Monday, 10 August 2015

VIX still being crushed

With equities starting a new week with significant net daily gains, the VIX was crushed across the day, settling -.8.9% @ 12.20. Near term outlook is borderline, as the equity bulls are now battling to break above the recent marginally lower high of sp'2112.


VIX'daily3



Summary

Little to add.

VIX remains very subdued. The big 20 threshold looks out of range until the sp'500 loses the 2000 threshold, and that sure doesn't look likely in the near term.

*I remain long VIX.. and this trade is starting to get a little annoying. I have little interest in exiting until the 15/16s.
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more later.. on the indexes

Closing Brief

US equity indexes closed significantly higher, sp +26pts @ 2104. The two leaders - Trans/R2K, settled higher by 1.5% and 1.2% respectively. Near term outlook is now borderline, bears need to hold the market under the recent failed rally attempt of sp'2112.


sp'60min



Summary

*moderate chop in the closing hour.
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A tiresome and frustrating day to begin the week.

Considering we're just 1.5% away from a new historic high, it remains bizarre how twitchy the mainstream generally are.

Best guess.. renewed downside. The bigger weekly cycles are still suggestive of Dow 17000, sp'2040s, and VIX in the 16/17s.
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more later.. on the VIX

3pm update - significant gains

US equities are set to close significantly higher, and regardless of whether the market settles a touch above.. or below the sp'2100 threshold, the bears face major problems if sustained price action across Tue/Wed' >2115. Gold and Oil are both holding sig' gains of 1.0% and 2.3% respectively.


sp'60min


Summary

For now.. it remains arguably just a bounce.. but clearly.. we're within 0.5% of breaking a higher high in the short term.

To me, the notion that we now have a key floor for the late summer of sp'2067 is nonsense.
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If you're on the short side and thought your day was difficult...



.. bearish theme parks (well, except DIS.. on long term) :)

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Changable skies in London city this evening.. much like my mood...


The particularly depressing aspect is that summer will be wrapping up in around four weeks.

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back at the close.

2pm update - market clawing

US equities continue to claw higher, with a new intra high of sp'2103, with VIX in the low 12s. Metals are holding sig' gains, Gold +$12, with Silver +3.6%. Miners are similarly holding most of the gains, the ETF of GDX +4.4%. Broadly though, metals/miners do not look floored on a multi-year basis.


sp'60min


Summary

Little to add.

Clearly, the mainstream is back to 'new highs are coming' mantra.... and extremely relieved the Dow won't fall for an 8th day.

I'm still guessing.. this is a mere bounce.
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1pm update - stuck around 2100

US equity indexes are looking stuck around the sp'2100 threshold. Clearly, the bulls would achieve a provisional victory on a daily close in the sp'2100s.. a mere 1.7% from breaking a new historic high. VIX remains extremely subdued, -7% in the 12.40s.


sp'60min



Summary

Well, the hourly cycle is still powering upward. Clear resistance - as at today's close will be 2106.

Any Tuesday gap into the 2110s would be even more of a problem than the nonsense we saw last Wednesday.

For now though.. by definition, today's move remains a bounce... unless a higher high is achieved.
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notable strength: AAPL.


With the daily cycle clearly broken though.. this is arguably a near perfect bounce..back to the old broken floor.
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1.23pm... Intraday update from Riley.


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:)

12pm update - metals catch a bid

US equities are continuing to build on opening gains, with an intra high of sp'2102, along with VIX 12.29. The precious metals have caught a particularly strong bid this morning, Gold +$15, with Silver +3.8%. The related miners are naturally spiralling upward, with the ETF of GDX +5.0%.


sp'60min



GLD, daily



Summary

*No doubt some in the gold bug community will be getting overly excited at this mornings sharp gains, yet this mornings gains do nothing to change the broader trend.

Just like the notion that $1130 was a key multi-year floor for Gold, the recent low of $1072 looks set to be broken... the only issue is whether this month.. or next.
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As for the broader equity market.. its clearly a strong start to the week for the bulls, but overall market mood sure doesn't suggest these gains will hold across the week.. never mind be built upon.
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VIX update from Mr T.


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time for tea.

11am update - approaching resistance

US equities are holding significant gains, with the sp'500 on the edge of the 2100 threshold. Equity bull maniacs need a daily close >2114 to open the door to new historic highs. Considering the broader weekly/monthly cycles though.. nothing has changed, and the price momentum continues to swing toward the bears.


sp'60min



Summary

Hourly MACD (blue bar histogram) is now positive cycle, with a bull cross. In theory... upside into Tue/Wed.

Again.. the critical issue is whether a break >2114 is achieved.

Best guess... another marginal lower high...  with a daily close under the 200dma, now @ 2074.
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notable weakness, QCOM...


A rather ugly chart... repeated rally fails last week... sub $60s look due.

10am update - opening gains

US equities are building significant gains, with another attempt to break and hold above the sp'2100 threshold. VIX is naturally crushed lower into the mid 12s. With the USD +0.1% in the DXY 97.70s, commodities are mixed.. Gold +$3, whilst Oil remains weak, -0.4%.


sp'daily5



VIX'daily3



Summary

Last week was all about repeated rally fails.

This week is simply a case of whether the market can break >2114.

Considering the bigger weekly/monthly cycles.. new highs look very unlikely.

Obvious short-side trades remain AAPL and DIS, having seen extremely decisive trend breaks.

AAPL, daily


Arguably back testing the old (broken) floor... whilst price structure is a bear flag. Bears should be seeking no daily closes in the $120s.  AAPL is certainly a stock to watch.. as an indicator for the broader market direction.

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notable weakness: TSLA -1.3%.. as talk continues that every car sale is a loss making sale.

QCOM -0.4%.. nothing significant, but it does standout from most stocks this morning.

Pre-Market Brief

Good morning. Futures are moderately higher, sp +8pts, we're set to start the week at 2085. It is highly notable that the Dow and NYSE comp' are both set for death crosses today/tomorrow. USD is a little higher, +0.1% in the DXY 97.60s, with Gold +$4, and Oil +0.7%.


sp'daily5



Dow, daily


Summary

So... we're set to open higher, but then... that was the case last Monday, Tue', Wed', and Thursday, and that didn't work out so well for the bulls.

Lets see where we are around 11am... and then I will be looking for some weakness for rest of the day.

Dow 17K, along with sp'2040s, are both near term targets, and considering the recent repeated rally failings, I remain broadly bearish.

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Overnight China action. The Shanghai comp' saw broad gains build across the Monday session, settling +4.9% @ 3928. The gains are the strongest seen in some time, but with the SSEC already close to the 4K level, will some dare sell.. despite threats from the China leadership?
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Doomer chat.. Hunter with Holter



Frankly, its more of the same nonsense from a rather standard 'dollar doomer'.

Every time Holter wears that hat in an interview, Gold loses $1. I remain holding to the big $1000 threshold. However, with the USD set to break >DXY 100, the 120s will then be due, and that is going to really hinder the metals.

As ever... make of that... what you will.

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Ohh, and as for those death crosses. I realise some will dismiss them.. after all, they are very lagging indicators, but still.. they are indicative of most indexes having been stuck for many months... and are now breaking new lows.
 
Have a good Monday.
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8.13am.. Futures jump a little... sp +14pts... that makes for 2091.

So.. again, it is an issue of 'who wants to buy in the sp'2100s?'.

notable weakness: FCX -2.2% @ $10.30s

TLT -0.5% in the $123s... but 125/126 looks a valid target later this week.
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8.34am.. It would seem the bonus futures pop is due to some story that the Greek banks are going to get some more money thrown at them in the near term.

Yeah.. clearly, all is well in Greece again. Nothing for the Greeks to be concerned about. Now they can go to their local bank and make use of all the savings they have. Oh wait.... yeah.. capital controls.... still.