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Powell’s speech this morning calmed traders and sent the markets soaring. The Standard and Poors index (SPX) closed at 4509, up 39 points or 0.9%. Today’s run set another all-time high and completed the week’s track record with a gain of +1.3%. Trading volume never touched the 50-day moving average (dma) at any time this week.
VIX, the volatility index for the S&P 500 options, spiked into the mid-twenties last week as the market traded lower, but proceeded to decline this week and closed today at 16.4%. However, it would be a mistake to put your portfolio on autopilot and take a nap. This remains a nervous and twitchy market.
I have plotted the prices of the IWM ETF below to track the Russell 2000 index. The owners of Russell have priced everyone out of Russell 2000 index and option data. That is why I plot the IWM prices. IWM has been extremely choppy for the past six months and declined severely in mid-July. IWM almost matched those July lows on August 19th while breaking down through the 200 dma. IWM has traded below the 50 dma since July 13th and flirted with that key moving average on Wednesday. IWM decisively broke out above the 50 dma in today’s strong market, closing up 2.8% at 226.41.
The NASDAQ Composite index broke out above its 50 dma last Friday and continued a strong run this week, closing today at 15,130, up 184 points or 1.2% for the day and up 3.8% for the week. NASDAQ’s trading volume has consistently run under the 50 dma since July 20th.
The overall market trends of the S&P 500 and NASDAQ have tracked higher this year, but it has been a rough ride. In eight months we have experienced eight mini-corrections of 2-6%. In each case the downturn only lasts a few days and bounces back in a classic V pattern. Many traders are betting on a strong economic recovery, but the fears of runaway inflation are weighing on the market. Powell’s speech at Jackson Hole soothed the market’s fears and caused a strong bullish run today. But it is anyone’s guess how long that lasts before we see another twitch. Historically, strong bull markets require the leadership of the small to mid-cap stocks, typical of the Russell 2000 index. I am encouraged by Russell's strong performance today and this week. Russell has an uphill climb to get back in sync with its big brothers, but this is the best it has looked all year. Maybe we are turning the corner?
I continue to trade cautiously. I started the week 70% in cash and ended the week at 62% cash. I was a little more aggressive this week, but I have too many scars from these
mini-corrections tripping my stops and then leaving me behind.
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The Standard and Poors index (SPX) appeared to bounce off support around 4389 on Thursday and closed Friday at 4442, up 36 points or 0.8%. SPX opened Monday at 4462, so it recovered much of the week’s losses and ended the week down 0.4%. Trading volume spiked above the 50-day moving average (dma) on Thursday but remained below average the rest of the week.
VIX, the volatility index for the S&P 500 options, opened the week at 17.1%, spiked up to an intraday high of 24.7% on Thursday and closed Friday at 18.6%. It appears the mini-correction is over, but I will be watching very carefully on Monday.
I plot the prices of the IWM ETF to track the Russell 2000 index. The owners of Russell have priced everyone out of Russell 2000 index and option data. That is why I plot the IWM prices. IWM has been extremely choppy for the past six months and declined severely in mid-July. IWM almost matched those July lows on Thursday while breaking down through the 200 dma. IWM bounced upward strongly on Friday, closing at 215.52, up 3.58 points or +1.7%. Even with Friday’s strong close, IWM lost 1.9% this past week. The Russell 2000 would have to gain 3.5% to regain its 50 dma.
The NASDAQ Composite index broke down through its 50 dma on Wednesday and didn’t recover that benchmark until Friday when it closed up 173 points at 14715. This resulted in a decline of 0.4% for the week. NASDAQ’s trading volume has consistently run under the 50 dma since July 20th.
The overall market trends of the S&P 500 and NASDAQ have tracked higher this year, but it has been a rough ride with frequent and sudden pullbacks. We are caught between bullish expectations for the economy’s recovery and the fear of inflation. The Russell 2000 chart is downright ugly. It is difficult to see the overall market continuing higher without the leadership of the small to mid-cap stocks. I continue to trade cautiously. I started the week 58% in cash and ended the week at 70% cash. This shift is primarily the result of my closing out this month’s Conservative Income positions. I was unwilling to roll them out to next week. I preferred the safety of cash for the weekend.
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The Standard and Poors index (SPX) made two new all-time highs this week, closing Friday at 4437, up 7 points on the day and up 0.7% for the week. The trading volume of the S&P companies ran above and below the 50-day moving average (dma) this week but fell below the 50 dma as the index made new
all-time closing highs on Thursday and Friday.
VIX, the volatility index for the S&P 500 options, declined steadily this week, hitting an intraday high on Monday at 19.9% and closing Friday at 16.2%. This isn’t an “all clear” signal but it is a big improvement over the past couple of weeks.
I have plotted the prices of the IWM ETF below to track the Russell 2000 index. The owners of Russell have priced everyone out of Russell 2000 index and option data. That is why I plot the IWM prices. IWM magnified the moves of the large blue chips this week, declining the first three days and then spurting higher Thursday and Friday. However, IWM could not break above its 50 dma on Friday at 224.93 and pulled back to close at 223.38.
The NASDAQ Composite index traded steadily higher all week and set a new all-time high on Thursday at 14895. But it gave some of that back on Friday, closing down at 14836, down 0.4% on the day but remained up 0.5% for the week. NASDAQ’s trading volume continued run below its 50 dma all week.
This year has been frustrating for traders, spurting higher and then falling sharply, only to recover the previous highs in short order. This week continued the move higher. The bulls are banking on the economy recovering strongly from the economic lockdowns, and the data appear to be supporting that thesis. The pullbacks are the effects of the lingering doubts. This is unknown territory. We have never experienced a lockdown anything like this since World War II.
I started the week 74% in cash and ended the week at 75%. I had hip replacement surgery on Monday, so I didn’t look to increasing my positions this week. They tell me I am doing well, wandering around the house, and even walking around the block yesterday with the assistance of a cane. I focused on trade management of open trades this week. We closed a nice one with Apple on Thursday with a 60% gain and closed profitable earnings trades on TSLA, MSFT and GOOGL.
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The Standard and Poors index (SPX) made three new all-time highs this week, closing Friday at 4468, up 7 points on the day and up 0.7% for the week. The trading volume of the S&P companies ran below the 50-day moving average (dma) all week.
VIX, the volatility index for the S&P 500 options, opened the week at 17.1% and closed Friday at 15.5%. Historically, this doesn’t correspond to an “all clear” signal but it has not moved much lower this year.
I follow the prices of the IWM ETF to track the Russell 2000 index. The owners of Russell have priced everyone out of Russell 2000 index and option data. That is why I plot the IWM prices. IWM has been extremely choppy for the past six months and declined severely in mid-July. IWM closed Friday at 221.13, down 0.9% on the day and down 0.8% on the week. IWM has yet to recover its 50 dma at 224.54.
The NASDAQ Composite index traded sideways this week and closed Friday at 14823, up seven points or +0.04% on the day, but down 0.2% for the week. It gave some of that back on Friday, closing at 14836, down 0.4% on the day but remained up 0.5% for the week. NASDAQ’s trading volume traded almost perfectly sideways and ran below its 50 dma all week.
The S&P 500 and NASDAQ continue to trade higher this year, but with frequent and sudden pullbacks. As a consequence, it has been a frustrating market to trade. The bulls are banking on the economy recovering strongly from the economic lockdowns and the fear of inflation has been the principal concern for traders. The bearish behavior of the Russell 2000 is my principal concern with this market. I continue to trade cautiously but I am venturing out with a few more positions.
I started the week 74% in cash and ended the week at 58%.
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The Standard and Poors index (SPX) essentially traded sideways this week, closing Friday at 4395, down 24 points on the day and down 0.3% for the week. The trading volume of the S&P companies ran at or below the 50 day moving average (dma) all week with the exception of Friday when it came in at 2.27 billion shares with the 50 dma at 2.06 billion shares.
VIX, the volatility index for the S&P 500 options, wandered sideways with the market this week, hitting intraday lows at 17.2% and intraday highs at 20.4%, before closing Friday at 18.2%. Traders remain on guard and are buying protection.
I have plotted the prices of the IWM ETF below to track the Russell 2000 index. The owners of Russell have priced everyone out of Russell 2000 index and option data. That is why I plot the IWM prices. IWM closed Friday at 221.05, down 1.47 or 0.7% on the day, but managed to close up 0.3% for the week. I don’t want to read too much into this, but it is at least worth noting that IWM booked a positive gain for the week while the S&P 500 blue chips lost 0.3%.
The NASDAQ Composite index didn’t fare as well as the S&P 500 or the Russell 2000, closing Friday at 14,673, down 106 points on the day or -0.7% and down 1.0% for the week. NASDAQ’s trading volume continued to come in below its 50 dma and decreased steadily all week.
Roughly speaking, we have endured a week of severe declines, followed by a strong recovery week and now we have just traded sideways all week. Maybe the market is trying to digest the cost data and fears of inflation. The FOMC met this week and continues to assure the market that they aren’t preparing to raise the federal discount rate and are continuing to pump money into the economy by buying bonds each week. Market gurus are split on whether inflation will be good or bad for the stock market. I think both groups are probably correct at the extremes. I still remember moving to Chicago in 1980 and trying to buy a house at 13% interest rates. That puts a damper on the market.
I watched a presentation from Merrill Lynch this week (I know, but they remain Merrill Lynch to me). An interesting tidbit: they predict corporate earnings will grow by over thirty percent during the remainder of this year. They base that prediction on a continuing recovery from the economic shutdown. If they are correct, that will definitely fuel the market’s climb higher.
I started the week 54% in cash and ended the week at 74%. This result surprised me as I computed it just now. As I analyze my cash basis, I realize I entered several new positions this week, but scaled back the size from what would be normal for me. I have also allowed several naked puts to expire worthless this week without rolling them out. I am reminded of the day traders who always go to cash at the end of each trading session to avoid overnight risk. I am wary of weekends. My rational mind sees pretty solid economic numbers but the whipsawing of this year’s market has left me a little gun shy (I don’t hunt but it is a very appropriate expression).
