Home Sales and Stocks Are Diverging?

Stocks staged an incredible rally on Monday set against a backdrop of the second straight monthly decline in both new and existing home sales.

Existing home sales for January were reported last Wednesday; new home sales came out on Monday morning and were far from encouraging, showing a January decline of 7.8% after December's 9.3% drop.

With a shrug, stock investors ignored yet another sign that the general economy is not operating at optimal efficiency. Apparently, the mindset is such that owning stocks is a better investment than owning a place to live. Maybe when Americans are all renters, they will be encouraged to buy even more stocks, to balance things out, so to speak.

Wall Street may have a mind of its own, though it appears that mind is being led by some very false rhetoric about the strength of the US - and global - economy.

Monday's big gains puts the Dow in position to erase all of the losses from earlier in the month. The NASDAQ is already back above where it began the month.

Dow Jones Industrial Average February Scorecard:

Date	Close	Gain/Loss	Cum. G/L
2/1/18	26,186.71	+37.32	+37.32
2/2/18	25,520.96	-665.75	-628.43
2/5/18	24,345.75	-1,175.21	-1,803.64
2/6/18	24,912.77	+567.02	-1,236.62
2/7/18	24,893.35	-19.42	-1,256.04
2/8/18	23,860.46	-1,032.89	-2288.93
2/9/18	24,190.90	+330.44	-1958.49
2/12/18	24,601.27	+410.37	-1548.12
2/13/18	24,640.45	+39.18	-1508.94
2/14/18	24,893.49	+253.04	-1255.90
2/15/18	25,200.37	+306.88	-949.02
2/16/18	25,219.38	+19.01	-930.01
2/20/18	24,964.75	-254.63	-1184.64
2/21/18	24,797.78	-166.97	-1351.61
2/22/18	24,962.48	+164.70	-1186.91
2/23/18	25,309.99	+347.51	-839.40
2/26/18	25,709.27	+399.28	-440.12

At the Close, Monday, January 26, 2018:
Dow Jones Industrial Average: 25,709.27, +399.28 (+1.58%)
NASDAQ: 7,421.46, +84.07 (+1.15%)
S&P 500: 2,779.60, +32.30 (+1.18%)
NYSE Composite: 12,999.62, +115.51 (+0.90%)

Stocks Stage Strong Rebound To Finish Week Green

While volatility has subsided for the time being, so also has volume, down significantly since the crash-like VIX episode at the beginning of the month. Some may be taking the view that gains on the Dow and other indices are positive, regardless of volume, but the number of shares bought since the early February wash-out are far below those sold during that earlier episode.

Market breadth - gainers versus losers - along with a track of new highs and lows - will continue to help determine short-term direction in the market. Friday's positive close brought the Dow back beyond the 50% Fibonacci retracement though gains for the week were rather modest.

Interest rates remain elevated as compared to a month ago and a year ago, and bond yields will also go a long way toward determining trader conviction. The Dow is the index to watch most closely, because all of the stocks comprising the industrial average pay dividends, some of them at or better than current 10-year treasury yields.

The confounding factor of rising rates and falling stock prices is that dividend yields actually rise in the short term, but that may be seen as a false hope indicator. If companies are not only losing value to stockholders, the real possibility of declining earnings could also erupt into slashing of dividends as companies scramble to horde or save cash.

Considering the massive size of stock repurchases in recent years, the scenario exists that companies could find themselves in a real bind, forced to sell shares back to the public at lower prices than at which they were repurchased, causing an erosion in earnings and a potentially vicious negative feedback loop.

The most savvy investors will be looking for companies which have repurchased inordinate amounts of their own shares and are therefore exposed to a wicked downward price spiral.

If bond yields stabilize at or near current levels (below three percent on the 10-year-note) such a condition will not appear, but stabilizing yields in an environment in which the Fed has telegraphed its intention to raise the federal funds rate and sell (form $20 to $60 billion a month this year) into the market at the same time should - in an ideal, actual free market - cause yields to continue climbing.

Stocks may be nearing a dangerous Rubicon, whereas buyers of bonds should experience bargain prices and healthier yields going forward.

Dow Jones Industrial Average February Scorecard:

Date	Close	Gain/Loss	Cum. G/L
2/1/18	26,186.71	+37.32	+37.32
2/2/18	25,520.96	-665.75	-628.43
2/5/18	24,345.75	-1,175.21	-1,803.64
2/6/18	24,912.77	+567.02	-1,236.62
2/7/18	24,893.35	-19.42	-1,256.04
2/8/18	23,860.46	-1,032.89	-2288.93
2/9/18	24,190.90	+330.44	-1958.49
2/12/18	24,601.27	+410.37	-1548.12
2/13/18	24,640.45	+39.18	-1508.94
2/14/18	24,893.49	+253.04	-1255.90
2/15/18	25,200.37	+306.88	-949.02
2/16/18	25,219.38	+19.01	-930.01
2/20/18	24,964.75	-254.63	-1184.64
2/21/18	24,797.78	-166.97	-1351.61
2/22/18	24,962.48	+164.70	-1186.91
2/23/18	25,309.99	+347.51	-839.40

At the Close, Friday, February 23, 2018:
Dow Jones Industrial Average: 25,309.99, +347.51 (+1.39%)
NASDAQ: 7,337.39, +127.31, (+1.77%)
S&P 500: 2,747.30, +43.34 (+1.60%)
NYSE Composite: 12,884.11, +172.36 (+1.36%)

For the Week:
Dow: +90.61 (+0.36%)
NASDAQ: +97.93 (+1.35%)
S&P 500: +15.08 (+0.55%)
NYSE Composite: +9.75 (+0.08%)

Rally Fails As Bear Market Chart Patterns Emerge

One of the clearest chart indicators of bear markets is the "higher open, lower close" condition, which has been showing up in the daily charts on a regular basis of late.

Thursday was another in a steady stream of such charts, with the Dow higher by nearly 360 points by midday, only to lose more than half of the gains by the closing bell.

Another pattern - more often indicating broken or tired markets - is split decisions, wherein the major averages diverge as discretion becomes more prevalent. The NASDAQ, which extended its losing streak to four days on Thursday, ended the session in the red while the other indices were up.

These recurring patterns are worth noting at this juncture, though not entirely indicative of overall market direction. In general, however, the decline which began at the beginning of February has not been surmounted and continues to hold stocks below recent highs, a condition which will resolve itself at some point in the near term.

Timing markets such as this one would be a heady task, and probably result in more pain than necessary. It is likely that investors are already taking positions and executing them prior to any definitive directional signal, making the case that bearishness may already hold a winning position over the long-standing bull market proponents.

Time will tell.

Dow Jones Industrial Average February Scorecard:

Date	Close	Gain/Loss	Cum. G/L
2/1/18	26,186.71	+37.32	+37.32
2/2/18	25,520.96	-665.75	-628.43
2/5/18	24,345.75	-1,175.21	-1,803.64
2/6/18	24,912.77	+567.02	-1,236.62
2/7/18	24,893.35	-19.42	-1,256.04
2/8/18	23,860.46	-1,032.89	-2288.93
2/9/18	24,190.90	+330.44	-1958.49
2/12/18	24,601.27	+410.37	-1548.12
2/13/18	24,640.45	+39.18	-1508.94
2/14/18	24,893.49	+253.04	-1255.90
2/15/18	25,200.37	+306.88	-949.02
2/16/18	25,219.38	+19.01	-930.01
2/20/18	24,964.75	-254.63	-1184.64
2/21/18	24,797.78	-166.97	-1351.61
2/22/18	24,962.48	+164.70	-1186.91

At the Close, Thursday, February 22, 2018:
Dow Jones Industrial Average: 24,962.48, +164.70 (+0.66%)
NASDAQ: 7,210.09, -8.14 (-0.11%)
S&P 500: 2,703.96, +2.63 (+0.10%)
NYSE Composite: 12,711.75, +16.22 (+0.13%)

Did The Fed Spook Markets Or Was the Short Squeeze Over?

Analysts must employ incredible amounts of self-control to keep from hysterical laughter or uncontrollable slobbering sobbing when trying to explain the ups-and-downs of the stock, bond, commodity and FX markets.

Simplistic explanations are usually best employed as rationales for the awkward and apparent non-coincidental wild intra-day swings and unexplained episodes of random volatility.

It was the Fed minutes. China. Draghi's comments. The dog ate my homework.

None of this really works or is remotely believable, but the talking heads on TV or in alternate media try to get a grip on what's moving the market, regardless.

Thus, it is better to not get into the practice of reading tea leaves or practicing voodoo economics in search of trading directions, market timing or some other resource which will make us all rich, or happy, or just not so confused. Markets move on emotions, herd behavior, greed and fear. There is also an oversupply of computers and algorithms which direct trading in one way or another. Once things start moving one way, they seem to accelerate in that direction, until something or somebody comes along to stop it.

Rinse, repeat.

The Dow accomplished what could be referred to the rise and fall of the Roman empire in just one session on Wednesday, rising as much as 300 points before giving it all up in the final hour-and-a-half plus another 167 points for good measure. It all added up to more losses for the Industrial Average with just four of the thirty component stocks finishing positive on the day.

In other words, it was a very bloody afternoon. Interest rates went soaring, precious metals were hammered (as usual), and the dollar index shot up in meteoric fashion.

TV commentators attributed the drop to the release of last month's FOMC minutes. Yeah, sure. That's why stocks went up immediately after the release, before the collapse, and why equity markets are poised for a positive open Thursday morning. Rinse, repeat. Gibberish.

The cause, as always, is the love of money, the root of all evil. Keep rooting; see what sprouts.

Here's the score:

Dow Jones Industrial Average February Scorecard:

Date	Close	Gain/Loss	Cum. G/L
2/1/18	26,186.71	+37.32	+37.32
2/2/18	25,520.96	-665.75	-628.43
2/5/18	24,345.75	-1,175.21	-1,803.64
2/6/18	24,912.77	+567.02	-1,236.62
2/7/18	24,893.35	-19.42	-1,256.04
2/8/18	23,860.46	-1,032.89	-2288.93
2/9/18	24,190.90	+330.44	-1958.49
2/12/18	24,601.27	+410.37	-1548.12
2/13/18	24,640.45	+39.18	-1508.94
2/14/18	24,893.49	+253.04	-1255.90
2/15/18	25,200.37	+306.88	-949.02
2/16/18	25,219.38	+19.01	-930.01
2/20/18	24,964.75	-254.63	-1184.64
2/21/18	24,797.78	-166.97	-1351.61

At the Close, Wednesday, February 21, 2018:
Dow Jones Industrial Average: 24,797.78, -166.97 (-0.67%)
NASDAQ: 7,218.23, -16.08 (-0.22%)
S&P 500: 2,701.33, -14.93 (-0.55%)
NYSE Composite: 12,695.53, -67.81 (-0.53%)

The Market is a Yo-Yo; Don't Get Strung Out

There are only two directions in which the prices of assets can move: up or down. In it's current state, US stock indices are doing both, a condition which cannot persist for long before the establishment of a definite direction becomes apparent and dominant.

Thus far in the month of February - which has a mere six trading days remaining - there have been eight days of gains and five sessions ending with losses, each swing in either direction being rather magnanimous compared to the prior regime of low volatility and complacency.

On Tuesday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average arrived at the midpoint between the highs and lows for the month. On the 8th, the low reading was a cumulative loss of 2288 points. On Tuesday, the 20th, it closed with a loss of 1184 for the month, roughly a 50% retracing off the lows, ending a string of six straight winning session.

Tumultuous times cry out for straightforward thinking and diligent observation. Direction will soon be determined, and such direction can be employed as a springboard for trading over the upcoming six to 18 months.

At the present, nothing has been determined, but it is clear that stocks are finding a rough road back to all-time highs acquired late in January. Not that all gains are without drawbacks and whipsaws, but the measure will likely be in the breadth of gains and losses in individual stocks.

Tuesday's losses on the Dow were led by Wal-Mart (WMT) which fell by more than 10%, but it was by no means alone. Of the 30 blue chip components, only five gained on the day, and only one - Intel (INTC) - gained more than one percent.

One by one, as fourth quarter 2018 and full year earnings are announced, the Dow stocks are being sold off. Whether this emerges as a buying opportunity or a precursor to more asset shredding is a function of both market sentiment and the continuing narration of the Trump economy.

If the general economy is on the mend, then this episode of doom and gloom will be brushed off as a mere anomaly. On the flip side, should the darlings of Wall Street continue to underperform, more losses lay dead ahead.

Dow Jones Industrial Average February Scorecard:

Date	Close	Gain/Loss	Cum. G/L
2/1/18	26,186.71	+37.32	+37.32
2/2/18	25,520.96	-665.75	-628.43
2/5/18	24,345.75	-1,175.21	-1,803.64
2/6/18	24,912.77	+567.02	-1,236.62
2/7/18	24,893.35	-19.42	-1,256.04
2/8/18	23,860.46	-1,032.89	-2288.93
2/9/18	24,190.90	+330.44	-1958.49
2/12/18	24,601.27	+410.37	-1548.12
2/13/18	24,640.45	+39.18	-1508.94
2/14/18	24,893.49	+253.04	-1255.90
2/15/18	25,200.37	+306.88	-949.02
2/16/18	25,219.38	+19.01	-930.01
2/20/18	24,964.75	-254.63	-1184.64

At the Close, Tuesday, February 20, 2018:
Dow Jones Industrial Average: 24,964.75, -254.63 (-1.01%)
NASDAQ: 7,234.31, -5.16 (-0.07%)
S&P 500: 2,716.26, -15.96 (-0.58%)
NYSE Composite: 12,763.34, -111.02 (-0.86%)

Note: Just heard that Reverend Billy Graham has passed away at the age of 99. A good man has gone to meet his maker.