RUT of a day..

A few things to be wary of heading into today’s trade played out.  One was not getting overzealous off the 1st day rally as it’s been the case the past 2 years, this coincides with not chasing the open based on Global markets that would be up playing ‘catch-up’ and finally, the real market ‘noise’ today was the steep rollover continuation of…”..Precious metals, copper rolled over in PM”,  down 3% on the day.   The open was the high 1274SPX and it was all downhill to last week’s highs for ‘dip buyers’ to come in.   The 1260-1263 support might be thin ice as it was generated through the ‘illiquid’ holiday market, so 1254 might the real support test (approx.between 9ma -20ma gauge).  The probability of a need to test 1254 is due to a wary and it wasn't the precious metals selling.

• Wary-  the ‘big’ underperformance today of the “RUT”, which had been the leader during December’s grind higher.  Something to watch, but, maybe just a natural performance spread narrowing between RUT/SPX. Interestingly, the Shadowlist which is comprised of mostly smaller caps held up much better(with reason).

Shadowlist

• Momentum/earnings/“winners of ‘10 –  held up (reason) due to anticipation of “CES Vegas” and possible news flow.
• Commodities-  Our list unaffected by the steep commodity ($CRX) decline due to our focus on AG’s/ Coals (75% AUS. Mines halted).  Favorites in the groups such as MOS, POT, CF, CLF> 4%, WLT  all outperformed. LNN (irrigation) >4% had a noticable bid to any dip.  MOS’s earnings AMC should generate more of the sector upgrades we’ve been noting.
• Consumer-  WYNN, LVS  >3-4% continued to move off…(Casino sub group had very good Macau numbers and WYNN finally got over 105)

All in, the trading notables off our list held up with reasons, any further broad market hiccup would be buying situations.

Expectations rising...

Coming off an overnight low of 1255 ES,  ‘dip buyers’ came in for an impressive ~20pt reversal as investor sentiment was bolstered once again by ‘stronger than consensus’  eco’ data, notably ‘jobs’, ADP numbers on the heels of initial claims last week.  Higher revisions to GDP likely once again..  In all, as concluded yesterday… "..any further broad market hiccup would be buying situations".

Wary- Never hurts for watchful prudence in the markets, even when all is seemingly hunky -dory. Heightened expectations for NFP # now, consensus moving up to approx.. 200+.  If it doesn’t come in 200+K, markets holiday party might be curbed.

Shadowlist

• Momentum/earnings/“winners of ‘10 –  the star of the day goes to recent list add, BSFT +14%  as it fed of all things 4G related coming out of 'CES Vegas’.   This one is ‘nutcase’, so it’s all about entry timing. (eg.9ema).  Newsflow is driving the group as a noted possibity to start the week…QCOM/ATHR marriage, RIMM pushing higher on Playbook unveilings.  Small caps-Software/networking stocks act very all. (APKT CRM FTNT ).   Addition to list: CAVM, this one could have been added easily last year, but there were enough names to trade.
• Commodities -  Nothing new to add here. Even with a precious metals, some base metals in a higher USD environment the Ag’s-Coals outperforming.  LNN,, pushed higher early ~4% to recent gap before fading some.
• Consumer -  Retail numbers in focus Thursday, hopefully wakes up group for some trading oppy. 
• Financials - streak continues after a day off (BKX >3% YTD)

'Inside the 20'

The trend remains the same as ‘Inside the 20’ (SPX 1260 to 1280) gets churned and churned.  Today, it was clearly the (see yesterday’s Journal) potential Headwind vs. Tailwind battle playing itself out.   In all, the Shorts are unwilling to lay out more exposure near 1260 and ‘dip buyers’ take over.  Still, the ‘Red Zone’ is providing trading oppy’s within DJIM’ Shadowlist.

Shadowlist

• Momentum/earnings/“winners of ‘10 –   Some CES induced carryover as SOX leads again.  FFIV  last week noted as ‘setting up’ had a nice >4pts day to NCH territory.   Added EQIX  back to the trading Shadowlist and it proceeded to have a nice afternoon adding ~2pts to get up to 2 month highs. Some squeezing was felt here, let’s see what a potential breach of $86 brings.
• Commodities- LNN, an add following a gap down earnings report, covered it’s gap in a big way >6%/4pts.  This despite a GS downgrade of Ag’s (CF/ AGU) halting the groups recent run.
• Consumer-  Retail looked better.  Our list includes TIF, PVH, FOSL to trade if this has any follow through.
• Miscellaneous-  added an old favourite at DJIM, EBS  following upped guidance that shows co’ is anticipating a ‘big’ gov’t contract.

...hardly a TD yet

Earlier in the week, Euro markets positively decoupled from sovereign fears.  Today, following a successful ‘Portugal’ auction the US markets finally played some catch up to the Euro markets move of the past 48 hours by breaking a YTD consolidation (20pt range).   The ‘Peripheral’ wary has been diminishing as China, Japan are speculated to be buying into these debts (inc. China into Spain’s on Thursday).  This ‘helping’ participation is why noted here yesterday…” or a bad sovereign bond auctions later this week (shorts likely futile hope)”.    As important or more today was the ‘speculation’ of Monday’s European Finance meeting and an expansion of the bailout fund to get the market going.   A week so far of little economic/ few earnings and so a ‘relief’ catalyst from Europe allowed this market to move easily as it's the only happening around.   The market moved out from ‘inside the 20’, but it’s hardly a touchdown.

Why, not a TD? ...Even though the move was broad with all sectors up, it was more of the same ES/ETF driven move continuing from Tuesday, plus the ‘leaders’ didn’t play along.  (See below in Shadowlist updates).  It was hardly a perfect tape, but with Peripheral worries abating the market can let earnings decide its fate.   The lack of participation today of the ‘winners’ could just be a symptom of this wait game for earnings and nothing else.  All in, need to see a follow through into weeks end.

Shadowlist

• Momentum/earnings/“winners of ‘10 –   Why more ETF/ES?.  Just look at the performance of leaders,  AAPL AMZN FFIV VMW CRM NFLX…(.5% down to 1.2% up) on a ‘supposed’ breakout day with Nazzy up and SOX up another 2%.
• Commodities-  Entering the week ….” USDA reports mid-week to possibly feed Ag space some more”.  The report was bullish and fed the stocks linked as most were up between 3-5%, CF MOS AGU LNN POT NEU.  Going back to the ETF-ES trade, if it wasn’t for this Ag’/Fert group there would hardly be any individual stock action anywhere.  Meaning up >1% and/ or down 1%.   As far as coals, despite the CLF  M&A,  the group might have reason to become fatigued  post-ACI  EPS and smaller  coals reporting softness on other exchanges.
• Financials- the streak continues from December following JPM’s CEO appearance AMC and WFC upgrades.

..and up it melts

Seemingly after weeks of noting SPX 1307’ish as ‘R” resistance, the market opened firmly on M&A Monday (3 deals) and overshot to 1320 with an eye on 1333 (666X2).  Yep, that’s 2x from what we called the ‘Mark of the beast’ , March 10^th,2009…

”Usually,  we have a case of mouths calling the market bottoms, nobody is doing that now at this level and instead calls for 500-600 gravity pulls are all over the place.    We like this as well for a better chance to get a meaningful bounce from the 'Mark of the Beast' 666 level”.  

A devil of a rally proceeded at that time and after a few hiccups along the way, the market finds itself in a midst of a continuous gradual melt up 2 years later.   The headwinds  of economic data, corporate earnings, money flow away from emerging markets/ bonds, Easy Ben..(Today M&A) outweigh any single ‘day event ‘ tailwind  in the Bulls favour.   There is absolutely no reason for the shorts to step up and risk being thrown under the bus as per recent ‘Egypt’ situation again.  The same premise exists here as it has for months.  As long as this lack of tailwinds persists, any pullback will be shallow as dip buyers will come in.

Shadowlist

• Momentum/earnings/“winners of ‘10 –   Besides AAPL  making fresh highs, most winners/momo’s couldn’t be found in the top SP tech performers on the day as it’s pretty quiet following a nice week.  As said, CSCO earnings are ahead and are being waited in as are some notable ‘cloud, data center’ names for direction. *SOX was a notable underperformer, it’s been a leader, so it’s lack of participation in market making new highs is some crumbs for the Bears.
• Commodities –  mostly mixed, DJIM oily/energy linked plays  FLS, CRR  are holding up well, (GTLS  got a pump Cramer job), LNN  part of our Ag’/fert rotation play since late Dec hit fresh highs while CLF (steel/coal) keeps hovering around new highs.
• Consumer – Our retailer names  LULU, FOSL, RL  continue to trade well /inline with broader tape. SODA,  a Jan alert preceeding its big day from $33 made NCH >$44(new closing high) on addition to IBD 50.
• Financials–  After flat lining all earnings season was today a wake up? $BKX.   Well, a history of headfakes is in it’s blood, so no telling from one day.  It is European bank reporting time, so they will likely feed of their reports.

pile up..

Hey, what’s one more negative (SP downgrade) headline to toss into the market, adding to the pile we discussed in this weekend’s DJIM #16.(escalating weekend Euro debt situation already had ES down 10pts.)

As ‘panicky’ wire headlines hit at 9am and spread into the open thanks to S&P threat to downgrade US debt in the future, most probably couldn’t decipher what it means to TSY’s/Treasuries, USD and definitely the equity market as it fell fast and furiously.

Considering a threat is just an idle threat until exercised, we followed up quite confidently 15 minutes into the trading day that if SP~1295 hit, it would likely be a buy point for today after dissemination of the downgrade.  Of course many would not suggest buying a gap down and a falling knife, but all you had to do was look at the Shadowlist components and see individual stocks were not being sold off.   This glimpse as usual allows you to make a decision even if you don’t know the consequences yet of any seemingly negative newswire that may have hit.  Can’t say we’ve seen one (outlook downgrade) to the US before to know what it may bring upon equities, so today it was best to rely on good old Shadowlist for guidance.  Besides, didn’t we all downgrade US debt long ago!  This doesn’t mean you jump and buy stocks (some names below worked) as much as it means you don’t panic and sell.   Soon after follow-up, market fell another ~10pts to 1295, a re- test and later a decent push to 1307H in the afternoon.  What the early trade demonstrated was it’s an ES/ETF trade again with investors holding on to individual stocks while fast traders play.  

*Although an important week, the holiday-shortened trading week with desks emptying by the hour as we go forward , we can expect exaggerated moves in either direction that don’t mean much as positions in all asset classes get squared away before the holiday.

Shadowlist

■Commodities – Keep seeing excellent numbers in Ag-equipment stocks recently, LNN, VMI, (TITN  initiated today in follow-up section).  So far this month not much is loved as earnings get sold off in most cases good or bad(LNN VMI) in this space, but sooner than later money flow will go into what is showing growth for rest of ’11.

■Consumers- LVMH , luxury goods out of Europe gave an upbeat report after overseas market close helping retailers here, notably LULU, but overall outperformance seen in group.

■Momentum/ earnings/ winners of ’10 –  Very nice reversals in AAPL, PCLN, each 10pts and hopefully a leading good sign.  WYNN, IPGP  as well back to high levels, while  SINA  really popped. Also, like LVMH, Infineon a chip from Europe helped earnings sentiment as it pre-announced AMC in Europe.  Unfortunately, TXN did nothing AMC as most US corps’ so far this earnings season.

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.