Friday 14 March 2014

Volatility continues to climb

With US equities still broadly weak, the VIX managed to climb into the weekend, settling higher by 9.9%, @ 17.82 (intraday high of 18.22). If the sp'500 can bounce from the 1835/25 zone into the next FOMC, the VIX will cool back to the 15/14s, before the next surge...into the 20s.


VIX'60min


VIX'daily3


VIX'weekly


Summary

*probably the most notable aspect of the week, the VIX weekly gain of 26.3%
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As many have recognised, 2014 is going to be a year of increased volatility.

VIX looks set to break the 2013 high of 21, within the next few weeks. Once we see VIX 22, there is open air to the 2012 high of 27. Whether we'll see the 30s, or even 40s this spring/summer (with sp'1600/1500s), that IS the ultimate question.
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more later...on the indexes

Closing Brief

US indexes saw weakness into the close, sp' -5pts @ 1841. The two leaders - Trans/R2K, settled -0.1% and +0.4% respectively. Near term outlook is for a minor bounce to the 1865/75 zone into the FOMC announcement of next Wednesday afternoon. From there.... the real fun should begin.


sp'60min'1c


Summary

*the closing hour was indeed somewhat weak, with a marginal break into the 1830s.
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So...we've swung from 1882 on Tuesday.. down to the 1830s, with the VIX breaking into the 18s.

All things considered, the market 'tremors' continue to increase, and we're headed a long way lower, first primary target is the Feb' low of 1737.

The usual bits and pieces across the evening.

Have a good weekend everyone!
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*the weekend post will be on the US weekly indexes

3pm update - weakness into the close

There is next to zero reason why anyone will want to be going long the market into the weekend. It won't take much to achieve a weekly close in the sp'1830s, and that will provide an important weekly bearish warning. VIX is comfortably building gains...in the 17s.


sp'60min



VIX'60min


Summary

So....weakness into the close....and maybe we'll even see VIX 18s..with the sp'1830s.

From there..I really hope we can bounce to form a RS into next Wednesday - around 1865/75.

I remain looking to launch a major re-short, but only after the next FOMC announcement.
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updates into the close.......


3.01pm... sp'1840..and we're about to break into the 1830s.  Lower bollinger on the hourly is offering 1833/31 by the close.

3.17pm... sp'1841....the 1830s must surely be due this hour...

a little 7/10pt drop in the last 45/30mins....as the rats 'jump ship'...into the weekend.

*I'd still guess we rally on Monday...to Wed'


VIX 18.12.      19s with sp'1834  ?
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A major VIX smack down on Monday seems viable..as the market rallies..post Crimea vote.

VIX longs.........beware!


3.37pm... 5min index cycle...set to roll over into the close....the 1830s still look due.


3.51pm.. rats EXITING into the weekend..here come the 1830s.

3.54pm.. look at those rats selling....they fear the Crimea.

Irony is..we'll probably rally across Monday....

Again...those long VIX are getting a fine chance to exit here in the 18s.

2pm update - weak market

US equities are still unable to claw back above the hourly 10MA, and a daily close in the 1830s remains very viable. The weekly close <1863 is set to provide an initial bearish warning of trouble for the rest of March. Bulls..beware! VIX is fighting to hold the 17s.


sp'60min1c


sp'weekly8


Summary

*a reminder on the weekly cycle, which is set to close the week with a blue candle.
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I hope we floor in the 1830 area - just around the 50 day MA, and then launching a major re-short next Wednesday becomes pretty easy.

Just 3 days to go :)

1pm update - the battle continues

Equity bulls are still unable to clear the (usually) important hourly 10MA around sp'1850 - which itself is still falling each hour. A daily close in the sp'1830s is still very viable, and that would be a pretty decisive bearish weekly close. Metals continue to cool... Gold +$4.


sp'60min


Summary

*it remains kinda quiet out there today, and I think many are starting to just walk away as the market is largely seeing minor chop.
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However, it STILL remains a case of 'who wants to be long into the weekend?'...so.. some selling into the weekend looks very probable.

Equity bulls need a daily close >1863 to stop the bears achieving a sig' weekly bearish warning.
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Notable weakness: DRYS, TWTR, TSLA, all lower by around -2%


1.41pm... weak weak weak.... bulls can't hold the 1850s.

12pm update - choppy morning

It has been a choppy morning, from opening declines, minor gains..but then another down wave, and marginally breaking the Thursday low of sp'1841. Metals are cooling down, Gold swinging from +$15 to +$5. VIX is similarly cooling, from the 17.20s to the 16.60s.


sp'60min


Summary

*pretty powerful spike-floor candle this hour.
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The irony is that we're only 33pts from last Friday's high.

I'm still inclined to see a further wave lower to at least 1834. It simply makes little sense for the market to have broken <1850..only to get stuck at 1840.

An interesting afternoon ahead!
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VIX update from Mr R.



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time for tea :)


12.03pm... bulls still unable to clear the hourly 10MA - now @ 1850. 

12.34pm... the chop continues....won't take much to kick this down into the 1830s.

11am update - bulls struggling

The market is holding minor gains, but the underlying weakness of the past few days is still there. VIX is still fractionally higher, and is reflective of the uncertainty across the coming weekend - not least from the Crimea vote. Metals are holding significant gains, Gold +$13


sp'60min



VIX'60min


Summary

Considering the price action, I'm more closely watching the smaller cycles than usual.

There appears high likelihood the indexes will roll over again today, and the next obvious target remains the key low of 1834.

So..a short in the 1850/55 zone looks a 'reasonable' entry level, and I'm strongly considering it..as the day proceeds.
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Notable weakness: DRYS, -1.7% @ 3.47... and that is a very sig' weekly decline of -12%.


11.11am.. VIX breaks a new cycle high..and we look set to test 1834...

It'd seem 1852 was the bounce high...and looks like I missed a chance to re-short..oh well.... I'll catch a bigger bounce...next week.


11.25am.. 1840... 6pts to hit what might be a key neckline.

If that fails...then its the 50 day MA at 1828.

Regardless...who wants to be going long into the weekend?   Urghhhhh

DRYS -3.1%

VIX +6% in the 17.20s.... I still think 20s NOT viable until after FOMC..if not April.


11.44am.. we're seeing a kick from 1840 to 1847....not sure why..

10am update - opening VIX black-fail candle

Equities open with some minor weakness, but the opening black-fail candle on the VIX is a warning that the equity bears are losing control - at least for a little. Precious metals are sharply higher, Gold +$15, with Silver +2.7%.


VIX'60min


sp'60min1c


Summary

So..minor chop to start the day, and the bull maniacs are pushing to turn things around.

However, yesterday's break <1850 was significant - the damage HAS been done, and we will surely at least resume a fall to 1834 at some point, whether later today..or early Monday.
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As ever, the question is... who wants to go long into the weekend?

...thats right...I didn't think so.
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*keep in mind the key threshold for a bearish (weekly cycle) warning is ANY close <1863..which frankly. does seem very likely.

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10.08am.. first resistance is the hourly 10MA.. around 1855/57....

by 11am..high probability of a roll over..to the low 1830s by late day.  Bulls...beware!


10.22am.. sure is tempting to short this market in the 1855/57 zone..if we're there by 11am.

Pre-Market Brief

Good morning. Futures are slightly lower, sp -1pt, we're set to open around 1845. Equity bulls face continued problems as the market is getting increasingly rattled from both geo-political and economic concerns. Metals are higher, Gold +$3, with Silver +1.5%


sp'60min'1c


Summary

*the above is just one of the scenarios I will be keeping in mind early next week. It is a favourite though, since a re-short on a RS bounce would make for a rather easy trade setup.
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So...it has been an interesting week, today won't likely be boring!

If we can hold the 50 day MA - currently sp'1828, and bounce early next week, then I'll consider shorting any bounce into next Wednesday. Until then, I want to give the bulls another chance to push back higher.

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Morning doom report from Hunter



I will agree with Hunter that is it odd to see Obama do spoof interviews, whilst the Russians are massing troops.

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Good wishes for Friday trading!


8.29am... futures starting to slip.... sp -4pts.... 1842

9.00am... sp -2pts... 1844..... the recent action is in metals... Gold +$9, Silver 2.6%


9.12am.. so...lets see if we fall sp -12pts ...to 1834...and then hold by 11am or so.

A weekly close <1863..will be the first warning of trouble...and bears look likely to achieve that today.


9.42am.. black-fail candle on the VIX.... equity bears..have a problem right now.

The weekly close will be important

How we close the week will be important, not least for those watching the primary up trend on the weekly index cycles. Equity bulls should be desperate for a weekly close >sp'1863, but that now looks somewhat difficult, as the market remains concerned about some key geo-political issues.


sp'weekly8


sp'weekly9 - the next fib retrace


Summary

The threshold for another green candle on the weekly 'rainbow' chart is sp'1863. If we do close the week with a blue candle it will be the first initial warning of trouble.

That sure doesn't mean we can't rally back to the 1860/70s early next week, but it does bode badly for those bulls seeking the 1900s, a level that now looks increasingly difficult.

re: chart weekly'9. I hold to the original outlook of a multi-month decline, and the 1625/1575 zone remains a very natural target for this spring/summer.
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The EU powerhouse is rolling over

The German DAX is lower by almost 7% this month, and if an intermediate top is now in...the equity bears should set their targets a fair ways lower...

Germany, monthly


First target should be the 8000 level, however, 7500/7250 looks viable by early summer. The latter zone would be around 20% lower. From there, I'd be seeking a hit of at least 10k in 2015, but as ever..first things first..lets see if we get a multi-month drop across the next 3-6 months.


Looking ahead

We have PPI and consumer sentiment. Perhaps the market though will pay more attention to what Fed official Fisher has to say?

*next sig' QE-pomo is not until next Monday.
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Looking forward to next week

I want to end the day with just a few thoughts on next week. First, next week will be largely about the FOMC. Now, we know the decision will very likely be 'QE taper'3', with monthly QE reduced by a further $10bn a month to 'only' $55bn, beginning in April. However, we know this market will increasingly weaken as the QE fuel is reduced.

Of course, there is also the Ukrainian/Russia situation, and any 'drama' there would really send the world markets into a spiral. As it is, I don't expect any developments there for at least another week or two...until after the FOMC.

As for what I'm doing, I remain patiently awaiting the FOMC. If the price action looks toppy next Wednesday afternoon, I will probably launch the first index shorts since last summer. It has been a long time to wait, but perhaps...it will be worth it. If anything, re-shorting the market in the sp'1800s is a hell of a better short-entry than the 1500s.

Goodnight from London

Daily Index Cycle update

US indexes closed significantly lower, with the sp -21pts @ 1846. The two leaders - Trans/R2K, settled -1.4% and -1.2% respectively. With the break <1850, the door is now open to 1835/30, before a likely bounce into the next FOMC of next Wednesday.


sp'daily5


R2K


Trans


Summary

So...the first significant decline across all indexes since Feb'3.. when we floored at 1737.

The weekly/monthly charts are still broadly bullish, but another week or two of this sort of choppy/toppy price action in the sp'1830/80 zone, and market will be at very high risk of a multi-month decline.

The weakness in the two leaders is especially bearish for late March/April. Things are starting to get kinda interesting :)

a little more later...