Volatility a little higher

Despite the main market closing a touch higher, the VIX managed to also climb a little, closing +2.7% @ 12.98. The next soft level is 13.50, and then 15.00. A break into the 15s would open up the gap zone of 16-18, but right now there is no real sign of that occurring.


VIX'60min

VIX'daily3

Summary

Hourly cycle remains an utter mess. The narrow trading range is really making it near impossible to discern any real trends.
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Daily cycle is offering a possible turn, with a wide bodied doji candle.

First target is a break of the recent high, into the 15s.

If we do somehow see the 15s..then VIX should at least 'briefly' spike into the 16-18 gap zone. The only issue is where does it get stuck..16s, 17s..or 18.0 ?

The sp'daily chart should offer some guidance, in discerning the next exit point for current VIX longs. Rising support is now around 1475.
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more later..on the indexes

Closing Brief

Every one of the main indexes broke new post 2009 highs today. Despite the slightly weak intra-day action, the primary trend is still strongly higher, with no real sign that a retracement will occur any time soon. With a giant POMO tomorrow, it'd be surprising if we don't break into the sp'1530s.


Dow

SP

Trans

Summary

Another pretty quiet day. We're just not seeing any real decent price action. A few pts lower..a few pts higher..its largely just very tedious.

With the big POMO tomorrow, it will be interesting to see if we can see a sharp ramp..into the mid 1530s.

After all, why not? Everything is 'fixed' right?
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the usual bits and pieces across the evening.

3pm update - messy day..messy close?

A little wave of weakness, and we're back near the lows of the day, although the nasdaq is still green. VIX is kinda interesting, a close >13.50 would offer the bears some small hope of a further challenge to break into the 15s in the near term.


vix'15min

sp'daily5

Summary

Mr Market battling hard to stop even a minute fall of sp' 2pts...laughable really.
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*metals still weak, not that I'm meddling in that. Its a very marginal situation. There is a much larger threat of multi-month upside (along with WTIC Oil) in the weeks..and months ahead.

back after the close

2pm update - afternoon ramp time

Its that time of day again. The hourly index cycles are very possibly floored, and we could easily climb into the close. VIX is still 2-3% higher, but we're seen time and time again.it weakens into the close. Incredible underlying index strength...its just always there.


sp'60min

GLD, daily

SLV, daily

Summary

So..lets see if the bots can melt the indexes back to new highs by the close.
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For me, metals remain the interesting aspect. Gold is especially weak right now. Significant downside viable. For the moment, I'm not chasing it lower.

12pm update - a touch of weakness

A slight bit of weakness..but then...bears have been teased like this for weeks. A minor wave lower...and then an afternoon recovery rally? Regardless of the near term 'noise', those broader trends look set for much higher levels into the summer. 


sp'daily5

vix'daily3

Summary

VIX is the interesting one right now. A break into the 15s, would open up the 16-18 gap zone again...which would become prime 'dip buying' zone for those who want to get onboard the equity long train.

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Metals are weak. Its a tricky level, and I'm going to sit it out. Safer trade is long, but not at this level.

SLV could easily fall into the low 28s...which would make for a very nice entry.

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VIX video update




back at 2pm

10am update - another day of melt

Mr Market opens higher, and we already have new post 2009 highs for the Dow and SP. This market remains a slow motion freight train. The fuel is primarily POMO, and the driver is...none other than the Ben Bernanke. Passengers? Oh yeah, I guess that would be the algo-bots.


sp'daily5

vix'daily3

Summary

Yet another day of low volume melt. No reason to expect anything different than yesterday..or the many days before that.

Keep in mind that tomorrow is a huge POMO day, and it will be fascinating to see if we break significantly higher into the 1530/40s.
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*metals are a little weak.

I'm still kinda considering a re-short on SLV after my exit yesterday, but the opening action is kinda dull. SLV could easily melt higher - along with the main market, across the day.

What is clear, the only 'safe long' in metals, is after a few daily closes above the declining resistance.
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The retracement that never comes

Since the giant two day hyper-ramp (Dec 31/Jan 2), just six weeks ago, the market has remained in classic algo-bot melt mode. This is indeed not the first time we've seen this sort of action, and it has to be considered..could this continue until year end?


sp'monthly3, rainbow

sp'weekly2, rainbow

Summary

So..another higher high for both the Dow and the SP'500 today. Yes, the Transports and the R2K are looking a little tired, but still, the broad trend remains UP.

Even if there is a key cyclical peak sometime soon, its going to take some weeks, if not 2-3 months before we have any clarity.

Those hopes of a retracement...remain as distant as they were at the close of Jan'2nd.


POMO...POMO....POMO

The Feds POMO program has only been going since the start of the year, so I have to say, I find it really bizarre to see people already talking about QE3 ending. The fed could end it anytime they want of course, but still, I'd have to believe they'll let it run for 6-9 months at least, if not just keeping it permanent.

see POMO schedule, via NY fed.

This Thursday is a major POMO of 5-6bn, so it will be interesting to see if the market can ramp a little harder, perhaps into the 1540s by the Friday close - which is option expiration. The sp'1530/40s would certainly help to wipe out just about EVERY single one of the Feb' equity put options.
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As for Wednesday, there really isn't too much to look for. Downside to sp'1510 is viable, but a break under that looks too difficult. There is open air...to the 1540s -  as offered on the monthly charts.

For the remaining bears out there - and there can't be too many, these remain....'difficult' times. Sincerely...good wishes to those..holding on out there.

Goodnight from London

Daily Index Cycle update

The main indexes closed somewhat mixed, although the sp'500 and Dow both made new post-2009 highs. The broad trend remains strongly upward, there is simply no sign of the current trend ending. Even hopes of a minor 2-4% retracement remain just that...hopes.


IWM, daily

SP'daily5

Trans

Summary

So..another day..much like the previous few weeks. They all kinda blend into one, don't they?
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The underlying MACD (blue bar histogram) cycle now looks floored, and is even starting to tick back higher on the daily charts. It will be a few days before we go positive cycle again.

Lets be clear, there is NO reason why we won't just melt higher for another few weeks...and beyond.

How about straight up..relentless melt..for 3 months..or how about 3 years?

How is that impossible, when the Fed is throwing 45bn of POMO $ at the primary dealers each month? At least 'some' of that money is not going to just sit on a hard drive, its going to find its way into an equity account..and it will bid up this market!

I'm really just trying to provoke a few extreme scenarios here...after all, the ramp from Aug'2010 to May'2011 was around 30%. Stick 30% onto sp'1400 - where we started the year..and you get sp'1850.

As a year end target..it has to be considered.

A little more later