WHAT’S UP? – Mini Me & GM – GM Solutions, outside the box, Michael Moore – Market Patterns – Volume still not confirming rally.

GM, Mini ME & Solutions

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STOCKS

AS ALWAYS, DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE INVESTING

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Technicals & Fundamentals 

Technical Price & Volume Patterns -

• Again notice (even though the difference is not as large) that the NASDQ and Russell 2000 are leadingthe other major indexes. From yesterday – The NASDQ(technology) & Russell 2000 (small cap stocks) have taken over the leadership roll. In longer term bull markets the NASDQ and Russell usually lead.
• The start of each week recently has seen a big move higher followed by a more mellow or declining market.
• The fact that we held onto Monday’s gains is a bullish sign. 
• This is not a rally that is specific to the USA, but the world. China, Brazil and other countries broke out of their patterns before the USA.

Reading The Tea Leaves 

Sorry due to a technical glitch I lost everything but this short summery -

Volume still has not yet confirmed the move higher, but cumulatively (each day we hold above breakout levels volume grows) volume can act as a confirmation. Many secondary indicators are positive. This is only our 2nd day above breakout levels. Breakout still very vulnerable. 

AS ALWAYS DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE INVESTING !

What’s Up - Pakistan  - Are we making the same mistakes? ; Israel/Palastine - an ineviable war and a path not taken; Polls and Avaaza; Markets continue low volume & low volatility. Stocks held onto Monday’s gains; Volume and volatility continue to fall. Bulls with the football

Refugees (Photo LA Times)

Pakistan

Are we going to learn from the mistakes of the past? Right now the Pakistan government is fighting the Taliban in certain areas of Pakistan. This has created a refugee problem of  almost a million people. 

One report shows the same old counter productive results. Each day the Pakistan military announces the # of Taliban killed. Each day in the massive refugee camps full of people fleeing the violence, Taliban allies offer food and help to those whose lives have been shattered. Add to this often unmanned Ameirican planes blast the Taliban and there is significant civilian collateral damage.

There are some signs that things will be different. For now the Pakistani clerics are supporting the government denouncing the Taliban tactics. Also, Hillary Clinton has asked for $110 in humanitarian aid. Perhaps this time the focus will be more on winning over the hearts and minds of the people instead of focusing on body counts. Only time will tell.

Netanyahu  (Photo Google images)

Israel/Palestine

This is a minefield whenever its brought up.  So let’s take Obama’s Notre Dame advice and look for some common ground. A recently conducted poll of Palestinians and Israeli contained the following results.

• 70% of the Palestinians and 65% if the Israeli’s wanted Obama involved in the peace process.
• 59% of the Israeli’s think Obama is trustworthy  vs. 31% think Bibi Netanyahu (Israel’s PM) is trustworthy 

The Bottom Line here is the USA/Obama should get more involved in the peace process. If this situation is allowed to fester another war is inevitable, perhaps within a year.

 Avaaza (Voice) is a multi national group of 3 million members that is trying to get Obama more involved in the peace process. Check  out Avaaza.org. and their add.  Another way, if Avaaza is not your cup of tea, is obviously to directly contact Obama and let him know how you feel.

STOCKS

AS ALWAYS, DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE INVESTING

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Technicals & Fundamentals

Markets basically went nowhere and Volume remained light.

In one sense this is bullish – we held onto Monday’s big gains. However, volume has been weak and well below average for the last 4 trading sessions.  Since volume is the chief confirmation factor of a price move, we simply have no confirmation of the price move.

XLF - The ETF that tracks financials (mostly shadow banks ) moved lower yesterday -2.03 in light, but increased volume. The chart (see side of blog) shows light volume for the last 7 days. The XLF has entered a rangebound pattern between 11+ and 13+. Yesterday’s close was 12.04. The downside volume has been greater than the upside volume. This gives a little of the mojo to the bears.  A breakout from this range (@11+ to @13+) will determine the overall markets next move.

Market’s Major Mantra - Again – “If Shadow Banks go up – so will stocks. If Shadow banks go down so will stocks” 

WTIC - Oil prices closed at $60.10. Up +0.86%. Prices had established a range between $54 and $60. We are sitting directly at a major resistance level for oil.  

HIgher oil prices have two sides. Higher prices for oil usually means investors think the economic picture is getting better. Higher oil prices means everyone pays more for gasoline.

BDI - The Baltic Dry Index that measures world trade  broke through resistance last week and is at a new 6 month high. The BDI broke through a major resistance early last week and rose another +1.5% yesterday. Repeat - World trade is critical, because if protectionism/nationalism between countries grows over trade the recovery is doomed. Very Bullish indicator for world economics and stocks

Reading this weeks tea leaves - Our primary forecasting tool – Volume – is not clear, so let’s use our secondary indicators -  

Markets moved higher on good news (India) and the BDI give us a short term bullish bias.  Resistance level of 13.08 on XFL is the breakout area to watch. Any move above this is very positive for bulls. Another important breakout level is 930 on the benchmark S&P 500. Right now the bulls have the football.

AS ALWAYS DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE INVESTING !

WHAT’S UP? – Three influential  personalities are shaping future trends - Jesse “the body” Ventura; Jim “mad money” Cramer ; Arianna “she’s everywhere” Huffington.  Their views on the future of capitalism and American morality will impact your money and your lives; Investors411 just took +23%, +16% and +26% profits in 3 different areas – Was it a mistake?

Jesse Ventura

Jesse’s been a Navy Seal, a World Wrestling Federation Champ and the Governor of Minnisota. Last week he came up with the following quote on why we should prosecute Dick Cheney for torture-

“You give me a waterboard, Dick Cheney and one hour, and I’ll have him confess to the Sharon Tate murders.”

STOCKS

AS ALWAYS, DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE INVESTING

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Technicals & Fundamentals

From yesterday – Let’s stick with the same prediction, for this week as last. More consolidation with a downside bias. After 9 up weeks in a row a consolidation is good for bulls. Going too far too fast creates bubbles. 

Major US and world markets couldn’t wait for a consolidation and instead on the India news (See yesterday’s Investors411) IFN India  ETF was up +21.5%) exploded higher. A relatively positive earnings forecast from Lowe’s (home building/remodeling supplies) helped. Competitor Home Depot had basically the same report this AM.

There is one ingredient missing - VOLUME - The #1 confirmation factor of any rally did not show up yesterday. Below average declining volume indicates that the huge amount of money on the sidelines stayed there. 

XLF - The ETF that tracks financials (mostly shadow banks ) exploded higher yesterday  +6.59% in below average declining volume. Volume is NOT confirming the price move. Of course, they again outperformed.

Market’s Major Mantra - Again – “If Shadow Banks go up – so will stocks. If Shadow banks go down so will stocks” 

WTIC - Oil prices fell from the $60+ high last week and have established a range between $54 and $60. Up Monday +4.54% to $59.59. This is directly below the the major $60 resistance level.  Hard to tell if stocks are pulling oil prices or visa versa. Both seems to be signaling a rebound in the economy. 

BDI - The Baltic Dry Index that measures world trade  broke through resistance last week and is at a new 6 month high. The BDI broke through a major resistance early last week and rose another +2.4% yesterday.  World trade is critical, because if protectionism/nationalism between countries grows over trade the recovery is doomed. Very Bullish indicator for world economics and stocks

Reading this weeks tea leaves - From yesterday - Lets hope and predict a consolidation with a downside bias this week in weak volume. BDI and India are both long term  positives. If 877 support holds on (Mon, Tues. & Wed.) the S&P 500, we could see  the nine week stampede of bulls continue later this week. 877 is the number to watch.

Looks like I was wrong – or I let hope of a consolidation cloud my judgement. The stampeding bulls did NOT wait till the end of the week to get the stampede started.  When bulls stampede they just blindly move. Today they’ll look around and wonder why their fellow bulls did not show up.

We’ve had 3 days in a row of declining volume as markets went south. Then a major reversal in still less volume.

Certainly looks like only short term traders are putting their money down. Benchmark S&P 500 closed at @ 910 and last week its high was @930. We could reach or even surpass that 930 resistance level. But without volume after another short term push higher expect a fall.

Reasons to rally-

• Markets are moving higher on good news
• BDI has broken out and moving higher
• Rising Oil prices reflect an economic rebound
• Financial analysts keep mentioning “green shoots” sprouting up all over.
• Obama is one good salesman.
• Shadow banks have government support

Why are the giant institutions and massive amounts of cash staying on the sidelines? Not having VOLUME confirm the rally is maddening and therefore definitive longer term calls are suspect. However, the mojo is back with the bulls.

Was it a mistake to get out of certain positions too early? +23%, +16% & +26% (See Positions section of blog) Perhaps, and will buy back into EWZ (Brazil) on dip.  Would buy back into XLF (financials) as longer term investment on dip -A smaller position than before. Also looking for a dip to buy some more GLD

However still short term trading FAS and UYG (ultra financials)on dips.

NO major long term  moves now – Be patient - But a tradable market.

AS ALWAYS DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH BEFORE INVESTING !