| Note:
Not all stock links will work as some of the aforementioned stocks
are removed from my public list.
June 30th: The Fed disappointed
investors with its 'measured'
intentions. Markets sold off in late afternoon trading, reversing
much (if not all) of the work the bulls had managed earlier during
the week. This was most apparent in the secondary indicators with
both the $NASI and $NAA50 turning
negative (again) as bearish pressures from the MACD histogram and
CCI of the $BPCOMPQ increased.
The bear trap in the Dow was
blown away as the index again ducked below its former trendline
leaving it some 20 points away from support of the bullish 'morning
star'. The leap in downside volume was another tick in the distribution
column, the fourth distribution day in eight days for this index.
The S&P also
clocked in a big loser, managing five distribution days over the
last eight days. It held support of a 38% fib retracement and a
bullish 'morning star' but this developing sideways consolidation
could break either way - although secondary indicators ($BPSPX and $SPXA50)
suggest this move will be down. The Russell
2000 didn't escape the selling as it ended the day with a bearish
engulfing pattern at overbought slow stochastics and on a growing
bearish divergence in the CCI. The tech averages were governed
by further weakness in the Sox as
the NASDAQ
100 threatened new near term lows following the failure of
the bullish zero line by the MACD trigger line and a broadening
of the sell off in on-balance-volume. Only the NASDAQ managed
any form of a stand. It maintained its early week bear trap (bullish),
but did so at the expense of a distribution day, the fourth in
six days. The intermediate term rally from May looks cooked. Stay
on the sidelines until a new reaction high and low are in place
and there is a solid uptick in the secondary indicators (which
by their whipsaw nature can be considered 'neutral' at best).
Breakout targets: none
Breakout failures: none
June 29th: Tuesday's gains
failed to build into a meaningful rally. The NASDAQ stalled
at the 20-day MA while the NASDAQ
100's MACD trigger line dipped below the bullish zero line.
The Sox confirmed
426 resistance - adding to tech misery. On the flip side, the
secondary indicator $NASI turned
bullish - sufficient to place all three secondary indicators
back on the bullish side of the court. The tech indices were
not the
only indices to struggle; the Dow managed
a weak test of the 200-day MA but it was not enough to bring
a higher close, instead the index closed below its 50-day MA.
The S&P,
like the NASDAQ,
struggled at its 20-day MA. Higher volume in the S&P, NASDAQ
100, and NASDAQ ranked
today as a distribution day and brought a return to the Big Money
selling from last week. Still looks to be a sellers rally, even
with the secondary indicators back in the green. Remain cautious
until we see a resumption of accumulation (i.e. Big Money buying).
The Fed will
provide the first point of reaction for such an event.
Breakout targets: ARMHY featured
for October 22nd and June
23rd hit it's stop after some heavy volume selling. Looks a
good sell here. FLML featured
for June 10th and as a
gold member pick for May 9th.
The MACD trigger line suggests consolidation so buy back on a break
of the 3-week resistance line.
Breakout failures: none
June 28th: We continued to
see a non-confirmation of yesterday's failed 'three
black crows', aided by short term oversold conditions. I
would remain cautious - the gains were good to see but there
wasn't the
upswing in buying to suggest the Big Money were joining the party.
At the moment it looks to be the kind of rally to sell into -
but all this would change if we saw a solid break of 2,100 in
the NASDAQ.
or 650 in the Russell
2000 as money would pour into these indices (both these indices
lead bull rallies, the Dow is
traditionally the last index to react given it holds most of
the 'safety' issues). The NASDAQ did
manage a bear trap - often a powerful counter play which has
been has been evident in earlier bull traps this year, and should
act
inversely, sending markets higher. Technicals remain firm with
on-balance-volume bouncing off its 20-day MA while the MACD trigger
line maps a bullish consolidaiton. Unlike the NASDAQ
100, the NASDAQ did
not reach its measured move target down. The NASDAQ
100 is slighlty more vulnerable as its supporting technicals
are closer to all turning red (with the MACD trigger line just
hovering above the bullish zero line). A weak Sox isn't
helping matters although the bounce off the lower BB band should
see a test of the 20-day MA at a minimum. The Dow made
a large one-day reversal on light volume - eating into most of
last Friday's losses and leaving behind a bullish 'morning
star' candlestick pattern. Tuesday's close did manage to
regain April/May support and the 50-day MA, but the 200- and
20-day MA
remain overhead as future supply. All three technical indicators
are on a 'sell' so I would be hesitant to buy this index at this
point in time. The S&P also
closed on a bullish morning star - although it too looks vulnerable
to further weakness with technicals on the verge to shifting
into the red. The bounce off the 62% fib retacement line is a
bonus
but with the 20-day SMA directly overhead it may struggle to
make further gains without an increase in buying volume. The
index which
may surprise is the Russell
2000. If this can break 645 and 650 supply levels it could
go on a tear. I would use the +DI/-DI line as your buy/sell trigger
(currently a 'buy' after surviving last weeks dip).
Of the secondary indicators. The $BPCOMPQ continued
to hold its own as the $NAA50 reversed
back in favor of the bulls. The $NASI is
close to doing likewise, but remains on a 'sell'.
Breakout targets: none
Breakout failures: none
June 27th: Mixed news as oil again
filled the headlines (for want of something different). The good
news was there was no confirmation of the 'three
black crows'. On other good news was the 50-day MA held as
support in the NASDAQ
100 with only the Dow below
this important moving average. On the flip side, the Sox lost
near term support which should filter to further weakness in
the tech indices. The measured moves in the tech markets were
reached
and this should be a stall in the decline. The Dow's
three technical indicators turned red and the $NASI joined
the $NAA50 in
consolidation mode. Only the $BPCOMPQ has
held its advance - although it ticked down Monday. The S&P secondary
indicators are all in the red which favors a move to the sidelines
if long and a switch to short positions if your time frame is
measured in days or less.
Breakout targets: none
Breakout failures: none
June 25th: A rocky last two
days for markets turned them on their head. Traders will now
be looking at potential bearish 'three
black crows' in each of the key markets. Should we see a
Monday which repeats last Friday's, or Thursday's action, we
will have
a confirmation signal for this bearish formation. This would
likely knock the secondary indicators into full scale bear mode,
but would
leave markets deeply oversold in the short term. A rally towards
Friday's opening levels would provide additional selling opportunities
in long positions. It would likely take a few weeks to reset
the markets and bring forward fresh breakout candidates, which
to date
have been few and far between (hence the reappearance of prior
breakout and gold member plays on the Breakout page). On the
plus side, sharp shocks like these will provide value buying
opportunities
as money rotates into new sectors. Last week's heavy selling
hasn't changed the long term picture of a sideways market since
January
2004. In such an environment one should be buying trips to support;
1,750 in the NASDAQ,
9,800 in the Dow,
1,400 in the NASDAQ
100, 580 in the Russell
2000, and 1,150 in the S&P,
and selling tests of resistance 1,225 in the S&P,
645 in the Russell
2000, 1,560 in the NASDAQ
100, 10,800 in the Dow,
and 2,200 in the NASDAQ.
Intermediate term traders should be buying and selling the markets
depending on crosses of the 5-day EMA of the secondary indicators
[$NAA50, $NASI and $BPCOMPQ].
Short term traders should trade in the direction of the secondary
indicator EMAs. Swing traders take advantage of low volatility
(tight Bollinger bands) - last week was a swing traders heaven.
Next week could see the unwinding of intermediate term long positions.
Long term traders are likely on the sidelines, holding, or waiting
for further weakness before buying. I have listed below are brief
summary of current Breakout plays which are showing signs of weakness.
Not all stocks had it bad - LM which
was a breakout feature for January
25th soared. However, if you own any of the following Breakout
stocks one should be looking to lighten up. ANF (strong
run), ADEX (potential
double top), KAR (broke
a 4-month consolidation to the downside and looks particularly
weak), AMHC (earlier
gap down and a weak market threaten further downside), ARB (bull
trap), ARTC (reversing
back to the pennant apex), GR (a
drop below $39.67 will see this acclerate down), BSTE (holding
on to support, but earlier losses dominate), CCCG (bearish
'tower' sequence following a gap down), CKR (stone
dropping Friday), FCN (back
to the lows of the breakout day - further lossess could bring price
collapse), HHS (bull
trap), HTCH (fast
approaching $36.69 support), IMAX (hanging
on - but break of $10.28 has failed), TRDO (never
liked black candlesticks, particular one which followed after a
gap down), KOMG (early
June gains on huge volume has now turned into future supply for
any rally), LNCR (struggling
- but holding support, just), OO (potential
double top - but has enjoyed a good run), OPTN (double
top - but it would take a loss of $12.45 to confirm), PPH (lurking
at $73.45 support), STMP (sell
side volume increasing matching downward velocity), TALX (rollover
from earlier gravestone doji), and TSA (bull
trap).
Gold member picks haven't escaped weakess. CA reversed
a break of $28.25 resistance with a heavy volume gap down. Last
week saw the gap closed, but watch for a break of $27.00 support. CCK is
forming a bearish descending triangle with support at $14.00. A
close below $14.00 would set a downside target of $11.00. CL three
test of $48 - can it survive a fourth. DF remains
dominated by the heavy volume (bearish) black candlestick of $42.10
highs. Not much support until $33. FLSH cut
below $21.50 support, $19.00 is next. GLB's
losses Friday were preceded by five days of long upper shadowed
candlesticks - a sign of supply. HUBG -
downward decline has sliced through the 200-day MA for a second
time. NSM's gravestone
doji is a sign of weakness, loss of $21.00 could see an accleration
to the downside. ORBK closed
Friday right on $20.68 support, $20.00 is next support with a downside
target of $18.00. POOL closed
below $34.00 support confirming a double top.
Breakout targets: none
Breakout failures: BJRI featured
for June 7th, it managed
to reach highs of $22.61 before it gapped down on a downgrade.
It closed for a 2% loss. CYCL was
shaken out intraday, but closed strong on heavy volume - for the
purpose of my analysis its stop price was hit, but this still looks
to be in good shape (use Friday's lows as a stop if getting back
in). The stock featured for May
3rd and June 16th. MCRS featured
as a breakout for May 2nd and
again for June 22nd left
behind a bull trap and looks a good counter short play.
Model portfolio: WEL added.
KSWS sold.
June 23rd: The last few days
of tension gave way in one whirlwind of action as the larger
cap Dow and S&P dived
lower. Swing traders would have had a field day as a string of
prior day lows were torn away - triggering stops and further
momentum selling. The tech indices emerged relatively unscathed,
although
both the [NASDAQ and NASDAQ
100] ended the day lower with the first of the three secondary
indicators, the $NAA50, moving
to a sell. When we have a 'sell' signal in all three of the tech
secondary indicators [$NAA50, $NASI and $BPCOMPQ]
it will be time to move to the sidelines (or go short). But no
harm tightening the stops or taking profits. Large one day losses
don't tend to signal major reversals - we are likely to see a
test of last weeks highs before we can say a top is in place
- but some
sideways action, or a move back to the 50- and/or 200-day moving
averages cannot be ruled out here. With the MACD trigger line
of all the market indices over the bullish zero line we can infer
today's weakness has more in common with a bullish consolidation
than a major reversal.
Breakout targets: none
Breakout failures: CHAR undercut
my suggested stop as a long play featured on June
21st. Still looks to be shaping a consolidation with demand
at $2.50. Technicals remain favorable.
June 22nd: Message for Patrick
Metcalf - check your junk mail folder for my emails. Markets
continue to tighten with some very narrow trading. Volume has remained
below
average for the week - markets look to be waiting for something
which will spark the next move. The longer markets exist in this
state, the bigger the next move will be. Secondary indicators
continue to rise which favors the bulls for the next move.
Breakout targets: none
Breakout failures: none
Model portfolio: ARMHY added. ROL stopped
out.
June 21st: Message for Stephen
June - my emails to you are getting bounced, please can you send
me a valid email address. Thank you. Another quiet day for the
markets. The dojis in each of the market can be used as a swing
trade play, buying a 1% move above the day's highs, or selling
a 1% loss in the lows. Higher volume on little net change in
value ranks as a second day of churning (in three) - typically
bearish,
but secondary indicators remain bullish. Trader
mike points to a potential bullish cup-and-handle pattern
in the NASDAQ (a
similar pattern can be seen in the NASDAQ
100]. If this comes to fruition then we would look to buy
the NASDAQ at
2,109 and trade for a move to 2,300. Maybe Wednesday will see
a move out of the doldrums.
Breakout targets: none
Breakout failures: none
June 20th: Monday promised
much but delivered little. The low volume was surprising. The
tech indices [NASDAQ and NASDAQ
100] continue to experience a drop in volatility as Bollinger
bands tighten, this will have to change soon - this kind of environment
is good for an option straddle to take advantage of the big swing
when it comes. Secondary indicators (other than $NAA50)
improved once again so bulls remain in control which would suggest
a sharp upside run. Little to add other than this.
Breakout targets: none
Breakout failures: none
June 18th: A busy Friday saw
some heavy volume churn in the tech indices [NASDAQ and NASDAQ
100], and a potential breakout in the S&P.
There looks to be some rotation from tech into the Dow and S&P as
higher opens in the tech market were met with lower closes as
2,100 and 1,550 once again played as resistance in the NASDAQ and NASDAQ
100 respectively. Looking at the secondary indicators there
was strength in the $NASI and $NAA50,
but the $BPCOMPQ eased
off its recent advance supported by declining trend strength
as measured by the ADX line (the second indicator presented on
the
chart). Short term tech traders should be moving stops to breakeven
if you bought the bullish flag breaks. Intermediate and long
term holders should keep an eye on the 20-day MAs. With the secondary
indicators holding there is little reason to rush for the exits
en masse, but there are pockets of weakness which could intensify
if we see a lower close on Monday. The Dow had
its seventh day of advancement, closing over 10,600 resistance.
There is some room to maneuver to 10,900 resistance supported
by strong technicals - on-balance-volume and MACD tigger line
have
shaped up nicely. But the Dow's
lead will likely be dependent on what the S&P does
following Friday's breakout. If the latter index can build on
Friday's strength then it will be good for the Dow and
eventually the NASDAQ and NASDAQ
100 too. Unlike the S&P,
the Russell
2000 bounced off resistance of 648. The Russell
2000 was little affected by channel resistance as an earlier
gravestone doji reversed back in favor of the bulls - but Friday's
bearish inverse hammer should have more mettle given 648 has
greater strength as resistance. It would take a close below 642
to confirm
the bearish hammer. Should it do so it would be an interesting
short play to the lower BB band at 602.
Breakout targets: none
Breakout failures: none
Model portfolio: NWD and KSWS added.
June 15th: Breakouts of the
bullish flags in each of the tech indices [NASDAQ and NASDAQ
100] on higher volume handed the day to the bulls. The doji's
are a mixed bag. At overbought slow stochastics these doji's
are bearish - but given the break of resistance (i.e. the bull
flags)
and the continued strength of secondary indicators [$NAA50, $NASI and $BPCOMPQ]
the bearish implications are weakened. However, weakness is creeping
into the $NASI as
marked by a small bearish divergence developing in the CCI. Keep
an eye on this - the next crossover of the 3- and 5-day EMA of
this indicator will be an intermediate term sell signal and will
likely soon be followed by similar corssovers in the $NAA50 and $BPCOMPQ.
The Dow and S&P managed
to creep over resistance of their recent congestions with a 'buy'
signal in the MACD trigger line. On-balance-volume remains strong
in the Dow which
keeps things on the bull side of the court - in the S&P the
same indicator nicked a breakout, just. In summary, bulls in
control but secondary indicators are pointing to a weakening
uptrend.
Breakout targets: none
Breakout failures: DEPO featured
on June 6th cut below near
term support. Watch for a retest of $3.50.
June 14th: Little change at
the top - the key mover on the day was the break of resistance
in the Russell
2000. The last break of resistance in March resulted in a
bull trap and a 2-month decline but unless there is a close under
630
this breakout is valid. Interestingly, the semiconductor index
lost support which could be a bad omen for the tech indices which
remained inside their bullish flags.
Breakout targets: TALK featured
for April 20th and April
28th as a breakout play and reached its price target for a
36% and 18% return respectively. Current action still looks good
for a test of $12.00 (point-n-figure target of $17.00) - trail
your stops at this stage.
Breakout failures: BXG didn't
last a day with its new
tight stop - down 1.82% as a breakout, but up 20% as a gold
member pick.
June 13th: No big change in
the markets. Everyone continues to look to 2,100 in the NASDAQ but
the early birds might find better value buying the break of the
blue hashed line resistance I have marked on the chart. A similiar
resistance line (bullish flag) is found in the NASDAQ
100. Providing support to the tech markets is the semiconductor index
has gainfully held a support line going back to the start of
May. Further aiding the bulls are the secondary indicators [$NAA50, $NASI and $BPCOMPQ],
all of which are on 'buys' and continue to rise. The Dow and S&P remain
lacklustre, trapped in an ever lengthening congestion. But all
is not lost here as on-balance-volume broke resistance in the Dow -
a sign of accumulation. Also, it is typical for the tech indices
to lead the larger caps at the start of rallies and here is no
exception. The only index to remain wary about is the Russell
2000 which is up against resistance. Again, rallies are lead
by small caps and should this break channel resistance of 630
it could fly, along with the rest of the market (Tuesday will
be interesting
for this index, futures were
up slightly as of 4:30am ET). As a side note, my much suffering GIGM has
managed to vault into action on a profitable year and on continued
expansion into the online poker arena. It popped up on my breakout
scan although it looks a little rich to be buying here.
Breakout targets: SWN jumped
on drilling news,
continuing its yearly advance. The stock featured for May
3rd - next target is $50.
Breakout failures: none
June 10th: No significant
change in the markets following Friday's trading. Lower volume
continued the vein of consolidation. Secondary indicators remained
unaffected by the sideways trading. Monday is another day.
Breakout targets: none
Breakout failures: IUSA dated
back to October 18th having
managed gains of 28%, gapped down last week to end Friday below
its stop price. AEC goes
all the way back to July 13th.
A number of dividend payments dropped this one back to its stop.
It closed for a small profit.
Model portfolio: ADSK stop
hit.
June 9th: Heavy volume reversals
of yesterday losses. Short term buyers should wait for new highs/breaks
of overhead resistance before commiting. The NASDAQ nudged
just above short term support while the NASDAQ
100 touched, but remained below, its short term resistance.
The 'sell' in the $NAA50 was
reversed as the $BPCOMPQ,
and $NASI continued
their respective advances. Short term traders can start looking
at long positions once again, but with markets at important resistance
(the tech indices in particular) it may be prudent to wait for
new near term highs before rejoining the market.
Breakout targets: GEMS featured
on May 10th gained on heavy
volume testing resistance. The stock closed for a 50% gain. The
next projected target once we see a close over $3.72 is $6.50.
Breakout failures: ALXN also
featured on May 10th pulled
back below its stop price. Current action fits a consolidation
but further downside cannot be ruled out.
June 8th: The NASDAQ followed
the NASDAQ
100 in losing short term support. Secondary indicators started
to show evidence of weakness. The $NAA50 turned
a 'sell' signal just below an important resistance area. The
remaining two indicators, the $BPCOMPQ,
and $NASI, continued
to advance. Short term holders should be out of their positions.
Intermediate term holders may wish to lighten up on positions
which cut below their 20-day moving average. Long term holders
should
wait for all three secondary indicators to issue 'sell' signals
before taking profits. Other markets also experienced weakness.
The Russell
2000 confirmed yesterday's gravestone doji and further weakness
looks likely. I have marked in the fib retracements where support
should be watched for; 603-610 would appear to be a key area
with 3 important moving averages lurking. The Dow and S&P weakened
but not to the extent of marking a breakdown.
Breakout targets: CMTL featured
on March 10th reached its
target for a 40% gain. Today's black candlestick looks toppish.
Watch for further weakness.
Breakout failures: none
June 7th: Gains made during
the day were quickly overturned into the close. The NASDAQ ended
the day on a bearish inverse hammer (strengthened by overbought
slow stochastics). A similar candlestick appeared in the Dow and S&P,
while the NASDAQ
100 closed below its May support (a short term sell signal).
The Russell
2000 neatly corrected off resistance, ending the day on a
bearish gravestone doji. No index escaped the sellers wrath.
If you are
in for the short term, now is the time to sell. If your holding
picture is measured in months, then one can continue to hold.
The secondary indicators [$BPCOMPQ, $NASI,
and $NAA50]
continued their upward advance marking the current declines as
a short term correction within an intermediate rally.
Breakout targets: FRNT featured
on March 28th reached its
resistance price target for a 34% gain. A move to $13.50 will trigger
a double top breakout with a price target of $19.50.
Breakout failures: ANIK featured
on February 25th and again
on May 4th hit its stop as a weekly handle is still in the process
of forming.
June 6th: Friday's losses
were quietly stemmed on light volume. The 20-day moving averages
of each of the indices looks best bet for support. Indeed the Dow managed
such a test today and has merits on the long side. On the flip
side, its (the Dow) MACD trigger line is on the verge of a 'sell'
signal which may bring further consolidation (while the index
remains above the averages the 'sell' signal reflects a consolidation
-
not a breakdown). As ever, the secondary indicators give the
clearest picture. The $NASI had
another solid up day and while it continues to do so the tech
rally remains in play and long positions are favored. The $NASI is
an excellent indicator as it provides clear, crisp signals. If
you trade the QQQQs
it should be not be ignored. Further support for the tech indices
was provided by continued gains in the $BPCOMPQ and $NAA50.
Breakout targets: none
Breakout failures: none
Model portfolio: ALDA stopped out.
June 5th: Profit taking off
a lacklustre jobs
report - although support from the May rally has not been breached
(yet). The NASDAQ struggled
at 2,100, but Friday's selling volume came in lower than prior
volume, so no distribution here. The NASDAQ
100 took a harder hit as it ducked back below 1,550 although
the support band goes down to 1,540. Lighter volume again does
not suggest Big Money selling. The Dow closed
right on support of its recent 2-week trading range, although
there was a modest pick up in volume it remained below average
for the
index. The S&P has
limped upwards over recent days and Friday's selling simply dumped
this back into price congestion. Volume was also light in this
index. The clearest picture can be found in the secondary indicators.
The $NASI remained
firm as it added another 25 points. The $BPCOMPQ has
held its recent angled ascent and Friday's selling did little
to change that. The $NAA50 was
the only negative on the day - as it approached prior resistance
(the grey hashed line) with the +DI ADX line bouncing off resistance
- looks like a short term top is in place. Opportunities to buy
should avail of themselves as indices (and stocks) approach their
20-day moving averages.
Breakout targets: none
Breakout failures: none
June 2nd: More of the same
as markets continued their journey upwards. The tech indices
[NASDAQ and NASDAQ
100] are breaking their next resistance levels although the
controlling semiconductor index
is only beginning to run into resistance of its own - look to
the latter index for leads, a break over 450 would be very bullish
for the tech indices. No change in the other indices or the secondary
indicators.
Breakout targets: none
Breakout failures: none
June 1st: Markets continued
their upward march on improving technical strength. The NASDAQ looks
the most vulnerable to a pullback with it lurking just below
2,100, but the NASDAQ
100 has managed to push past 1,550 at Wednesday's close -
which could be a good omen for the broader NASDAQ.
Each of the tech indices showed new 6-month highs in on-balance-volume
indicating strong demand from buyers, but the lack of a test
of the 20-day moving average of price leaves these markets over-valued
in the short term. The Dow remained
within a 9-day trading range although the break of resistance
in the MACD trigger line suggests there is more upside to come
here.
Look for another test of March highs. The Russell
2000 is fast approaching former channel resistance - a test
of its 20-day moving average would remain an attractive buy (adding
on a break of channel resistance). The S&P sits
some 12 points from resistance, but a breakout in on-balance-volume
would set a good precedent for a similar break of 1,214 resistance.
The secondary indicators have remained firm. Slow stochastics
of $NASI and $BPCOMPQ continue
to rise as the same indicator in the $NAA50 remains
overbought. The $NASI has
breached a 6-month resistance line, another tick in the 'bull'
column. However, there is some concern with a (bearish) diverging
ADX line (a measure of trend strength) in the $BPCOMPQ.
If currently long, stay long - but run your stops close to ascending
lows. If looking to buy, wait for the test of the respective
20-day MAs.
A quick look at some of the breakout plays
has shown some mixed fortunes. ABRX had
received amassive beating on its product recall, gapping well below
protective stops, while stocks like ADEX, AFFX, GME,
and GLX continue
to perform strongly.
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