Tuesday, May 21, 2019

The Morning Call--Another rescue effort


The Morning Call

5/21/19

The Market
         
    Technical

The Averages (25679, 2840) were down on flat volume and mixed breadth.  However, their charts are strong as (1) both remain above their DMA’s, (2) both negated their very short term downtrends and (3) the S&P again ended above the April 1st gap up open.  The assumption has to be that they will challenge their all-time highs.  The caveat remains that a failure to do so would set that level up as a double top.  What I am waiting for now is the level of the next high.  If it is below last Thursday’s high, it would be a sign of that double top.

The VIX was up 2%, right on its 100 DMA (now resistance) and below its 200 DMA for a fourth day, reverting to resistance.  While it is still in a solid very short term uptrend, the MA’s pose stronger resistance than the very short term uptrend does support.

The long bond declined ¼ %, but finished above both MA’s, in a very short term uptrend though it is still slightly below its newly set two year high.  

             The dollar was down two cents, ending just slightly below a three year high and is now 17 cents from a ten year high.  So, the chart remains quite positive though (1) that ten year high should offer strong resistance and (2) UUP has two unfilled gap up opens below current price levels.
           
            GLD dropped one cent.  Its chart remains broken---its 100 DMA is resistance; plus, it still hasn’t fulfilled the downside objective set by that recent head and shoulders formation.

Bottom line: the stronger/longer the indices follow through to downside, the lower the odds of pushing above last Thursday’s high meaning the higher the odds that a double top has been made.  However, until the Averages make a lower high, the assumption remains that another challenge of their all-time highs is coming soon.   

All the other indicators I follow were down yesterday which has little informational value.

Monday in the charts.
                 


    Fundamental

       Headlines

            One datapoint reported yesterday: the April Chicago Fed national activity index was disappointing.

            Overseas, April German PPI was up more than expected.

            Trade remains front and center.  The day started with major US tech firms cutting ties to Huawei, then Xi sent Trump a message.
      
            A discussion on the broader implications of a trade war with China.
               
            ***overnight, good news and bad news.  Trump saves the Market again, giving Huawei a temporary resprieve.  Chinese still not happy.

            I can’t let too much time go by without slapping the Fed around:

            Why Fed policy will ultimately be harmful to banks.
                     
            But no one cares.

                    Latest from Powell: ‘What, me worry?’

                 Counterpoint (must read):
                                            


Bottom line: I was surprised by the Market’s relatively tame reaction to the latest round in the US/China trade war; but that is right in line with my statement last Friday: the most apparent factor in equity pricing is the Market’s belief that both Trump and the Fed will allow it to dictate their policies.  (see above)
 
            There is no cure for ‘stupid’.

            Dividends are rising around the world.
           

    News on Stocks in Our Portfolios
 
Home Depot (NYSE:HD): Q1 GAAP EPS of $2.27 beats by $0.07.
Revenue of $26.38B (+5.7% Y/Y) beats by $40M.

Economics

   This Week’s Data

      US

     International

    Other

            Japanese economy grew in the first quarter.

            The latest on Brexit.

            The latest in the US/Iran tussle.

What I am reading today

            The professor who beat the roulette table.

            The best kind of learning.

            The difference between a good company and a good stock.

            The best diversifier for equities.

            Why inflation is good for ’value’ stocks.

Visit Investing for Survival’s website (http://investingforsurvival.com/home) to learn more about our Investment Strategy, Prices Disciplines and Subscriber Service.




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