Thursday, October 5, 2017

The Morning Call--The numbers are the story

The Morning Call

10/5/17

The Market
         
    Technical

The indices (DJIA 22661, S&P 2537) continued their slow, steady climb (this is like a broken record).  Volume was down but breadth continued to strengthen (ditto).  Both remain above their 100 and 200 day moving averages and are in uptrends across all time frames. 

The VIX (9.6) was up 1 ¼ % (a third day of unusually positive performance for an up Market day).  It ended below the upper boundary of its short term downtrend, below its 100 and 200 day moving averages, below the lower boundary of its long term trading range for a sixth day; but it is still above its July low. 

The long Treasury rose pennies, finishing above its 200 day moving average (support) and the lower boundaries of its short term trading range and its long term uptrend.  However, it is below its 100 day (now resistance) and is developing a very short term downtrend.

The dollar fell again, remaining in its short term downtrend and below its 100 and 200 day moving averages, but is developing a very short term uptrend.
           
GLD traded up, bouncing up off its 100 moving average, above its 200 day moving averages (both support) and the lower boundary of a short term uptrend.  However, it is developing a very short term downtrend.

 Bottom line: long term, the indices remain strong viz a viz their moving averages and uptrends across all timeframes. Short term, they are above the resistance level marked by their August highs, meaning that there is no resistance between current price levels and the upper boundaries of the Averages long term uptrends.  

On the other hand, all those gap openings from three Monday’s ago still need to be closed.  Despite some minor countertrends, the nonstock indices continue to point to a slower economy, lower interest rates---seemingly the opposite of the scenario prevalent among the stock boys.

I remain uncomfortable with the overall technical picture.

    Fundamental

       Headlines

            The economic stats were the story of the day.  Following Tuesday very positive light vehicle sales, the September ISM nonmanufacturing index was also a blowout number.  In addition, the September Markit services PMI came in slightly over estimates.  Overseas, the September EU composite PMI hit a four month high.

            Bottom line: whatever stats we get today and Friday, this week is going to be a major plus for the global economies.  Some of the numbers have been surprising beats on the upside.  The big question is, is this a one week phenomena or a signal that the global economy has finally reached liftoff?  The answer is, I don’t know.  But it will only take another one to two months of dataflow to know.  The problem is that the Harvey/Irma destruction data is going to start getting reflect in the stats, which could mask the longer term growth trend.  So going forward, interpreting the data is going to be tricky.

       Investing for Survival
   
            Time to rebalance you portfolio.


    News on Stocks in Our Portfolios
 
Economics

   This Week’s Data

            The September Markit services PMI came in at 55.3 versus expectations of 55.2.

            The September ISM nonmanufacturing index was reported at 59.8 versus estimates of 55.5.

            The August trade deficit was $42.4 billion versus forecasts of $42.5 billion.

            Weekly jobless claims fell 12,000 versus consensus of down 7,000.

   Other

            Leverage in LBO’s the highest since the financial crisis (medium):

            More on the insolvency of public pension funds (medium):

            Still more (medium):

            The Fed will never end QE (medium):

Politics

  Domestic

IRS hires Equifax to safeguard taxpayer data (medium):

  International

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