- Details
- Written by Dr. Duke
- Category: Dr. Duke's Blog
- Hits: 1516
The Standard and Poors index (SPX) fell out of bed this week, with the largest loss occurring today with a loss of 1.3%. Today’s trading closed at 4166, down 1.9% for the week. SPX bounced off the 50-day moving average (dma) this morning and appeared to be stabilizing. You may recall that the 50 dma was the support level for the market’s earlier pull backs this year. But that proved to be wishful thinking as trading became more bearish this afternoon. Today’s close at 4166 was well below the 50 dma at 4182. Trading volume was below average Monday and Tuesday but accelerated the balance of the week, gaining steam each day.
VIX, the volatility index for the S&P 500 options, made the complete trip this week, opening Monday at 16%, near lows for the year, and closing today at 21%. We hit volatility lows for the year last week, but that is long gone.
The IWM ETF, based upon the Russell 2000 index, declined steadily through Thursday, but kept recovering from intraday lows, suggesting the bulls were buying the lows. That all changed today with a gap opening lower this morning and breaking the 50 dma at the opening trade, closing the day at 222.13, down 2.3% today and down 4.4% for the week. The small to mid-cap stocks that make up the Russell 2000 are the high beta stocks that tend to lead bull markets higher and bear markets lower. This could be a significant turning point, although we thought that back in early May as IWM collapsed.
The NASDAQ Composite index is the outlier this week, closing today at 14030, down 131 or 0.9%. NASDAQ opened the week at 14038, resulting in a decline of only 0.4% for the week, the strongest broad market index this week by far. The 50 dma is nearly 2% below today’s close. NASDAQ’s trading volume ran along the 50 dma most of the week and actually declined today. NASDAQ was punished in earlier pull backs this year, but not today.
What a difference a week can make. Last week, I noted that we had seen steady price rises since May 19th, SPX had set a new all-time high and both NASDAQ and IWM were nearing their all-time highs. What changed?
Worries about impending inflation have been brewing for a couple or three weeks and one might think the calming remarks from Yellen and Powell would have put that to rest, but, if anything, the concerns deepened.
I was surprised to see analysts focusing on the FOMC’s dot map, committee members' predictions for a variety of key economic indicators for the next two years. A couple of committee members predicted rate hikes in 2023 or perhaps as early as November 2022. Powell assured the press that the committee has not even begun to discuss interest rate hikes or the ending of the bond purchase program. He also saw inflation prospects as moderate and even explained how higher inflation would be a normal expectation as the economy reopens and begins to grow strongly. The FOMC even predicted GDP growth this year of 7.1%. Why are we so panicked?
This discussion gives the reader a reasonable synopsis of my thinking. However, this also shows why I found myself closing several positions today and taking larger losses than I should have because I waited too long. I was trading and managing my positions based on my rationale for the market and what made sense to me. I should be trading what the market gives me and not trying to rationalize the market’s moves. I know that rule, but...
The market this year has been characterized by several pull backs, followed by bullish recoveries. The result has been whipsawing traders in and out of the market and I am no exception.
Over the past two days I closed many positions for losses and several more positions will expire worthless this weekend. The end result is that my cash basis went from 39% to 92%. I was tempted to think today was a buying opportunity, but I resisted that temptation and decided it would be best to re-evaluate the markets next week. For now, cash is king. And this posture will make it easier to relax this weekend.
When I saw that IBD had shifted their assessment from Confirmed Uptrend to Uptrend Under Pressure after the market closed today, that reinforced my decision to step aside.
Be extremely cautious next week. Remaining on the side lines may be the wisest course of action.
- Details
- Written by Dr. Duke
- Category: Dr. Duke's Blog
- Hits: 1607
The Standard and Poors index (SPX) opened modestly higher yesterday, closing the day’s trading at 4247, up 9 points or 0.2% for the day. SPX opened Monday morning at 4229, so the index barely made it back to its starting point, up 0.4% for the week. Friday’s close was another all-time high and completes a slow and steady climb for the past three to four weeks. Trading volume declined all week.
VIX, the volatility index for the S&P 500 options, was up and down this week, but declined strongly Thursday and Friday, closing yesterday at 15.7%. This is the lowest volatility reading this year.
The IWM ETF, based upon the Russell 2000 index, declined significantly Wednesday and Thursday, but still closed Friday up 2.42 at 231.70. IWM closed the week with a gain of 1.8%, a much stronger gain than the larger, more conservative S&P stocks. That suggests that a more bullish attitude is taking hold.
The NASDAQ Composite index closed Friday at 14069, up 49 points or 0.4%. NASDAQ posted the strongest and steadiest gains this week of the large cap indices, with a 1.8% gain. NASDAQ’s trading volume came to life this week, spiking above the 50 dma on Wednesday but declining the balance of the week.
This week in the market was a bit choppy, and trended steadily but modestly higher.
The overall market has been trending higher since May 19th:
• The S&P 500 was up 1.2% and set a new all-time high.
• The Russell 2000 was up 7.4% and is now 0.8% below its all-time high.
• The NASDAQ Composite was up 7.6% and is now 0.5% below its all-time high.
The S&P 500 set a new all-time high on Friday, but the Russell 2000 and the NASDAQ Composite are not far behind. Volatility is the lowest of this year. This is the bull market we have been hoping for in the midst of all of this whipsawing back and forth. But it still pays to be cautious; I don’t want to be one of the fools rushing in too soon.
- Details
- Written by Dr. Duke
- Category: Dr. Duke's Blog
- Hits: 1502
User Rating: 5 / 5
The Standard and Poors index (SPX) tried to recover from its dramatic low on May12th but the recovery stalled this week. SPX closed Friday at 4156, down three points on the day or -0.1%. Friday’s close left SPX with a small decline of 0.3% for the week. Trading volume reached the 50 dma on Wednesday but remained below average the balance of the week.
VIX, the volatility index for the S&P 500 options had another volatile week, opening Monday at 20%, spiking to 26% on Wednesday and closing yesterday back at 20%. VIX is often called the fear index and this market is twitchy. It can’t decide whether it is bullish or bearish.
The Russell 2000 index, as measured by the IWM ETF, tried to recover from the low set on May 12th but couldn’t quite make it. IWM closed Friday at 219.97, just a touch higher than Monday’s open at 219.78. IWM tested the 50 dma on Tuesday and again yesterday but pulled back to close below the 50 dma both times.
The NASDAQ Composite index closed at 13471, down 65 points but the index managed a positive increase for the week of 0.8%. NASDAQ tried to recover its 50 dma on Friday but pulled back before the market closed. NASDAQ’s trading volume remained below average and declined all week.
Last week’s report of the consumer and producer price indices resulted in talk of runaway inflation and spooked the market. The market attempted a recovery move this week, but feel short.
NASDAQ remains weak and Friday’s failed attempt at breaking out above the 50 dma was disappointing. This week’s trading with its retest of last week’s low was disconcerting. Likewise, the Russell 200 can’t recover its 50 dma. The S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrials are the only major market indices trading higher than the 50 dma. I found myself closing several trades on Friday rather than risking the weekend and Monday’s open.
The cash basis of my trading accounts moved higher this week, from 75% to 92%. I didn’t open many new trades this week and I was cautious when rolling out current income positions. I continue to focus on stocks that appear to be weathering these transient storms well. There is nothing wrong with cash.
- Details
- Written by Dr. Duke
- Category: Dr. Duke's Blog
- Hits: 1504
The Standard and Poors index (SPX) gapped open and headed higher this morning, closing the day's trading at 4230, up 37 points or 0.9% for the day. SPX opened Tuesday morning at 4217, so the index barely made it back to its starting point, up 0.3% for the week. It shows the volatility of this market when we see a gap opening lower on Wednesday and then a gap opening higher just two days later. Trading volume remained under the 50-day moving average (dma) all week.
VIX, the volatility index for the S&P 500 options, declined strongly today, closing at 16.4%. This was the lowest close for VIX since April 16th. Will it hold or will traders find something new to worry about next week?
The IWM ETF, based upon the Russell 2000 index, rose only modestly today, closing at 227.40, up 0.98 or 0.4%. IWM opened the week at 227.46, so this index was essentially unchanged for the week. That observation takes some of the optimism out of today’s strong bullish move on the blue-chip stocks. If the large institutional firms were truly shifting to “risk on”, we should see these high beta stocks picking up steam.
The NASDAQ Composite index closed today at 13814, up 200 points or 1.5%. However, NASDAQ gapped open lower on Wednesday and then gapped open higher today, leaving the index essentially flat for the week, since opening Tuesday at 13829. NASDAQ’s trading volume came to life this week, moving above the 50 dma on Wednesday and Thursday. It is interesting to see today’s strong bullish move was not even quite up to the 50 dma.
Today’s strong market finally pushed the IBD market assessment back to Confirmed Uptrend. Let’s review the recent history:
• May 4th: Confirmed Uptrend to Uptrend Under Pressure
• May 7th: Uptrend Under Pressure to Uptrend Resumes
• May 10th: Uptrend Resumes to Confirmed Uptrend
• May 12th: Confirmed Uptrend to Uptrend Under Pressure
• June 4th: Uptrend Under Pressure to Confirmed Uptrend
The fact that IBD’s rather conservative measure has been whipsawed back and forth over the past month is telling. It isn’t just you. This has been an extremely volatile market that has challenged even the most experienced analysts.
It is easy to focus on today’s positive market action and perhaps even become euphoric. After all, the market has worn us down.
Review this week’s performances for each of the broad market indices:
• The S&P 500 was up 0.3%.
• The Russell 2000 was down 0.03%.
• The NASDAQ Composite was down 0.1%.
I hope today was indeed the sea change we want to see. But it pays to be somewhat circumspect. Caution and trading discipline still rule the day.
- Details
- Written by Dr. Duke
- Category: Dr. Duke's Blog
- Hits: 1450
After trading sideways for over a month, the Standard and Poors index (SPX) dramatically fell out of bed this week, closing at a low on Wednesday of 4063, down 2.7%. The market recovered somewhat on Thursday and then gapped open and traded higher Friday. However, even Friday’s strong move higher of 1.5% was not enough to result in a positive week for the S&P 500, down 1.3% for the week. Wednesday’s low almost reached the 50-day moving average (dma). Trading volume reached the 50 dma early in the week but declined Thursday and Friday.
VIX, the volatility index for the S&P 500 options took a wild ride this week, opening Monday at 17%, spiking to 28% on Wednesday and closing today just under 19%. VIX appears to suggest the market’s temper tantrum is over…
The Russell 2000 index, as measured by the IWM ETF, opened the week at 225.03 and hit a low on Wednesday of 211.85. IWM gapped open this morning and closed at 221.02, up 2.4% on the day, but down 1.9% for the week. IWM remains below its 50 dma at 222.98.
The NASDAQ Composite index closed at 13430, up 305 points or 2.3%, but the index remains down 1.9% for the week. The damage to this index has been significant, losing 8.3% since April 29th. Today’s close leaves NASDAQ well below its 50 dma at 13540. NASDAQ’s trading volume remained below the 50 dma all week and declined even farther today.
This week’s report of the consumer and producer price indices resulted in talk of runaway inflation and spooked the market. The reaction in the markets this week may have been excessive, but the potential of excessive inflation is real. The government has been printing money throughout this pandemic and talk of additional spending in the form of minimum wage increases and infrastructure spending are on the front page. Just as the pandemic stimulus bills contained little to support those actually hurt by the pandemic, I fear the same for an infrastructure bill.
The rotation out of high tech into classic industrial stocks is evident as we compare the S&P 500 with the NASDAQ Composite. But we cannot ignore the high-tech stocks that make up the NASDAQ. They now make up a large portion of our economy. NASDAQ has corrected by 8% and that will have ripple effects in the economy. In summary, there are many negative factors that cannot be ignored. On the positive side, it is remarkable that we have now had four pullbacks since the first of the year and each time the bulls have taken the opportunity to buy the lows. I worry about the possibility of the bulls losing heart.
This week’s market has taken its toll on my “slightly bullish perspective” on the market. I will be watching very carefully as next week unfolds.
The IBD market assessment reaffirms what we traders are feeling. That assessment moved from Confirmed Uptrend to Uptrend Under Pressure to Uptrend Resumes and then back to Uptrend Under Pressure in 7 trading sessions. We are being whipsawed in and out of this market.
The cash basis of my trading accounts moved significantly higher this week, from 47% to 75%. I didn’t open many new trades this week and was cautious when rolling out current income positions. I continue to focus on stocks whose price charts show them to be weathering these transient storms well. There is nothing wrong with cash.
