Monday, September 22, 2025

Monday Morning Chartology

 

 

9/22/25

 

The Market

         

    Technical

 

The S&P re-established its uptrend. Add that to the fact that the S&P is (1) above all three DMAs and (2) in uptrends across all timeframes---and the assumption has to be that momentum remains to the upside albeit with a slowing rate of change.

 

That said, as I repeatedly note, valuations are at historic highs (and getting higher). I remain of the opinion that this is a market to trade not invest in long term. If you do, be sure to have close in stops.

 

 


 

 

After being overjoyed by the bond market’s reversal on the prior Friday’s jobs report, investors were not so receptive to the results of the FOMC meeting. TLT remains above all three DMAs although it is in downtrends across all timeframes. I raised the question last week as to whether we were witnessing a major change in direction. I think that question still stands.

 

 


 

 

Gold continued its rally. It is now above all DMAs and in uptrends across all timeframes. That is likely to continue as long as bad news (recession) is good news and the Fed continues to cut rates. Hold on to your GLD and GDX.

https://talkmarkets.com/content/commodities/gold-forecast-bullish-trend-intact?post=523672

Another day, another all-time high.

            https://www.zerohedge.com/the-market-ear/gold-another-day-another-athspecs-still-dont-get-it

 


 


The dollar’s chart remains the ugliest on the block and will likely continue to be so as long as investors perceive that the economy is weakening and the Fed’s policy is that of cutting rates. The 50 and 100 DMAs appear to have provided some near term support. Let’s see if they can hold. Even if they do, it is still an ugly chart. I remain hard pressed to think that the worst is over.

                       

 

 


 

 

 

            Friday in the charts.

            https://www.zerohedge.com/premium/latest/4

 

            Friday in the technical stats.

            https://www.barchart.com/stocks/momentum

            https://www.barchart.com/stocks/sectors/rankings

            https://www.barchart.com/stocks/sectors/rankings

 

            Seven charts from Goldman.

                https://www.zerohedge.com/the-market-ear/seven-charts-goldmans-macro-trading-team-are-watching

 

            Overbought conditions across multiple markets.

            https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/overbought-conditions-across-multiple-markets

 

    Fundamental

 

       Headlines

 

 

              The Economy

                       

Last week’s stats were evenly balanced as were the primary indicators (two plus, two minus). No inflation data. Overseas, the data was very upbeat including the price data (three plus, one neutral).

 

Overall, the results continued the weekly data seesawing between positive and negative---this time upbeat. That is the very definition of ‘muddle through.’  So, I remain confident in that part of my forecast.

 

On the other hand, the inflation numbers were again not reflective of a worsening in trend. This is the second week in a row of positive markers. So as I said last week, Clearly, I need to be open to a revision of my ‘inflation is as good as it is going to get’ scenario. For the moment, I am just raising a yellow flag. But additional upbeat inflation reports will persuade me to begin seriously contemplating altering my forecast.

 

Of course, the big event of the week was the FOMC meeting and its results---a 25 bp cut which was expected. However, the narrative from the accompanying statement as well as Powell post meeting presser read a lot more uncertain than I had expected, especially with respect to inflation (they are worried). That is actually a plus because it shows awareness of what I consider to be the primary risk to the economy.

 

That said, save for Volcker, the Fed (in particular the Bernanke, Yellen, Powell regimes) has always erred in favor of monetary ease over fighting inflation. That keeps me concerned about rising prices despite a couple of weeks of upbeat data.

 

So, I remain skeptical of the Fed Funds rate going as low as many believe. But I recognize that the Fed could make the same mistake as before---tagging any negative inflationary data as ‘transitory.’

 

That leaves my forecast of ‘inflation as good as its going to get’ in place and that an aggressive easing of monetary policy will only increase its likelihood. Indeed, with the onset of tariffs and the deficits from the BBB, inflation could become an even larger problem than I previously thought.

 

US

                       

                        International

 

                        Other

                       

                          The week ahead.

                          ECONOMIC WEEK AHEAD: September 22 - 26             

 

                          Four economists dissect Trump and the economy.

                          https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/18/opinion/fed-rate-cut-miran-cook-powell.html

 

            Monetary Policy

 

              What country was Powell talking about?

              https://committeetounleashprosperity.com/hotlines/what-country-was-jerome-powell-talking-about-2/

 

                Fiscal Policy

 

              How excessive government debt kills productivity and growth.

              https://klementoninvesting.substack.com/p/how-excessive-government-debt-kills

 

      Investing

 

            All the reasons Trump is wrong about ditching quarterly earnings reports.

                      https://www.wsj.com/finance/investing/all-the-reasons-trump-would-be-wrong-to-ditch-quarterly-earnings-6fd3a231?mod=business_lead_pos1

 

           Future rate cuts and the bond market.

           https://www.capitalspectator.com/corporates-are-leading-the-bond-market-this-year/

 

           What happens if we get a stock market reversal?

           https://bonddad.blogspot.com/2025/09/the-ai-stock-price-bubble-and-consumer.html

 

            The latest from BofA.

            https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/hartnett-fed-cutting-gold-crypto-and-stocks-all-time-highs-so-heres-how-you-trade-bubble

 

            The latest from Goldman.

            https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/market-where-youve-been-paid-be-irresponsibly-bullish-top-goldman-trader-sees-more-gas-tank

 

                   Retail goes parabolic.

           https://www.zerohedge.com/the-market-ear/retail-army-goes-parabolic-10-straight-green-days-and-counting

   

 News on Stocks in Our Portfolios

 

 

 

What I am reading today

 

           

 

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