With the main indexes clawing a few extra points higher into the close, the VIX naturally slipped lower, closing -2.2% @ 13.89. Daily trends suggest a jump >15, with a possible spike into the 16/17s this Friday..or certainly, early next week.
VIX'60min
VIX'daily3
Summary
Despite the market opening higher, the VIX never really dropped much, and it was showing some distinct strength across the day.
The VIX looks like is very much primed for a jump into the mid teens either tomorrow, or very early next week.
There is the threat that the indexes could open Friday higher - if the market decides the jobs data is 'acceptable', yet I can't see such gains holding.
Indeed, sp'1540s look very viable at some point tomorrow. If that is the case, then VIX 16/17 seems the natural target to aim for.
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A somewhat choppy day in market land, where opening gains failed...with the indexes briefly going red, and closing slightly higher. The USD saw very strong gains all erased, with Oil and the precious metals recovering some of their declines.
sp'60min
Summary
So, we close a little higher, but it sure doesn't negate what are now at least moderately bearish signs across the daily and weekly charts.
Baring a truly bizarre set of new highs - across ALL indexes, going short seems a reasonable risk/reward ratio right now.
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*I am short from sp'1557, seeking an exit by the Friday close in the sp'1542/38 area.
Tomorrow should be more dynamic than today, especially in VIX land, where I think the 16/17s are viable, if those low sp'1540s are hit.
There is a 'small' possibility that the 50 day MA @ 1530 could be hit.
The market is trying to stage its usual latter day recovery-ramp. USD has seen a very strong intra-day swing, and is now a touch lower. Gold and Oil are hence recovering. VIX is back to red. Daily/Weekly cycles continue to warn of general weakness.
sp'15min
Summary
Upside max' target remains somewhere in the 1562/66 area.
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*standing by to short into the close, seeking sp'1540 tomorrow.
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I refer you to...
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updates..into the close
3.05pm...we're probably in the last 5-15mins of this rally.
Eyes on the 5min chart... sp'1561/62 seems just about viable.
3.15pm...if sp<1557....I will chase lower...and short.
otherwise..still waiting for 1561/62
UPDATE 3.20... SHORT ..from sp'1557.
It no longer looks like 1560s viable again.
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So..I am short, will hold overnight, seeking sp'1540 as an exit tomorrow.
sp'15min
I suppose it could be a micro-bull flag, and we still close in the 1560s..but regardless, MACD cycle looks weak...hourly charts look a weak mess.
3.30pm..hourly chart..we have 2 topping spikes so far. If we close like this..or lower, I'll be more than content.
Lets be clear, there IS threat of upside tomorrow, but daily/weekly charts say...'short' to 1540.
There is the 50 day MA @ 1530..which would be a particularly attractive level tomorrow afternoon.
3.40pm...bears just need a close <1556. That'd help to keep things under control.
3.45pm.. they sure are battling it out at 1557/58.
Mr Market is seeing another up cycle..and there is a real threat of a close in the mid 1560s. The bigger daily and weekly charts are now clear though...sell the rallies. Oil and Metals remain under severe pressure..not least from the relentlessly rising USD
sp'15min
Summary
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Best guess...
sp'1562/63 by 3pm...at which point...I'll be hitting buttons.
There IS a 'small' risk of a jump at the Friday open to test the 1576 high, but considering the MANY bearish indictors out there (not least..Oil)... I think the risk/reward is more than reasonable.
Downside target for the Friday close is sp'1540
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2.15pm...still waiting..sp'1560s seem very likely.
Mr Market continues to show increasing instability. We're seeing micro-snap drops, the VIX looks strong, whilst Oil and metals remain weak. However, there remains imminent threat of afternoon ramp to sp'1564/68 zone. Bears...beware.
sp'15min
Summary
I'll focus on the micro-charts this afternoon..even the 60min is probably too broad.
15min cycle does threaten of afternoon ramp.
I might be wrong....and I sure won't be taking any longs of course.
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For the cautious...lets see where we are around 2-2.30pm.
Right now...I will go heavy short on any afternoon ramp into the mid 1560s.
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*High confidence of downside to sp'1540..by the Friday close.
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UPDATE 1.12pm..well, there go the morning lows..
Regardless, I ain't chasing this nonsense lower...too much threat of late day ramp.
UPDATE 1.20pm...bulls need to break just 1557..to open up those mid 1560s.
We've seen that kind of latter day recovery dozens of times already this year. Why would today be any different?
1.30pm..market breaking back upward...anything >1557..and this nonsense will keep going.
Its been a confusing few weeks, but the last few days have given clarity. The market is putting in at least a mid-term top..and we're now starting a 4-6 week down cycle across April..and into May. There is multiple support for this, not least in the commodities market.
*There is a great deal going on, its hard to know what to cover
sp'60min - with downside count
USO, daily2
VIX'60min
Summary
I am patiently waiting, I think bulls could kick things higher still.this afternoon to sp'1566/68
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Lunch time video from Mr Carboni...the 1000th video..interesting outlook on the precious metals...Oscar is looking for Silver 17..and then 12.
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UPDATE 12.10pm..hmm, this is starting to get...annoying.
Is the high in for the day?
sp'15min...looks ugly..
Bears need to take out the 1549s...and then its open air down to 1540/35.
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I do not like chasing it lower at this level...this is dangerous level..if the bulls can manage a ramp at this point.
So..I'm still waiting.
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UPDATE 12.30pm....bears need to be real careful here...I smell a nasty ramp to 1564/66.
I would be real annoying to miss out on a down move to 1540, but I can't chase it lower at this level.
Target re-short...2.30pm...around the sp'1564/66 area..
Mr Market is messing with the heads of many this morning. Early gains..then..whack...but underlying imminent momentum IS up on the hourly charts. Sp'1564/66 seems likely this afternoon..at which point..its arguably time to start hitting buttons.
sp'60min - updated chart..with downside count
Summary
I've added a downside count, that extends into next Friday.
It is HIGHLY speculative, and subject to revision, but right now, thats my best guess.
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Tomorrow...and the Friday close.. - I think there is a very reasonable chance we can close in the low 1540s....before a 15/20pt bounce Mon/Tue.
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I remain waiting....lets give those bull maniacs a few more hours to battle higher.
*poster 'redalphbet', thankyou for your comment, but these pages have Disque installed, so your comment won't appear to anyone else. Get a disque account...maybe.
UPDATE 11.20am
Its kinda hard to know what to cover, there is a LOT going on, even though the indexes are only up a little.
For instance, are you noticing Oil ? Its getting DESTROYED in the past 2 days. There is huge downside viable across next week.
Metals remain weak...whilst King Dollar is just super strong..and USD 84/85 looks likely within a few weeks.
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I remain waiting. Lets see where we are around 1-2pm. sp'1566..even 68 seems viable this afternoon.
Good morning. A moderate rally across the morning seems likely, whether it can continue all the way into Friday..that is now the issue. Oil is significantly lower, along with the metals...not least helped by a significantly stronger USD. VIX is largely unchanged.
sp'60min
vix'60min
Summary
Best guess is we see a bounce into the mid 1560s.
After yesterdays action, I'm finding it hard to envision we make a play for 1576. It is possible, but I'm...guessing....no.
Thus..I will look to short the indexes later today, probably around 1-2pm
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*updates across the day, and I'll certainly note, when I start hitting buttons for a major re-short.
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UPDATE 10.05am
1561/62 already..and we're barely 35mins into the day!
On balance, i do NOT see 1576 being challenged.
Lets just see how the next 2-3 hrs play out. Bears need to give the bulls a few more hours at least.
Look for VIX to find support around the 13.60/50s.
With the Transports also breaking key rising support, the bears can start to be increasingly confident that a mid-term cyclical top is being put in. Whether we briefly test 1576 by the Friday close, seems largely inconsequential. This market is surely headed lower from current levels.
sp'weekly3, Keltner bands
sp'daily5b - best guess
Summary
Again, I think the weekly Keltner chart is useful to keep in mind. The lower band will be extremely hard to break on any initial down cycle. On any basis, bears can NOT expect any lower than the 1440/60s..as things currently are.
Indeed, by early May, that lower K' band will have risen, and be somewhere around 1460/80....which is very much where my primary target is @ 1470.
WTIC Oil - also broken
see USO, daily2
I was short USO from last night, and had been looking for a decline to the 34.40s..which I got..and that was indeed where I exited this morning. Yet, Oil fell across the day, and it was somewhat depressing to see just how low USO was by the close. I really didn't expect that level of drop on the first move.
Regardless, I will look to short Oil again on the next bounce, which could be as high (ironically) as my exit today around 34.40, although if the market is weak..maybe it'll struggle just to hit 34.0
Lesson of the day...'stops are good..but not too tight'.
Looking ahead
There really isn't much tomorrow in terms of data, just the usual weekly jobs numbers..not that many consider them too important anymore.
The hourly index chart (see earlier post) does offer significant upside potential tomorrow...so don't be surprised if we open back in the sp'1560s. Whether we can still make a play for 1576..I've no idea.
Regardless of whether 1576 will yet be hit, I am now very confident of the next 4-6 weeks.
*I will be looking to re-short the next equity/Oil bounce, and will be focusing on the 15/60min cycle charts tomorrow..more than ever.
Goodnight from London
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Video Bonus...'Risk', (39mins)
I finally got around to watching this from Grant Williams. Its relatively new, although its already been highlighted on Zerohedge. I know nothing about the narrator, but its worth seeing. In particular, it deals with the issue of fractional banking and gold leasing.
The bulls are unquestionably losing control, with most indexes closing around 1-1.5% lower. The Transports have followed the R2K, and also broken key rising support. Oil saw a sharp drop of 2.5%, and is now likely starting a major down cycle across April...and into May.
IWM
SP'daily5
Trans
Summary
So..we now have two indexes having broken key rising support..and indeed..the break of the Transports from the support that stretches all the way back to the post election - mid-November low...is very important.
Without question, this multi-month cycle is coming to an end. R2K was the first warning - it put in its high 3 weeks ago, and now we have two indexes broken.
I've no doubt now that the SP, Dow..and Nasdaq will follow across the next few days.
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In terms of the MACD (blue bar histogram) cycle, we're very low on the R2K/Transports, so..it wouldn't be too surprising if they get stuck soon. Yet the other indexes have a viable 3-5 days downside..which would take us all the way into the end of next week - when the tax year ends.
