30
Mar
2015

Sector Detector: Defensive sectors lead hesitant market, but traders honor long-standing bullish support

Last week, the major indexes fell back below round-number thresholds that had taken a lot of effort to eclipse. There has been an ongoing ebb-and-flow of capital between risk-on and risk-off, including high sector correlations, which is far from ideal. But at the end of it all, the S&P 500 found itself right back on top of long-standing support and poised for a bounce, and Monday’s action proved yet again that bulls are determined to defend their long-standing uptrend line.

Author: smartindale / Tag: ETF, sectors, iShares, volatility, S&P 500, SectorCast, safe haven, technology, healthcare, Financial, consumer discretionary, SPY, VIX, IYF, iyw, IYJ, IYZ, IYC, IYK, IYH, IDU, IYM, IYE, FTEC, FHLC, FNCL, FSTA, FIDU, FDIS, FONE, QABA, FBT, AVGO, SWKS, WAL, OZRK, BMRN, MDVN, NXPI, FSL, TSO, VRX, SLCA, SNDK / 0 Comments
23
Mar
2015

Sector Detector: Bulls retake the wheel, with a little help from their friends at the Fed

Well, it didn’t take long for the bulls to jump on their buying opportunity, with a little help from the bulls’ friend in the Fed. In fact, despite huge daily swings in the market averages driven by daily news regarding timing of interest rate hikes, the strength in the dollar, and oil prices, trading actually has been quite rational, honoring technical formations and support levels and dutifully selling overbought conditions and buying when oversold. Yes, the tried and true investing clichés continue to work -- “Don’t fight the Fed,” and “The trend is your friend.”

Author: smartindale / Tag: ETF, sectors, iShares, volatility, S&P 500, SectorCast, safe haven, technology, healthcare, Financial, consumer discretionary, Industrial, SPY, VIX, IYF, iyw, IYJ, IYZ, IYC, IYK, IYH, IDU, IYM, IYE, FTEC, FHLC, FNCL, FSTA, FIDU, FDIS, IYG, IGN, XTN, ICE, AMG, PANW, INFN, UHAL, AAL / 0 Comments
09
Mar
2015

Sector Detector: Investors find a reason to sell, teeing up a new buying opportunity

When I’m in my sales role, I view every prospective client as falling into one of two broad baskets: those looking for a reason to say yes, and those looking for a reason to say no. I always try to focus on the former and spend little time on the latter. Likewise, last week’s market was dominated by those looking for a reason to sell. And so they did. Good news in the jobs and unemployment reports spooked investors on Friday, and stocks fell hard. So, for the moment we are back to a Fed-driven good-news-is-bad-news story line, or so it would seem.

Author: smartindale / Tag: ETF, sectors, iShares, volatility, S&P 500, SectorCast, safe haven, technology, healthcare, Financial, utilities, Industrial, SPY, VIX, IYF, iyw, IYJ, IYZ, IYC, IYK, IYH, IDU, IYM, IYE, FTEC, FHLC, FNCL, FSTA, FIDU, FUTY, IAT, PSI, XTN, BBT, FMER, CRUS, SWKS, LSTR, CAR, XOM, AAPL / 0 Comments
02
Mar
2015

Sector Detector: Stocks break out again but may be running on fumes

Despite low trading volume, a strong dollar, mixed economic and earnings reports, paralyzing weather conditions throughout much of the U.S., and ominous global news events, stocks continue to march ever higher. The world remains on edge about potential Black Swan events from the likes of Russia, Greece, or ISIS (or lone wolf extremists). Moreover, the economic recovery of the U.S. may be feeling the pull of the proverbial ball-and-chain from the rest of the world’s economies. Nevertheless, awash in investable cash, global investors see few choices better than U.S. equities.

Author: smartindale / Tag: ETF, sectors, iShares, volatility, S&P 500, SectorCast, safe haven, technology, healthcare, Financial, utilities, Industrial, consumer staples, SPY, VIX, IYF, iyw, IYJ, IYZ, IYC, IYK, IYH, IDU, IYM, IYE, FTEC, FHLC, FNCL, FSTA, FIDU, FUTY, IGN, IYG, IYT, COMM, BRCD, ICE, AMG, UNP, JBLU, VRX, SLXP, NXPI, FSL / 0 Comments