Enjoying Equity Rally While It Lasts

Stocks are rallying.  In fact, off the intra-day low last week, the S&P 500 index (1906.9) is already up 5.2 percent. Last Wednesday’s hammer reversal on the index looks similar to the ones on October 15, 2014 and August 24, … Continued

Trying To Decipher Message From Stocks’ Horrible Start To Year

posted in: Economy, Equities, Technicals | 0

While there are some signs of near-term capitulation in equities – further raising odds of continuation of rally post-Wednesday reversal – it is perhaps also time to ruminate over why markets started the year all jittery and restless. From intra-day … Continued

Despite Worries, Oil Exporters And China Hanging On To US Treasurys

posted in: Currency, Economy, Equities | 0

Crude oil peaked in June 2014.  As months went by and the price decline picked up momentum, there were growing worries as to if this would force major oil exporters to begin to unwind their Treasury holdings. Obviously this would … Continued

XLE Weekly Covered Call Post-Buy Write

Oil bulls can take heart.  Maybe. Spot West Texas Intermediate crude ($37.07/barrel) is likely on the verge of a 10/20 (daily moving average) crossover.  The crude has more or less been going sideways/slightly up the past couple of weeks, and … Continued

Crude Oil ↓ 62%, Rig Counts ↓ 66%, Yet Production And Stocks Near All-Time Highs

In the past year and a half, crude oil has gone through a lot. It is not often a commodity of oil’s significance drops 61 percent in nine months.  Yet that is what happened to spot West Texas Intermediate crude … Continued

U.S. Biz Capex Proxy Rises For 2nd Straight Month, But Tough Y/Y Comparisons Ahead

posted in: Economy | 0

2nd straight M/M rise in orders for U.S. business capX proxy in April For several months beginning June, hurdle rate quite high for Y/Y growth Six years into expansion, ZIRP probably not confidence booster among CEOs Phew! A sigh of … Continued

XLY’s near-term direction probably down in midst of energy uncertainty

Crude oil is on the move.  Since early April to last week’s high, the Brent has gone up by over 11 percent.  The West Texas Intermediate found a trough much earlier – early this year – and until the high … Continued