Thursday, November 9, 2017

The Morning Call--Yesterday was a real snoozer

The Morning Call

11/9/17

The Market
         
    Technical

After starting out in the red for a second day in a row, the indices (DJIA 23563, S&P 2594) closed slightly higher (the relentless drive higher).  Volume was down (seven out of the last eight days); breadth was mixed.  Both remain above their 100 and 200 day moving averages and are in uptrends across all time frames. 

The VIX (9.8) fell 1 ½%---finishing below the upper boundary of its short term downtrend, below 100 day moving average (now resistance), below its 200 day moving average (now resistance) and back below the lower boundary of its long term trading range, re-starting the clock on that challenge (if it remains there through the close next Tuesday, it will reset to a trading range).  While it is still on the verge of a directional change, the July low 8.8 remains the bottom.

The long Treasury was down, ending above its 100 and 200 day moving averages (now support) and above the lower boundaries of its short term trading range and long term uptrend.   It is now building a very short term uptrend.

            And (medium):

The dollar declined, ending below its 200 day moving average (now resistance), right on the upper boundary of its short term downtrend (once again stopping the clock on any the timetable for a reset to a trading range), above its 100 day moving average (now support) and continues to develop a very short term uptrend. 

GLD rose, back above its 100 day moving average (re-starting the timetable for a reversion to support; if it remains there through the close today, it will reset), above its 200 day moving average (support) and the lower boundary of a short term uptrend.  Again, potential trend change.

 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. The technical assumption has to be that stocks are going higher.
           
Trading in UUP, GLD and TLT were again out of sync with themselves, the VIX and stocks, but seem to be pointing at a change in trends---in different directions.  As you can deduce from my recent links, the most concerning divergence is in the bond market.  Its rise suggest a weaker economy or a safety trade, neither of which is a plus for stocks.

I remain uncomfortable with the overall technical picture.

    Fundamental

       Headlines

            It was another very quiet day.  Only one domestic economic release: weekly mortgage applications were flat while purchase applications rose slightly.  Overseas, the October Chinese trade figures, while lower, were in line.

            Most of the day’s media focused on light repartee reviewing Trump’s first year in office---a sure sign that there was a dearth of news flow.

            Nonetheless, there was a couple of items worth mentioning:

(1)   the senate is still scheduled to release its version of the tax bill today; though yesterday, rumors were for another delay.  In any case, it will not reflect the house version---which has its own problems.  Late in the day, the CBO scored the house version of the tax bill cost as $1.7 trillion [versus the proposed budget’s scoring of $1.5 trillion].  Cue the discussion of how growth will make up the difference.

(2)   the Saudi plot thickens.  The number [of assets confiscated] keeps getting bigger (medium):

            Bottom line: yesterday was a real snoozer.  Nothing to add.

            October dividend review (short):

            My thought for the day: the most powerful way to grow your money is learning to live with less, since you have complete control over it.

       Investing for Survival
   
            Seeking and avoiding risk at exactly the wrong time.

    News on Stocks in Our Portfolios
 
            FactSet Research Systems (NYSE:FDS) declares $0.56/share quarterly dividend, in line with previous.

Economics

   This Week’s Data

            Weekly jobless claims rose by 10,000, ahead of estimates of 3,000.

   Other

            Goldman: how the Fed broke the Market (medium):

            More on the Paradise Papers (medium):

            A pension bailout bill is likely to be introduced soon (medium):

            Draghi’s problem with Italy (medium):

Politics

  Domestic

  International War Against Radical Islam


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