Tuesday 12 November 2013

Volatility a touch higher

With the main indexes closing moderately lower, the VIX clawed a little higher, settling +2.3% @ 12.82. A small spike into the 14/15s seems possible if sp'1730s in the next few days. Certainly though, VIX looks unlikely to break 20 again until next year.


VIX'60min



VIX'daily3


Summary

Suffice to say, VIX a little higher..with the market a little lower

Even VIX 15 looks difficult in the near term. 

It would seem an absolute waste of time to be involved in either VXX, TVIX/UVXY, or any VIX calls for the remainder of this year.

Unless you're an option call writer that is...or can short the actual stock ETFs/ETNs.
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more later...on the indexes

Closing Brief

The main indexes closed moderately lower, with the sp -4pts @ 1767. There appear to be an absence of buyers to lift the market >1775, and it would seem Mr Market wants to shakeout the weaker bulls. Near term downside to the 1730s..before another wave into the 1800s by early December.


sp'60min


Summary

Compared to yesterday, today was massively volatile and truly exciting.

Seriously though, at least there was some action, particularly in the metals and Oil.

So..bears look set for another opportunity to knock the market about 2% lower, before the next wave higher.
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the usual bits and pieces across the evening

3pm update - chop into the close

The main indexes are moderately lower, with the sp' hitting a low of 1762. The micro 5/15min cycles are offering a tiny bounce before the close, but we're still set to close slightly red. With seemingly no buyers >1775, market looks set for moderate weakness across the next few days.


sp'60min


USO, daily


Summary

*Oil and the precious metals are both sharply lower, and for the deflationists out there..its kinda interesting day.

Like Silver, Gold has now taken out rising support. The June lows will not likely hold.


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updates into the close...

3.30pm... sp -4pts...so...we're likely to close in the 1760s...going to be difficult to see any downside in the days ahead...but I think we'll hit the 1730s...just.

VIX remains in the 12s..which never fails to look bizarre.
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As I noted yesterday...GDX looks vulnerable..and today -2%....the June lows will likely be taken out.

2pm update - its raining

The market is indeed seeing another down wave play out...probably into late Wed/early Thursday. The sp'1735/30 zone remains prime downside target. Metals are exceptionally weak, Gold -$10, with Silver -55 cents. Oil is now sharply lower... -1.6%.


sp'60min


Summary

Today is indeed turning out pretty good..arguably for both sides.

Bears getting a little wave lower..and the bulls are going to get some good buying levels within the next few days.
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For the bears...


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The bigger weekly charts similarly offering the 1730s..where there is key 10MA support.

sp'weekly8


There is arguably a case for a fractal-analogy, and that would place us in mid-February.

Stay tuned!

1pm update - needing another shakeout

The market has been stuck just under the sp'1775 high for around two weeks. It would seem Mr Market wants another little shakeout before the next lunge higher..into the 1800s. Metals remain weak, with Gold -$7, and Silver -2.2%. Oil is naturally weak, -0.9%


sp'daily5


Summary

At least things are more interesting today!

We have indexes that look tired, and from the price action, I think we have an increasingly good chance of pulling lower to the 1730s.

Certainly, the recent 1746 low should be taken out..and that will make the 1730s a given.

The only issue is what sort of buying interest will we get in the 1730s?
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Strong support on the rising 50 day MA..which by this Friday will around 1722/25
Lower bollinger @ 1730/32

Frankly, I still can't see sub'1700s in the remainder of the year.

Similarly, VIX should remain <20 until mid/late Jan' 2014 - when Mr Debt ceiling appears again.

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UAL..cooling off..as the weakness in the main market starts to cause problems.


Regardless, the initial break is pretty important.

12pm update - a touch of weakness

The main indexes are a touch weak, with the sp' failing to hold the 1770s. Clearly, no one - not even the most bullish, want to hit the buy button >1775..at least not yet. Metals are increasingly weak, Gold -$8, with Silver -2.3%. Oil is..naturally weak.


sp'60min


Summary

Ohh the humanity! The indexes are in the red.

Without getting lost in bearish hysteria, there remains moderate chance of the 1730s being hit..before the next wave into early December..where I continue to seek the sp'1800s.
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VIX update from Mr T.




Urghh..the VXX, almost as bad as the TVIX/UVXY - the latter pair of which are down around 50% in the past 4 weeks.

*I wish he'd not call it a '4 for 1 split'..the proper term is '1 for 4 REVERSE split', since the VXX keeps decaying.
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time for tea...and chocolates


12.37pm.. market obviously unable to clear 1775..need another shake out first...probably in the low 1730s.
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11am update - UAL making a break for it

Whilst the main market sees continued chop, one notable mover is the airline stock United Continental (UAL), which is making an attempt to break the key recent high from late July in the 36s. A daily close in the 37s will open up much higher levels in the days and weeks ahead.


UAL, daily


Summary

*whilst the main market is..dull..I'll largely continue to focus on individual stocks.
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As for UAL, no doubt lower oil prices are going to really help Q4 earnings.
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Meanwhile, metals remain weak, although nothing too dramatic yet.
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11.05am.. UAL jumps another 2% in the last 10mins..and metals are starting to unravel...Silver -2%.

Main market looks a touch weak...and the 1730s remain a valid target..not that I think its trade-able.
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Looking way back....UAL...the obvious upside target is the double top of $47...


So....$10 upside..to go...by late spring 2014 ?   Probably.

10am update - opening reversal

The sp' opened -5pts, but is already offering a pretty stern reversal to the upside. Underlying pressure remains to the upside, and the last 3 weeks have been arguably one giant bull flag, as seen on most indexes and stocks. Metals are weak, Gold -$4, Oil -0.4%.


sp'60min


Summary

As ever, the market is showing the underlying strength, that will probably carry us through into spring 2014.
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Notable strength in FB, and UAL


SLV, daily


Silver has broken support, Gold...yet to follow.

Pre-Market Brief

Good morning. Futures are slightly lower, sp -5pts, we're set to open around 1766. Metals are mixed, with Gold +$2, whilst Silver -0.4%. Oil is similarly weak, -0.4%. With the bond market open, today should be at least 'somewhat' more lively.


sp'60min


Summary

The near term outlook is difficult to guess. We could still fall to the low sp'1730s..but as many are increasingly suggesting, the more obvious trend remains to the upside.

The sp'1800s are clearly within range, we're only talking about less than 2%, and that is clearly viable across just a few days.
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For many individual stocks out there, the last few weeks look like a giant bull flag has been formed.

*no real news due today, and neither is there any sig' QE-pomo...so the bears have that going for them.

Bits and pieces to end a quiet day

A day of nothing for the US indexes. The bigger picture remains bullish, with broad upside into spring 2014. Equity bulls should be seeking a weekly close in the Dow 15800s. That should be enough to confirm 16k in early December, and then 17k in late spring.


Dow, monthly'2, rainbow


Summary

On a quiet day..lets take a look at a few miscellaneous bits and pieces...


Copper, monthly


Certainly..Copper seems stuck at the monthly 10MA. The big $3 threshold remains key. If that breaks, it bodes badly for the precious metals and mining stocks.


WTIC Oil, monthly'2, rainbow


Like the broader commodity index, Oil is weak. Many out there now seem open to Oil back in the mid 80s. A break below the June 2012 low of $77 seems very unlikely though.


US 10yr T-bill, monthly


A simple extrapolation of the previous multi-year cycle (interestingly) gives a target date of late 2015. I'd have to guess 10yr yields will rise to the 4s..perhaps 5s, before the next big turn.


BDI, monthly


If the main market 'broadly' rallies into late 2015/early 2016, I think the BDI might manage to claw to the 6000s. Certainly, the commodity bubble peak in the 12000s seems very unlikely.
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Looking ahead

There really isn't anything significant due tomorrow. The only aspect to be mindful of are a few Fed officials. Any comments from the printing maniacs might be enough to kick the market lower, not least if one of them dares mention the T word.

*the next sig' QE-pomo is not until Thursday.
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Still a chance of the sp'1730s

My downside target for the last two weeks has been the sp'1730s, and I still think there is a chance of that being hit. We're only talking about a brief 2% drop across 2-3 days, before the dip buyers would pile in again. I certainly don't think the downside is trade-able though.

I remain largely on the sidelines, with zero intention of shorting the indexes for some months. It was a quiet day indeed, tomorrow can only be more lively..yes?

Goodnight from London
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Video update from Mr Permabull...



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