Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Quick review of the week

The Morning Call


12/24/15
The Market
         
    Technical


            The S&P has negated the challenges to its short term trading range and its 100 day moving average this week.  Notice that once again the 100 day moving average has become firm support; but also note that it is trending down.  In other words, the support is weakening.  Also note that while the S&P could break through a very, very short term downtrend, it is nowhere near breaking the trend of lower highs.  To get to the upper boundary of its long term uptrend, the S&P will have to take out that very, very short term downtrend, break above the last lower high, and break above the all-time high.  That is a lot of work, even for Santa’s rally.   Meanwhile, breadth is nothing to write home about and volume is declining.



            The VIX is challenging a very short term uptrend.  If successful, it will point to higher stock prices near term.  However, it is also getting close to the 12-13 price level which I continue to believe is very cheap portfolio insurance.



    Fundamental

            The economic data this week was balanced, though the primary indicators were negative: durable goods orders (+), personal income (+), personal spending (0), third quarter GDP (0), new home sales (-), existing home sales (-), third quarter corporate profits (-), durable goods orders, ex transportation (-).  There were few numbers from overseas, most notable being lousy UK third quarter GDP, the continued depreciation of the yuan and a renewed effort by the Bank of China to pump up the level of QE. 

In short, no let up the economic deterioration both here (now fourteen out of the last seventeen weeks) and abroad (still batting 100%).  So no change in our forecast.  Indeed, the risk of recession continues to rise.  And no change in the gross overvaluation of stocks.
  







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