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Dreaded September? GMI: +3; Stocks show strength; Katrina-induced lower interest rates?

@ 12:01 am

Well it’s September and everyone expects a difficult month. So, guess what?  Do you really think the market will accommodate mass opinion?  I hate to say so, but I think this market is turning.  Declines do not begin when the news headlines shriek of calamity, as they do now.  Did you notice that the market is holding in the face of all of this bad news?  I think that means the selling is over, for now.  I am selling my puts and looking to buy.  Of course I will only begin to wade in and will wait for the GMI to give a definite buy signal. Gmi831  But the GMI moved up again Wednesday, to +3.  The IBD Growth Fund Index is now just above its 50 day average.  And would you believe 248 new 52 week highs on Wednesday!  Many stats improved: 25% (+4) of stocks are in a short term up-trend and 53% (+9) are above their 10 week average.  Between 80%-84% of the stocks in the Nasdaq 100, S&P 500 and the Dow 30 advanced on Wednesday.  That makes two out of the past 3 days that about 80% of stocks rose.  The QQQ and the SPY are now above their 10 day averages, the first sign of a possible reversal.  The percentage of stocks within 5% of their 52 week highs rose to 27% (+7).  It may be time to look at stocks near new highs again.  Speaking of new highs, both HPQ and  MSFT, which I noted in my prior post, advanced on Wednesday.  And many of past year’s winners are showing new signs of life:  HANS, FTO, BTU, CCJ, CAT BMHC, ACR, ATVI, ADSK, DNA, CELG, ALKS, CVH, BBH.

I am not embarrassed to change from bearish to cautiously bullish.  Each day provides new data, and when the indicators change, I must turn on a dime–no pride is involved.  The idea is to make $$, not to be right. A big ego is lethal in this business—in all business……………

The pundits are saying that bonds are rallying (and rates are falling) because the Katrina catastrophe will reduce future economic activity. Tlt831  However, the following chart of an ETF (TLT) that tracks the 20 year bonds, shows that long term bonds were rising, and rates were falling, since August 9, long before the hurricane.  Unless we believe that prescient traders foresaw the hurricane debacle weeks before it hit, we must conclude that the economy was weakening and rates were falling long before the hurricane, and that Katrina’s damage merely intensified the pre-existing trend.  Identical patterns can be found in ETF’s that track shorter term bonds (SHY and IEF)…………………

Please send me your feedback at: silentknight@wishingwealthblog.com.

Market held Tuesday; GMI: +2; Oil/energy stocks at new highs; HPQ, MSFT ready to rise?

@ 12:01 am

The market had every excuse to have a big decline Tuesday, but it held well above its lows.  The GMI actually increased 1, to +2.  Gmi830 This is because there were 116 new yearly highs.  There were only 32 successful 10 day highs–stocks that hit a new high 10 days ago and closed higher Tuesday than 10 days earlier.  There have therefore been few profitable new high breakouts recently.  Between 29%-30% of the stocks in the Nasdaq 100, S&P 500 and Dow 30 stocks advanced Tuesday.  This was the eleventh day in the QQQQ decline (D-11)………………..

The new highs list Tuesday was filled with oil and energy related stocks:  BTJ, PHX, MDR, CHK, ARD, FTO, GI, IMO, PXD, VLO, TSO, ECA, EIX, DMLP, HOC, BEXP, OII, BR, TXU, SUN, XTO, RRC, PDS, EQT, GRP, TNT, AYE.  These account for almost a quarter of all new highs in my universe of 4,000+ stocks.  I have been writing that more than 70% of all stocks follow the trend of the market averages.  If we want to find those stocks that are rising (counter-trend) in this weak market, it would seem that we must focus our attention on the energy and oil sector.  An ETF in the oil sector is OIH………………..

Most of the Dow 30 stocks look technically weak.  Two exceptions that I think may be promising include HPQ and MSFT.  Yes,  MSFT may be finally moving, after 3 years. Msft  Did you notice that MSFT (I own some) traded this month higher than it has since early 02?  In the first week of August, MSFT had a high volume advance, peaking at 27.94.  Since then there has been a rounding consolidation pattern with nicely declining volume and the stock appears to be holding up well the last few difficult days.  I would not be surprised to see a rise beginning soon.  As long as the consolidation low holds, so will I……………….

Please send me your feedback at: silentknight@wishingwealthblog.com.

Strong rebound; GMI: +1; MSO

@ 12:01 am

A strong rebound Monday, with a lot of conflicting signals.   While the GMI remains at +1, it is noteworthy that 84% of the  Gmi829_1 Nasdaq 100 stocks advanced today.  This is the highest percentage of advancing NASDAQ stocks since July 8, when the last rally began.  In addition, 80% of the Dow 30 stocks advanced, along with 72% of the S&P 500 stocks. There were 90 new highs Monday and 46 new lows.  This is the highest number of new lows in my universe of 4,000 stocks, since June 27.  There were only 46 10-day successful new highs.  This is day 10 of the QQQQ decline (D-10).  In spite of this snap back, the DIA, SPY and QQQQ remain well below their 30 day averages.  Only 20% of stocks are in a short term up-trend……………………….

The housing stocks did not bounce Monday……………………………

A lot of people are betting on Martha Stewart’s come-back.  Look at this break out in her company’s stock.  Mso Last time MSO stock took off it was in anticipation of her release from prison.  When she was finally released, the stock tumbled.  So be careful–this stock could peak after the first show in her new Apprentice series.  By the way, who is the apprentice–Martha or Donald?……………………

Please send me your feedback at: silentknight@wishingwealthblog.com.