Monday 17 November 2014

Closing Brief

A pretty subdued start to the week, with the broader market closing moderately mixed. The sp'500 settled +1.4pts @ 2041. The two leaders - Trans/R2K, settled lower by -0.5% and -0.8% respectively. Near term outlook is for a retrace back under sp'2000.


sp'60min


Summary

Frankly... little to add.. on what was a pretty dull day.
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The weakness in the two leaders - Trans/R2K, is suggestive the broader market is exhausted - from last Thursday's high of sp'2046.

At best, equity bears should be able to manage a retrace into the 1980/50 zone by early December.
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*a daily wrap at 8pm EST.

3pm update - minor weakness into the close

US equities look set to close with continued mixed weak price chop... with a slight downward pressure - via the daily cycles. Equity bears should look for a VIX close in the 14s, which opens up 16/17s later in the week.


sp'60min


Summary

Not much to add, a relatively quiet start to the week.. despite Japan getting whacked on what was very poor GDP Q3 data of -1.6% (market was expecting something in the +2.0s).

Clearly... the BoJ needs to print a lot more.
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back at the close... barring a surprise takeover bid... although I'd guess HAL ain't buying anything else this year.

2pm update - sleepy Monday

Price action remains increasingly light... and dull. VIX is holding minor gains of 5% in the low 14s. The bigger daily index and VIX cycles are both supportive to the equity bulls across this week. Metals and Oil remain broadly weak.


VIX'60min


Summary

Price structure on the VIX hourly is another bull flag - much like last Friday.. even with an opening black-fail candle.

Bodes (slightly) to the bears tomorrow...
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Notable strength: Nat' gas +4.6%..building gains across the day. Talk of $5 will be increasing this week.  All that is missing are some Russian threats of turning off the gas this winter to the EU.

yours... in the EU.

1pm update - its turning tedious again

US equities are back to the same tedious micro chop seen in the previous two weeks. VIX is back to melt mode..cooling, now +5.6% in the 14.00s. Metals remain weak, Gold -$7, whilst Oil is similarly pressured by a rising USD, -0.9%.


sp'60min


Summary

Little to add.. on what is again turning rather tedious.
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Notable weakness.... TWTR -2.9%


Friday saw a break into the $39s..and that seems likely again.. whether late today..or tomorrow.

12pm update - slipping lower

US equities continue to display a touch of weakness, with most daily index cycles set to turn negative at the Tuesday open. With the higher USD, metals remain weak, Gold -$8, whilst Oil is -1.1%. VIX is holding gains of 8% in the 14.40s.


sp'daily5


VIX'daily3


Summary

Not much to add. The two leaders - Trans/R2K are leading the way lower, and are highly suggestive that the Thursday peak of sp'2046 is a short term top.

Primary downside target zone remains 1980/50.. but that is clearly out of range this week.

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VIX update from Mr T.


I'd agree on 'little interest in November', but we're due to turn positive cycle tomorrow... bodes good for the equity bears.
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time for tea

11am update - a case of the Mondays?

Mr Market remains relatively subdued, but with distinct short term weakness.. lead lower by the two leaders - Trans/R2K. Metals remain weak - not helped by the stronger USD, Gold -$5.. stuck under the old broken floor.


R2K, daily


GLD, daily


Summary

*Metals are always interesting to keep an eye on, not least as another round of floor callers appeared this past weekend. Three years.. and they're still at it. Until a few of the bigger gold bug sites shut down... Mr Market has a fair few 'bugs to crush'.
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Front month cash VIX is holding gains of 7%.. and yes.. as someone noted, the further out VIX is not rising much right now.

Even if equity bears do get a retrace in the near term... we're almost certainly not looking at a sustained move over 20.

To me, seems utterly pointless to get involved in any LONG vix instruments for the rest of the year. The only thing that'd change my mind would be a break back under sp'1900, and seriously... chances of that seem less than 0.01%
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stay tuned
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ps. Did you get the note on the TPS reports today?

10am update - opening minor weakness

US equities open lower, but so far, its very slight, and there is the threat of indexes turning positive this morning. The rising USD is causing problems in commodity land, Gold -$5, with Oil -0.9%. VIX opened up a full 10%.. so far peaking at 14.73.


sp'daily5


VIX'daily3


Summary

*the opening action in the VIX is somewhat curious.. a daily close in the 15s would really clarify matters. Daily MACD cycle on the VIX.. set to turn positive at the Tuesday open.
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Notable gainer...

BHI +9% @ $65, official takeover from HAL.... which will almost certainly go through.
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In Energy land.. Nat' gas catching a bid.. +2.6%.. so long as it can hold the big $4... viable upside across the winter.

Pre-Market Brief

Good morning. Futures are moderately lower, sp -4pts, we're set to open at 2035. With the USD clawing higher by 0.2%, the metals are a little lower, Gold -$4. An interesting week is ahead, one where the equity bears might finally start to see a retrace back under sp'2000.


sp'daily5


Summary

A break under the daily 10MA (2031) looks very viable today, and in many ways, that will make for a pretty good warning that a retrace is finally underway.

Best guess remains... sp'1980/50 zone by early December. Under no 'reasonable' outlook do I see sub'1900s in the near term.

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Hunter with Peter 'I'm still a dollar doomer' Schiff



I do agree with Schiff on a great many things, but the USD ain't going anywhere. I wish he could drop that mantra.
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Update from Mr Carboni



As any of you regular readers will know, I remain broadly bearish on the precious metals into next year.. and by default.. the miners. Friday was a strong gain, but then.. so was the previous Friday, and that didn't work out so well.
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Good wishes for the week ahead!
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9.24am... For those already awake... Oil is starting to slide, -1.2%... once again though, Nat' gas is going against Oil, +1.9%

*HAL -6%, buy BHI, +11% ... not surprising.. makes me wonder about RIG, SDRL, and indeed.. all of those 'crazy' priced coal/gold/silver/copper miners.


9.32am.. Interesting opening jump in the VIX of 10.4%... almost in the 15s, whilst indexes only a touch lower.