The markets dip after the jobs report and post a negative return for the week as the NASDAQ and the SP500 hit resistance. That fact alone is something to watch in the coming week of trading. A look at both charts shows the highs hit on June 15th and the following test lower and bounce at support only to test again… What are we looking for relative to the indexes? Simply a higher low. The chart below shows the setup we are watching currently on the SP500… the NASDAQ is set up the same way. With that in mind, if you look at the intraday chart over the week, the index moved back to the previous highs and then gapped lower on the Fed FOMC Minutes… interest rate fears are back in play adding intraday volatility as seen in the intraday swings in price. Where does all of that leave us? Patiently waiting for directional leadership to be established.
The selling in the last 2.5 hours of the day was very interesting technically as the indexes erased solid gains on the day to close in negative territory. Both indexes approached the key resistance points of the 6/15 highs and reversed… something again, to watch next week.
The jobs report got most of the credit for Friday’s action, but the reality is the markets were trading higher on the news… I would lend towards profit taking and lessening of risk in positions. There were 209k jobs added versus 220k expected. No biggie, it was the downward revisions to April and May accounting for an adjustment downward of 110k. Average hourly earnings rose 0.4% versus 0.3% expected. No big misses here, just a rationale by some to explain the selling.
The move on Friday started higher and reversed late day to erase the gains and close in the red. Six of the eleven sectors closed in the green. Bonds fell on rising interest rates. Inflation, earnings growth, economic conditions, and geopolitical issues remain the obstacle to clarity and investor confidence. Volume remained below average. XLK and XLY are the only two sectors outperforming the S&P 500 index currently. XLE, XLU, and IYZ are the worst performers since the March lows. The S&P 500 index closed down 0.3%. The NASDAQ was down 0.1%. The SOXX was up 0.04%. Small Caps (Russell 2000) were up 1.%. The ten-year treasury yield closed at 4.05% up 1 bps. Crude (USO) was up 2.2%. (UGA) was up 1.3%. Natural gas (UNG) was down 2.5%. The dollar was down 0.8%. We are focused on managing the risk and seeing how investors respond to the revised outlook for global economics.
ONE Chart to Watch: QQQ – 1) Moved back to the $366.14 mark and testing support once again. Watching $352 level of support. 2) Short-term trend is UP… starting from the January low. 3) Push back to the previous highs and sold Friday. 4) TQQQ $39.55 Entry. Stop $39.55 adjusted. Reentered position. 4) Watching as it stalled at the previous highs. Looking for a higher low if we keep the uptrend in play. $357.68 is the level to close above and resume the upside move.
Additional Charts to Watch: SPY – Moved to new highs from March lows and tested the move. Manage your stops accordingly. Gapped lower and holding $438.15 level.
IWM – struggling again closed on a hammer doji.
SOXX – moved back below the $497.61 level forming a double top on the chart. Friday established a higher lower? Could reinforce the uptrend if it follows through.
USO – holding at the top of the range with upside pressure coming from the supply data. Hit the entry point on Friday at $$65. Stop $63.20.
TSLA downgraded… watching the reaction to the extended stock. Monday announced deliveries of automobiles were the highest ever… stock jumped 6.9% and holding.
IYT transports tested back to the $247.67 level. The inside day on Wednesday led to selling on Thursday. Bounced back on Friday.
DIA reversed the swing trade upside and tested back to the $337.10 support… added a position $339.35. Stop $337.10.
DIS – double bottom pattern. Entry $89.60.
Gold (GLD/GDX) bottoming pattern in play. Watching the dollar in relation to this. $179.60 level to clear. GLL leveraged ETF. GDX – will trade higher if gold moves up.
ON TAP TODAY: 1) Signs of a topping pattern are back. Double top on the charts. 2) Leadership testing. 3) Response to late-day selling on Friday.
Previous Charts of Interest – Still in Play: AAPL (reversal confirmed). Added 5/7. Holding. AMZN (bottom reversal) Added 5/7. MSFT (break from flag pattern). Added 5/18. NFLX (test to $350 and bounce?). Added 5/24. HON (trading range breakout). Added 6/13. TQQQ (reversal) Added 6/27. DIA (technical entry) Added 6/29.
Stops Hit: None
Quote of the Day: “Imagination and fiction make up more than three-quarters of our real life.” – Simone Weils.
The S&P 500 index closed down 12 points to 4398 the index was down 0.29% with below-average volume on the day. The index moved slightly below the 4400 level. Managing the risk as the upside remains challenged. Six of the eleven sectors closed higher on the day with energy as the leader up 2.1%. The worst performer of the day was consumer staples down 1.3%. The VIX index closed at 14.8 slightly lower with intraday volatility in play. The uptrend from the October low remains in play.
Point of Interest: The S&P 500 index’s top 2 holdings of AAPL and MSFT now account for 14.4% of the overall weighting of the index. That is the highest combination in the history of the index. The previous high was IBM & T at 10.9%. Something to think about in trading SPY. The top 5 stocks make up 24.1%… starting to invalidate the index as a benchmark for the broad markets.
Sector Rotation and the S&P 500 Index:
XLB – Basic Materials chart is a mess as indecision takes over. $81.75 is the level to clear and move higher. The sector was down 1.9% for the week. No Positions.
XLU – Utilities Bottom reversal fails as the downtrend remains in play, but could establish a double bottom. The sector was down 0.2% for the week. No Positions.
IYZ – Telecom In a downtrend from the February highs but bounced at support and trying to reverse the trend. Need to clear $22.30 resistance. The sector was down 0.2% for the week. IYZ entry $21.63.
XLP – Consumer Staples messy consolidation pattern in play and moved back to the 50-day MA. The sector was down 0.9% for the week. No Positions.
XLI – Industrials The trend broke to the upside breaking above resistance at the $102.40 level. Tested the breakout and moved higher. The sector was down 1% for the week. XLI entry $102.40.
XLV – Healthcare Remains in a consolidation pattern from the March lows. Tough week as it traded lower in the pattern. The sector was 2.8% for the week. No Positions.
XLE – Energy Bounce attempt from the test of the lows yet again. The sector was down 0.5% for the week. The downtrend is in play from the November highs. Needs to move above the $82.74 level. No Positions.
XLK – Technology The sector tested the move higher consolidating. The sector was down 1.5% for the week. Need to resume the leadership for the broad index. XLK entry $151.53.
XLF – Financials holding above $33.35 support and in an uptrend from the March lows. The sector was down 0.3% for the week. No Positions. KIE breaking above resistance. Entry $40.60.
XLY – Consumer Discretionary broke higher from the consolidation pattern at the highs. Tested on the week. The sector was down 0.2% for the week. Remains in a leadership role. XLY Entry $147.10.
IYR – REITs moved above the $85.50 resistance level and looking for a follow-through moving forward. The sector was up 0.1% for the week. The negative influence of interest rates and reports of vacancies in commercial rentals are rising but money flow has increased to other areas of the sector. No Positions.
REITs on watch with interest rates rising above 4% and the latest round of mortgage data showing a 4.4% decline in applications. That is the first decline in four weeks. 30-year mortgage jumped to 6.85%. IYR and ITB ar on watch relative to the downside.
Summary: The index is testing again. The struggles the last few days came from a lack of clarity relative to the Fed… they got it and didn’t like it. Six of the eleven sectors closed higher on the day as we watch how the index responds to start the new week. Remains a sector-driven market as we look for short-term direction. The broad index remains in an uptrend from the October lows with some interim testing. Remember two things; first, the trend is your friend, and second, don’t fight the Fed.
(The notes above are posted at the end of each week based on activity from the previous week’s trading. The BOLD/ITALIC comments are the current-day changes worthy of note.)
KEY INDICATORS/SECTORS & LEADERS TO WATCH:
The NASDAQ index closed down 18 points to 13,660 as the index was down 0.13% for the day. The index remains in the uptrend with some testing near the highs. Support is 13,274. Watching how the trend unfolds short term. SOXX was up 0.04% on the day. IGV was down 0.2%. Taking what is offered long and short.
NASDAQ 100 (QQQ) was down 0.33% on the day. Moved back above the $366.14 support and the 10-day MA. The mega-caps remain extended from the May break higher and thus we need to manage the risk short term. The sector had a negative bias with 40 of the 100 stocks closing in positive territory for the day.
Semiconductors (SOXX) The sector remains in a consolidation pattern. Established a higher low on Friday and need to see it follow through if the upside is to continue. The sector was down 2.7% for the week. Watching how it unfolds and the next opportunity. No Positions.
Software (IGV) Consolidation pattern on the chart. Testing the uptrend as the sector remains above the $336 level support. Added IGV $291. Stop $335.90 (adjusted). The sector was down 1.8% for the week. Similar to the SOXX need to put in a higher lower to keep the trend alive.
Biotech (IBB) The sector broke support at the $125.50 level. Setting up ad short side trade based on the negative sentiment. The sector was down 2% for the week. No Positions.
Small-Cap Index (IWM) Tested lower and bounced… very volatile with an uptrend in place from the May lows. The sector was down 1.3% for the week. No Positions.
Transports (IYT) Made a break above the January highs and showed solid momentum as it tests near the highs. The sector was down 0.04% for the week. IYT Entry $231.
Worry: UPS is going on strike if they don’t get a new contract by July 31st. Supply chain disruption will be a challenge for the economic picture.
The Dollar (UUP) The dollar remains volatile with a cup and handle pattern on the chart. What is on the horizon? Weak dollar policy from the current administration. The dollar was up 0.4% for the week. More chatter about losing dollar status globally. No Positions.
Yellen says to expect a gradual decline in the dollar’s share of global reserves… amazing how between Obama and Biden the dollar has deteriorated.
Treasury Yield 10-Year Bond (TNX) The yield closed the week at 4.05% up from 3.81% last week. Rates are reacting to the Fed talk on hiking rates… big move up in rates. TLT was down 3.7% for the week. TMV entry $119.35.
Crude oil (USO) Broke higher from the consolidation pattern showing positive momentum based on supply data during the week. USO was up 3.6% for the week. UCO entry $24.15.
Gold (GLD) The commodity is in a downtrend from the May highs but establishing a base. Entry if we break above $179.36. UGL is the trade. Letting this unfold and opportunities presented. The metal was up 0.4% for the week.
Questions to Ponder: Navigating Uncertainty
Bank Stress Test – Wednesday the Fed said that all 23 major financials passed their annual stress tests, with sufficient levels of capital to get through a severe recession. Interesting considering that just four months ago the sky was falling. And let’s not forget the Fed continues to provide liquidity to banks in short-term loans. KBE continues to trade laterally following the big downside move in March. Worthy to see how this unfolds in light of this news.
Bidenomics – The president rolled out his newly revised plan that has created the greatest economy ever… 14% inflation, -3.1% hourly earnings growth, trillions added to the debt, etc. greatest presidency ever.
Stagflation – is defined as persistent inflation combined with stagnant consumer demand and relatively high unemployment. Do we have this situation currently in the US economy? If it doesn’t exist in a purely technically defined way, it is creating the same economic environment currently in the US, and the current administration is in denial. Thus, we will continue to feel the effects of this until we change course. Layoffs from early 2022 to current continue… Bankruptcy filings are not slowing as the hit the fastest pace since 2010. War – Costs… Ukrain/Russia endless war isn’t good for the US economy. Inflation is here 1970’s style. Markets are giving the Fed cover to hike again with the surge in technology stocks. Although the leadership is narrow. Things are not as good as they seem on the surface.
FINAL NOTES:
Our longer-term view is shifting to neutral as the upside trend from the October lows remains in play. Nothing goes straight down or up… there are always positive and negative swings in a longer-term trend. A look at the daily chart from the October lows validates exactly that premise with the trend higher overall but plenty of volatility along the way. With the trend higher it puts the broad indexes in intermediate uptrend… this is a positive overall for the broad markets. However, the last two weeks have shown resistance at the current level with increased intraday volatility. Tightening our stops on intermediate and short-term positions. Trading the volatility has performed better than holding through the cycle. Sector-driven activity is in play short term with some testing at the highs. If the uptrend resumes following the recent test it will be the fifth stage higher. News has been in the driver’s seat as we take positions that are technically moving and offering opportunities. The key remains, know where you are now, know what is happening now, and know what is on the horizon… act accordingly. The goal now is to manage the risk of positions, take what is offered… short or long, and then manage your money. Listen to the market not the talking heads.
Friday: The Fed and interest rates remain a torn in the market’s side. Watching how stocks respond to the intraday reversal on Friday. Technology remains the leader along with consumer discretionary with both testing near the highs. Testing in the semiconductors as well. Trading the trends on sectors showing strength and weakness… We see the overall trend is still up from the October lows. Watching where money is going near term for clues of what is on the horizon. Manage the risk that is and let the current trend play out.
What I am watching on Monday: 1) QQQ & SPY to establish a higher low. 2) QQQ, SPY, XLK, and XLY testing support. 3) GLD, SLV, lagging… GLD setting up for trade opportunity. 4) Intraday volatility. 5) Earnings for the second quarter start soon!
Decide what you’re doing before the market opens based on your beliefs. Entry. Exit. Target. Define the risk of the position. Nothing more… Nothing less.
“Vision without action is a daydream… Action without vision is a nightmare.” Japanese proverb
The goal of these notes is to allow you, the investor, to learn how to see the market development as the progression through the sector develops based on news, speculation, and data. Data drives long-term results and develops trends… speculation and news are short-term drivers and offer higher risk trading opportunities. Through the use of both technical and fundamental data, we can have greater confidence in our trading strategies with a disciplined approach to investing and managing the risk of our money.