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.

Commodities Keep Cruising

Despite copper remaining range-bound and the CRB index stuck below its October highs from last year, our equal-weight commodity index hit fresh 8-year highs last week. This speaks to broad participation and strength among commodities, and is supportive of our view that a new commodity supercycle is upon us. This index making new highs is also excellent confirmation of the breakouts in the US 10-year yield, and energy and financial stocks. We think these areas of the market will continue to do well. Though we’re definitely not out of the woods, we are beginning to see signs that the market is finding its way. Our equal-weight commodity index at its highest level in eight years is definitely one for the bulls. After a prolonged period of consolidation in 2021, we think commodities are ready to make a fresh leg higher.

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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.

Continuation Patterns And Primary Uptrends

As we enter the new year, let’s take a step back and discuss where we’ve come from. The following chart is an excellent illustration of the price action for risk assets in 2021. As you can see, both stocks and commodities went through a corrective phase for much of the year and remain stuck in their ranges as we head into 2022. Markets can't go sideways forever, so we expect resolutions sooner rather than later. And because the vast majority of these consolidations are simply continuation patterns within the context of primary uptrends, we’re expecting upside resolutions. The question simply remains “when?”

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.

A “Santa Claus Rally” For Stocks

The last 5 trading days of the year and the first two of the new year represent a historically strong period for the market. This seasonal trend is referred to as the “Santa Claus Rally” and occurs during one of the best 7-day periods based on data all the way back to 1950. The market is off to a good start as today is the first day of this period and the S&P is already back to all-time highs for the first time since November. The main support level we have been watching in recent weeks is those September highs around 4,500. Buyers dug in and successfully defended this zone twice this month, and now they are trying to make a sustained breakout back to fresh record highs. If we hold above the November and December highs ~4,700 we’re likely to see a fresh leg higher for the broader market, and particularly US large caps.

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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.

Are The Worst Stocks Bottoming?

One thing we’re looking for to signal that the selling pressure has passed is the weakest areas carving out bottoms. In recent sessions, we’ve actually seen resilience and some relative strength from US growth stocks. Many of 2020s top-performers have endured significant losses already this year, and the ARK Innovation ETF is a great barometer for what’s taken place. When we look at a weekly chart, there is a hammer candle slightly beneath the May lows. If we see some upside follow-through, this could result in a failed downside move and fast move in the opposite direction. We’re also seeing signs of selling pressure waning on the daily chart as buyers continue to step in during the intraday session and send prices higher. This is illustrated by a handful of long lower wicks at the recent lows, which is evidence of strong demand at current levels. We think things are setting up for...

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.

Struggling With Supply

When we zoom out and look at structural trends there are bases everywhere. This is true for all risk assets, not just stocks, and we’re seeing it on multiple timeframes. Some international indexes are consolidating beneath their dot-com bubble highs from over 20-years ago. Many others, like Emerging Markets and the MSCI World Ex-US index, are currently churning beneath their 2007 highs. Then there is crude oil and small-cap financials (shown in the chart), which are just some among the long list of charts that are still consolidating beneath their 2018 highs. This is a critical level because it is when risk peaked around the globe during the last cycle. Last but not least, there are a lot of stocks and commodities that are currently digesting last year's gains beneath their 2021 highs. The point is that risk assets are still dealing with a lot of overhead resistance, and this is true across...

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.

Stocks Test September Highs

The Dow Jones Industrial Average and the Dow Jones Transportation Average are both struggling at key Fibonacci extension levels from their 2018 drawdowns. Mid-caps and bank stocks are trapped back beneath key levels of overhead supply at their first-half highs. And the small-cap Russell 2000 is trading back toward the lower bounds of its year-to-date range. The majority of stocks are simply consolidating in holding patterns right now.

When we zoom in on the S&P 500, as we’ve done in the chart below, the importance of the September highs is hard to ignore. In November, price rallied to the first extension level from its fall drawdown. In the few weeks since, the index has retreated straight back to its prior peak near 4,540. For now, buyers are digging in and defending these pivot highs. Bulls need this level to hold if stocks are going to stop the bleeding and carve out a...

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.

Messy For Longer

Many of the strongest areas for global equity markets are failing to hold their breakouts, or simply reversing at logical levels of overhead supply. The Global Dow is a pretty well-rounded representation of the world stock market. As you can see in the chart, buyers couldn’t get it done for the third time this year. Sellers are back in control for now, and with prices back in their former range, there is no directional edge over the near term. Our bias is neutral, and we’re expecting further sideways action. If and when prices reclaim those year-to-date highs, we want to be long. This is simply the case for most stocks right now.

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.

Mixed Action From Major Averages

The biggest theme from this week was failed breakouts. We saw a lot of major averages and sector indexes in the US violate their former highs and fall back into their prior ranges. The weakness was felt mostly by cyclicals. Large-cap indexes such as the Nasdaq and S&P 500 were largely unaffected and are still at highs. But on balance, the bears scored some points this week by pushing prices back below key levels. The chart below is an excellent depiction of the current state of markets. Some stocks, such as mid-caps, are still above their year-to-date highs and their breakouts are intact. Meanwhile, other stocks and indexes -- like the Small-Cap Russell 2000 (upper pane), just printed failed breakouts and are now trapped beneath significant former resistance.

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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.

The Bond Market Has the Answers

Another potential bearish development that is on our radar right now is continued pressure on the long end of the yield curve. While the short end has held up much better, we’ve seen long-duration rates crumble back toward their summer lows over the last month or so. While treasury spreads have contracted and the curve has flattened a bit since the summer, we don’t find these developments too concerning considering where yields have come from since last summer. It’s only normal for the short-end to play catch up a bit in a rising rate environment. Although, what bulls definitely do not want to see, is yields break down to new lows on an absolute basis. Since the long end is moving the fastest, the weakness will show up there first. As such, we’re watching the 30-Year US Yield very closely as it retests its key summer lows. It appears to have found support there for now....

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.

Breadth Confirms New Highs

Last week we covered the modest breadth expansion in US indexes. The picture was still somewhat mixed as most AD lines had not made decisive breakouts. That all changed this week. Not only did most large-cap AD lines in the US make new highs, but small and mid-cap AD lines also resolved higher. Here’s a look at the advance-decline lines for both developed and emerging markets, which are pressing up against new highs as well. This is the kind of broad confirmation from internals that bulls want to see.

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.

Stocks Still Flirting With Former Highs

Large-caps continue to be leaders as the S&P 500 and Russell 1000 made decisive upside resolutions this past week. Mid-caps aren’t far behind with the S&P 400 pressing back above its year-to-date highs. However, small-caps are still trading in a range and have yet to make new highs. The bet we’re making is that all of these eventually resolve in the same direction. With mid and large-caps leading the way and holding firm above their breakout levels, we think it’s only a matter of time until small-caps follow.

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.

Looking For Confirmation

Many markets and major indexes have pressed back to their year-to-date highs in recent weeks. How price reacts at these natural levels of overhead supply will be the next key piece of information we have. We’ve already seen a handful of leadership groups like Financials and Energy reclaim these resistance zones. Meanwhile, many major indexes like the S&P rallied back to their highs last week and paused. One thing worth noting is that momentum has been waning and making lower highs despite the higher highs from price since April. An overbought RSI-14 reading would go a long way in confirming new highs at the index level.