Author: pebblewriter

  • Charts I’m Watching: May 11, 2015

    Friday we had one of those algo-driven ramp jobs that carried over into the cash markets and just wouldn’t quit.2015-05-11-SPX 60 0620CL reached our immediate downside target and has bounced, though not cleanly.

    2015-05-11-CL 60 0615While, USDJPY continues its sideways action, basically marking time as per our analog.

    2015-05-11-USDJPY daily 0615We’ll review the analog this morning, taking a look at the big picture and likely turning points between now and then.  For our new members, it will be helpful to review the analog, its origin and implications, before continuing.  The original posts can be found here:

    A New Analog

    A New Analog: Part II.

    And, for those wondering what the heck an analog is in the first place, check out:

    Why Do Analogs Work?

    It takes you through a spectacular analog I came across several years ago that accurately predicted the 21.6% July – October 2011 crash to the day and dollar — giving buy and hold types ample opportunity to protect their holdings and aggressive traders an opportunity to make a killing.

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  • Charts I’m Watching: May 8, 2015

    SPX tagged our second downside target on Wednesday, and promptly reversed to tag our bounce target on Thursday.2015-05-08 SPX 60 0615This would have been a logical spot to digest some of those gains — maybe a .618 or .786 retracement.  But, CL had already reached our downside target the day before.

    2015-05-08 CL 60 0615And, though USDJPY is reversing when we expected it to, it slipped up past 120.11 in the meantime — which was enough in combination with the jobs report and CL to ignite those wonderful momentum algos in ES (currently up 18 points.)

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  • Charts I’m Watching: May 7, 2015

    SPX reached our second downside target from Apr 30 yesterday [see: While Investors Are Away], tagging the SMA100 on the dot before rebound as expected.2015-05-07 SPX 60 0600It was aided by USDJPY (which has slightly overshot its own SMA100 before rebounding two sessions in a row, now)…

    2015-05-07 USDJPY daily 0600…and, EURUSD, which shot past the large scale .618 to complete a Crab Pattern overnight at the white 1.618.2015-05-07 EURUSD 60 0600Both are slipping this morning, but there’s a third lever that should drive stocks’ next move.

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  • Charts I’m Watching: May 6, 2015

    SPX nailed our initial downside target yesterday (in yellow below) before USDJPY and CL bounced just enough to stave off any further drops. In all, it was a 33-pt reversal that the pundits laid at the feet of the trade deficit report — which certainly got the few remaining fundamental investors off the mark.2015-05-06 SPX 60 0601The algos and technical types were no doubt unnerved by USDJPY once again giving up the major .618 Fib line at 120.11…

    2015-05-06 USDJPY 0601 …and the inability of CL to come to the rescue.

    2015-05-06 CL v DX 60 0601As we anticipated, CL is under pressure from a dollar that needs to rebound for technical purposes — despite the fact that it is, itself, under pressure from the fundamentalists who noted its responsibility for the crappy trade numbers.

    Overnight, CL ramped substantially (yes, again) which has the eminis up 6.50 just before the opening bell.  But, it has also run into important channel and Fib resistance at the 1.272 at 62.12 with an even more important, larger scale .618 Fib just above at 64.38.  When CL runs out of steam here, how will this affect equity prices — especially with SPX this close to our 2138 target?

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    I doubt CL will make it over the hump, so we’ll look for the second leg of yesterday’s SPX decline to play out after this morning’s initial pop.2015-05-06 SPX 60 0600Recall that yesterday afternoon we were looking for a backtest of the SMA20 — now at 2101ish. But, if CL backs off here as I believe it will, the bounce likely won’t get there.

    One wild card is the EURUSD.  Like DX, it is outside normal bounds at the moment.  It reversed at the white .618 — as we expected.  It was a major Fib level.  But, now it’s eked up past that previous high in order to permit some dollar weakness that won’t affect USDJPY too much.

    2015-05-06 EURUSD v ES 60 0601I know, it’s very convoluted.  But, that’s the way things are working lately.   Bottom line, we should see that SMA100 tag (red dot above) before too long.

    The fly in the ointment: USDJPY’s SMA100 is at 119.29.  A sharp reversal there that allows the dollar to rebound and EURUSD to return to earth could undo — or, at least postpone — SPX’s drop.  So, we’ll keep an eye on USDJPY as it approaches…

    UPDATE:  2:10 PM

    SPX has reached 2073.15 — awfully darn close to the red .618 where it intersects with the purple channel midline.  It could inch a little lower — the SMA100 is at 2068.82 — but, I’d be looking for a bounce around here.2015-05-06 SPX 60 1110One caveat — the SMA100 for ES is down at 2059.75.  And, lately, the ES chart features have been scoring just as well, if not better, than SPX.  It would translate into 2066ish for SPX.

    And, it would be completely typical (these days) to have a close at the low with a big ramp overnight to screw over those who stayed short into the cash close.  Note the purple midline in the chart below.

    2015-05-06 SPX daily 1130It has provided many bounces thus far — and should be expected to continue to do so (until it doesn’t.)  The purple channel is the one that has taken SPX up out of the gray channel dating back to 2009.

    2015-05-06 SPX 5yr daily 1130It’s worth noting that the SMA200 is currently at 2027 — just a tad below the white .618 at 2036.  Looks like they should intersect in the next week or two.  So, we’ll put a pin in 2036 as the primary “bullish” target for any sustained move below the SMA100 and purple midline.

    And, we’ll keep a close eye on CL, which IMHO is worth shorting, especially with the SMA200 hurtling towards it.

     

     

     

     

  • Charts I’m Watching: May 5, 2015

    The worst trade deficit miss ever

    …is what you get when you ramp your currency to unrealistic levels — proof, again, that in currency wars not everybody can win.  As we detailed last month, the lower yen/higher dollar/lower euro/cheaper oil/stable inflation/stable interest rates/higher stocks scheme will only work so long as the three or four institutional investors that still give a damn about fundamentals don’t panic.

    Negative GDP readings have been known to incite a panic.  And, the “higher dollar is better” meme will be a tougher sell going forward.

    2015-05-05 DX daily 0615 USDJPY is tumbling, of course.

    2015-05-05 USDJPY daily 0615Yet, futures are only off 5 points (after being off 8 pts earlier.)  Because, as we’ve noted countless times before, a weakening dollar (kneejerk reaction to the trade deficit report) strengthens CL — which is a key driver in today’s algo-driven “markets.”

    2015-05-05 CL daily 0615The other consideration, of course, is the impact such data might have on Q1 GDP, and the likelihood that a negative print would compel the FOMC to jump in and “save the economy” with QE4.

    Since the Fed engineered the dollar ramp — thus exacerbating the trade deficit and GDP weakness — rolling out QE4 would be akin to a rattlesnake administering antivenom.

    Keep an eye on USDJPY, which TPTB tried to pitch us as breaking out yesterday.  It won’t — at least not for a while.  A nice reversal, though, is going to ramp up oil and delay DX’s inevitable rebound.  No way this won’t present a headwind for stocks today…

    Our analog is intact; our targets are intact.  Our “markets” are most definitely not.

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  • Charts I’m Watching: May 4, 2015

    CL is taking a dive this morning…

    2015-05-04 CL v DX 60 0615…as EURUSD continues to back off after reaching our upside target…

    2015-05-04 EURUSD v ES daily 0615…and USDJPY clings to safety of the .618 Fib at 120.11 — providing cover for all manner of “adjustments.”2015-05-04 USDJPY daily 0620The eminis are up 5.75 primarily on the yen’s weakness and Friday’s algofest which saw SPX break through overhead trend line resistance and rise above the neckline of the H&S Pattern it completed the day before.

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  • While Investors are Away…

    SPX nailed our initial downside target yesterday.  We had forecast 2090 back on Apr 23 (with SPX threatening to break out at 2117.66), and in fact it tagged 2090.62 midday before putting in a modest bounce and settling lower.  From the April 23 post:

    Though the 1.618 is only 18 points away at 2138, I don’t think SPX is ready to take a run at it yet…  I’d be shorting here at 2118.85, with a target at 2090 and stops at 2125 or so.

    Currencies are driving everything this morning.  But, don’t look for those charts to make any fundamental sense.

    In the wake of the announcement of no QQE expansion, the yen is…weakening?

    2015-05-01 USDJPY daily 0615And, after beating its head against a major Fibonacci wall for two sessions, the euro is suddenly… strengthening?2015-05-01 EURUSD daily 0615What we have here is a May Day, low-volume algo-splosion ramp job that’s unhindered by real global investors with legitimate economic concerns.

    Follow it if you like, because these days the fake “market” moves are often more powerful than the real ones.

    Asia is closed for the weekend, and most European markets are closed in observance of Labour/May Day.

    Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Greece, Iceland, the Netherlands, Portugal and most of Eastern Europe are closed all of Friday.

    The eminis are taking advantage, up 10 points with a minimum of effort on the part of those scripting today’s moves.

    2015-05-01 ES 60 0615USDJPY should run out of steam at 120.11 — also the red channel top — which should shift ramping duties to CL if it is so inclined.

    There are a few news hurdles to be dealt with, so best be nimble around 10AM EDT — especially if SPX hasn’t ramped up past the H&S neckline (resistance at 2098ish) by then.

    Screen Shot 2015-05-01 at 6.54.01 AMMore shortly.

    UPDATE:  10:30 AM

    Well, the data was pretty dismal.   ISM was flat, but a miss versus the 51.9 consensus.  Construction spending was supposed to be up by 0.4%, not down 0.6%.  And, sentiment was flat but a slight miss from the 96.0 the market expected.

    Screen Shot 2015-05-01 at 7.38.57 AM

    Aside from the usual overshoot fakeout on USDJPY, how does it affect our stock forecast?

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  • Charts I’m Watching: Apr 30, 2015

    Real investors are troubled by what they see.  But, so far at least, TPTB have been able to keep the crap game afloat.

    If we didn’t know any better, this would be a great time to get really, really nervous.  But, fortunately, our analog provides a great road map as to what to expect in the coming month or so — starting with today’s dip to 2090-2092 as forecast a week ago [CIW Apr 23, 2015]:

    I’d be shorting here at 2118.85, with a target at 2090 and stops at 2125 or so.

    The US dollar is threatening to break down.2015-04-30 DX v ES daily 0615The euro is threatening to break out.2015-04-30 EURUSD daily 0615 The yen is acting positively schizophrenic — going nowhere during yesterday’s turmoil, and dropping like a rock today.

    2015-04-30 USDJPY daily 0620 And, CL continues to make new post-crash highs.

    2015-04-30 CL v DX daily 0620

    Despite all the noise — and, that’s exactly what it is — we’re still quite comfortable with our SPX targets.

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  • Charts I’m Watching: Apr 29, 2015

    DX reached our downside target of 95.667 overnight.  Note this is Fib and channel support, so we should see a significant rebound here.2015-04-29 DX daily 0615It meant a run up for EURUSD to test the last line of overhead resistance before open air…

    2015-04-29 EURUSD daily 0615 …and a schizophrenic overnight session for USDJPY.2015-04-29 USDJPY 60 0615Turns out at least a few investors still care about fundamentals, with ES currently off 15 points and the opening bell onlly 5 minutes away.  Last week’s targets remain in place.

    UPDATE:  9:40 AM

    In a replay of yesterday’s opening, it’s CL to the rescue, limiting the opening drop for SPX to only 7 points before the algo juice kicks in.  Only this time, there’s a limit to the good it can do.2015-04-29 CL v DX 5 0640continued for members(more…)

  • Charts I’m Watching: Apr 28, 2015

    Steady as she goes.  Today’s targets remain the same from yesterday, which was first established in our Apr 23 post:

    SPX is testing the all-time high of 2119.59, and will likely slightly exceed it before falling off (probably on Monday.) Though the 1.618 is only 18 points away at 2138, I don’t think SPX is ready to take a run at it yet — not without the support of USDJPY’s SMA200.  I’d be shorting here at 2118.85, with a target at 2090 and stops at 2125 or so.

    SPX’s high was slightly exceeded, and we got a run up to 2125.92 before yesterday’s mild sell off.  Look for a continuation today.

    2015-04-28-SPX daily 0637USDJPY is reacting this morning just like yesterday — a little yen weakness on account of extremely weak retail sales.  But, as of yet, the pair hasn’t popped above the SMA100.

    2015-04-28-USDJPY daily 0643And, CL is backtesting the midline of the alternative red channel we added yesterday in anticipation of the purple channel breaking down.  We’ll keep a close eye on this, as the breakdown could be corrected intraday.2015-04-28-CL v DX 60 0643Another chart on which to focus — the EURUSD.  It is staging a minor breakout that might also be an intraday excess.  If the move is more lasting/substantial, it could change the downside potential a bit.

    2015-04-28-EURUSD v Es 60 0700No members’ section today, as your chief forecaster is a little under the weather.  More later…

    UPDATE: 2:45 PM

    EURUSD has reached the white .886, which should spell the end of today’s spike unless TPTB have actually decided on a new direction.

    2015-04-28-EURUSD v ES daily 1143And it’s possible, as the combination of higher oil prices and a cheap euro have to be taking a toll.  Speaking of oil, that backtest of the red channel midline seems to be holding — but, right at the midline.

    2015-04-28-CL v DX 60 1150All things considered, it was enough for — drum roll, please — a V-shaped recovery for SPX which has now recovered most of its losses from yesterday’s high.  It came within 3 points of the SMA20 …so far.

    2015-04-28-SPX 60 1150Since the EURUSD looks ready to reverse, the USDJPY looks likely to continue a little lower, and CL is running into overhead channel resistance, it’s tough to see what the impetus might be for further downside.

    But, tomorrow’s a big economic news day.  So, anything is possible.

    Screen Shot 2015-04-28 at 12.00.04 PM DX looks just about spent — unless there’s a true breakdown in its future.  Our 95.67 target is getting awfully close.

    2015-04-28-DX daily 1206So, the logical scenario at this point has to be an overnight reset for EURUSD followed by a data-driven dump in DX that leaves JPY largely unaffected (it’s happy treading water for now.)  The bounce off 95.67 could ding the euro and CL, producing a modest decline to our downside targets.

    Of course, the Fed could also ignore all that and just pound the crap out of VIX tomorrow in order to advance the propaganda that all is well in the Eccles Building.  After today’s drop kick at the top of the falling gray “channel” it wouldn’t surprise me.  We still haven’t reached the red channel bottom at 11.73ish.2015-04-28-VIX daily 1212It’s been a while since we had a good-old-fashioned post-FOMC algo-fest meltup.  Yee-haw.