Wednesday, June 12, 2019

The Morning Call--Will that minor resistance level mark the end?


The Morning Call

6/12/19

The Market
         
    Technical

The Averages (26048, 2885) retreated yesterday, but only slightly.  Volume was up a tad but still quite low and breadth deteriorated.  Both ended above their 100 and 200 DMA’s (now support).  But that minor resistance level held again.

 VIX was up fractionally, leaving it in a very short term uptrend, above its 100 DMA (now support) but below its 200 DMA (now resistance).   I continue to believe that  this pin action suggests way too much complacency.

TLT advanced slightly, finishing above both MA’s (now support) and in a very short term uptrend. 

The dollar declined one cent, but remained in a short term uptrend and above both moving  averages (now support).

GLD fell 1/8 %, but closed within a short term uptrend, above both MA’s (now support) and remains near the upper boundary of its intermediate term trading range. 

Bottom line:  having successfully challenged multiple resistance levels, it seems likely to me that the indices will sustain their upward momentum.  Supporting that notion is the fact that that while that minor resistance level halted a powerful advance, the retreat off of that level so far has been negligible.  Not so positive is the low volume, relatively weak breadth and a VIX that is signalling extreme complacency. 

Yesterday’s pin action in the bond, dollar and gold markets was of no informatinal value. 

            Tuesday in the charts.

    Fundamental

       Headlines

            Yesterday’s stats were mixed; month to date retail chain store sales were disappointing, May PPI was in line and the May small business optimism index came in better than anticipated.

            Overseas, the numbers were pretty bleak.  April UK trade deficit was lower than expected but GDP, construction orders, manufacturing production and industrial production were below estimates while unemployment was 3.8%, in line.

            May Japanese machine tool orders plunged.

            Latest nowcasts.
           
            China trade remains the macro issue at center stage.  Yesterday was filled with a constant back and forth on who is going to what to whom.

                        And.

                        And.

                Apple prepared to build iPhones outside of China.

                Nintendo moving switch production out of China.

                        The damage to world trade may already have been done.

                And if that isn’t enough, African swine flu devastating the Chinese pork industry.

                   
                        Bottom line:  the concerns about immigration/trade problem with Mexico appears behind us (though I remain unconvinced that settling it has done anything to improve our own economic outlook over the short/intermediate term) and the Market is all in on multiple Fed rate cuts (the FOMC meets next week).  On the other hand, the economy is not improving either here or abroad.

            So, what is going to improve the economy/corporate profits enough to move valuations higher?  The only thing that I see is a China trade deal.  My assumption is that it will not likely occur until at least after the 2020 elections; and then who knows what a deal will look like.  That is, unless Trump folds---which is bad news.  So, the technical aside, it seems to me to be a time of caution and taking profits when given the opportunity.

    News on Stocks in Our Portfolios


Economics

   This Week’s Data

      US

            Weekly mortgage applications rose 26.8% while purchase applications were up 10.0%. (who said low interest rates don’t stimulate housing?)

                May CPI was up 0.1%, in line; core CPI was +0.1% versus +0.2%.

     International

            May Japanese PPI was -0.1% versus estimates of 0%.

            May Chinese CPI was flat, in line; PPI was up 0.6%, also in line; loan growth  rose 13.4% versus 13.5%.

    Other

            Currency devaluation is not good for the economy.

            Forget employment rates, pay attention to the participation rate.
                
            EU suddenly discovers that it can solve the Irish border (trade) problem with technology.  Odds of Brexit rise.

What I am reading today

            How safe is sunscreen?

            Count your blessings even when they come well disguised.

            Watching paint dry.

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