MARKET COMMENT

Courtesy of Dave Fry, October 9, 2009

SACRED COW VIII STRIKES BACK

Okay, we’re never moving anywhere again? Well, never say never must be operative I suppose. So the movers are gone and the world’s most traveled and theoretically expensive household goods are here. So, sitting amid a sea of boxes I’ll be cutting this commentary short today. I mean, there’s some work to do. Let’s just look at the highlights from a few selective markets.

Last week we were honored with wonderful emails telling us how bright we were in getting out of many positions. This week, not a peep! That goes to ETF Digest Sacred Cow VIII (again): “At any given time, the market can make anyone look like an idiot—always.” And that’s the way of it this week.

Bulls would have nothing to do with selling and volume was extraordinarily light. Perhaps this was due to Monday’s non-holiday holiday. (Are there more bureaucrats and bankers trading nowadays? There seems to be more of the former in numbers anyway.) Breadth was positive.

Reall all here. >>

Dave’s Daily MARKET COMMENT

September 17, 2009

Mirrors on the ceiling, pink champagne on ice
And she said, ‘We are all just prisoners here of our own device’
And in the master’s chambers they gathered for the feast
They stab it with their steely knives but they just can’t kill the beast.

Hotel California Part 2
The Eagles
 

The targeted beast is the bull obviously but today he got a little nick for show. I wondered yesterday after Oracle reported negative results how that might impact performance today given other economic data being released. You can only conclude that “better than expected” Jobless Claims, Housing Starts and the Philly Fed Survey allowed investors to brush aside negative news from not only ORCL, but FDX and EK to name a few.

We’re starting the quad-witching this afternoon and this finishes up tomorrow. It should boost volume and it has in the past few days anyway. Tomorrow volume should get an even bigger jolt higher.

Today’s volume was greater than yesterday’s but not by much and breadth was negative but not overwhelmingly so.

Read the full Dave’s Daily Market Comment here.>>

MARKET COMMENT

Dave Fry’s ETF Digest, August 12, 2009

What did I miss from yesterday? Down a hundred, up a hundred—that’s about it.

Were there really any surprises from the Fed today? Okay, they’re going to stop buying bonds and I could say “me too!” But, that said, this was an inevitable event. So, bears would argue we’re just trolling along the bottom economically and while earnings and economic data have been uniformly “better than expected” much lowered estimates. Looking ahead things aren’t great since there really aren’t any new jobs, aside from government, being created.

Bulls need some new stimulus themselves to take the rally to another level. I don’t see this yet.

Volume was good today but as you can see by the 5 minute chart in SPY routinely posted below most of it came a little before and then after the Fed announcement. The action was two-way in nature although breadth was positive but not a 90/10 day by any means. 

Entire Market Comment here.

MARKET COMMENT

Dave Fry’s ETF Digest, August 5, 2009

Today’s disappointing employment report from ADP was the dose of cold water an overbought market needed to sell-off. But then the cavalry came to the rescue at just the right moment with GS’s call upgrading economic growth estimates. The effect was a ragged rally reducing more selling. There’s a concerted effort in officialdom and with their Wall Street brethren to lift markets and they’ll use whatever new rules and tools are needed to get things going. Making you feel good makes them money and reelects incumbents. With regard to the former is the eyebrow raising Bloomberg story how GS is making $100M per day trading. Yep, they’re trading free money from you and me with their High Frequency Trading systems (HAL 9000s).

If you don’t think companies aren’t front-running their recommendations you’re living in dreamland. But we’re just pawns in the game. You either play with them or leave the casino. 

Read all of Dave’s Market Comment here >>
 

MARKET COMMENT

Courtesy of Dave Fry’s ETF Digest on August 3, 2009

For more, click here >>.

Let’s see, should you subvert your emotions and logic by staying systematic and disciplined? Well, that’s not me standing on the tracks. I’m just sayin’

So, the "green shoots" and "better than expected" theme is winning out. That’s it, so stay off the tracks.

Now volume remains light and others, including this write-up from TheStreet.com has a different take on volume advising not to worry about it. I remain open to other views but for now this light volume is downright scary. No question about it today breadth was positive. 

To continue reading, click here >>.

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Dave’s Daily
MARKET COMMENT

Courtesy of Dave Fry, July 21, 2009

Click here for Dave’s full market update

We’re all seeing the ongoing “better than expected” earnings news. One headline screamed, “Stocks rise on solid earnings reports.” Solid? CAT’s earnings were 66% lower than previously which qualified as a “beat”, but solid? That’s pretty generous don’t you think? It really doesn’t matter since bulls have seized the tape and bears appear washed-out…

There are many smart people who naysay this rally. They may be proven correct at some point but for now the action belongs to the bulls…

Dave’s Daily Market Comment,

Courtesy of Dave Fry, July 20, 2009

You can’t argue with new highs. The only thing missing in this rally is you since volume is incredibly light. Therefore, the only conclusion is computers are trading against one another. Friday’s volume was as low as a typical half day of trading during the Christmas holiday break. But this is the way things are now and we must accept it and deal with it. Stocks rose today on continued momentum from the usual “better than expected” theme and CIT being taken care of by its own creditors supposedly. It does make one wonder at the arbitrary and random nature of bailouts giving rise to conflict of interest accusations…. 

The volume is light but those still involved have things nicely under control. The HAL 9000s aren’t as idle as individual investors in my opinion. For an inside look at how these machines run markets please review these links that support Da Boyz in their enterprise here, here and perhaps here as well. These are eye-openers for sure…

For the full Dave’s Daily Market Comment, go here.

Courtesy of Dave Fry’s ETF Digest, July 16, 2009 

Mega Bear Noriel Roubini tosses in the towel saying the recession will end this year according to the Perma Bulls at CNBC. Not so fast says Roubini:

“It has been widely reported today that I have stated that the recession will be over “this year” and that I have “improved” my economic outlook. Despite those reports - however – my views expressed today are no different than the views I have expressed previously. If anything my views were taken out of context.”

…If you’ve read this blog and others (particularly Tyler Durden’s, Zero Hedge Blog) you’re aware of the embarrassing news that a Goldman Sachs employee stole their HAL 9000 high frequency trading program. Why should we care? Because the combination of these trading programs and government liquidity injections are how these companies report huge trading profits.

But what’s important is the effect of these trading systems on market behavior and action. This well-written in post by Joe Saluzzi also in Zero Hedge explains the situation. The most important aspect of it to me is the negative effect these programs have on basic trend-following systems no matter their individuality. Technically based systems need to be modified to deal with these new phenomena. One way is to join them day-trading and the other is to lengthen your views to allow for greater volatility period. 

To see all Dave’s market comment, go here >>