We're crashing! Just look at this chart:
See – over there at the right, on top, at the end – do you see it? We're totally crashing. It's all over and it's OBAMA's FAULT!
That's what I learned this weekend from the Financial Media. While it's true that we did fail to break out over the top of the uptrending channel we've been in since early 2009, I'm sure you can see that all the forecasts for doom and gloom are nothing more than noise.
Yes, we may drop back to 1,200 on the S&P because that's the range we are currently in but there won't really be any reason to worry unless we fall MORE THAN 20% – the trick is to simply be prepared for the possible drop and to be ready to do a little bottom-fishing while everyone else is losing their heads.
If, on the other hand, the S&P bounces off of 1,400 or even our Must Hold line at 1,360 – then we still have the possibility of breaking UP – out of that long-term channel and back over 1,500 – maybe even to 1,600.
As you can see from the chart on the left, Corporate Profits as a percentage of GDP are taking a dip this Q but HAVE SOME PERSPECTIVE PEOPLE – they have never been stronger – EVER – the only thing that is weak is confidence and that's no surprise given this incredibly depressing election season, where we're being offered a choice between sticking with the slow progress we're making or going back to the failed policies that destroyed the economy in the first place.
People look at this chart and think the dip that occurred in 2008 can happen again but that was a fairly unique situation, mainly of massive writedowns in real estate holdings and bank earnings that is very unlikely to happen again. Companies like AIG and FRE and FNM lost hundreds of Billions and that dragged down overall Corporate Profits but that doesn't make it "normal" and we have no reason to expect it to happen again. The current market panic that is saturating the US media is, so far, confined to the US – the rest of the World is doing just fine:
Does this really look like a Global Market we should be running away from? Yes, Q3 earnings WERE bad – we knew that, the Fed knew that – why do you think they rolled out QInfinity with $80Bn a month pumped into the system in October, November and December and another $40Bn through 2015 or longer if it isn't working by then. That's $480Bn for 3 years – quite a lot of money really so how likely is it that the Financials are going to tank the markets again? Their earnings are, so far, the bright spot of Q3 and that was BEFORE they got the promise of another $1.68Tn over the next 39 months.
Q3 earnings are likely to be a prime example of "what doesn't kill us makes us stronger" as we're seeing all of the ugliness of the Global market laid out in the P&L statements of our US Corporations. As we expected, the companies that do the most International business are taking the biggest hits while companies doing most of their business in the US are reporting generally uptrending earnings.
One third of the S&P has reported so far and another 160 report this week. So far, 18 of the 20 firms that have given guidance lowered Q4 guidance by an average of 5% and this week we'll hear from a few biggies like AAPL, T, PG, MRK, CMCSA, AMZN, COP, AMGN, OXY, MO, UTX, MMM, CAT, DD, and FCX.
Of the 117 firms in the S&P that have now reported 3Q results (34% of total cap), 37% of companies beat earnings estimates and 21% missed. In a typical quarter, 41% of companies exceed EPS expectations and 13% miss – so it's the misses that are bothering people. Don't forget we had set a fairly low bar for Q3 earnings too.
As you can see from our Big Chart, the close-up view of US equities is looking pretty ugly but we haven't bent down those 50 dma's quite yet and the 200 dmas are rising too so it's probably a bit early to throw in the towel but we did publish a set of Disaster Hedges this weekend – just in case those lines fail to hold up.
Our goals for the week are going to be simple, we'd like to see the Dow hold the 50 dma at 13,350, the S&P 1,433 is also right on its 50 dma, the Nasdaq must hold it's Must Hold line at 3,000 and if AAPL earnings don't get it back over 3,100 and it's own 50 dma – we're going to be a bit more bearish overall. The NYSE is still well over 8,217, which is the 50 dma and still well above it's must hold line at 8,200 and we won't be in technical Hell until our broad index fails us there. The Russell is very volatile but represents companies that do a larger percentage of their business in the US than the S&P or the Nasdaq so we REALLY need to see them back over the 50 dma at 830 and we REALLY don't want them to fail to hold their own Must Hold line at 800 – that cross, with the NYSE crossing 8,000 would officially mark the end of hope – all the way back to the 200 dmas.
Let's hope it doesn't come to that. Keep in mind the Nasdaq is down the most because AAPL is 20% of the index and has dropped 13.6% since September 24th, losing $90Bn in market cap in less than a month or essentially the entire value of AMZN. That has dragged the Nasdaq down 2.7% more than it should have been and, if we adjust the Nasdaq sans AAPL, we get back to 3,086 and, guess what – that's right on the 50 dma – just like all the other indices.
So it is a little early to throw in the towel but it's not too early to be prepared and that's what our Disaster Hedges are for. Shorter-term, the Dow has some support at 13,200 if it fails to hold 13,350 but then it's a quick ride back to 13,000 and the DIA November $135/131 bear put spread is just $1.90 and pays $4 if the Dow is below 13,100 on Nov 16th so it's a nice little hedge where you can take a small loss if they get back over 1,350, where your $135 put is still $1.50 in the money.
The last Presidential debate is this evening and then it's just 15 days to the election and then we have our Fiscal Cliff to worry about so we're not out of the woods yet – let's be careful out there.
SVU – anyone have thoughts on fair value for a buyout?
.aapl propping entire market..oil trades like another preelection swoon coming
yhoo jumping a whole 2% on earnings….great now we have to hear 24 hours of commentary about yahoo again…a company that doesnt matter..lmao
newt….to mitigate losses in case of a miss.
Nice stick into the close – I missed all the excitement for the day.
Good decision Jerconn – did you see those crazy moves after hours? Up and down $15-20 a bunch of times.
SVU/Bot – $3.50-4.
YHOO/Angel – I totally agree. Who could possibly care what YHOO does anymore?
3:00 PM On the hour: Dow -0.65%. 10-yr -0.23%. Euro +0.18% vs. dollar. Crude -1.92% to $88.7. Gold +0.16% to $1726.75.
Dow -0.03% to 13340. S&P +0.03% to 1434. Nasdaq +0.38% to 3017.
Treasurys: 30-year -0.52%. 10-yr -0.32%. 5-yr -0.15%.
Commodities: Crude -1.42% to $89.16. Gold +0.32% to $1729.55.
Currencies: Euro +0.27% vs. dollar. Yen +0.77%. Pound -0.02%.
After-hours top gainers, as of 5:15 p.m.: FXEN +8.9%;MTW +6.7%; NLSN +6.2%; WETF +5.9%; TPLM +5.7%.
After-hours top losers: ODP -6.6%; RCII -5.7%; VECO -5.5%; GHL-4.4%; OEH -4.2%.
Market recap: Stocks recovered nicely from steep earlier losses to end above breakeven, led by techs that have lagged the market for weeks. Apple jumped 4% on bullish analyst comments. The S&P held above key support at 1,420, which represents highs set in April. Crude oil slid 1.9% and nat gas plunged 4.6% on worries over weak energy use. NYSE advancers and decliners finished nearly even.
Hi Phil – I'm up about 22% on your 2015 CLF $25 puts(thank you by the way) and was wondering if I should take the money and run going into earnings release on Wednesday? Thank you very much!
Bullish About the Future
In his second "Executive Decision" segment, Jim Cramer spoke with Jack Hartung, CFO of Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG), a stock down over 200 points after the company reported two disappointing quarters in a row with single-digit same-store sales growth.
Hartung said Chipotle continues to see value in its stock price, which is why the company is opportunistically buying shares as part of a $100 million buyback program. He said the company has $22 million of that buyback remaining but has also just authorized a second $100 million as well.
Hartung said Chipotle couldn't be more bullish over its long-term future as it only has 1,350 restaurants so far, but the opportunity to build thousands more. Plus, Chipotle's Asian Kitchen concept is gearing up to open a second location in Washington, DC, and one in Los Angeles and the company is only beginning an expansion in Europe.
Hartung said Chipotle is still delivering pretty good results considering the U.S. economy. Most of the company's declines are from food price inflation and not from customers dining any less. Hartung noted that while some business lunches have been curtailed and others have cut back on drinks and sides, overall just as many customers are visiting as before.
When asked about competition from Taco Bell, Hartung noted that customers are smart enough to know the difference in their food. He said customers can see Chipotle's food being made fresh in their open kitchen, while that's not the case at Taco Bell.
Jim Cramer said that while Chipotle has clearly lost its momentum, at just 22 times earnings, the stock is once again representing a real value.
The pattern is intact – hit the 50 DMA with doji candle (looks like bullish dragonfly there) and hopefully bounce back. The difference this time is that we had a one day correction (a big one) rather than a multiple day one. NASDAQ saved by a big AAPL move today! The RUT is clearly not as bullish now.
Phil – What is your opinion of the debate?
Obama decimating Romney. This is the Obama I have been waiting for!
Best tweet so far: "You say PACK-a-stan, I say POCK-ee-ston. Let's call the whole thing off. #debate"
Tomorrow's oil line today (well tomorrow)
R3 – 93.27
R2 – 92.27
R1 – 90.57
PP – 89.57
S1 – 87.87
S2 – 86.87
S3 – 85.17
Yesterday's high and low – 91.27 / 88.57
Good night!
South Korea: Clothing, Shoe Manufacturers Leaving China
October 23, 2012 | 0343 GMT
Korean clothing and shoe manufacturers are leaving China and heading to Southeast Asian countries seeking cheaper labor and looser business regulations, industry sources said Oct. 22, The Korea Times reported. South Korean underwear manufacturer BYC Co. plans to close two of its three Chinese factories beginning next year and another underwear firm, SBW Co., is seeking outsourcing firms in Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar. As wages and input costs rise in China's coastal manufacturing centers, companies from Japan and other countries are shifting production to countries like Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines.
Wow, markets not happy about something.
Good morning and WTF?
Euro took a massive dive of about 0.5% and is only just now holding $1.30, Pound slammed right through $1.60 and is at $1.5985 but also bouncing off $1.598. Yen is down to 79.84 to the Dollar, up (down) from 79.2 yesterday so 1% and the Dollar is up half a point at 79.90 so that's part of the reason the Futures are off but not the whole story.
Nothing but misses this morning is part of the reason – not just here but Europe too. Europe is down well over 1% so far but should be bouncing here too.
I also think there's a bit of worry that Obama gets reelected and the Reps punish America by driving us off the fiscal cliff. Obviously, that's not the way they're spinning it but that's the message they are sending – "Vote for Obama and America dies" – very patriotic.
From Slate:
And, from last night's debate:
Tuesday's economic calendar:
FOMC meeting begins
7:45 ICSC Retail Store Sales
8:55 Redbook Chain Store Sales
10:00 Richmond Fed Mfg.
1:00 PM Results of $35B, 2-Year Note Auction
Notable earnings before Tuesday’s open:
AKS, AME,ARMH, CIT, COH, DD, FMER, GNTX, HOG, ITW, LXK, MMM, NMM,NUS,
PLD, RAI, RF, RSH, SNV, UPS, UTX, VMED, WHR, XRX
Notable earnings after Tuesday’s close:
ACE, AFL, ALTR,AMGN, BCR, BNNY, BRCM, BWLD, CBI, CHRW,
FB, FBC, FBHS,FTI, GILD, HTS, ILMN, INVN, IRBT, JNPR, NBR, NFLX,
NFX, NSC,PLCM, PNRA, QCOR, RFMD, STM, TPX, TSS, UIS, VMW, WYNN
CLF/Ink – Depends on your goal. The short puts are almost 50% down and you have 122% out of 200% possible so your current position still stands to make 78% more or 64% of the current position so if you REALLY would like to own CLF in 2015 for net $20 – it's kind of a non-issue but if you were just in it for the trade and you would stop out with a 20% loss – then your risk/reward into earnings is 50/50 and, the way earnings are looking so far – there's no reason to think they don't pull back. Also, from a conservative trading standpoint – I would point out that if you cash your sure thing $25 puts now ($5.30) and take the profit – what's the worst thing you would miss? Say CLF goes up 10% to $50 – so then you just sell the $30 puts, now $7.70 for the same $5.30 you just bought back the $25s or you re-sell the $25s for $3.60 (current price of the $20 puts) and all you miss is $1.70 of the $5.30 you would have made best case but you didn't risk losing $1.70 on a 10% drop, which would be all your profits gone. Still, even if CLF drops 20% to $36 – your net entry is $20 so we won't be running away from these in the income portfolio, where we REALLY want to own them.
AAPL $630. AMZN $234.
Debate/Diamond – Romney lost clearly. He gave up on blaming Obama for Libya, which makes him look like a huge liar to everyone who heard him bluster about it before last debate's smack-down on the subject. He also looked like a moron when Obama pointed out that there's a difference between how many frigates we had in 1916 compared to how many battleships we have in 2012 – make Romney look like he makes decisions based on faulty facts – not very comforting to the citizens. When Obama said "Nothing Gov Romney just said is true" he had no comeback – that was REALLY bad.
Romney also doesn't know where Syria is, saying Iran is their route to the sea but Syria doesn't actually boarder Iran – doesn't matter, no one watching knows geography anyway. Obama calling Romney out for his statements on letting the car companies go BK and Romney's untrue response are something people in Michigan and Ohio are keenly aware of. When Romney said it, it was a huge deal and those voters are very clear about what he actually said.
Romney claiming he would "fix" the middle east made him look clueless, not brilliant. We've been trying to fix it since Nixon so it's not just Obama that Romney claims is ineffective but also Carter, Reagan, Clinton and a couple of Bushs. Mitt saying it's something he's fix right away only makes it clear he hasn't got a clue what he's talking about.
I challenge anyone to explain what the Hell Mitt was trying to say about what our troop levels should be in Iraq and Afghanistan – just seemed like a guy caught in a lie who kept trying out different excuses and Obama was having none of it.
Oops, time to work!