Volatility higher on the week

The indexes closed largely flat this Friday. The VIX closed a touch lower, but across the week, the VIX did make net gains of just over 4%, to close @ 17.81. This remains a bizarrely low VIX, and a mini-surge into the low 20s seems very viable next week.


VIX'60min

VIX'daily

VIX'weekly

Summary

A somewhat muted end to the week for both the indexes and in terms of volatility itself.

The hourly cycle is fully reset, and we could easily open much higher on Monday - although that was also true for today.

The daily cycle is I believe a very important chart, and I think we have a very clear bullish flag, with a likely target of 20/21 early next week.

The bigger weekly cycle continues to battle higher, but so far, we're still not even over 20, which considering 'everything out there', is remarkably low.

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A weekly VIX closing >20, remains my third 'red flag for the Autumn' (the other two was transports monthly close <5000, and WTIC Oil <$90 - both achieved some weeks ago).


More later.

Closing Brief

A choppy end to the week, with the main indexes closing largely flat, although the Rus'2000 was marginally red, with the transports moderately higher.


IWM'60min

Dow

Sp

Summary

It was a long day..and a long week for many traders. The bulls ARE losing their grip, as best seen on the bigger weekly/monthly charts. The VIX remains very low, and I'm still waiting for a break above the big 20 level.

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I am holding short across this weekend in late October. I remain trying to focus on the bigger picture, with those weekly cycles targeting sp'1325/00 within the near term. The VIX - especially on the hourly and weekly cycle charts is primed for a major leap upward, into the 24/26 area.
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The usual bits and pieces across the evening.

Have a good weekend

3pm update - closing into the weekend

The week has been one where the bears have fought hard to hold onto their moderate declines. It would appear the bulls are losing their grip, as especially seen on the bigger weekly index cycles.


sp'60min

sp'weekly

Summary

I've added a vague guess at what might be a valid count. Is this a particularly weak wave'2 /bear flag, that is so weak, its still trending lower?

I don't expect much this closing hour, least of all for the bulls who have spent the past 4 trading sessions (since the big gap lower on Tuesday) trying to rally back..failing EVERY time.

back after the close

2pm update - churning

Mr Market is still lost, trying to find an excuse to ramp hard...but it can't find it, at least not yet. The VIX is flat, and with two hours to go, its difficult to see anything other than a lacklustre close.


sp'daily5

vix'daily

Summary

So again the question is 'who wants to go long into a late October weekend?'
--

I remain short, and will hold across the weekend. The weekly charts suggest must lower levels in this current cycle.

back at 3pm

12pm update - urghh

What to say? Hmm, its a mess, market still trying to find direction. VIX is largely flat, indexes are a touch lower.


 sp'60min

sp'daily5
 

VIX'60min

Summary

I am trying.vainly to ignore the intra-day noise, and focus on the bigger weekly cycle charts that still suggest 1325/00 within the near term.
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How we close today will be critical, but then...isn't that always the case?

back at 2pm

Pre-Market Brief

Overnight futures were somewhat weak, earlier lows were sp-13pts, which just about would open us at the big 1400 level.

Q3 GDP: 2.0%, which seems bizarrely high. I can only guess it'll be later revised 'significantly' lower. As they say..'lies, damned lies..and statistics.'


sp'60min

Summary

So, GDP is a touch better than expected. I'm surprised at the 2.0%, doesn't make much sense considering the other data-points which are worse now than late Spring.

The big level to take out is the cycle low of 1397. A close in the low 1390s would be VERY bearish for Monday, opening up 1370s....and also a further multi-day fall to the 1325/00 zone.

As at 8.35am...Sp -5pts @ 1408, I'd guess VIX is a touch higher, +3%
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UPDATE 8.50am

Indexes are now all back to flat. So much for the overnight futures.

Once again, it was all a complete waste of time. 

Red into the weekend?

Today saw the bulls begin another early morning lurch higher, but it failed. It is this second failure in a row that I find particularly bearish. With the VIX hourly chart offering big upside this Friday, and into next week, things could be about to get real exciting.


Sp'weekly'2yr

Sp'monthly,6yr

Summary

First, a brief note on AAPL/AMZN.

AAPL is still immensely profitable, but clearly its a little concerned about early 2013. In AH trading, it broke the monthly 10MA, hitting 585 - suggesting a move to $500 in the next month or two.

AMZN, razor thin margins....and now...no margins, with a 23 cent loss per share. In AH trading AMZN broke the key $210 level, briefly hitting 204. Target is now a very clear $150.
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Bearish end to October?

So far the decline from 1474 to 1412 is still a tiny move of barely 4%. All those bull maniacs calling this decline 'significant'..have clearly lost any sense of perspective. 

The weekly chart suggest a move to 1325/00 is viable within the 'very near term'.
The monthly chart would allow a multi-month move as low as sp'1200/1175.

Certainly, the low 1200s would make for a very tasty 'dip buying' level, even for those permabears out there, including yours truly! Right now, even a move to the low 1300s would seem out of range to most traders, but hey...we've seen a few 'surprise' major declines over the last few years. We're due another one. 


A stinky red Friday?

As for Friday, we have Q3 GDP data before the open, a number <1.5% should be enough to cause at least some market concern. The consensus estimate is for 1.9%, which seems bizarre, especially when you consider the earnings reports in recent days.

It will also be interesting to see how AAPL and AMZN trade across Friday. Considering their respective results - and AH price action, I'd look for them both to at least close moderately lower.

Goodnight from London

Daily Index Cycle update

The main indexes closed slightly higher, but it remains important to note that the early morning rally entirely failed to hold, with the market even going briefly negative. Despite the closing hour mini-rally, the daily near term trend remains downward.


IWM, daily

Sp'daily5

Trans

Summary





I suppose some bears can feel a little disappointed with the closing levels. After the early morning rally failed, and with the market red, the door was open to breaking much lower...but no. The bears did not have the energy to break lower today. Perhaps tomorrow.

The underlying daily MACD (blue bar histogram) cycles are very low, and there is now the persistent threat of a major jump to the upside on any 'excuse'. At the moment, considering the VIX is still not even 20, I'm not too concerned though.

Transports remains trading in its own little world. I'd certainly like to see it close the month <5000, to maintain a generally bearish trend on the monthly charts.
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I remain short, seeking an exit on a major down day, preferably somewhere around sp'1375, with VIX 20/21. With the weekly charts suggesting a target of 1325/00 as viable within the next week or so, I am reasonably confident of an exciting end to October.

A little more later.