The Fred Report - Weekly October 18, 2010

 | 
author/source: Fred Meissner, CMT

Previous    Next

The FRED Report - Financial Research, Education & Data

Volume 2, Issue 83
Trading Week Starting October 18, 2010

Download PDF Version here

Summary of Market View

The Stock market continues to trade well, but is overbought enough for a sharp correction to occur at any time. The mid-term election could provide a catalyst.

Bonds have started to fall, and we continue to look for higher rates this fall. 

The dollar still looks like a countertrend rally, and gold could have a countertrend decline in sympathy.

weekly_101810


Stock Review

The stock market rallied again last week, challenging the 120 area on the SPY (SPDR S&P 500 Trust), the April highs. Perhaps more important, the IYT (iShares Dow Jones Transportation Index) has moved very close to the April highs and had a stronger week than the SPY. One of our favorite sectors has been Technology and we note that this sector, as well as the NASDAQ 100 and the QQQQ (Powershares QQQ) had an extremely strong week, with the QQQQ making new highs for the move. At the same time Financials and banks were quite weak. 

While we remain quite bullish intermediate–term, we are seeing some overbought readings that suggest a pullback in stocks may be needed to set up another leg up. It is possible that the election might cause this, assuming gridlock is now being discounted, as we have discussed on our weekly Thursday conference calls. We note that in 1994, the last time the Republicans regained the House of Representatives, the S&P 500 stood at 473.77 on October 28. By December 9 the index had fallen to 446.97, a drop of just over 5%. Perhaps more important to our readers – the S&P 500 was 617.48 on December 8, 1995, a gain of just over 38%.

Subscribers should use the next two weeks to comb through portfolios, look for underperforming stocks, and consider selling these to raise cash. Some financials are hitting new 52-week lows, for example. We would then hold that cash and hope to redeploy cash on a sharp drop after the election. Understand we are not recommending wholesale liquidation, but rather judicious pruning and waiting to deploy new money until after the election. Other than this we feel subscribers should be invested. The overall market looks strong enough that a significant drop after the election is by no means assured.

weekly_101810 weekly_101810


Fixed Income Review

The bond market has finally started to go down here. More important, my accumulation model has broken down through the first level of support and is within striking distance of the last bit of support. If this last area breaks, bonds should test the 94 area we have been forecasting. The FPO (Fred’s Price Oscillator) on the TLT (Barclays 20 Year Treasury Bond iShare) has moved down to -12, not an extreme reading, so there is more left on the downside, a short-term bounce notwithstanding. Should there be such a bounce, key resistance numbers are 103.20, and 104.40 on the TLT.

We continue to prefer the LQD (Investment Grade Corporate Bond iShare) and the BWX (SPDR Lehman International Bond Index ETF) on this decline in bonds, and should this decline continue. The patterns are better and there has been less of a run up in these areas. However, it is important to note that we remain longer-term bond bears and commodity bulls.

weekly_101810 weekly_101810


Commodity Review

The GLD (SPDR Gold Trust) has moved above our trading objective of 130 and we have sold down to a normal weighting in the metal. We still look to be at risk of a decline short-term, and a move below 132 would target 128 or so. We would use a drop as a buying opportunity and we still think a dip is possible into the late fall. We are not actively pursuing that scenario, as gold remains a favorite long-term investment for us and often a trading objective vs. a long-term objective can be sort of a “forest for the trees” scenario. We remain longer-term commodity bulls, as mentioned above.

The DBC (Powershares DB Commodity Tracking ETF) is currently right around our objective of 25.00 and is starting to show some signs of fatigue. In addition, oil has failed so far at the 37.00 area on the USO ((United States Oil Fund) and could have a seasonal decline into late fall (we caution that seasonals have NOT worked well this year, however). Natural Gas, once again, is close to making new lows, also a concern.

Last but not least, Agricultural commodities such as wheat should likely be sold or hedged here (we had some questions in this area). The JJG (iPath Dow Jones – UBS Grains Total Return Sub Index ETN) is in the vicinity of intermediate resistance, and even if it goes through probably has at most another two weeks before it becomes overbought. Overall, caution, and possible switching to MOO (Market Vectors Agribusiness ETF) from JJG is likely warranted.

weekly_101810 weekly_101810


International Review

In last week’s Weekly and Midweek Reports, we noted that the dollar looked ready to rally. While we had a down close for the week, the set up is still present, and Friday was an outside day up in the dollar. We note that a move up to 77.95 (realistically 78) would change the trend of the DXY to neutral from down. That would be a signal that the dollar is starting a rally that could take it to 81.00. This is not a great short sale signal on the Euro, though we note that the currencies trend more strongly than any market we follow and even my special FPOs (Fred’s Price Oscillators) on the currencies can go to extremes because of this. But be alert, a rally in the dollar could bring about sharp drops in gold and such that we are looking for.

On last Thursday’s weekly conference call, we had questions on the EWM (iShares MSCI Malaysia Index Fund) and EWS (iShares MSCI Singapore Index Fund).  These markets remain strong but also look like corrective behavior could be exhibited. Should the dollar rally, the FXY should pull back and this could spark a rally in the JOF.  We continue to look for the 9.50 area.

weekly_101810 weekly_101810


Weekly Chart of Interest

We show selected weekly charts of foreign market ETFs that are top performers but risky. These are PIN (PowerShares India), TUR (iShares MSCI Turkey), EWZ (iShares MSCI Brazil), and HAO (Claymore China Small Cap). While these are a bit riskier as investments, at least at these levels, they have been strong performers and may be attractive for traders.

weekly_101810 weekly_101810

weekly_101810 weekly_101810










DISCLAIMER: 
Fred Meissner is primarily responsible for the research in this report and certifies that: (1) all of the views expressed in this research accurately reflect his personal views about any and all of the subject securities or issuers; and (2) no part of his compensation was, is, or will be directly or indirectly related to the specific recommendations or view expressed him in this research.
 
This report is for your information only and is not an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, the securities or instruments named or described in this report.  Interested parties are advised to contact the entity with which they deal, or the entity that provided this report to them, if they desire further information.  The information in this report has been obtained or derived from sources believed by Fredco Holdings, Inc. to be reliable, but Fredco Holdings, Inc. does not represent that this information is accurate or complete.  Any opinions or estimates contained in this report represent the judgment of Fredco Holdings, Inc.  at this time and are subject to change without notice.  Fredco Holdings, Inc.  or its employees, officers, directors, principals, agents, affiliates or adviser may from time to time provide advice with respect to, acquire, short sell, hold or sell a position in, the securities or instruments named or described in this report.
 
Fredco Holdings, Inc. does not have investment banking relationships with any of the companies mentioned in this report and does not conduct investment banking business, in general.  Fredco Holdings, Inc.  and its employees do not receive compensation of any kind from any of the companies in this report.  Fredco Holdings, Inc. , its directors,  officers, principals, agents, advisers, affiliates and employees may maintain a financial position in the securities mentioned in this report, provided however that no buying or selling  activity will be taken with respect to a security referenced in a report by such parties within three days of such report’s publication.
 
The information contained herein was prepared by Fredco Holdings, Inc., which is solely responsible for the contents of this report.
 
Copyright 2010-2024 Fredco Holdings, Inc..  All rights reserved. This report is a publication of Fredco Holdings, Inc.  located at 4514 Chamblee-Dunwoody Rd, Suite 112, Dunwoody, GA 30338.