May has been nothing but mayhem for the market as all nine sectors moved lower. The PerfChart below shows the percentage change since May 1st. Over the last 11 trading days, the Finance SPDR (XLF), Energy SPDR (XLE) and Basic Materials SPDR (XLB) are leading the market lower. The three... READ MORE
US stocks opened strong on Tuesday, but buyers lost their nerve again and the major index ETFs closed near their lows for the day. Treasuries continued higher as investors sought relatively safety ahead of June elections in Greece. Needless to say, the Dollar soared and the Euro plunged. Commodities plunged... READ MORE
After a big decline in April, Google ($GOOG) consolidated the last few weeks and the Bollinger Bands narrowed significantly. This could be called a Bollinger Band squeeze or volatility squeeze. The next directional signal depends on the band break. A move above the upper band would be bullish, while a... READ MORE
The risk-off trade was in full force on Monday: treasuries and the Dollar moved higher as stocks, oil and the Euro moved lower. Stocks opened weak, bounced a little and then closed weak as buyers lost their nerve. The major index ETFs remain in short-term downtrends, but are getting oversold... READ MORE
AAPL Declines to Support on Low Volume. ABC Surges off Support with Big Volume. Plus CAH, CVG, IMN, NKE, XRX This commentary and charts-of-interest are designed to stimulate thinking. This analysis is not a recommendation to buy, sell, hold or sell short any security (stock ETF or otherwise). We all... READ MORE
The risk-off trade has been dominant since May and shows no signs of changing this week. The world is openly talking about a Greek exit from the Euro, perhaps within a month. The fear is not so much the Greek exit, but rather the affect it will have on Portugal... READ MORE
Stocks were under pressure the last three days, but ATVI bucked the trend with an advance and gap on high volume. This gap off support is bullish as long as it holds. Resistance at 13 marks the next challenge. Click this image for a live chart.... READ MORE
The indicator summary moved to +4 because of two downgrades. Of note, the AD Volume Lines broke support to turn bearish. Despite these breaks, the NYSE AD Line remains in bull mode and the Net New Highs indicators are still considered bullish. We have yet to see enough selling pressure... READ MORE
A disappointing outlook from Cisco (CSCO) weighed on the tech sector Thursday. In particular, the company sighted future concerns on government spending in the US and Europe. A $2 billion derivatives loss from JP Morgan Chase (JPM) is weighing on stock futures early Friday. This loss could expand another $1... READ MORE
The Consumer Staples SPDR (XLP) remains one of the strongest sectors and Heinze is part of that strength with an ascending triangle breakout. With a surge the last two weeks, the stock broke above its January-February highs and entered uncharted territory. Relative strength in consumer staples stocks shows a preference... READ MORE
Several major index ETFs are testing their March-April lows and these support zones could produce oversold bounces. The Russell 2000 ETF (IWM), Dow Industrials SPDR (DIA), Rydex S&P Equal Weight ETF (RSP) and S&P MidCap 400 SPDR (MDY) are all testing support from the March-April lows.... READ MORE
CNX Bounces off Consolidation Support with big Volume. GFI Forms Bullish Engulfing. USI Forms within Gap Zone. Plus AEP, AN, ITT This commentary and charts-of-interest are designed to stimulate thinking. This analysis is not a recommendation to buy, sell, hold or sell short any security (stock ETF or otherwise). We... READ MORE
The PerfChart below shows the percentage change for seven intermarket ETFs. The three risk assets (stocks, oil, euro) are down, while the three safe havens are up (dollar, treasuries). Gold is going against the Dollar and along with the stock market. Click this image for a live chart.... READ MORE
The S&P 500 ETF (SPY) pierced its April lows with a sharp decline on the open and the bounced with an afternoon surge. Traders can expect this kind of volatility because bargain hunters and bottom pickers become active after sharp decline. SPY reached 135 on Tuesday's... READ MORE
After a big decline last week, stocks firmed on Monday and there is no change for the major index ETFs. A lot of news hit the fan over the past week and it looks like traders took a rest on Monday. The results of the Greek and French elections did... READ MORE
GOOG Forms Pennant after Sharp Decline. MMM Hits Resistance and Declines into Gap Zone. URBN Declines after Big Harami Pattern. Plus DHR, FITB, LUV, SCHW This commentary and charts-of-interest are designed to stimulate thinking. This analysis is not a recommendation to buy, sell, hold or sell short any security (stock... READ MORE
Even though stocks opened lower on Monday, market action quickly turned mixed, as evidenced on the most active tables for the Nasdaq and NYSE. Chartists can see the intraday action by clicking the CandleGlance links. BAC has a bullish engulfing working and Pfizer has an inverted hammer working on Monday.... READ MORE
Uncertainty ratcheted up a notch in Europe as Hollande won the French election and the ruling coalition in Greece was dealt a setback. Asian stocks are down sharply, European stocks are down and Dow futures are down around 100 points. Oil, gold and the Euro are also down, while the... READ MORE
With a gap down and sharp decline, the Industrials SPDR (XLI) formed a lower high and broke wedge support. But that's not all. The chart below also shows a potential head-and-shoulders pattern taking shape. After hitting a 52-week high in March, the ETF declined all the way back... READ MORE
Stocks were down sharply in early trading on Friday with the energy sector showing the most red in the Sector Carpet. There are, however, usually a few stocks bucking the trend and these can be found by looking for the isolated patches of green. Notice Micron (MU), Flour (FLR) and... READ MORE
There are no changes in the indicator summary, but I am watching the AD Volume Lines quite closely. Even though both bounced over the last few weeks and essentially held support from the March lows, this bounce has not been that strong. Failure to reach the March high and a... READ MORE
Stocks were under pressure on Thursday after a worse-than-expected ISM Services Index. This diffusion index came in at 53.5 for April, compared to 56 in March. Even though the index dropped, it remains well above 50 and indicative of economic expansion, not contraction. From ism.com, "A diffusion... READ MORE
The Basic Materials SPDR (XLB) reversed higher last week with an island reversal, but stalled over the last 4-5 days and a rising wedge is taking shape. For now, the gap and island reversal dominate the chart. A move below 36 would fill this gap and break the wedge trendline.... READ MORE
Upside Volume Picks up for ATML. KFY Gaps up and Consolidates. MD Forms Bullish Engulfing on High Volume. Plus BWA, DWA, KMX This commentary and charts-of-interest are designed to stimulate thinking. This analysis is not a recommendation to buy, sell, hold or sell short any security (stock ETF or otherwise)... READ MORE
Stocks opened weak after the ADP Employment report came in below expectations. Nevertheless, the market firmed and worked its way higher the rest of the day. Small-caps (Russell 2000) and techs (Nasdaq) finished with small gains, the S&P 500 and Dow ended the day with small losses. All... READ MORE
The FirstTrust Internet ETF (FDN) broke out with a gap last week and that gap is holding. Mind that gap! The gap is bullish as long as it holds. Also notice that FDN broke resistance from the mid April highs and the Price Relative broke the trendline extending down from... READ MORE
It was pop and drop for stocks on Tuesday. Stocks surged on the heels of a better-than-expected ISM Manufacturing Index, but failed to hold early gains and fell sharply in the final hour. Small-caps (Russell 2000) and techs (Nasdaq) led the way lower. Traders may be getting cold feet ahead... READ MORE
The Home Construction iShares (ITB) is leading the market higher again with a fresh 52-week high this week. The chart below also shows the Price Relative (ITB:SPY ratio) hitting a new high. Below this chart is a snapshot from today's new high list. A sort by industry... READ MORE
Stocks pulled back on Monday after the Chicago PMI came in below expectations and reached its lowest level since November 2009. Nevertheless, this key indicator came in at 56.20, which is well above 50 and indicative of economic expansion. Anything above 50 is positive. Don't forget that... READ MORE
BHI Breaks Pennant Resistance. HPQ Consolidates after High Volume Surge. MAN Breaks Pennant Support. Plus ADM, CMI, MON, SKS This commentary and charts-of-interest are designed to stimulate thinking. This analysis is not a recommendation to buy, sell, hold or sell short any security (stock ETF or otherwise). We all need... READ MORE
The StockCharts Technical Rank (SCTR) is updated throughout the day so traders can find stocks making significant technical moves when they happen. The table below represents a snapshot from April 30th at 12:21 PM ET. These are the stocks with the biggest technical rank moves within the S&... READ MORE
The short-term trend for stocks changed with Wednesday's gap and breakout. The medium-term and long-term trends were already up. This means that all three trends are up again and we could see a challenge to the March highs. While I hate to play the fundamental card, the fate... READ MORE
The Consumer Staples Bullish% Index ($BPSTAP) is the strongest of the nine sector SPDR Bullish Percent Indexes. It is interesting that the BPI for this defensive sector shows the most strength. In contrast, the Consumer Discretionary Bullish% Index ($BPDISC) is currently around 69%. You can read more in our ChartSchool... READ MORE
A couple of indicators flipped this week, but the net result is the same as the indicator summary remains at +7. The Nasdaq AD Line shows too much weakness to be considered bullish, but it is offset by strength in the NYSE AD Line. Momentum flipped back to bullish as... READ MORE
The island reversals, up gaps and breakouts are holding. QQQ formed a lower low early this week, but IWM and SPY held above their early April lows. In fact, the recovery after Monday's gap down was so swift that I am going to draw my trendlines right through... READ MORE
The Fed made another policy statement with little change in its outlook or wording. Apple produced another blow out quarter. Even though neither event produced a surprise, Apple's coattails provided a big lift for the market overall. Most, if not all, of the gains came before the Fed... READ MORE
Careful out there. It is earnings season. AMT Breaks Out to 52-week High. DELL Hits Key Retracement. SLM Forms Small Descending Triangle. Plus AMZN, ATVI, FDX, IGT, TER, UTX. This commentary and charts-of-interest are designed to stimulate thinking. This analysis is not a recommendation to buy, sell, hold or sell... READ MORE
The Dow Industrials remains in a long-term uptrend as it bounced off the bullish support line extending up from October 2011. This line and the April low combine to mark a key support zone in the 12850-12900 area. It would take a P&F print below the last O-Column... READ MORE
Apple is stoking the street with a big move after reporting earnings. While a strong open is expected, what happens after the open, and after the Fed statement, is more important. Actually, I think Thursday's price action will hold the key to the next move in stocks. Trading... READ MORE
After hitting resistance in the 80-81 area in March, Citrix (CTXS) failed once again at this level with a shooting star candlestick last week. Notice the long upper shadow extending above 80. A down gap followed this bearish reversal candlestick and the next support zone resides around 71. Click this... READ MORE