Friday 17 July 2015

VIX hugely lower on the week

With equities seeing very sig' net weekly gains, the VIX was ground lower across the week, settling Friday -1.3% @ 11.95. Across the week, the VIX fell -29.0%. Near term outlook offers a bounce to the upper gap zone of 15/16s.. before resuming to the 12/11s in early August.


VIX'60min



VIX'daily3



VIX'weekly


Summary

More than anything, the weekly VIX cycle was warning of trouble in the previous two weeks, with clear spiky top candles around the key 20 threshold. The fact last week saw a black-fail candle only added to my concern that the VIX had maxed out.

Regardless of any bounce to the VIX 15/16s next week, the VIX looks set to be broadly subdued into August.

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*I remain holding a small VIX long position, seeking an exit in the 15/16s by next Tue/Wed.
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more later.. on the indexes

Closing Brief

US equities closed somewhat mixed, sp +2pts @ 2126 (intra high 2128). The two leaders - Trans/R2K, settled +0.7% and -0.4% respectively. Near term outlook offers a retrace to the sp'2090/80 zone - along with VIX 15/16s, before renewed upside into August.


sp'60min


Summary

... and another week comes to a close in the twisted casino.

We've climbed from sp'2044 to 2128 in just six trading days, with the VIX getting crushed from 20.05 to 11.77. A retrace is arguably due across next Mon-Tue.

Have a good weekend
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*the usual bits and pieces across the evening to wrap up the day.

3pm update - chop into the weekend

US equities are set for some OPEX chop (if a touch weak) into the weekend, but regardless of the exact close, all US indexes will settle with significant net weekly gains. With the USD +0.2% in the DXY 97.80s, the metals remain under pressure, Gold -$12, with Silver -0.8%.


sp'weekly



VIX'60min


Summary

With no catalyst to knock the market lower, we've seen a clear bounce from rising trend.

For the equity bears... a week to forget.

I'm still guessing we'll see a few days lower, before resuming higher into August.

**The bigger bearish equity/long VIX trade is likely not until we're in the second half of August.
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notable weakness, energy stocks, CHK -5.2%, BTU -3.5%, RIG -5.5%
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Unless there is some closing hour news....   back at the close
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Just noticed this...

Trans, daily


A bit of a bearish spike.. at declining resistance... does bode in favour to the bears next Mon-Wed.

2pm update - afternoon chop

US equity indexes remain mixed, with the Dow -68pts, whilst the Nasdaq comp' is holding moderate gains of 29pts @ 5192. The market looks to have a short term peak of sp'2128, with viable downside to the 2090/80 zone - along with VIX 15/16s, by the middle of next week.


sp'60min



VIX'60min


Summary

Little to add.

I'm still suspicious that at least some of the rats will sell into the weekend.. not least with it being OPEX, and after sig' net weekly gains.

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Ending the week, with a little sun in the city...


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stay tuned

1pm update - awaiting a little more weakness

US equities remain mixed, with sp'2128 an increasingly likely short term peak. There seems opportunity for another moderate wave lower this afternoon, with a net daily decline for the Dow in the -130/160 range.. along with VIX 13s. Regardless though.. still a sig' net weekly gain for all US indexes


Dow, daily



VIX'60min


Summary

Little to add.

Three hours left of the trading week.. all things considered... I'm looking to see some of the rats exit into the weekend.

notable weakness: INTC, -2.1% @ $29.20s, the bigger weekly cycle looks dire, at least to 26/25s. The H/S formation is suggestive of $22.50.

*I continue to believe INTC is a valid indirect signal/proxy for the broader market.. into Sept/Oct. Bulls.. beware!
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back at 2pm

12pm update - choppy OPEX

US equities are mixed, and certainly choppy, having likely seen a short term peak of sp'2128, with VIX 11.77. In any case, all indexes are set for significant net weekly gains. Metals remain very weak, Gold -$13, with Silver -0.8%. Oil continues to slide, -1.2%... in danger of losing the key $50 threshold.


sp'daily5



VIX'daily3



Summary

Market looks set for some degree of weakness into the weekend. After very sig' gains this week, at least some of the bull maniacs are likely to close their positions.. not least with it being OPEX.

Best weekly close for the bears:  sp'2110, with VIX in the 13s.
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meanwhile... in Greece


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VIX update from the Godfather



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back at 1pm

11am update - the reversal holds

US indexes are somewhat mixed, with the Dow -72pts, whilst Nasdaq comp +28pts. More importantly though, the opening reversal did hold, and it bodes for sp'2128 as a short term top. A retrace to the sp'2090/80 zone looks due, along with VIX 15/16s. Metals/Oil remain under particular pressure.. via strength in King Dollar.


Dow, daily



VIX'daily3



Summary

Long afternoon ahead, not least as its OPEX.

Eyes on Gold.. as it looks set to lose the Nov' low of $1130
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notable weakness, energy stocks, Oil/gas drillers, RIG -4.6%, SRDL -6.0%

INTC -2.2% in the $29.20s.. the Wed' AH high in the low $32s now looks a very long way higher.
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time for an early lunch


11.23am.. VIX battling to turn positive. A weekly close in the 13s would offer the bears some hope for early next week, down to sp'2090/80 zone.. before resuming upward.

notable weakness: INTC -2.6%... uglier with each hour.

10am update - opening reversal

US equities open higher to a new cycle high of sp'2128, along with a new historic Nasdaq comp' high of 5197. However, there is a clear reversal underway... as also reflected in the VIX. Metals are weak, Gold -$8, with Silver -0.8%. Oil is similarly unravelling, -1.0% around the $50 threshold.


sp'60min



VIX'60min


Summary

*there is a great deal to cover already, not least in the precious metals, where Gold is in imminent danger of losing the key low of $1130 from Nov'2014.
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Best weekly close is arguably sp'2110/05, with VIX in the 13.00/50 zone. It'd at least setup next Mon/Tuesday for some further weakness.. before renewed upside into next month.

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notable weakness: INTC, -2.0% @ $29.30s.... daily/weekly charts look really ugly.


The Thursday black-fail candle should really concern the INTC bulls.. and broader price structure is highly suggestive of the mid/low 20s by October.

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Oil/gas drillers, RIG -3.1%, SDRL -5.1%.. as there is renewed panic about Oil falling for the rest of the year.
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10.01am Consumer sentiment:  93.3.. .still pretty high... considering 'reality'.

Meanwhile... Gold -$10.. @ 1133...


10.27am.. Gold cash market hits a low of $1131...  futures $1129   much lower levels look due.. regardless of the weekly close.
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Dow -80pts...    even Nasdaq now looks vulnerable to turning negative.

Pre-Market Brief

Good morning. Equity futures are broadly flat, we're set to open at sp'2124.. a mere 0.5% from breaking a new historic high. USD is fractionally lower @ DXY 97.60s. Gold is -$1, whilst Oil -0.5%.


sp'60min


vix'60min


Summary

*awaiting CPI data at 8.30am.
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Clearly, having ramped from sp'2044 to 2124.. a gain of 3.9%, we're due a minor retrace. The lower gap zone looks difficult to hit next week, but would be the natural downside target, before resuming higher into August.

Equity bears should be looking for a daily VIX close >13.25 to offer some hope of a turn, the price gap zone of 15/16s to be hit by next Tue/Wed.

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Doomer chat with Hunter


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Overnight China action: Momentum is building to the upside, with the China market ending the week on a very positive note, +3.5% @ 3957. A move to around 4400 is anticipated by mid August. From there... another major wave lower... at least to re-test the recent low around the old breakout level of the 3400s.
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**Today is OPEX, so expect increasing chop into the late afternoon.

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Have a good Friday
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8.31am ... Housing starts, +9.8% in June @ 1.174 million

Headline CPI +0.3%... inline...    y/y +0.1%... Hmm

Less food/energy, y/y +1.8%... still pretty close to Fed target of price stability (yeah.. the irony of that increase across 10-20 years)
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notable reaction... metals.. Gold -$3, with Silver -0.3%.
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8.49am.. Gold -$6... a mere $8 from breaking the key floor of $1130.... after that.. nothing but empty air to the giant $1000 threshold.


9.06am.. Gold -$8.50... a mere $5.50 to go.... set to follow Copper and Silver.. both having already broken the key Nov' 2014 floor.


9.32am.. Opening black-fail candle in the sp'500......

Reversal candle in the VIX.. from 11.77.


9.37am.. The reversal is holding so far.....   with a cycle high of sp'2128


9.40am.. Black candles all over the place.... if the reversal holds into 10am... it bodes pretty good for bears.

Net weekly gains

US equities are set for net weekly gains, even if there is some significant weakness into the weekly close - which itself looks less likely. The market has already ramped from sp'2044 to 2124 - a gain of 3.9%, and the giant monthly upper bollinger in the 2180s (best bull target) looks viable in Aug/Sept.


sp'weekly2



sp'monthly


Summary

Suffice to add... we're clearly set for a net weekly gain, and regardless of any retrace in the near term, the market looks set to broadly climb into next month.
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Looking ahead

Friday will see the latest CPI, Housing Starts, and Consumer Sentiment.

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Goodnight from London

Daily Index Cycle update

US equities closed broadly higher, sp +16pts @ 2124. The two leaders - Trans/R2K, settled higher by 0.2% and 0.7% respectively. Near term outlook offers a retrace to the 2095/90 zone, with the micro gap around 2080 looking somewhat difficult. Broader upside into early August remains probable.


sp'daily5



Nasdaq comp'


Summary

*Nasdaq comp' is just 1pt away from the historic high of June 24th of 5164.
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With the sp'500 clearing the upper gap zone of 2117/19, there is open air to the historic high of 2134.

Regardless of any retrace in the near term, new historic highs look probable in a number of indexes into August.

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a little more later..