30Jun

Look out below! Market setting up to fall.

Alex Economy, Finance, Stocks, Technical Analysis 0 comment

With the last legs of this rally really more of a sideways trade on very light volume, we’re starting to see some signs that a rolling over process has begun.  While there is plenty of reasons to be a bear, the most compelling reason to be a bull was the notion that things were getting worse at a slower pace.  The idea was that we overcorrected to the downside in March, facing what appeared to be a depression, and having (at least temporarily) taken that off the table, we see very attractive valuations.

We’ve had a nice run already

After about 40% off the bottom, I think we can say the valuations have gotten ahead of themselves.  In addition, there are no signs of an earnings-led recovery or any real green shoots that indicate we’ll be seeing a pronounced rebound in the economy.  Most of the optimism is coming from China, which seems to be hoarding commodities for its own hedging game against the falling US dollar.  While hunger for raw materials is good for the markets, if it is not a genuine appetite that stems from growth, but rather a desire to build a materials portfolio for the Chinese government, then much of the optimism in energy, materials and other related sectors is overdone.

The biggest driver is not behind the wheel

The consumer is facing more foreclosures, credit card defaults and an increasingly tight employment picture.  This is not the atmosphere that is condusive towards a consumer-led recovery.  Consumers probably have 5-10 years before they can start to lever up again on their credit.  Other emerging markets are attempting to build consumer economies, and facing tremendous headwinds from populations who treasure thrift rather than spending.  The appetite for material possessions is not nearly as strong nor are earnings per capita elsewhere enough to sustain the vacuum left behind by the American and European economic implosion.

Greenflation not back, yet

Green energy is a promising sector when crude oil is above $100.  Right now the motivation is just not as strong with consumers or companies to make big moves in to more environmentally sustainable energy.  I believe that once inflation makes energy less affordable the appetite for green energy will increase.  This may be a while off depending on how fast the global economy can pick up the slack left behind from the last bubble.

Climb a plateau once its peaked…

So where is the catalyst for the next rally?  What could drive equities higher?  The only way we’re going to see a tremendous rally from here is if we see much more currency debasement and intentional inflation.  That kind of manipulation could continue to lead markets higher, but at the cost of the currency that equities are priced in therefore nullifying much of the gains.

Or fall right off?

I think the market is setting up to fall.  I’m not so sure we’ll retest the lows or not, but I do think we’ll see some more selling as fundamentals begin to play a center role in the stock market again.  On a technical note, we may be building a pretty significant head and shoulders pattern on the S&P 500.  Today’s action seems to confirm the right shoulder.  We could see a retest of 875 or lower if it continues to play out.

16Jun

The stock market is poised for more weakness

Alex Economy, Stocks, Technical Analysis 0 comment

Now that we’re off the 925 S&P 500 support area we see a rolling top forming on major indexes here and around the world.  A pullback in equities and commodities may occur as a result, providing opportunity to further short the market and gain more exposure to commodities during buying opportunities.

I believe the short term target could be as low as 900 on the S&P and interim if we see a large correction we could retest the 875 area.  The main determinant factors here will be the news flow, economic data and hunger for raw materials.

The correction could also remove the possibility of the 50 day moving average crossing above the 200 day moving average, which fund managers are looking for as further indication that the market is worth buying in to at these levels.

Bulls continue to cling on the notion of green shoots, but the green shoots look more like poison ivy according to many traders who are closely tuned in to the technicals and fundamentals.

19May

Feeling frothy?

Alex Business, Finance, Forex, Stocks, Technical Analysis 0 comment

As the rally appears to be running on fumes at this point, I’d like to say that I was a little early saying to sell it before, but one never can trust a bear market rally.  That’s what it still seems like we’re dealing with, too.  The technicals were powerful during the 8 week surge, but we do not yet have a Dow theory buy signal (need a close above 9125) or a break above the 200 day moving average on the S&P 500.  Now the charts are beginning to look more exhausted as the overbought conditions are worked out.  Longer term the trend remains down as we seem to continue with the 10+ year double top formation playing out on the S&P 500.

Banks led the rally up and now they are beginning to give way as fundamentals point to a more pessimistic picture than the prior trading action of their equities might suggest.  While I do feel that the substantive cash injections, ZIRP cheap liquidity and stimulus have filled part of the vacuum left by the implosion of Lehman and the deleveraging process, there is simply too much enthusiasm around when this alleged recovery is due to transpire.

We are quite literally in the midst of a complete reinvention of how the world does business and in that process there likely will be further dislocations and market abberations before settling in to a U or L-shaped recovery — either economic destiny will be determined by the shape of fiscal policy and whether insolvent institutions are infact allowed to fail or continue indefinitely as “zombies”.  Unregulated derivatives markets must be brought in to the light and fully regulated in order to prevent credit default swaps and other leveraged contracts from contributing to widespread system disruptions.

This turning point has been marked by the downfall of the US as the financial capital of the world.  A slow unwinding process that in the decades to come will be much more apparent than it is now.  This is the unfortunate consequence of being the largest debt bearing nation in the world whose currency is quickly losing popularity as reserves for central bankers around the world.  The unraveling is going to degrade the quality of life for Americans and boost domestic inflation considerably.

If nothing can be done to restore confidence by regulating the shadow markets and unraveling the insolvent institutions, then this trying period shall last quite a while.  At this point I don’t feel the actions of the US government or the Federal Reserve have been constructive to that end.  That is why I feel the rally is largely unsustainable and right now we are in a frothy period where short positions in equities and long positions in foreign currencies may be appropriate to consider putting back on the table.

Disclosure: Short US equities, long foreign currencies

22Apr

It’s time to sell the rally

Alex Economy, Futures, Stocks, Technical Analysis 0 comment

For the past seven weeks there has been an impressive, rip roaring 30% bear market rally from the March lows.  There has been no fundamental reason or glimmer of hope that truly spells the end of this recession.  Instead what we have are bank earnings that no one in their right mind can trust with the amount of accounting trickery taking place.  Consumer credit card interest rates skyrocketing.  Record foreclosures in both residential and commercial real estate.  And a parade of uninspiring earnings and guidance from the S&P 500.

Room for gloom and doom

The market has been ignoring bearish news which  could be viewed as bullish, except it is also ignoring the fundamental macroeconomic picture.  Emerging markets in Eastern Europe and Asia are hard hit by the global economic crisis.  Some are on the brink of default with their sovereign debt, forcing them to seek loans from the IMF.  Others are rapidly devaluing their currencies.  Either  path demonstrates signs of extreme financial stress.

There is no end in sight to the problems with real estate, which led us in to this mess.  We have yet to see a meaningful bottom in housing and now commercial real estate is suffering.  GM is on the verge of bankruptcy with few alternatives and to top it off global GDP will likely shrink the first time in decades.

Froth at the top

On a technical basis the S&P 500 seems to be overextended.  It has been overbought too quickly for most of the momentum to be sustainable.  In the last week we’ve seen a lot of that momentum fall to the wayside.  While consolidation is normal, we can’t with any confidence declare this as more than a bear market rally to which an abrupt and painful end may be in sight.  The bank stress tests are expected to start being released to banks this Friday and to the public in early May.  The old adage “Sell in May” could be a very meaningful pronouncement for this Summer.

Keep your powder dry

I recommend using this rally as an opportunity to raise cash, sit on the sidelines and wait for a good buying opportunity for the long term.  Short term the best position is a short bias.  I don’t feel that being constructive after such a massive build up, especially when some of the larger gains have been on light volume, is warranted.  Possible support exists at 850, 830, 800 and 775.  At this point it is conceivable that we also retest the lows in the 660s over the Summer depending on how severe some of the interim problems become.


13Feb

Leak before end of day boosts stocks

Alex Economy, Options, Stocks, Technical Analysis 0 comment

Yesterday at about 340pm, the US government, through Geithner’s treasury department, leaked a plan that will allegedly help distressed mortgage borrowers lower payments.  The plan boosted the mood, forcing end of day short covering, raising the S&P 500 back to a key resistance level around 835.

Today is the last trading day before a three day weekend.  We could certainly see an increase in volatility as a result.  Mr. Geithner’s department leak seems to have been strategically delivered to stave off another leg down.  Yesterday we were testing the 813 level of support, which looked to be giving up as the S&P traded as low as 810.  After 813, the last major support is 800 before we look at the November ’08 lows in the face again.

Nonetheless, significant technical damage is being done.  The Dow Jones industrial average made a new multiyear low yesterday, the transports continue to sag and the only index with promise, the Nasdaq, seems to be finding less buyers lately.

12Feb

US dollar index topping?

Alex Economy, Forex, Metals, Technical Analysis 0 comment

We may be seeing an interim top on the US dollar index, which is no doubt expected to see pressure from the stimulus plan and the Obama administration’s bank bailout 2.0 that is expected to be revealed in the weeks to come.  The US dollar index appears to be making a descending series of highs.  If the pattern continues this could signal the next wave down.

USD

Watch the foreign exchange markets, as the US dollar could be bound for a correction soon.  Possible trades include going long Canadian dollars, Australian dollars, Swiss francs, Gold, Silver and hedging by shorting the GBP Sterling.

12Feb

S&P 500 hangs in the balance

Alex Economy, Futures, Stocks, Technical Analysis 0 comment

Overnight the tone of futures markets has been pretty negative, pushing the major indexes to levels that could retest the trend line support at open if we stay this low.  The S&P has been flirting with 820, a very key level that if significantly violated to the downside, 813 and 800 remain as important support levels.  After 800, we have a vacuum that could reach the November lows.  Of course a violation of 820 on the downside will be seen as a breakdown of the modest uptrend and that could catalyse a wave of selling.

SPY

One discouraging sign is since the small rally in early January, every time the S&P 500 has bumped the 50 day moving average we’ve seen a wave of selling.   Market participants are not commiting to long term positions, but range / trend trading short term and this action is increasing volatility.

10Feb

Gold to $1000?

Alex Commodities, Economy, Metals, Technical Analysis 0 comment

The action in precious metals lately has been impressive.  Silver and gold caught a bid amidst the chaos in currency markets and bank balance sheets.  The nervousness has created an atmosphere of fleeing away from equity in to safer havens.  With gold seemingly gaining steam to make another move to the upside, is $1000 within sight?

Looking ahead

Markets tend to discount the here and now and focus on the future.  Has gold already priced in potential inflation or is that a variable being gauged on a daily basis?  Options traders in GLD would suggest that $95 to $100 (or around 950-1000/oz) are reasonable price targets given their usually large call positions.

Charting the course

Right now $1000 is resistance long term, without some extraordinary volatility to the upside.  Below is a three year, weekly chart of GLD.  The bollinger bands are a great indication of potential support and resistance in price moves.  We’re using a longer term chart to get a very broad view of GLD’s price action over the last 150 weeks.

GLD ETF

Past performance

While past performance is no indication of future gains, GLD has outperformed the SPY (S&P 500) consistently for quite some time.  Gold has always provided a safe haven for value.  For thousands of years, gold has had the same purchasing power.

It is wise for investors with long term objectives to have some precious metals exposure in any portfolio as a hedge against inflation, which is expected to increase significantly in time.  Traders may want to be more aggressive playing the rally depending on your strategy.