Monday 8 December 2014

Closing Brief

US equity indexes were increasingly weak as the day progressed, with the sp'500 settling -15pts @ 2060. The two leaders - Trans/R2K, settled lower by -1.3%. Near term outlook is for a minor retrace.. at best.. sp'2020/1980.


sp'60min


Summary

A day for the equity bears... but still, even if it is a retrace, market won't fall much more than 2-3% before the broader uptrend resumes.
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A daily wrap at 8pm EST.

3pm update - weakness into the close

US equities remain broadly weak, with more significant declines for the two leaders - Trans/R2K, lower by -1.3% and -1.1% respectively. Energy prices remain under severe pressure, Nat' gas -4.9%, whilst Oil -4.0%. VIX is higher by a notable 17%.


sp'daily3


Summary

*the above fib retrace chart assumes a short term top of sp'2076, but I have LOW confidence that a retrace is even underway. There have been many teases like this across the last few weeks. Ironically, it will only be once there is confidence/clarity, that we'll probably have seen 80/90% of the pull back anyway.
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So... we'll close in the red today, and next target for the bears should be a daily close under the recent low of sp'2049. That seems possible tomorrow.

At best... a pull back to 2020/1980 zone. In the scheme of things... its all minor noise.
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Notable bounce in the metals...

GLD, 5min


The fact that USD continues to increasingly coo todal, -0.3%.. is not doubt helping metals.

2pm update - borderline... interesting declines

US equities have turned lower, with borderline significant declines across most indexes. First soft target is the recent intraday low of sp'2049. If that fails to hold, then it opens up 2020/15 zone. At best.. equity bears could make a play for 2000/1980.. but recent price action argues strongly against the latter.


sp'60min


VIX'daily3


Summary

*a rather notable gain of 21% for the VIX, but then... 21% of a small number.. still makes for a low VIX.
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So.. we're seeing some weakness, and bears should be seeking a daily close <2049... but that won't be easy.

Regardless.. a retrace.. if thats even what it is... is all it will be.
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Notable weakness:

BTU -6% @ $8.30s... headed  for $5.. which should be a key multi-year floor in early 2015.
CHK -5.4%... pressured by Nat' gas -4.3%
TWTR -5.9% in the low $36s., with a viable floor of  $30 before next earnings up wave.

12pm update - chop chop

Whilst the broader equity market will surely remain in micro churn mode for the rest of today, there remains severe weakness in the Energy sector. Energy prices are in collapse mode, Nat' gas and Oil, both lower by around -4%.


SDRL, daily


CHK, daily


Summary

*whilst the broader market is basically flat lining, I'll merely highlight individual stocks.
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Incredible price levels in the usual suspects... SDRL, RIG, BTU, CHK... carnage.... as Mr Market starts to price in $50 oil.

Notable weakness, DRYS -23% @ $0.87, on news it has repaid convertable notes. Isn't that good news though? 
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VIX update from Mr T.


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time for tea...  back at 2pm

11am update - back to micro chop

The opening equity weakness has already been negated, with many indexes turning fractionally positive. Energy prices remain exceptionally weak, Nat' gas -3.5%, whilst Oil is -2.9%. VIX is holding moderate gains of 7%, but still resides in the mere 12s.


sp'60min


Summary

Micro chop... as expected. With nothing much due this week... its going to be a quiet one.

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Not sure if the algo-bots are reading my earlier 'doom' post on DRYS.. but since I posted.. its now lost the $1 threshold. DRYS has never traded <$1 in its ten year history.

DRYS, daily


A real ugly drop of -19%... are rumours of bankruptcy starting to circulate? Lower oil prices... overall.. a major problem for the shipping industry.

10am update - minor opening weakness

US equities open a little lower, but overall price action is very much one of underlying upside. Metals are a little higher, Gold +$2. Energy remains extremely weak, Nat' gas -2.9%, whilst Oil -2.1%


sp'60min


Summary

So.. we're a little weak, but overall, is it nothing for bears to get excited about.

Even a retrace to the giant sp'2000 threshold looks difficult by year end. 


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Notable weakness

DRYS -6% @ $1.06... set to lose the $1 threshold by year end.



Mr Market is clearly suggestive that this company is in danger of ending up on the pink sheets! No doubt, a fair few of the penny share pumpers will be involved on this one. 'one for the brave'... you could say.
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Oil/gas drillers, RIG/SDRL, both lower by around -4%. Outlook into early 2015 remains.... dire.

Pre-Market Brief

Good morning. Futures are moderately lower, sp -5pts, we're set to start the week at 2070. Metals are bouncing, Gold +$4. Energy prices remain very weak, Oil is -1.8%, in the $64s, with Nat' gas -3.7% in the $3.60s.

sp'daily5

Summary

Well, here we go again, another week begins.

As noted at the weekend though, there really isn't much scheduled this week, and that will certainly favour the bulls.
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Notable early movers...
CHK -1.6%, no doubt due to weak energy prices
FCX -1.2%, still falling within a broad down trend from the early summer, much like energy stocks

There are minor gains in the airlines, due to lower oil.
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Econ' chatter with Gordon T Long - financial repression



Maybe this is too heavy to start the week, but it does raise some interesting issues on how most governments are now intent on seizing all wealth from the citizenry. Further, the matter of a global wealth tax... pretty scary stuff. The only way to truly escape... get offworld!
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Have a good Monday!