Showing posts with label Big Caps. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Big Caps. Show all posts

Monday, May 21, 2007

Equity Index Update

Equity Index UpdateSocialTwist Tell-a-Friend
Brad Sullivan

The index markets opened higher and stayed firm throughout Friday’s option expiration session. Mega-Cap issues continued to dominate the trade as the SPX came within a whisper of its All-Time closing high of 1527ish and the DJIA just kept on trucking into unknown territory. The session itself was pretty mundane, but the buy side pushed pretty aggressively over the final 30 minutes of trading to create new high prints. This morning we are called to open around UNCH as Shanghai was able to gain another +1% in spite of a rate hike…the rest of the global indices are trading – on balance – slightly higher as well. On the currency front, the dollar continues to catch a bid in here and one has to wonder, given the sharp correlation the last few months between a falling dollar and rising equity market, whether or not there will be any “give” in the equity trade this week.

It is on this front that I am examining the SPREADS…simply put, the movement between the SP and DJIA vs. the small cap Russell 2000 is astounding. Last week alone, a single unit (for my purposes) pushed into the stratosphere of expected returns. I have included a spread table with explanations in today’s chart section.

In my opinion, this spread action is about the only game in town. Is the shift into mega-caps the final leg of this 5 year old bull market? How much more is on the table in these spreads? Is it time to play a reversion-to-mean trade? One thing I do know from years of index trading…a shift out of one area/sector of the market typically requires a several week period of overall market disruption. The disruption is characterized with higher volatility and increased trading setups for those making a living in this game. So far, we have not seen any extended periods of this action. I would suggest that we may have a summer trade that surprises many with the above listed characteristics.

For today in the SPM contract, here is what I am looking for…on the upside, the index should find solid resistance between 1528 and 1531 as this zone should halt the market in the short run. If we get a 30 minute close above this zone, I will not chase ‘em up intentionally but one has to be prepared for a potentially buy stop rally above the cash closing highs in 2000 (call the trigger zone 1528 to be safe). Up here…it is pure guesswork. I would suspect stopping points to be 1535, 1538 and 1541. I must state that I put this rally scenario’s odds in the longshot category.

On the support side of the equation…1526 to 1524 is a key zone…any 30 minute close below this level should shift the trade to bounce selling. Accordingly, I would look to get short on any bounces into the aforementioned zone. Targets for this trade would be scale down from 1522.50 to 1519.50. Below this level we hit our old friend 1518.50 to 1515. This zone has now become a neutral/transition zone. Let this area play out and examine to see if it becomes support. An HOURLY close above 1520 (after testing this zone) would do the trick. Keep an eye on the SPREADS.
















Monday, April 16, 2007

Equity Index Update

Equity Index UpdateSocialTwist Tell-a-Friend
Brad Sullivan

And the Midcap 400 shall lead them. Was it not just 6 weeks ago that the market suffered from an intense bout of “forced” liquidation? Now, here we are looking at new all-time closing highs in the Midcap 400 Cash index and watching the remainder of the indices get within shouting distance of their 2007 highs. The NDX was helped by comments from the CFO of CSCO when he stated that earnings would be towards the high end of estimates during Friday afternoon. The stock immediately shot from 26 to 27 and provided the lift needed to boost the index market on a quiet Friday afternoon.

This morning the indices are called higher based on several factors. First we had strong rallies in the Asian markets and that has carried into European trading. In addition, Sallie Mae agreed to a private buyout that put a nearly 50% premium on the stock. Finally, earnings from two key banks C and WB were much better than anticipated.

Of course, we cannot forget our old friend the currency market which was given the all clear signal from the G7 over the weekend to continue the “carry” trade with abandon. Indeed, overnight the Euro/Yen continued through its respective all time high and the USD/Yen appears not too far behind. This liquidity driven currency trade has produced one of the key elements for tracing index moves both domestically and abroad. Simply put, comments out of the G7 meeting show just how sensitive the central banks of each nation are when it comes to the carry trade. Given the tremendous growth of funds using this trade over the past several years, it is easy to imagine how ugly a liquidation of this trade would end up being for the global markets. Indeed all one has to do is look at charts from last spring and a few weeks ago when hedgies were forced to liquidate positioning under “margin call, gentlemen” types of situations. Nobody wants that again, and the banks appear both coordinated and committed to ensure that the “carry” will not end the game.

This morning there is a potential early setup on the buy side. Even with are sharply higher open, players have been getting used to selling the open and getting long somewhere in the first hour for a walk the line rally. If players get caught trying this and the dealers come in on the buy side, look for significantly higher pricing in the first hour.

Finally, the final 2 hours of Friday’s session produced a significant volume increase in the SPminis and ER2 contract, when compared to their respective YTD and 5 day averages. Considering we settled on the highs of the session, this week looks potentially quite bullish.

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

High Beta Stocks: This Move is Suspect

High Beta Stocks: This Move is SuspectSocialTwist Tell-a-Friend
From our Virtual Trading Room Transcript
February 13, 2007
about 0730 pst

Brad_Sullivan> pretty good buy program to start the hour
>> Roberta_Brown has joined room #SuperPlatinum
Brad_Sullivan> but...so far no follow
>> Thomas_Hall has left room #SuperPlatinum
[Fari_Hamzei] hi Roberta
[Fari_Hamzei] HBs say this move is suspect
[Fari_Hamzei] we shall see
Thomas_Bohn> yep
Thomas_Bohn> giving it up
Thomas_Bohn> with NQ underperforming now
sent sound: train
[Fari_Hamzei] BUY pgm hits NYSE

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