Regions Financial (RF) is showing signs of life with a high-volume bounce off the 200-day simple moving average and a key retracement. Notice that the Sep-Nov decline retraced a Fibonacci 62% of the Jul-Sep advance. The stock firmed around 4.75 in early November and surged... READ MORE
The S&P 500 ETF (SPY) remains in a medium-term uptrend as it approaches the upper trendline of the rising channel. This trendline extends to around 112 this week and SPY could hit this level before starting a downswing. At this point, I consider SPY too strong to... READ MORE
With the advance above 100, the Dow Diamonds (DIA) entered the 50-62% retracement zone. Such retracements can be measured using the Fibonacci Retracements Tool on Sharpcharts. These zones can mark resistance areas and price action merits a close watch. Click this chart for details.... READ MORE
-SPY Nears Channel Resistance -Regional banks and the finance sector -US Bancorp (USB) hits momentum-of-truth -A bearish engulfing for Limited (LTD) -Xerox (XRX) consolidates after surge -Ciena (CIEN) surges on good volume -Fluor (FLR) bounces off key retracement - Click here for the video page... READ MORE
The S&P 500 ETF (SPY) gapped up and closed strong to forge a higher high on Monday. The ETF has been channeling higher since August with a series of higher highs and higher lows. While each higher high affirms the medium-term uptrend, notice that SPY pulled back... READ MORE
The Regional Bank SPDR (KRE) was a boon to the market in late July and early August, but under performed the market from early August to mid November. In contrast, the Financials SPDR (XLF) performed in line with the market as it went on to new highs in September and... READ MORE
Even though Fluor has been trending lower since the August high, the decline looks like a correction after the April-August advance. First, the advance was big and some sort of correction or pullback can be expected. Second, notice that the decline retraced 62% of the prior advance and a... READ MORE
Ciena is showing strength with a high volume wedge breakout. The stock surged from July to September and then corrected with a falling wedge the last two months. Sorry, no prizes for guessing how much this wedge retraced. After finding support near broken resistance, the stock broke the wedge trendline... READ MORE
After a big gap down in late September, Xerox established support around 7.25 and consolidated the last seven weeks. Within this consolidation, the stock surged in early November and then formed a flat flag. I am watching this pattern for clues on the next move. A break above flag... READ MORE
I featured Limited (LTD) two weeks ago with a small pennant, but the stock never broke pennant support for confirmation. Even though LTD edged higher, it looks like a bearish flag is now taking shape. The stock gapped down in late October and this gap zone acts as resistance. A... READ MORE
US Bancorp (USB) broke triangle resistance in mid October and broken resistance turned into support around 23. Even though the breakout is still holding, relative weakness in November is a concern here. SPY is up over 7% this month, but USB is down slightly. Moreover, the stock declined with pretty... READ MORE
Friday's mailbag answered questions on the Aroon oscillator, which is a trend identification indicator. Basically, a strong uptrend exists when the oscillator is above +50 and a strong downtrend exists when the oscillator is below -50. Even with the market gains of the last few weeks, I was... READ MORE
LARGE CAPS HIT NEW HIGHS FIRST... My Friday message wrote about a new recovery high by the Dow Industrials reflecting investor preference for large cap stocks. A buying spree on Monday has pushed several large cap index to new highs as well. Charts 1 and 2 show the S&... READ MORE
-Gold remains the strongest of the five intermarket securities -The Dollar is at it again with a RSI divergence and harami on Thur-Friday -Broken resistance around 1070 turns into first support for gold -Oil formed a bull flag over the last few weeks -Bonds continue to hold support - Click... READ MORE
Despite a gain for the week, overall price action for the S&P 500 ETF (SPY) was indecisive last week. SPY surged Monday, stalled for two days, declined sharply on Thursday and stalled on Friday. For the week, the ETF formed a long white candlestick, a long black candlestick... READ MORE
SHIFT TOWARD LARGE STOCKS... One of the more obvious discrepancies of late has been between the performance of the Dow Industrials and the Russell 2000 Small Cap Index. While the Dow (blue line) has been the first of the major stock indexes to hit a new recovery high, the RUT... READ MORE
Year-to-date, the WT Brazilian Real Fund (BZF) and the CS Australian Dollar Trust (FXA) are by far the top performing currency ETFs. Of these 10 currency ETFs, only the DB Dollar Bullish ETF (UUP) is in negative territory. Even the CS Japanese Yen Trust (FXY) climbed back into... READ MORE
-Short-term RSI signal for SPY -Medium-term evidence remains bullish -AD Volume Lines fall short -Net New Highs diminish -Small-caps lag -Finance sector lags -VIX nears October lows -Short-term rates hit new low -Wave 4 advance remains in place. - Click here for the video page... READ MORE
Despite some warning signs, the bulk of the medium-term evidence remains bullish for stocks. Only three indicators are in bear mode. The AD Volume Lines broke support in late October, the McClellan Oscillators show deteriorating breadth, small-caps show relative weakness and the finance sector is relatively weak. The... READ MORE
Nothing has changed regarding my interpretation of the Elliott Wave counts for the Nasdaq and S&P 500. Both indices are in Wave 4 advances or a 5 Wave decline. The Wave 4 target zone for the S&P 500 is 1080-1150, while the target zone for... READ MORE
There are some potential warning signs in the breadth indicators. First, the Nasdaq AD Volume Line and the NYSE AD Volume Line both bounced, but remain well below their October highs. Lower highs could be forming. Second, October Net New Highs were above +200 for the Nasdaq and above +400... READ MORE
After a sharp advance, I noted how doji can sometimes foreshadow a reversal. Doji signal indecision as the bulls and bears battle it out for control. What happens after the doji produces the winner. With yesterday's decline, one could argue that the bears now have the upper hand.... READ MORE
WATCHING THE GAPS... Link for todays video. The major index ETFs gapped higher and closed strong on Monday. Even though trading since the gap has been subdued, the gaps are holding and remain bullish until proven otherwise. Chart 1 shows the Nasdaq 100 ETF (QQQQ) gapping up and closing above... READ MORE
With the surge over the last 1-2 weeks, the NY Composite and the Nasdaq are both trading back near their October highs. However, the Nasdaq AD Line remains well below its October high and shows some relative weakness. The NYSE AD Line is also below its October highs, but... READ MORE
There is no change in the SPY analysis. Stocks stalled over the last two days with SPY forming two doji. These signal indecision and can sometimes foreshadow a short-term reversal. At this point, I consider this indecision as a rest within the short-term and medium-term uptrends. Medium-... READ MORE
DOW CHANNELS HIGHER... Video Link (click here) The medium-term trends are clearly up for the major indices - but a few are approaching potential resistance levels after sharp advances the last two weeks. Chart 1 shows the Dow Industrials with a rising price channel over the last few months. Notice... READ MORE
Cisco (CSCO) led the market higher with a big move above 24 last week. While the S&P 500 continued higher the last three days, Cisco stalled with a falling flag taking shape. Bullish flags slope down and form after a sharp advance. A break above 24 would signal... READ MORE
After a 5+ percent surge the prior five days, stocks took a breather on Tuesday as the S&P 500 ETF (SPY) formed a doji on the day. Doji are small candlesticks that look like a plus sign (+). They show little change from open to close and a relatively... READ MORE
HEALTHCARE SPDR HITS NEW HIGH ... With the market pausing after yesterday's strong rally, defensive stocks like consumer staples and healthcare are gaining some ground today. Of those two, healthcare is the stronger. Chart 1 shows the Healthcare SPDR (XLV) breaking out to a new 52-week high today.... READ MORE
The difference between the 10-Year Treasury Yield ($TNX) and the 3-month Treasury Yield ($IRX) widened significantly since early October. Short-term rates fell ($IRX), while long-term rates rose ($TNX). As a result, the yield curve is the steepest it's been in months. Click this chart... READ MORE
-SPY challenges October highs -Defining the short-term uptrend for SPY -Impressive breadth for NYSE, not for Nasdaq -Low volume rally the last three days -XLF and WFC surge off support -XHB and KBH firm at key retracements -Click here for video page... READ MORE
The homebuilders have been relatively weak since mid September. While SPY is within striking distance of a new high for the year (2009), the Homebuilders SPDR (XHB) remains well below its September and October highs. Since mid September, the ETF retraced 50% of its prior advance with an ABC decline.... READ MORE
The Financials SPDR (XLF) confirmed last week's harami with a gap breakout. XLF hit support in late October and formed a big spinning top on November 2nd. With the short-term trend down, the stock formed a long red candlestick on Wednesday and two inside days on Thursday-... READ MORE
Breadth and volume are the first ports of call after a big move. Before going any further, I must emphasize that breadth and volume are indicators. I view breadth as an important indicator, more important than volume. However, as indicators, both breadth and volume are still secondary to price action,... READ MORE
With a gap and big advance on Monday, the S&P 500 ETF (SPY) is already challenging resistance from its October highs. I would not consider this major resistance, but rather potential resistance because the medium-term and short-term trends are up. Support levels are important in uptrends... READ MORE
The 10 most active stocks on both the NYSE and Nasdaq are all up, and up big. In the middle of the stockcharts.com home page, you can follow the most actives throughout the day. You can even view a Perfchart to compare performance or see all 10 mini-charts... READ MORE
KEEPING MONEY CHEAP ... The weekend decision from G-20 nations to maintain current global stimulus programs pushed the U.S. dollar sharply lower and global stocks and commodities higher. Foreign currencies surged as well. Chart 1 shows the Euro gapping higher after bouncing off its 50-day average last week.... READ MORE
Highlights include: -US Dollar Index fails to hold gains as short-term rates decline -Gold surges to new highs and remains leader of the pack -Oil forms a bull flag and continues to benefit from Dollar weakness -A medium-term downtrend for bonds as $USB tests support -Click here for... READ MORE
As the headline notes, both the medium-term and short-term trends are up for the S&P 500 ETF (SPY). Yes, SPY held above its early October low and RSI held the 40-50 zone. With a big move on Thursday, SPY broke wedge resistance and RSI moved... READ MORE
With gold hitting new record highs each day, gold stocks are starting to play catch-up. Two of the biggest are at or very close to hitting new 52-week highs. Chart 1 shows Barrick Gold closing at a new 52-week high today. The gray line is the ABX/... READ MORE