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[PLUS] Weekly Momentum Report & Takeaways

August 1, 2022
Ian Culley

From the desk of Steve Strazza @Sstrazza

Check out this week's Momentum Report, our weekly summation of all the major indexes at a Macro, International, Sector, and Industry Group level.

By analyzing the short-term data in these reports, we get a more tactical view of the current state of markets. This information then helps us put near-term developments into the big picture context and provides insights regarding the structural trends at play.

Let's jump right into it with some of the major takeaways from this week's report:

* ASC Plus Members can access the Momentum Report by clicking the link at the bottom of this post.

Macro Universe:

Breadth Thrusts & Bread Crusts: Overlooked Cucumbers & Missed Opportunities

July 28, 2022
JC Parets

From the desk of Willie Delwiche.

It's not the first thing I do in the morning (a cup of coffee and some devotional time take precedence) but early each day, I am out in the garden. Hose in hand, I water what needs to be watered. I'm also observing – noticing weeds, identifying what needs to be propped up or redirected, and making a mental note of what is ripe and ready to be picked.

Right now, it's cucumbers – a lot of them. I'm giving them away as fast as I can. But I still had to pickle a bunch this past weekend (Capital Preservation in investing parlance). They are almost hydra-like this time of year. Eat one and there are three more ready to be picked.

[PLUS] Weekly Sentiment Report

July 27, 2022
JC Parets

From the desk of Willie Delwiche.

Key Takeaway: In recent weeks, the bulls have made their presence known after hiding in the shadows for most of the year. But as they inch their way forward, they will need assurance from the market that they’re moving in the right direction. So far, any signs of positive feedback have been lacking. New lows remain greater than new highs (for 35 weeks and counting). And there is an absence of strength among global markets, although they have stopped going down. The market needs to turn it up in regards to price and participation if the bulls are to prove more than a bunch of wallflowers.

Sentiment Report Chart of the Week: How Do We Keep The Bulls On Dance Floor?

[PLUS] Weekly Market Perspectives - Risk Indicators Remain On Defense

July 26, 2022
JC Parets

From the desk of Willie Delwiche.

It’s been over a month since the S&P 500 made a new year-to-date low and market volatility has cooled somewhat. After averaging a 1% move (in either direction) every other day in the first half of the year, the S&P 500 has only had 5 such moves so far in July (16 trading days). The last one was over a week ago.

A couple 9-to-1 up volume days on the NYSE and an uptick in bulls on the sentiment surveys is providing some hope that the bear market environment may be fading. Our Risk Indicators (as well as the continued presence of more stocks making new lows than new highs) argue that it is premature to jump to that conclusion. 

[PLUS] Weekly Top 10 Report

July 25, 2022
Ian Culley

From the desk of Steve Strazza @Sstrazza

Our Top 10 Charts Report was just published.

In this weekly note, we highlight 10 of the most important charts or themes we're currently seeing in asset classes around the world.

Materials Hook Higher

Procyclical areas of the stock market are bouncing back after the recent bout of selling pressure. The Equal-Weight Materials ETF RTM is a prime example as it reclaims a critical level of former support. Now that these raw material and commodity-related stocks are back within their prior ranges, we're watching commodities closely to see if they follow suit. As long as RTM is holding above its shelf of former lows from last year, our equal-weight commodity index is most likely finding support at its respective level. On the flip side, the search for a floor in commodities is likely to continue if the recent rebound in materials is only a dead cat bounce. Ultimately, these two charts should resolve in the same direction.

[PLUS] Weekly Market Notes

July 25, 2022
JC Parets
From the desk of Willie Delwiche.

Key Takeaway:

  • Fed in spotlight as Powell & Co move rates to last cycle’s peak.
  • A dovish pivot when financial stress has never been lower seems unlikely.
  • Persistent bear market leaves bulls needing to prove their case.

While high relative to the previous decade, the Fed could in 2019 at least make the argument that inflation and wage growth were low from a historical perspective. Additionally there was evidence that financial stresses were starting to build. Now, the wage and price pressures that were still incubating in 2019 have erupted to their highest levels in decades while at the same time the financial stress has never been lower (according to the St. Louis Fed’s index).

[PLUS] Weekly Momentum Report & Takeaways

July 25, 2022
Ian Culley

From the desk of Steve Strazza @Sstrazza

Check out this week's Momentum Report, our weekly summation of all the major indexes at a Macro, International, Sector, and Industry Group level.

By analyzing the short-term data in these reports, we get a more tactical view of the current state of markets. This information then helps us put near-term developments into the big picture context and provides insights regarding the structural trends at play.

Let's jump right into it with some of the major takeaways from this week's report:

* ASC Plus Members can access the Momentum Report by clicking the link at the bottom of this post.

Macro Universe:

[PLUS] Weekly Observations & One Chart for the Weekend

July 22, 2022
JC Parets

From the desk of Willie Delwiche.

Stocks have rallied off of their mid-June lows, but it goes without saying that 2022 has still been a year marked by volatility and an absence of strength. In fact it has been historic (or nearly so) on both accounts. In terms of volatility, only two years (2008 and 2002) finished with a higher percentage of days on which the S&P 500 closed up or down by 1% or more than we have seen so far in 2022 (just shy of 50%). No year has come close to as low a percentage of days with more new highs than new lows. So far we have had seven in 2022: two in January, three in March and one each in April and May. That is just 5% of the trading days so far this year. The next closest year was 2008, which had new highs > new lows on just 13% of the days. At the opposite extreme is 2017, regarded by many as one of the best years in stock market history. That year, 90% of the days saw more stocks making new highs than new lows, only 3% of the days had the S&P 500 moving by more than 1%, and the S&P 500 booked a nearly 20% gain.

Breadth Thrusts & Bread Crusts: The World Is An Uncertain Place

July 21, 2022
JC Parets

From the desk of Willie Delwiche.

The world is an uncertain place. 

But that doesn’t make it altogether random. Trends persist – right up until the point that they don’t. If we’re going to move beyond irrefutable narratives and successfully navigate reality, we need to develop feedback mechanisms that can keep us on the right path (and get us back on the path when we stumble into the weeds). 

Operating in the world as it is and not as we would like it to be requires an ability to test viewpoints, an awareness that sometimes the ground shifts beneath our feet and a willingness to consider scenarios from both directions.