Trading position (short-term; futures; our opinion): long positions (100% position size) with stop-loss at 3275 and initial upside target at 3450 (once it's reached and prices move to 3460, then 3450 becomes the new stop-loss) are justified from the risk-reward perspective.
The bulls responded with an upswing, which I saw as probable to happen. Is the sharp correction over now? Thus far, my answer remains the same as yesterday - in terms of prices, the worst is likely behind us, in terms of time, we have a way to go still.
So, what about the key juncture stocks are at? Let's get and feel the pulse via a few selected charts.
As for narratives, the tensions around China are back in the spotlight. Otherwise, my yesterday's comments still apply:
(...) Unless the Democrats raise up a notch their existing calls for Biden not to concede defeat under any circumstances, unless rioting ramps up, unless the Fed takes away the punch bowl, and finally unless Americans happily march into another lockdown that who knows when it would really end and on what terms (Cuomo's conditions serve as a great, sorry, terrible example), the stock bull run can go on in September before meeting the October headwinds.
S&P 500 in the Short-Run
I'll start with the daily chart perspective (charts courtesy of http://stockcharts.com ):
The rebound from the proximity of 50-day moving average came yesterday, yet with an upper knot and lower, but still respectable volume. That's not entirely bullish, also given the fact that the upswing stopped at the Feb highs level approximately. More work ahead for the bulls.
The Credit Markets' Point of View
Yesterday's upswing in high yield corporate bonds (HYG ETF) is more optimistic - the lack of upper knot and sizable volume bring about a more bullish interpretation than has been the case with the S&P 500 rebound.
The investment grade corporate bonds (LQD ETF) performance is a mixed bag - all intraday gains were erased. That takes away from the HYG ETF bullish performance unless Treasuries are considered.
Long-dated Treasuries (TLT ETF) keep on trading sideways to down in recent weeks. Clearly no margin call here, and instead the realities of a slow economic recovery and the aftermath of Fed's move on inflation, rule.
As stocks found themselves at the rock bottom relative to the high yield corporate bonds to short-term Treasuries (HYG:SHY) ratio, their rebound followed yesterday. The overextension in the runup to the Fed inflation announcement, has been "worked off" entirely, and the stock upswing can continue on less mouth salivating hype now.
Metals, Oil and Technology
Gold is holding up still pretty well. I view its latest white candle as a sign of support for risk-on assets. Should the bearish implications of relatively low volume overpower the bulls and sink the yellow metal to levels below the September intraday lows, that would change the short-term outlook.
Copper keeps its breakout above $3 alive, and the chart posture remains bullish. Again though, the low volume is a sign of short-term caution.
The oil ($WTIC) chart looks distinctly bearish, and the downswing has gathered steam over the recent sessions. Yesterday's reprieve looks as a short-term pause, and doesn't appear to dent much the selling pressure. Black gold's prices look to be underperforming stocks early on (canary in the coal mine) - just as they were at the beginning of 2020 - which highlights the very real possibility of a stormy not merely September, but also October.
Technology (XLK ETF) rose, but not before having to defend against selling pressure first. The upswing could have been stronger, and the fact that it wasn't, highlights the relatively weakening position of this leader as other sectors experience growing interest, relatively speaking.
Yes, that's what rotation is about, and the fact that it's happening, and money isn't moving out of tech to the sidelines or into Treasuries, but instead to value plays, attests to the stock bull being alive and well.
Summary
Summing up, stocks sprang to life yesterday, and despite giving up quite some intraday gains, the advance-decline line moved strongly higher, in a testament to its Friday's relative strength. Volatility as measured by the VIX, relented yesterday, and a period of relative calm and base building (also in the 500-strong index) could be ahead.
The missing piece of the puzzle is the financials (XLF ETF) performance as they "should" have taken kindly to rising yields, yet they continue struggling due to hefty bad loans provisions (anticipated corona fallout). This effect could be gone once meaningful stimulus is in. Technically speaking, financials remain more likely to break above their 200-day moving average than to break below their 50-moving average next, but the move is likely to take quite some patience to see.
Trading position (short-term; futures; our opinion): long positions (100% position size) with stop-loss at 3275 and initial upside target at 3450 (once it's reached and prices move to 3460, then 3450 becomes the new stop-loss) are justified from the risk-reward perspective.
Thank you.
Monica Kingsley
Stock Trading StrategistSunshine Profits: Analysis. Care. Profits.
