Up in the air (earnings)...

The immediate morning question was can the market build on the premarket pop and Global rebound occurring overnight. The problem premise here recently is that besides no conviction buying stepping up when we need it, we don’t have shorts laying out exposure in this recent melt up or on this downturn to 20ma to make a move sustainable higher.   So following this idea, logical expectation was once again some short covering early followed by little or no buy conviction at all coming off the sidelines. Therefore, a short covering would only be short lived because there are not enough shorts in the market, no longs to buy, so the bounce would peter out.  An hour into the trading day this was evident as SPX gains were erased, by close it was even more clear the premise once again worked itself out.

In all, not sure who won today!. The Bears should have closed the market lower if you look at JPM, ASML, ADTN earnings reactions (more on this below).  On the other hand, Bulls didn’t get positive reactions off headline #’s which were solid, yet finished at par in the broad market with earnings supposedly disappointing.  Screwy day as cautiousness towards earnings is still prevalent on investors minds, so they wait for more reports to make investing decisions.  Today's results left it up in the air.

Shadowlist

■Momentum/ earnings/ winners of ’10 –  , Yesterday it was noted the tech group needs some good news.  All the market got was more mixed signals it seems.  Solid beats and/or guides were ignored and fickle investors found ‘ softness’ somewhere within a report and/or during CCalls. (ADTN was up 5% premkt/ ASML).  Earnings luckily started w/ RVBD  pre-announcement, but ADTN/ASML (noted coming into trading day to watch) couldn’t built on the support for the group.  Tech did get some short covering just as in TXN/SOX bump noted gain yesterday), but that was it as the Nasdaq, peak to trough dropped 28 intraday points midday.

Yesterday….“Still ,some pockets of life today  in NVDA/ Networking/optical were not bad today as the well know names like ALU CIEN did alright …”.  Some of the best tech strength was in these names today, (optical/networking) ALU  >8%, CIEN >4% up , FNSR >3%, along with our closely followed Chinese internet linked names,  SINA  SOHU  BIDU again 3-7% up.

■Financials  -  In respect to earnings, same goes with JPM  as with tech reports. It seemed like a solid report for the financials, based on a headline Rev/EPS, but the underlying mortgage repurchase expenses up attracted the negativity and spread to peers.

Deadlock..

Positive is market held 1310 close for a 3^rd consecutive day. (note 20ma has moved up this week to 1315’ish.). Most will see the reversal today of some 150 DJIA, ~30 Nasd , 14 SPX points to highs of day as a positive, but if you glanced at the Shadowlist or any watchlist, you should notice single stocks were doing nothing.   These same single stocks weren’t hit on way to 1302 SPX and it’s no surprise they didn’t move to upside on the reversal crawl during the day.   This exemplifies a ES/ETF trade as real money remains sidelined in a cautious mode, while fast traders churn the ES futures/ETF’s.  It’s a boycott in the market by both sides really as shorts are unwilling to pressure the tape lower allowing support to hold up quite easily and even bounce some.  It would be a surprise if the market got any meaningful follow through on a Friday due to this type of action seen today.

The early blame game was on the euro debt situation (Greece)showing up almost a year later to the day.   Firstly, in this view it’s an excuse as plans won’t change the way the situation stands now and so it’s importance is overblown today.  The main issues for the market right now is with U.S govt (debt ceiling, we can add the Senate paper on GS for some spice) and earnings that has this market in a deadlock! 

Also, a bigger issue than Europe today is some of the recent eco data that is clouding the picture some (jobless claims today).  As yesterday, not sure who won today either, but if anybody is blowing it, it’s the shorts not taking advantage of all headwinds in the Bull’s faces today to create a bigger setback.

Rally, if this gets clearer….overhangs

• Debt ceiling debate, congress goes on holiday’s next week till May
• Earnings reactions improve and/or start seeing nice upside beats/outlooks       

 *Today, semi FCS  upped guidance strongly and said guidance for upcoming was already ‘fully booked’, yet the stock sold off due to CEO saying impact of Japan are unknown.  Talk about a fickle crowd again!.  What is occurring so far in earnings might be described as’ sell on the news’, but it’s not the typical we’ve seen in Q’s past.  Market should get over this phase, if earnings keep on coming with solid guidance.

Update on Friday, April 15, 2011 at 10:55AM by Demi/ YourPersonalTrader

Surprising..good eco data, CPI hawkish, surprised single stocks haven't found that elusive bid. If it does should break Tuesday H 1321.

Europe respects solid earnings

Heading into the trading day, cited strong European earnings from a lux retailer and a semi.  This was followed by broad range of companies today… another lux’ retailer, a beer co, a cosmetics co, a drug co powering European markets by US open.  Hum???...Gains despite an escalating European debt crisis ?    At least someone has the right sense, while here in US investors continue to fickle through reports as seen by GS blowout number. (TAG below :’fickle investors’ for more).   Europe results/reactions have probably signalled a change coming here.

As speculated sooner than later this selling phenomenon will end if solid earnings keep coming in. (outside of banks/brokers as it’s a sector ‘want’ within Financial reports that isn’t showing up and doesn’t relate to other sectors). ..”Talk about a fickle crowd again!.  What is occurring so far in earnings might be described as’ sell on the news’, but it’s not the typical we’ve seen in Q’s past.  Market should get over this phase, if earnings keep on coming with solid guidance.”

In all, a good sign was the early morning gains that disappeared, reappeared and tracked on even more in the afternoon to close at day highs..  Many of the names noted from Shadowlist yesterday exploded out of the gate and/or had significant follow through days. Even though the RUT underperformed the indices , the Shadowlist components had very good action as seen below.

Shadowlist

■Commodities –  Yesterday’s alert on Ag- equip names had a decent day adding on to yesterday gains, MOS POT~4 NEU LNN   will squeeze nicely if this group action keeps up from it’s basing here.  OSN +20%  today. After getting beat up due to all China fraud/ guilty by association, it reported nicely last week with 20% +guidance numbers.  The PE on this steel name is crazy so keep watch for bottom feeders here possibly.

■Consumers-   LULU   followed through to over $100/4% at the open,  UA  hooked on a for a ride to NCH as well/~4%., RL intraday high.  All these names fall into luxury ‘apparel’ . Burberry earnings today followed LVMH.

■Momentum/ earnings/ winners of ’10 –  Chinese internet names covered here almost daily outperformed again, SINA 12 pts intraday, SOHU, BIDU.  IPGP,  here as well yesterday tacked on 4pts/6% NCH.   As far as ’10 momo’s, there is hesitation on names like FFIV APKT VMW ahead of earnings, even after RVBD upside pre-announcement.  Most of these networking/telecom related names were down ahead of JNPR results tonight.  FNSR  was the outperformer linked name as it trades well recently eyeing gap.  QLIK- nch

Big night ahead for tech results, watch if any disappointment EPS' get bought into or we see a ‘baked in/better than feared scenario for signs of semi’ tsunami ending.  LLTC has a big Japan impact, so will watch how it reacts to what it says about the impact.

*Note : you can click TAGS below on site for '11 notes on stocks/ sectors etc.

Update on Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at 05:03AM by Demi/ YourPersonalTrader

US market finally showing 'respect' for 'solid' earnings.  Note, 1st round is going to be short covering as semi space has been in the woodshed for awhile.  We need to see conviction buying step up afterwards, something we've covered on recent upticks (short coverings) that failed due to sidelined money(conviction).  If market finds it, we will see it in a big day with last weeks SPXhighs falling first. See Friday's update.

Commodities, Autos likely will be secondary in plays for a broad move.