Tag: ATH – All Time High

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Commentary

Daily Brief For December 27, 2021

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Notice: Up to January 3, 2022, any commentaries published will be lighthearted and, generally, shorter in length.

What Happened

Overnight, equity index and bond futures were divergent while most commodities traded lower.

In the face of “holiday-thinned liquidity,” the CBOE Volatility Index (INDEX: VIX) rose ~1.15; this week, the expectation is (A) flatlined volatility or (B) ugly, headline-driven intraday moves.

Ahead, there is no data scheduled for release.

Graphic updated 5:45 AM ET. Sentiment Neutral if expected /ES open is inside of the prior day’s range. /ES levels are derived from the profile graphic at the bottom of the following section. Levels may have changed since initially quoted; click here for the latest levels. SqueezeMetrics Dark Pool Index (DIX) and Gamma (GEX) calculations are based on where the prior day’s reading falls with respect to the MAX and MIN of all occurrences available. A higher DIX is bullish. At the same time, the lower the GEX, the more (expected) volatility. Learn the implications of volatility, direction, and moneyness. SHIFT data used for S&P 500 (INDEX: SPX) options activity. Note that options flow is sorted by the call premium spent; if more positive then more was spent on call options. Breadth reflects a reading of the prior day’s NYSE Advance/Decline indicator. VIX reflects a current reading of the CBOE Volatility Index (INDEX: VIX) from 0-100.

What To Expect

Last week, on lackluster intraday breadth and market liquidity metrics, the best case outcome occurred via an expansion of range and separation of value, the levels at which participants found it most favorable to transact.

The aforementioned activity, which marks the continuation of a trend, is built on poor structure. 

That, ultimately, adds to technical instability.

Why? As explained, Thursday, given the persistence of mechanical responses to key technical levels, visually-driven, weaker-handed participants (which seldom bear the wherewithal to defend retests) carry a heavier hand in recent price discovery. 

Via volume profile analysis, we see a plethora of low-volume pockets – voids, if you will – that likely hold virgin tests. As stated, yesterday, successful penetration portends follow-through given the participants that were most active at those technical levels. Caution is still warranted.

Graphic: Divergent delta (i.e., non-committed buying and selling as measured by volume delta or buying and selling power as calculated by the difference in volume traded at the bid and offer) in SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE: SPY), one of the largest ETFs that track the S&P 500 index, via Bookmap. The readings are supportive of responsive trade (i.e., rotational trade that suggests current prices may offer favorable entry/exit; the market is attempting to balance).

Context: In the face of a “stealth correction,” and an “off-loading of risk by professional speculators,” the S&P 500 closed beyond a visual resistance level, last week, on light volume.

Graphic: A multi-month divergence (and downtrend) in breadth metrics stabilize as participants attempt to discover higher prices in the S&P 500. 

This is as, according to Ryan Detrick of LPL Financial, the “official Santa Claus Rally starts this Monday (last 5 days of the year and the first two of the following year).”

Kai Volatility’s Cem Karsan echoes Detrick’s remarks.

“Since 1980, there have been 10 instances where the S&P 500 was up 20% or more going into the last stretch of trading, and in 9 of those years, it ended the final 6 days higher.”

Moreover, despite an eventual decline in fiscal support, negative adjustments to the EPS guidance of more index constituents, and revisions lower in growth forecasts, Morgan Stanley’s (NYSE: MS) saw flows shift in high-growth, rate-sensitive names – “flows have reversed in recent sessions as there have been small levels of net buying.”

The change in tone with respect to flows is seasonally-aligned, so to speak; per Goldman Sachs Group (NYSE: GS), January sees more inflows than all other months combined.

Graphic: Per The Market Ear, “January typically sees 134% of inflows (the rest of the 11 months -34%). And with every private wealth manager in the world right now pitching increased allocations into equities (out of cash and out of bonds), Goldman calculates that keeping 2021 pace, This would be $125BN worth of inflows quickly in January.”

Adding, in the face of this week’s weighty “Quarterlys” expiry, Goldman Sachs sees options selling attractive, near term; a commitment of capital on lower volatility likely results in counterparties to customer options trades taking on more exposure to sticky positive gamma. 

Note: As a position’s delta rises with stock or index price rises, gamma (or how an option’s delta is expected to change given a change in the underlying) is added to the delta.

This is while many products are in lower liquidity and short-gamma (wherein an options delta decreases with stock prices rises and increases when stock prices drop) in which moves are more erratic.

Therefore, coming into weighty options expiration, correlations may be off (as that is the only reconciliation in an environment where, at the index level, hedging pressures are sticky, whereas elsewhere they aren’t).

Thereafter, participants ought to monitor the sides and levels capital is committed for clues as to where we go next. 

Continued compression of volatility, as well as a commitment to options higher in prices and further out in time, supports upward price discovery.

Expectations: As of 5:45 AM ET, Monday’s regular session (9:30 AM – 4:00 PM ET), in the S&P 500, will likely open in the upper part of a balanced overnight inventory, inside of prior-range and -value, suggesting a limited potential for immediate directional opportunity.

In the best case, the S&P 500 trades sideways or higher; activity above the $4,717.25 low volume area (LVNode) puts in play the $4,732.50 high volume area (HVNode). Initiative trade beyond the HVNode could reach as high as the $4,743.00 regular trade high (RTH High) and $4,767.00 extension, or higher.

In the worst case, the S&P 500 trades lower; activity below the $4,717.25 LVNode puts in play the $4,690.25 micro composite point of control (MCPOC). Initiative trade beyond the MCPOC could reach as low as the $4,673.00 untested point of control (VPOC) and $4,647.25 HVNode, or lower.

Click here to load today’s key levels into the web-based TradingView charting platform. Note that all levels are derived using the 65-minute timeframe. New links are produced, daily.
Graphic: 65-minute profile chart of the Micro E-mini S&P 500 Futures. Learn about the profile.

What People Are Saying

Definitions

Volume Areas: A structurally sound market will build on areas of high volume (HVNodes). Should the market trend for long periods of time, it will lack sound structure, identified as low volume areas (LVNodes). LVNodes denote directional conviction and ought to offer support on any test. 

If participants were to auction and find acceptance into areas of prior low volume (LVNodes), then future discovery ought to be volatile and quick as participants look to HVNodes for favorable entry or exit.

POCs: POCs are valuable as they denote areas where two-sided trade was most prevalent in a prior day session. Participants will respond to future tests of value as they offer favorable entry and exit.

MCPOCs: POCs are valuable as they denote areas where two-sided trade was most prevalent over numerous day sessions. Participants will respond to future tests of value as they offer favorable entry and exit.

Volume-Weighted Average Prices (VWAPs): A metric highly regarded by chief investment officers, among other participants, for quality of trade. Additionally, liquidity algorithms are benchmarked and programmed to buy and sell around VWAPs.

About

After years of self-education, strategy development, and trial-and-error, Renato Leonard Capelj began trading full-time and founded Physik Invest to detail his methods, research, and performance in the markets.

Additionally, Capelj is a Benzinga finance and technology reporter interviewing the likes of Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary, JC2 Ventures’ John Chambers, and ARK Invest’s Catherine Wood, as well as a SpotGamma contributor, helping develop insights around impactful options market dynamics.

Disclaimer

At this time, Physik Invest does not carry the right to provide advice. In no way should the materials herein be construed as advice. Derivatives carry a substantial risk of loss. All content is for informational purposes only.

Categories
Commentary

Daily Brief For November 18, 2021

What Happened

Overnight, equity indices auctioned sideways to higher as the bellwether S&P 500 continues to encounter difficulty in overcoming the forces associated with the large derivatives expiry, Friday.

One headline worth mentioning concerns JPMorgan Chase & Co’s (NYSE: JPM) prediction the Federal Reserve (Fed) will raise interest rates next September, earlier than expected. 

Ahead is data on jobless claims and the Philadelphia Fed manufacturing index (8:30 AM ET), leading economic indicators (10:00 AM ET), as well as Fed-speak scattered throughout the day.

Graphic updated 6:00 AM ET. Sentiment Risk-On if expected /ES open is above the prior day’s range. /ES levels are derived from the profile graphic at the bottom of the following section. Levels may have changed since initially quoted; click here for the latest levels. SqueezeMetrics Dark Pool Index (DIX) and Gamma (GEX) calculations are based on where the prior day’s reading falls with respect to the MAX and MIN of all occurrences available. A higher DIX is bullish. At the same time, the lower the GEX, the more (expected) volatility. Learn the implications of volatility, direction, and moneyness. SHIFT data used for S&P 500 (INDEX: SPX) options activity. Note that options flow is sorted by the call premium spent; if more positive then more was spent on call options. Breadth reflects a reading of the prior day’s NYSE Advance/Decline indicator. VIX reflects a current reading of the CBOE Volatility Index (INDEX: VIX) from 0-100.

What To Expect

On lackluster intraday breadth and market liquidity metrics, the best case outcome occurred, evidenced by a Gaussian profile, as well as the balance and overlap of value in the S&P 500.

This activity, which denotes participants positioning themselves for directional resolve, is adding structure, a technically stabilizing dynamic, in short.

Graphic: Lackluster delta (i.e., non-committed buying/selling as measured by volume delta or buying and selling power as calculated by the difference in volume traded at the bid and offer) in SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE: SPY), one of the largest ETFs that track the S&P 500 index, via Bookmap. The readings are supportive of responsive trade (i.e., rotational trade that suggests current prices offer favorable entry and exit; the market is in balance).

Context: Amidst a rather large monthly options expiration (OPEX) this Friday, participants are having difficulty directionally resolving the S&P 500.

This is most visible by the S&P 500’s failure to move away from the $4,695.25 high volume area (HVNode), a level at which there is concentrated participation in the options market. 

As noted before, according to SqueezeMetrics, this level ought to be a magnet given hedging.

“As realized volatility falls from its peak around a year ago, more sold SPX options cluster at strikes nearer to spot. And as implied volatility falls with it, the gamma of those options increases. More dealer long gamma means more liquidity. More liquidity means less movement.”

Moreover, yesterday, there was a note about the market’s reaction to what SpotGamma labels a Call Wall, the strike with the largest net positive gamma in the underlying stock. 

This Call Wall is a reflection of participants’ commitment to higher prices. Should that level continue to move up, then that confirms a willingness to do business, higher, so to speak. 

Since participants were able to roll their exposure to positive options gamma, higher in price and out in time, dealers have to hedge. This maintains that positive (stabilizing) dealer flow we talk so often about, which has bolstered this equity bull market.

Graphic: Via SHIFT, we see participants rolling call exposures to strikes out in time.

That leads us to a dynamic I briefly mentioned last week. After being brought to my attention again, yesterday, there is obviously more to unpack there. However, in keeping it short, I’ll hit on the basics.

The bond market’s pricing of risk, according to Bloomberg, based on an “erratic … handling [of] large transfers of risk” – as evidenced by the Merrill Lynch Option Volatility Estimate (INDEX: MOVE) – has diverged from the pricing of equity market risk via the CBOE Volatility Index (INDEX: VIX).

Fear in one market tends to feed into the fear in another; regardless of the cause, equity and bond market participants are not on the same page.

What does that mean?

At its core, the fear is in tandem with “broad uncertainty about the direction of the economy and monetary policy amid surging prices, labor shortages and yields that are holding well below the rate of inflation,” according to Bloomberg.

In combating high inflation, policymakers ought to raise rates, right? 

Well, that’s at least what economists at institutions like JPM believe may happen as soon as next September, earlier than once forecasted.

Rising rates, among other factors, have the potential to decrease the present value of future earnings, thereby making stocks, especially those that are high growth, less attractive to own.

As the market is a forward-looking mechanism, the implications of this seem staggering. 

Prevailing monetary frameworks and max liquidity promoted a large divergence in price from fundamentals. The growth of passive investing – the effect of increased moneyness among nonmonetary assets – and derivatives trading imply a lot of left-tail risks.

As Kai Volatility’s Cem Karsan once told me: “There’s this constant structural positioning that naturally drives markets higher as long as volatility is compressed,” or there is supply.

“At the end of the day, though, the higher you go, the further off the ground you are and the more tail risk.”

Eventually, fear on the part of bond market participants may feed into equity market positioning.

Graphic: Via The Market Ear, in spite of earnings growth, buybacks, and seasonality, among other factors, Bank of America Corp (NYSE: BAC) sees large tech outflows. Fade as big tech starts to look relatively cheap?

Expectations: As of 6:00 AM ET, Thursday’s regular session (9:30 AM – 4:00 PM ET), in the S&P 500, will likely open in the upper part of a positively skewed overnight inventory, just outside of prior-range and -value, suggesting a potential for immediate directional opportunity.

Gap Scenarios: Gaps ought to fill quickly. Should they not, that’s a signal of strength; do not fade. Leaving value behind on a gap-fill or failing to fill a gap (i.e., remaining outside of the prior session’s range) is a go-with indicator.

Auctioning and spending at least 1-hour of trade back in the prior range suggests a lack of conviction; in such a case, do not follow the direction of the most recent initiative activity.

In the best case, the S&P 500 trades sideways or higher; activity above the $4,695.25 high volume area (HVNode) puts in play the $4,711.75 regular-trade high (RTH High). Initiative trade beyond the RTH High could reach as high as the $4,735.25 and $4,765.25 Fibonacci, or higher.

In the worst case, the S&P 500 trades lower; activity below the $4,695.25 HVNode puts in play the $4,674.25 micro composite point of control (MCPOC). Initiative trade beyond the MCPOC could reach as low as the $4,647.25 HVNode and $4,619.00 untested point of control (VPOC), or lower.

Click here to load today’s updated key levels into the web-based TradingView charting platform. Note that all levels are derived using the 65-minute timeframe. New links are produced, daily.
Graphic: 65-minute profile chart of the Micro E-mini S&P 500 Futures. Learn about the profile.

Definitions

Volume Areas: A structurally sound market will build on areas of high volume (HVNodes). Should the market trend for long periods of time, it will lack sound structure, identified as low volume areas (LVNodes). LVNodes denote directional conviction and ought to offer support on any test. 

If participants were to auction and find acceptance into areas of prior low volume (LVNodes), then future discovery ought to be volatile and quick as participants look to HVNodes for favorable entry or exit.

VPOCs: POCs are valuable as they denote areas where two-sided trade was most prevalent in a prior day session. Participants will respond to future tests of value as they offer favorable entry and exit.

MCPOCs: POCs are valuable as they denote areas where two-sided trade was most prevalent over numerous day sessions. Participants will respond to future tests of value as they offer favorable entry and exit.

Options Expiration (OPEX): Traditionally, option expiries mark an end to pinning (i.e, the theory that market makers and institutions short options move stocks to the point where the greatest dollar value of contracts will expire) and the reduction dealer gamma exposure.

Significance Of Prior ATHs, ATLs: Prices often encounter resistance (support) at prior highs (lows) due to the supply (demand) of old business. These areas take time to resolve. Breaking and establishing value (i.e., trading more than 30-minutes beyond this level) portends continuation.

About

After years of self-education, strategy development, and trial-and-error, Renato Leonard Capelj began trading full-time and founded Physik Invest to detail his methods, research, and performance in the markets.

Additionally, Capelj is a Benzinga finance and technology reporter interviewing the likes of Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary, JC2 Ventures’ John Chambers, and ARK Invest’s Catherine Wood, as well as a SpotGamma contributor, developing insights around impactful options market dynamics.

Disclaimer

At this time, Physik Invest does not manage outside capital and is not licensed. In no way should the materials herein be construed as advice. Derivatives carry a substantial risk of loss. All content is for informational purposes only.

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Categories
Commentary

Daily Brief For November 17, 2021

What Happened

Overnight, equity index futures were divergent. This comes as there were no significant news catalysts and there is a weighty CBOE Volatility Index (INDEX: VIX) expiration today.

Ahead is data on building permits and housing starts (8:30 AM ET). Numerous Federal Reserve members are scheduled to speak today.

Graphic updated 5:45 AM ET. Sentiment Neutral if expected /ES open is inside of the prior day’s range. /ES levels are derived from the profile graphic at the bottom of the following section. Levels may have changed since initially quoted; click here for the latest levels. SqueezeMetrics Dark Pool Index (DIX) and Gamma (GEX) calculations are based on where the prior day’s reading falls with respect to the MAX and MIN of all occurrences available. A higher DIX is bullish. At the same time, the lower the GEX, the more (expected) volatility. Learn the implications of volatility, direction, and moneyness. SHIFT data used for S&P 500 (INDEX: SPX) options activity. Note that options flow is sorted by the call premium spent; if more positive then more was spent on call options. Breadth reflects a reading of the prior day’s NYSE Advance/Decline indicator. VIX reflects a current reading of the CBOE Volatility Index (INDEX: VIX) from 0-100.

What To Expect

When analyzing the composite (i.e., overnight and day time frame) volume profile, yesterday’s double distribution suggests participants initiated from one area of acceptance to another.

Amidst divergent intraday breadth and market liquidity metrics, the S&P 500 came back into range and participants defended the $4,695.25 high volume area (HVNode). This level corresponds with what options analysis provider SpotGamma says is a Call Wall.

Given an implosion in volatility over the past sessions, the Call Wall is a near-term magnet due to associated hedging.

“As realized volatility falls from its peak around a year ago, more sold SPX options cluster at strikes nearer to spot. And as implied volatility falls with it, the gamma of those options increases. More dealer long gamma means more liquidity. More liquidity means less movement.” – SqueezeMetrics

Graphic: Divergent delta (i.e., non-committed buying as measured by volume delta or buying and selling power as calculated by the difference in volume traded at the bid and offer) in SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE: SPY), one of the largest ETFs that track the S&P 500 index, via Bookmap. The readings are supportive of responsive trade (i.e., rotational trade that suggests current prices offer favorable entry and exit; the market is in balance).

Context: The aforementioned trade is happening in the context of what Goldman Sachs Group Inc’s (NYSE: GS) CEO David Solomon says is a market environment dominated by greed. 

“[T]here have been periods of time when greed has far outpaced fear — we are in one of those periods,” he said. “My experience says those periods aren’t long-lived. Something will rebalance it and bring a little bit more perspective.”

This comes as markets surge alongside historic amounts of stimulus, improvements in fundamentals (i.e., earnings), supply chain demand/supply imbalances, inflation, and more. 

Further, as stated over the past few commentaries, economic structures are different and we are not in the 1970s. That said, there are a few big dynamics that are of concern.

The first is that we see supply pressures beginning to ease as at-home inventory build-ups are expected to take away from consumption during the holidays (for which businesses are scrambling to stock). Ultimately, this may pressure commodity inflation.

Graphic: Via The Market Ear, Bridgewater shows supply returning to pre-COVID-19 levels as demand explodes, “creating an imbalance of a magnitude that we haven’t seen since the 1970s. What happened in the ’70s truly was a supply shock: supply collapsed, and demand stayed relatively steady. Today, demand is surging, and supply is also growing, but it just can’t keep up with demand.”

The second is this concept of the velocity of money slowing as participants extend moneyness to nonmonetary assets. This is primarily because of monetary policies and an environment of debt and leverage that ultimately cuts into asset price volatility. Overall, this dynamic adds to the prevailing risks of carry when volatility does rise and the demand for money pushes deflation.

Solomon adds: “Chances are interest rates will move up, and if interest rates move up that in of itself will take some of the exuberance out of certain markets.”

With prevailing monetary frameworks and max liquidity promoting a divergence in price from fundamentals, as well as the growth of passive investing and derivatives trading, we ought to have some concern for pending monetary evolution, so to speak. 

As Kai Volatility’s Cem Karsan once told me: “A lot of the processes that enforce these bubbles are embedded in the volatility market.”

“There’s this constant structural positioning that naturally drives markets higher as long as volatility is compressed, or there’s a supply of volatility.” However, “At the end of the day, though, the higher you go, the further off the ground you are and the more tail risk.”

Note: This structural positioning in the S&P 500 can be construed as customer long equity, long put, short call. This sort of positioning tends to leave the market in long-gamma whereby dealers buy into weakness and sell into strength. Amidst the decay in protection, dealers are to unwind their hedges (supply less liquidity), and this is a force that bolsters market price rises.

Even the slightest reduction in liquidity has the potential to prick the bubble, prompting a reaction that exacerbates underlying price movements; the response by customers, as well as the dynamics of dealers’ risk exposure to direction and volatility, ought to cut into liquidity and aid in an unraveling.

“It’s not a coincidence that the mid-February to mid-March 2020 downturn literally started the day after February expiration and ended the day of March quarterly expiration. These derivatives are incredibly embedded in how the tail reacts and there’s not enough liquidity, given the leverage, if the Fed were to taper.”

Case in point, the market’s reaction to prices near SpotGamma’s Call Wall. If participants were unable to roll that exposure to positive options gamma higher in price and out in time, dealers would not have to hedge. This cuts into dealers’ need to unwind hedges to customers’ options positions. This removes one positive (stabilizing) flow that has bolstered this equity bull market.
Graphic: Via SHIFT, we see participants potentially rolling call exposures.

We have seasonally-aligned inflows and earnings growth, among other things, bolstering the most recent rally to new highs. With this week’s implosion in implied volatility most noticeable at the front end of the VIX futures term structure, given the decay in shorter-dated customer protection, it may be an opportune time to hedge.

As The Market Ear stated yesterday, “Playing the term structure (i.e., [buying the] short end of the curve vs [selling] the longer part of the term structure curve) is becoming a rather cheap way to hedge some risks here.”

Expectations: As of 5:45 AM ET, Wednesday’s regular session (9:30 AM – 4:00 PM ET), in the S&P 500, will likely open in the middle part of a balanced overnight inventory, inside of prior-range and -value, suggesting a limited potential for immediate directional opportunity.

Balance-Break Scenarios: A change in the market (i.e., the transition from two-time frame trade, or balance, to one-time frame trade, or trend) may occur.

We shall monitor for acceptance (i.e., more than 1-hour of trade) outside of the prior day’s balance area (i.e., the price levels at which 70% of the day’s volume occurred). Rejection (i.e., return inside of balance) portends a move to the opposite end of the balance.

In the best case, the S&P 500 trades sideways or higher; activity above the $4,695.25 high volume area (HVNode) puts in play the $4,711.75 regular-trade high (RTH High). Initiative trade beyond the RTH High could reach as high as the $4,735.25 and $4,765.25 Fibonacci, or higher.

In the worst case, the S&P 500 trades lower; activity below the $4,695.25 HVNode puts in play the $4,674.25 micro composite point of control (MCPOC). Initiative trade beyond the MCPOC could reach as low as the $4,647.25 HVNode and $4,619.00 untested point of control (VPOC), or lower.

Click here to load today’s updated key levels into the web-based TradingView charting platform. Note that all levels are derived using the 65-minute timeframe. New links are produced, daily.
Graphic: 65-minute profile chart of the Micro E-mini S&P 500 Futures. Note that the S&P 500 is pinning at $4,695.25 amid what looks to be a cave-fill (i.e., the widening of the area deemed favorable to transact in by an increased share of participants). Learn about the profile.

What People Are Saying

Definitions

Volume Areas: A structurally sound market will build on areas of high volume (HVNodes). Should the market trend for long periods of time, it will lack sound structure, identified as low volume areas (LVNodes). LVNodes denote directional conviction and ought to offer support on any test. 

If participants were to auction and find acceptance into areas of prior low volume (LVNodes), then future discovery ought to be volatile and quick as participants look to HVNodes for favorable entry or exit.

POCs: POCs are valuable as they denote areas where two-sided trade was most prevalent in a prior day session. Participants will respond to future tests of value as they offer favorable entry and exit.

MCPOCs: POCs are valuable as they denote areas where two-sided trade was most prevalent over numerous day sessions. Participants will respond to future tests of value as they offer favorable entry and exit.

Options Expiration (OPEX): Traditionally, option expiries mark an end to pinning (i.e, the theory that market makers and institutions short options move stocks to the point where the greatest dollar value of contracts will expire) and the reduction dealer gamma exposure.

Significance Of Prior ATHs, ATLs: Prices often encounter resistance (support) at prior highs (lows) due to the supply (demand) of old business. These areas take time to resolve. Breaking and establishing value (i.e., trading more than 30-minutes beyond this level) portends continuation.

About

After years of self-education, strategy development, and trial-and-error, Renato Leonard Capelj began trading full-time and founded Physik Invest to detail his methods, research, and performance in the markets.

Additionally, Capelj is a Benzinga finance and technology reporter interviewing the likes of Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary, JC2 Ventures’ John Chambers, and ARK Invest’s Catherine Wood, as well as a SpotGamma contributor, developing insights around impactful options market dynamics.

Disclaimer

At this time, Physik Invest does not manage outside capital and is not licensed. In no way should the materials herein be construed as advice. Derivatives carry a substantial risk of loss. All content is for informational purposes only.

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Categories
Commentary

Daily Brief For November 16, 2021

What Happened

Equity index futures auctioned sideways alongside no new fundamental catalysts.

Ahead is data on retail sales and import prices (8:30 AM ET), industrial production and capacity utilization (9:15 AM ET), the NAHB home builders’ index, and business inventories (10:00 AM ET), as well as Fed-speak at 12:00 and 2:30 PM ET.

Graphic updated 6:10 AM ET. Sentiment Neutral if expected /ES open is inside of the prior day’s range. /ES levels are derived from the profile graphic at the bottom of the following section. Levels may have changed since initially quoted; click here for the latest levels. SqueezeMetrics Dark Pool Index (DIX) and Gamma (GEX) calculations are based on where the prior day’s reading falls with respect to the MAX and MIN of all occurrences available. A higher DIX is bullish. At the same time, the lower the GEX, the more (expected) volatility. Learn the implications of volatility, direction, and moneyness. SHIFT data used for S&P 500 (INDEX: SPX) options activity. Note that options flow is sorted by the call premium spent; if more positive then more was spent on call options. Breadth reflects a reading of the prior day’s NYSE Advance/Decline indicator. VIX reflects a current reading of the CBOE Volatility Index (INDEX: VIX) from 0-100.

What To Expect

On minimally divergent intraday breadth and unsupportive market liquidity metrics, the best case outcome occurred, evidenced by the balance and overlap of value areas in the S&P 500.

This activity, which marks a potential willingness to continue balance, is adding strength to poor structure, a dynamic that is helping clear the market of technical instabilities.

Graphic: Divergent delta (i.e., non-committed selling as measured by volume delta or buying and selling power as calculated by the difference in volume traded at the bid and offer) in SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE: SPY), one of the largest ETFs that track the S&P 500 index, via Bookmap. The readings are supportive of responsive trade (i.e., rotational trade that suggests current prices offer favorable entry and exit; the market is in balance).

Context: According to Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS), the S&P 500 ought to be weighed down by slower earnings growth and rising yields. The firm’s chief U.S. equity strategist explains that risk and reward for broad indices look unattractive.

“[W]e think 2022 will finally bring the multiple compression we incorrectly forecasted for 2H 2021. Our 12-month target P/E of 18x is 15% below current levels but in line with the 5-year average and the top quintile for the past 30 years.” 

“The risk of de-rating has been deferred, not avoided, and makes our 12-month S&P 500 Bear/Base/Bull targets of 3900/4400/5000 unexciting.”

This comes alongside expectations that inflation – a product of strong demand – is likely to worsen but not disrupt deflationary trends, such as increased moneyness of nonmonetary assets, innovation, and the like. 

Graphic: Inflation ought to worsen before it cools, via The Market Ear.

Moreover, in terms of positioning, the CBOE Volatility Index (INDEX: VIX) was a touch higher, while demand came in across the front area of the VIX futures term structure. 

Obviously, the tone has changed a bit since last week; customer demand and exposure to very short-dated put protection declined. This was most noticeable in how the VIX term structure behaved over the past sessions. After shifting outward (mostly) in the front, a sign of demand for short-dated protection, the curve shifted back down, late last week.

So, while the initial pop (and hedging on the part of those dealers that warehouse customer options orders) was destabilizing, the term structure slid back into line and the removal of that short-dated protection had the effect of leading dealers to buy back short stock/futures hedges.

This stabilized the market. 

Thereafter, the market drifted back up to the level at which positive options gamma is highest, ahead of a fast-approaching monthly options expiration (OPEX). Into OPEX, dealers’ positive exposure to the risks of price movement, based on predominant positioning in the S&P, ought to increase. In hedging this exposure, dealers ought to supply the market with liquidity (i.e., sell stock/futures) which ought to dampen upside volatility.

So, presently, we’re in a bind and things ought to loosen after OPEX, allowing fundamental catalysts to play a bigger role in price discovery.

A way to play this dynamic is to structure some sort of options spread that applies the proceeds from a short option (which capitalizes on pinning and the rapid decay of soon-to-expire options) toward a long option further out in time. Learn about basic Calendar Spreads or see below.
Graphic: The risk profile of a long put calendar spread, via Fidelity.

Expectations: As of 6:00 AM ET, Tuesday’s regular session (9:30 AM – 4:00 PM ET), in the S&P 500, will likely open in the lower part of a negatively skewed overnight inventory, inside of prior-range and -value, suggesting a limited potential for immediate directional opportunity.

In the best case, the S&P 500 trades sideways or higher; activity above the $4,674.25 micro composite point of control (MCPOC) puts in play the $4,695.25 high volume area (HVNode). Initiative trade beyond the HVNode could reach as high as the $4,711.75 all-time high and $4,735.25 Fibonacci, or higher.

In the worst case, the S&P 500 trades lower; activity below the $4,674.25 MCPOC puts in play the $4,647.25 HVNode. Initiative trade beyond the HVNode could reach as low as the $4,619.00 VPOC and $4,590.00 balance area boundary (BAH), or lower.

As an aside, participants reclaimed the volume-weighted average price (VWAP) anchored from the all-time high and recent Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting.

This is a metric highly regarded by chief investment officers, among other participants, for quality of trade. Additionally, liquidity algorithms are benchmarked and programmed to buy and sell around VWAPs.

Further, given that this development suggests the average buyer, since the all-time high, is in a winning position, who does this dynamic embolden? The buyer or seller?

Click here to load today’s updated key levels into the web-based TradingView charting platform. Note that all levels are derived using the 65-minute timeframe. New links are produced, daily.
Graphic: 65-minute profile chart of the Micro E-mini S&P 500 Futures. Learn about the profile.

A Quick Guide To Options

Options offer an efficient way to gain directional exposure. 

If an option buyer was short (long) stock, he or she could buy a call (put) to hedge upside (downside) exposure. Additionally, one can spread, or buy (+) and sell (-) options together, strategically.

Commonly discussed spreads include credit, debit, ratio, back, and calendar.

  • Credit: Sell -1 option closer to the money. Buy +1 option farther out of the money.
  • Debit: Buy +1 option closer to the money. Sell -1 option farther out of the money.
  • Ratio: Buy +1 option closer to the money. Sell -2 options farther out of the money. 
  • Back: Sell -1 option closer to the money. Buy +2 options farther out of the money.
  • Calendar: Sell -1 option. Buy +1 option farther out in time, at the same strike.

Typically, if bullish (bearish), sell at-the-money put (call) credit spread and/or buy a call (put) debit/ratio spread structured around target price. Alternatively, if the expected directional move is great (small), opt for a back spread (calendar spread). Also, if credit spread, capture 50-75% of the premium collected. If debit spread, capture 2-300% of the premium paid.

Be cognizant of risk exposure to direction (delta), time (theta), and volatility (vega). 

  • Negative (positive) delta = synthetic short (long). 
  • Negative (positive) theta = time decay hurts (helps).
  • Negative (positive) vega = volatility hurts (helps).

What People Are Saying

Definitions

Volume Areas: A structurally sound market will build on areas of high volume (HVNodes). Should the market trend for long periods of time, it will lack sound structure, identified as low volume areas (LVNodes). LVNodes denote directional conviction and ought to offer support on any test. 

If participants were to auction and find acceptance into areas of prior low volume (LVNodes), then future discovery ought to be volatile and quick as participants look to HVNodes for favorable entry or exit.

POCs: POCs are valuable as they denote areas where two-sided trade was most prevalent in a prior day session. Participants will respond to future tests of value as they offer favorable entry and exit.

MCPOCs: POCs are valuable as they denote areas where two-sided trade was most prevalent over numerous day sessions. Participants will respond to future tests of value as they offer favorable entry and exit.

Significance Of Prior ATHs, ATLs: Prices often encounter resistance (support) at prior highs (lows) due to the supply (demand) of old business. These areas take time to resolve. Breaking and establishing value (i.e., trading more than 30-minutes beyond this level) portends continuation.

Value-Area Placement: Perception of value unchanged if value overlapping (i.e., inside day). Perception of value has changed if value not overlapping (i.e., outside day). Delay trade in the former case.

About

After years of self-education, strategy development, and trial-and-error, Renato Leonard Capelj began trading full-time and founded Physik Invest to detail his methods, research, and performance in the markets.

Additionally, Capelj is a Benzinga finance and technology reporter interviewing the likes of Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary, JC2 Ventures’ John Chambers, and ARK Invest’s Catherine Wood, as well as a SpotGamma contributor, developing insights around impactful options market dynamics.

Disclaimer

At this time, Physik Invest does not manage outside capital and is not licensed. In no way should the materials herein be construed as advice. Derivatives carry a substantial risk of loss. All content is for informational purposes only.

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Commentary

Daily Brief For October 22, 2021

Editor’s Note: Due to travel commitments, the Daily Brief will not be sent 10/25-10/27.

Apologies and have a great weekend!

Market Commentary

Out of sync with bonds, equity index futures were mostly sideways to higher. Commodities were higher. Volatility compressed.

  • Ahead is manufacturing, services PMI.
  • Participants discover uncharted prices.
  • Options positioning presented tailwind.

What Happened: U.S. stock index futures, less the Nasdaq 100, auctioned sideways to higher overnight as participants looked to discover new prices.

Ahead is data on manufacturing and services PMI (9:45 AM ET), as well as Fed-speak (10:00 and 11:00 AM ET).

Graphic updated 6:40 AM ET. Sentiment Risk-On if expected /ES open is above the prior day’s range. /ES levels are derived from the profile graphic at the bottom of the following section. Levels may have changed since initially quoted; click here for the latest levels. SqueezeMetrics Dark Pool Index (DIX) and Gamma (GEX) calculations are based on where the prior day’s reading falls with respect to the MAX and MIN of all occurrences available. A higher DIX is bullish. At the same time, the lower the GEX, the more (expected) volatility. SHIFT data used for S&P 500 (INDEX: SPX) options activity. Note that options flow is sorted by the call premium spent; if more positive then more was spent on call options. Breadth reflects a reading of the prior day’s NYSE Advance/Decline indicator. VIX reflects a current reading of the CBOE Volatility Index (INDEX: VIX) from 0-100.

What To Expect: As of 6:30 AM ET, Friday’s regular session (9:30 AM – 4:00 PM EST) in the S&P 500 will likely open on a small gap, just outside of prior-range and -value, suggesting a potential for immediate directional opportunity.

Gap Scenarios: Gaps ought to fill quickly. Should they not, that’s a signal of strength; do not fade. Leaving value behind on a gap-fill or failing to fill a gap (i.e., remaining outside of the prior session’s range) is a go-with indicator.

Auctioning and spending at least 1-hour of trade back in the prior range suggests a lack of conviction; in such a case, do not follow the direction of the most recent initiative activity.

During the prior day’s regular trade, on light volume, nonparticipatory intraday breadth, and supportive market liquidity metrics, the best case outcome occurred, evidenced by upside resolve, above flattened day timeframe profile structures, or ledges.

This activity comes after prior sessions left behind numerous gaps and emotional, multiple-distribution profile structures.

Further, Thursday’s overnight gap in range, below value, set indices up for what is called the cave-fill process (characterized by repair and strengthening of low volume areas).

The day timeframe activity rejected lower prices; participants auctioned to new highs in both regular and overnight trade, putting in play a recovery of the un-adjusted overnight high (ONH) at $4,550.00.

Graphic: Supportive delta (i.e., committed buying as measured by volume delta or buying and selling power as calculated by the difference in volume traded at the bid and offer) in SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE: SPY), one of the largest ETFs that track the S&P 500 index, via Bookmap. The readings are supportive of initiative trade.

Zooming out, we see that though the Nasdaq 100 firmed this week, it did not recover as much ground as its peers, the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average, both of which are trading at or above their all-time high figures. 

Graphic: SPDR S&P 500 ETF (NYSE: SPY) top left, Invesco QQQ Trust Series 1 (NASDAQ: QQQ) top right, iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE: IWM) bottom left, SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust (NYSE: DIA) bottom right.

This recovery has been swift and built on relatively poor – low volume – structures that ought to offer minimal support; what this simply means is that higher prices need validation.

Note: Value is defined by where 70% of the day’s trade happened, the bulk of where volume is. 

Think of the absence of high volume structures, on the way up, leaving no value to base off of. If prices are followed by value, that means that they are supported. If there is an open above (below) value, a market will auction lower (higher) in search of buyers (sellers). After auctioning too far from value, the response by higher timeframe participants will introduce single-print buying and selling tails as those participants look to take advantage of higher (lower) prices to sell (buy). 

Please read this excerpt from Mind Over Markets, for additional context.

Further, the aforementioned trade is happening in the context of improving breadth amidst a seasonally bullish cycle of contributions, rebalancing, and earnings, as well as the risks associated with a taper in asset purchases and a hike in rates.

In terms of positioning, the CBOE Volatility Index (INDEX: VIX) was lower, while the VIX futures term structure settled in contango; supply at the front end of the curve, alongside the long-gamma environment, signals a potential for near-term equity market stability.

According to SpotGamma analyses, this is where the so-called vanna (i.e., inflows as a result of options sliding down their term structure) dynamic comes to dominate. Adding, we look for increased interest in options strikes that are higher in price and further out in time.

Moreover, for today, participants may make use of the following frameworks.

In the best case, the S&P 500 trades sideways or higher; activity above the $4,525.00 untested point of control (VPOC) puts in play the $4,550.00 overnight high (ONH). Initiative trade beyond the ONH could reach as high as the $4,568.25 and $4,589.75 Fibonacci extensions, or higher.

In the worst case, the S&P 500 trades lower; activity below the $4,525.00 VPOC puts in play the $4,510.00 low volume area (LVNode). Initiative trade beyond the LVNode could reach as low as the $4,495.75 high volume area (HVNode) and $4,471.00 VPOC, or lower.

Click here to load today’s updated real-time key levels into the web-based TradingView charting platform. Please note that all levels are derived using the 65-minute timeframe.
Graphic: 65-minute profile chart of the Micro E-mini S&P 500 Futures updated 6:30 AM ET.

Definitions

Cave-Fill Process: Widened the area deemed favorable to transact at by an increased share of participants. This is a good development.

Overnight Rally Highs (Lows): Typically, there is a low historical probability associated with overnight rally-highs (lows) ending the upside (downside) discovery process.

Volume Areas: A structurally sound market will build on areas of high volume (HVNodes). Should the market trend for long periods of time, it will lack sound structure, identified as low volume areas (LVNodes). LVNodes denote directional conviction and ought to offer support on any test. 

If participants were to auction and find acceptance into areas of prior low volume (LVNodes), then future discovery ought to be volatile and quick as participants look to HVNodes for favorable entry or exit.

POCs: POCs are valuable as they denote areas where two-sided trade was most prevalent in a prior day session. Participants will respond to future tests of value as they offer favorable entry and exit.

Excess: A proper end to price discovery; the market travels too far while advertising prices. Responsive, other-timeframe (OTF) participants aggressively enter the market, leaving tails or gaps which denote unfair prices.

Ledges: Flattened area on the profile which suggests responsive participants are in control, or initiative participants lack the confidence to continue the discovery process. The ledge will either hold and force participants to liquidate (cover) their positions, or crack and offer support (resistance).

Volume-Weighted Average Prices (VWAPs): A metric highly regarded by chief investment officers, among other participants, for quality of trade. Additionally, liquidity algorithms are benchmarked and programmed to buy and sell around VWAPs.

News And Analysis

U.K. consumer confidence falls amidst cheerless news.

Growth digitalization of finance intensifying competition.

Supply issues could haunt the holidays after sales rise.

Substantial progress toward Fed’s mandates. Tapering?

Think everything’s expensive now? Wait there is more.

Big jump in home sales – impressive considering supply.

Biden: U.S. would defend Taiwan from attack by China.

Online wager, engagement key to sports betting growth.

What People Are Saying

About

After years of self-education, strategy development, and trial-and-error, Renato Leonard Capelj began trading full-time and founded Physik Invest to detail his methods, research, and performance in the markets. 

Additionally, Capelj is a finance and technology reporter. Some of his biggest works include interviews with leaders such as John Chambers, founder and CEO, JC2 Ventures, Kevin O’Leary, businessman and Shark Tank host, Catherine Wood, CEO and CIO, ARK Invest, among others.

Disclaimer

At this time, Physik Invest does not manage outside capital and is not licensed. In no way should the materials herein be construed as advice. Derivatives carry a substantial risk of loss. All content is for informational purposes only.

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Categories
Commentary

Daily Brief For October 21, 2021

Market Commentary

In sync with bonds, equity index futures were sideways to lower. Commodities were mixed. Volatility expanded lightly.

  • Ahead is jobless claims data and more.
  • Many companies surpass expectations.
  • Positioned for sideways trade, balance.

What Happened: U.S. stock index futures auctioned sideways to lower overnight alongside news that among the S&P 500 companies that have disclosed their corporate results, 84% have posted earnings that surpassed expectations.

Ahead is jobless claims and Philadelphia Fed manufacturing (8:30 AM ET) data, Fed speak (9:00 AM ET), as well as existing home sales and leading economic indicators (10:00 AM ET) updates.

Graphic updated 6:45 AM ET. Sentiment Neutral if expected /ES open is inside of the prior day’s range. /ES levels are derived from the profile graphic at the bottom of the following section. Levels may have changed since initially quoted; click here for the latest levels. SqueezeMetrics Dark Pool Index (DIX) and Gamma (GEX) calculations are based on where the prior day’s reading falls with respect to the MAX and MIN of all occurrences available. A higher DIX is bullish. At the same time, the lower the GEX, the more (expected) volatility. SHIFT data used for S&P 500 (INDEX: SPX) options activity. Note that options flow is sorted by the call premium spent; if more positive then more was spent on call options. Breadth reflects a reading of the prior day’s NYSE Advance/Decline indicator. VIX reflects a current reading of the CBOE Volatility Index (INDEX: VIX) from 0-100.

What To Expect: As of 6:30 AM ET, Thursday’s regular session (9:30 AM – 4:00 PM EST) in the S&P 500 will likely open on a light gap, just inside of prior-range and -value, suggesting a limited potential for immediate directional opportunity. 

Adding, during the prior day’s regular trade, in the face of strong intraday breadth and divergent market liquidity metrics, equity indices – specifically the S&P 500 – had a tough time expanding the range to the upside, leaving a ledge, or flattened area on the intraday profile.

This activity comes after prior sessions left behind numerous gaps and emotional, multiple-distribution profile structures.

Thursday’s gap in range, below value, sets up indices for what is called the cave-fill process.

It’s highly likely that participants will look to revisit, repair, and strengthen areas of low volume (LVNodes).

Graphic: Divergent delta (i.e., mostly non-committed buying as measured by volume delta or buying and selling power as calculated by the difference in volume traded at the bid and offer) in SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE: SPY), one of the largest ETFs that track the S&P 500 index, via Bookmap. The readings are supportive of responsive trade or balance (i.e., rotational trade that suggests current prices offer favorable entry and exit).

Zooming out, we see that though the Nasdaq 100 firmed this week, it did not recover as much ground as its peers, the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average.

Given where the indices are in relation to their anchored volume-weighted average price levels (VWAPs), the average buyer, since the all-time high, holds a winning position. 

Sideways-to-higher trade, above the upward sloping trendline, as well as the 50.00% and 61.8% retracements, keeps in play a recovery of the all-time high in the S&P 500, Nasdaq 100, and Russell 2000, like the Dow Jones Industrial Average.

Graphic: SPDR S&P 500 ETF (NYSE: SPY) top left, Invesco QQQ Trust Series 1 (NASDAQ: QQQ) top right, iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE: IWM) bottom left, SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust (NYSE: DIA) bottom right.

Further, the aforementioned trade is happening in the context of improving breadth amidst a seasonally bullish cycle of contributions, rebalancing, and earnings, as well as the risks associated with a taper in asset purchases and a hike in rates.

In terms of positioning, the CBOE Volatility Index (INDEX: VIX) was slightly higher, after the October 20 expiration, while the VIX futures term structure shows a bit of demand coming in at the front end of the curve. 

These conditions – coupled with the long-gamma environment and suppression in realized volatility as the S&P 500 trades around $4,510.00, a figure in the vicinity of what options modeling platform SpotGamma calls a Call Wall (i.e., level at which positive options gamma, essentially delta sensitivity to the underlying price, is highest) – point to increased odds of near-term equity market stability, and some potential for back-filling.

Should participants increase their interest in options strikes that are higher in price and further out in time, they may be able to overcome the stickiness of the $4,500.00 S&P 500 area (the direct result of associated hedging pressures, and the like).

Moreover, for today, participants may make use of the following frameworks.

In the best case, the S&P 500 trades sideways or higher; activity above the $4,510.00 low volume area (LVNode) pivot puts in play the $4,526.25 high volume area (HVNode). Initiative trade beyond the $4,526.25 HVNode could reach as high as the $4,550.00 overnight high (ONH) and $4,568.25 Fibonacci extension, or higher.

In the worst case, the S&P 500 trades lower; activity below the $4,510.00 LVNode puts in play the $4,495.75 HVNode. Initiative trade beyond the $4,495.75 HVNode could reach as low as the $4,471.00 untested point of control (VPOC) and $4,437.75 micro composite point of control (MCPOC), or lower.

Click here to load today’s updated real-time key levels into the web-based TradingView charting platform. Please note that all levels are derived using the 65-minute timeframe.
Graphic: 65-minute profile chart of the Micro E-mini S&P 500 Futures updated 6:30 AM ET.

Definitions

Cave-Fill Process: Widened the area deemed favorable to transact at by an increased share of participants. This is a good development.

Overnight Rally Highs (Lows): Typically, there is a low historical probability associated with overnight rally-highs (lows) ending the upside (downside) discovery process.

Volume Areas: A structurally sound market will build on areas of high volume (HVNodes). Should the market trend for long periods of time, it will lack sound structure, identified as low volume areas (LVNodes). LVNodes denote directional conviction and ought to offer support on any test. 

If participants were to auction and find acceptance into areas of prior low volume (LVNodes), then future discovery ought to be volatile and quick as participants look to HVNodes for favorable entry or exit.

Gamma: Gamma is the sensitivity of an option to changes in the underlying price. Dealers that take the other side of options trades hedge their exposure to risk by buying and selling the underlying. When dealers are short-gamma, they hedge by buying into strength and selling into weakness. When dealers are long-gamma, they hedge by selling into strength and buying into weakness. The former exacerbates volatility. The latter calms volatility.

POCs: POCs are valuable as they denote areas where two-sided trade was most prevalent in a prior day session. Participants will respond to future tests of value as they offer favorable entry and exit.

MCPOCs: POCs are valuable as they denote areas where two-sided trade was most prevalent over numerous day sessions. Participants will respond to future tests of value as they offer favorable entry and exit.

Significance Of Prior ATHs, ATLs: Prices often encounter resistance (support) at prior highs (lows) due to the supply (demand) of old business. These areas take time to resolve. Breaking and establishing value (i.e., trading more than 30-minutes beyond this level) portends continuation.

Balance (Two-Timeframe Or Bracket): Rotational trade that denotes current prices offer favorable entry and exit. Balance-areas make it easy to spot a change in the market (i.e., the transition from two-time frame trade, or balance, to one-time frame trade, or trend). 

Modus operandi is responsive trade (i.e., fade the edges), rather than initiative trade (i.e., play the break).

Ledges: Flattened area on the profile which suggests responsive participants are in control, or initiative participants lack the confidence to continue the discovery process. The ledge will either hold and force participants to liquidate (cover) their positions, or crack and offer support (resistance).

More On Volume-Weighted Average Prices (VWAPs): A metric highly regarded by chief investment officers, among other participants, for quality of trade. Additionally, liquidity algorithms are benchmarked and programmed to buy and sell around VWAPs.

News And Analysis

COVID-19 Impacts: A market-implied probability of default perspective.

The Pfizer-BioNTech booster shot restores full coronavirus protections.

Evergrande shares plunging as deal talks end, sales sink nearly 100%.

China’s common prosperity agenda is risky near-term, okay long-term.

Consumer gut on inflation is wrong. That’s a Federal Reserve problem.

What People Are Saying

About

After years of self-education, strategy development, and trial-and-error, Renato Leonard Capelj began trading full-time and founded Physik Invest to detail his methods, research, and performance in the markets. 

Additionally, Capelj is a finance and technology reporter. Some of his biggest works include interviews with leaders such as John Chambers, founder and CEO, JC2 Ventures, Kevin O’Leary, businessman and Shark Tank host, Catherine Wood, CEO and CIO, ARK Invest, among others.

Disclaimer

At this time, Physik Invest does not manage outside capital and is not licensed. In no way should the materials herein be construed as advice. Derivatives carry a substantial risk of loss. All content is for informational purposes only.

Subscribe
Categories
Commentary

Daily Brief For August 11, 2021

Market Commentary

Equity index futures are sideways and divergent.

  • Senate passes new $3.5T economic blueprint.
  • Ahead: Data on CPI, Federal Budget Balance.
  • Sideways chop as participants position for CPI.

What Happened: U.S. stock index futures auctioned sideways ahead of data that would provide clarity on the direction of consumer prices.

According to Moody’s: “The CPI rose 0.9% in June, but it likely moderated in July, since we don’t expect used car prices to have risen as quickly as they have recently. Elsewhere on the inflation front, we will get data on producer and import prices. After the release of the CPI and PPI, we will have a good idea of what the core PCE deflator, the Fed’s preferred measure of inflation, did in June.”

Ahead is also data on the Federal Budget Balance and Fed speak.

Graphic updated 6:45 AM ET. Sentiment Neutral if expected /ES open is inside of the prior day’s range. See here for more on the Dark Pool Index and Gamma. A positive Dark Pool Index reading is bullish. At the same time, the higher (lower) the gamma, the less (more) volatility. SHIFT Search data used for options activity. Note that options flow is sorted by the call premium spent; if green and more (less) positive then more (less) was spent on call options. Breadth reflects a reading of the prior day’s Advance/Decline indicator. VIX reflects a reading of the CBOE Volatility Index from 0-100.

What To Expect: As of 6:45 AM ET, Wednesday’s regular session (9:30 AM – 4:00 PM EST) in the S&P 500 will likely open inside of prior-range and -value, suggesting a limited potential for immediate directional opportunity.

Adding, during the prior day’s regular trade, the best case outcome occurred, evidenced by initiative trade above the $4,422.75, a prior balance area high (BAH), up to the $4,438.50 Fibonacci extension. 

Initiative Buying (Selling): Buying (selling) within or above (below) the previous day’s value area.

Balance (Two-Timeframe Or Bracket): Rotational trade that denotes current prices offer favorable entry and exit. Balance-areas make it easy to spot a change in the market (i.e., the transition from two-time frame trade, or balance, to one-time frame trade, or trend). 

This advance happened in spite of top-line divergences, as well as lackluster metrics with respect to market liquidity and breadth.

Unlike on the NYSE side of things (which sported positive breadth with an inflow into stocks that were up versus down), internals on the Nasdaq were markedly weak with negative breadth supporting a liquidation in the Nasdaq 100 (INDEX: NDX). 

In terms of market liquidity, the cumulative volume delta – a measure of buying and selling power as calculated by the difference in volume traded at the bid and offer – revealed no actionable divergences.

Coming into today’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) release, participants will notice the S&P 500, in particular, trading within a 3-day balance area, above a prior 10-day balance area. In short, since last week’s breakout, little has changed. What was thought would happen (i.e., expansion of range) didn’t happen.

Instead, trade was volatile, establishing excess just a tick short of the $4,438.50 Fibonacci extension as participants likely worked to position themselves for the mid-week data dump. As a result, until after the first couple of impulses on the CPI release, participants are cautioned on early trade.

Excess: A proper end to price discovery; the market travels too far while advertising prices. Responsive, other-timeframe (OTF) participants aggressively enter the market, leaving tails or gaps which denote unfair prices.

Moreover, for today, participants can trade from the following frameworks. 

In the best case, the S&P 500 trades sideways or higher; activity above the $4,422.75 BAH likely puts in play the $4,433.00 untested point of control (VPOC). Initiative trade beyond the VPOC could reach as high as the $4,438.25 regular trade high (RTH High) and $4,446.25 Fibonacci extension.

In the worst case, the S&P 500 trades lower; activity below the $4,422.75 BAH likely puts in play the $4,415.75 low volume area (LVNode). Initiative trade beyond the LVNode could reach as low as the $4,411.00 VPOC and $4,406.25 LVNode.

Volume Areas: A structurally sound market will build on past areas of high volume. Should the market trend for long periods of time, it will lack sound structure (identified as a low volume area which denotes directional conviction and ought to offer support on any test). 

If participants were to auction and find acceptance into areas of prior low volume, then future discovery ought to be volatile and quick as participants look to areas of high volume for favorable entry or exit.

Significance Of Prior ATHs, ATLs: Prices often encounter resistance (support) at prior highs (lows) due to the supply (demand) of old business. These areas take time to resolve. Breaking and establishing value (i.e., trading more than 30-minutes beyond this level) portends continuation.

POCs: POCs are valuable as they denote areas where two-sided trade was most prevalent. Participants will respond to future tests of value as they offer favorable entry and exit.
Graphic: 65-minute profile chart of the Micro E-mini S&P 500 Futures. Graphic updated 6:45 AM ET.

News And Analysis

Earnings historically strong and policy transition.

Hackers steal $600M in likely largest DeFi theft.

Economic activity restart is real and broadening.

A turning point for markets meriting a hard look.

Biden administration to urge OPEC output boost.

The Senate passed a $550B infrastructure plan.

Delta forces hospitals to ration scarce ICU beds.

Mortgage applications rise with rates below 3%.

A systemic cyberattack presents risks for banks.

What People Are Saying

About

After years of self-education, strategy development, and trial-and-error, Renato Leonard Capelj began trading full-time and founded Physik Invest to detail his methods, research, and performance in the markets. 

Additionally, Capelj is a finance and technology reporter. Some of his biggest works include interviews with leaders such as John Chambers, founder and CEO, JC2 Ventures, Kevin O’Leary, businessman and Shark Tank host, Catherine Wood, CEO and CIO, ARK Invest, among others.

Disclaimer

At this time, Physik Invest does not manage outside capital and is not licensed. In no way should the materials herein be construed as advice. Derivatives carry a substantial risk of loss. All content is for informational purposes only.

Subscribe
Categories
Commentary

Daily Brief For August 10, 2021

Market Commentary

Equity index futures are sideways and divergent.

  • Taper talk, COVID-19 fears, infrastructure news.
  • Ahead: NFIB, productivity, unit labor, Fed speak.

What Happened: U.S. stock index futures auctioned sideways alongside COVID-19 fears, infrastructure, crypto regulation, and taper talk.

This comes as core inflation is expected to come in around 4.8%, “likely unhinging Powell and expediting the talk about talking about tapering as early as in September,” according to Nordea.

Ahead is data on the NFIB small-business index, productivity, unit labor costs, and earnings. Cleveland Fed President Loretta Mester speaks at 10:00 AM ET.

Graphic updated 6:30 AM ET. Sentiment Neutral if expected /ES open is inside of the prior day’s range. See here for more on the Dark Pool Index and Gamma. A positive Dark Pool Index reading is bullish. At the same time, the higher (lower) the gamma, the less (more) volatility. SHIFT Search data used for options activity. Note that options flow is sorted by the call premium spent; if green and more (less) positive then more (less) was spent on call options. Breadth reflects a reading of the prior day’s Advance/Decline indicator. VIX reflects a reading of the CBOE Volatility Index from 0-100.

What To Expect: As of 6:30 AM ET, Tuesday’s regular session (9:30 AM – 4:00 PM EST) in the S&P 500 will likely open inside of prior-range and -value, suggesting a limited potential for immediate directional opportunity.

Adding, during the prior day’s regular trade, the best case outcome occurred, evidenced by sideways trade at the $4,422.75 balance area high (BAH). This is significant because the BAH marked a shift in tone (i.e., a transition from two-time frame trade, or balance, to one-time frame trade, or trend).

Given that the BAH was not lost, the default balance break scenarios remain in play (i.e., play the break rather than fade the edges). As a result, we monitor for rejection (i.e., a return inside of balance). This would portend a move to the opposite end of balance, or the $4,365.25 low volume area (LVNode) in the S&P 500 future.

Graphic: 65-minute candlestick charts of the cash-settled S&P 500 (INDEX: SPX), Nasdaq 100 (INDEX: NDX), Russell 2000 (INDEX: RUT), and Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDEX: DJI). The S&P 500, of the four index products covered, has yet to invalidate its breakout.

To note, briefly, yesterday’s rangebound trade came alongside divergences with respect to price, market liquidity, and market internals. 

For instance, breadth at the exchange level was negative with a minuscule inflow into stocks that were down, versus those that were up. The cumulative volume delta – a measure of buying and selling power as calculated by the difference in volume traded at the bid and offer – diverged from mid-afternoon prices inspiring confidence in responsive trade. 

Responsive Buying (Selling): Buying (selling) in response to prices below (above) an area of recent price acceptance.

Moreover, for today, participants can trade from the following frameworks. 

In the best case, the S&P 500 trades sideways or higher; activity above the $4,422.75 BAH puts in play the $4,429.25 high volume area (HVNode). Initiative trade beyond the HVNode could reach as high as the $4,433.25 regular trade high (RTH High) and $4,438.50 Fibonacci extension.

In the worst case, the S&P 500 trades lower; activity below the $4,422.75 BAH puts in play the $4,415.76 LVNode. Initiative trade beyond the LVNode could reach as low as the $4,411.00 untested point of control (VPOC) and $4,406.25 LVNode.

Initiative Buying (Selling): Buying (selling) within or above (below) the previous day’s value area.

Volume Areas: A structurally sound market will build on past areas of high volume. Should the market trend for long periods of time, it will lack sound structure (identified as a low volume area which denotes directional conviction and ought to offer support on any test). 

If participants were to auction and find acceptance into areas of prior low volume, then future discovery ought to be volatile and quick as participants look to areas of high volume for favorable entry or exit.

POCs: POCs are valuable as they denote areas where two-sided trade was most prevalent. Participants will respond to future tests of value as they offer favorable entry and exit.

Significance Of Prior ATHs, ATLs: Prices often encounter resistance (support) at prior highs (lows) due to the supply (demand) of old business. These areas take time to resolve. Breaking and establishing value (i.e., trading more than 30-minutes beyond this level) portends continuation.
Graphic: 65-minute profile chart of the Micro E-mini S&P 500 Futures. Graphic updated 6:20 AM ET.

News And Analysis

China’s top oil refiner said to cut run as delta hits.

Biden’s agenda teed up for Senate endorsement.

SoftBank cut China investments until more clarity.

Major shocks see a divergence in rating migration.

The fully vaccinated are still catching COVID-19.

Analysts are warning on buy now, pay later trend.

What People Are Saying

About

After years of self-education, strategy development, and trial-and-error, Renato Leonard Capelj began trading full-time and founded Physik Invest to detail his methods, research, and performance in the markets. 

Additionally, Capelj is a finance and technology reporter. Some of his biggest works include interviews with leaders such as John Chambers, founder and CEO, JC2 Ventures, Kevin O’Leary, businessman and Shark Tank host, Catherine Wood, CEO and CIO, ARK Invest, among others.

Disclaimer

At this time, Physik Invest does not manage outside capital and is not licensed. In no way should the materials herein be construed as advice. Derivatives carry a substantial risk of loss. All content is for informational purposes only.

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Categories
Commentary

Daily Brief For July 26, 2021

Market Commentary

Equity index futures trade sideways to lower. Yields lead lower.

  • China tension, infrastructure, COVID talk.
  • Ahead are new home sales and earnings.
  • S&P plays with a potential auction failure.

What Happened: U.S. stock index futures auctioned sideways to lower overnight alongside narratives surrounding a U.S. and China stalemate, progress on infrastructure, as well as the spread of COVID-19 variants.

On COVID-19, Nordea analysts conclude: “Delta is a cause for concern around the globe, but judging from the case to hospitalization ratio, it seems as if the crisis is already mostly over. Central banks will conclude the same soon, even if the initial reaction to Delta is clearly dovish.”

Moreover, ahead is data on new home sales, as well as earnings reports by Tesla Inc (NASDAQ: TSLA) and Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE: LMT), among other companies.

Graphic updated 6:40 AM ET. Sentiment Neutral if expected /ES open is inside of the prior day’s range. See here for more on the Dark Pool Index and Gamma. A positive Dark Pool Index reading is bullish. At the same time, the higher (lower) the gamma, the less (more) volatility. SHIFT Search data used for options activity. Note that options flow is sorted by the call premium spent; if green and more (less) positive then more (less) was spent on call options. Breadth reflects a reading of the prior day’s Advance/Decline indicator.

What To Expect: As of 6:40 AM ET, Monday’s regular session (9:30 AM – 4:00 PM EST) in the S&P 500 will likely open inside of prior-range and -value, suggesting a limited potential for immediate directional opportunity.

Adding, during Friday’s trade, the best case outcome occurred, evidenced by trade above $4,384.50, a prior all-time high (ATH) and balance-area high (BAH).

Balance (Two-Timeframe Or Bracket): Rotational trade in which current prices offer favorable entry and exit. Balance-areas make it easy to spot a change in the market (i.e., the transition from two-time frame trade, or balance, to one-time frame trade, or trend).

To note, Friday’s trade happened on positive, albeit weaker breadth. This is in comparison to Thursday’s session during which breadth, measured by the Advance/Decline indicator, was negative and not supportive of an advance in price.

A key thing to watch for is acceptance (i.e., more than 1-hour of trade) and whether an auction failure transpires.

If initiative buyers were to further expand the range, then all is well. However, in a failure to move higher, confirmed by trade below Friday’s $4,372.50 regular trade low (RTH Low), an auction failure may foreshadow a liquidation break.

Liquidation Breaks: A profile shape that suggests participants were “too” long and had poor location.

For today, participants can trade from the following frameworks. 

In the best case, the S&P 500 trades sideways or higher; activity above the $4,384.50 pivot puts in play the $4,398.50 high volume area (HVNode). Initiative trade beyond the $4,398.50 HVNode could reach as high as the $4,407.75 ATH and $4,428.25 Fibonacci-derived target.

In the worst case, the S&P 500 trades lower; activity below the $4,384.50 pivot puts in play a potential auction failure confirmed by trade below the $4,372.50 RTH Low. Initiative trade beyond the RTH Low may reach as low as the $4,353.00 untested Point of Control (VPOC) and $4,325.75 LVNode.

To note, the last key level corresponds with two anchored Volume Weighted Average Price (VWAP) levels, a metric highly regarded by chief investment officers, among other participants, for quality of trade. Additionally, liquidity algorithms are benchmarked and programmed to buy and sell around VWAPs.

POCs: POCs are valuable as they denote areas where two-sided trade was most prevalent. Participants will respond to future tests of value as they offer favorable entry and exit.

Volume Areas: A structurally sound market will build on past areas of high volume. Should the market trend for long periods of time, it will lack sound structure (identified as a low volume area which denotes directional conviction and ought to offer support on any test). 

If participants were to auction and find acceptance into areas of prior low volume, then future discovery ought to be volatile and quick as participants look to areas of high volume for favorable entry or exit.
Graphic: 65-minute profile chart of the Micro E-mini S&P 500 Futures. Graphic updated 6:30 AM ET.

News And Analysis

China stocks tumble in panic selling amid a broad crackdown.

U.S. infrastructure talks near finish as Senators face pressure.

U.S. real yields fell to a record low alongside growth concerns.

The COVID-19 coronavirus crisis is officially over (in the West).

U.S. home price appreciation to moderate as supply increases.

What People Are Saying

About

After years of self-education, strategy development, and trial-and-error, Renato Leonard Capelj began trading full-time and founded Physik Invest to detail his methods, research, and performance in the markets. Additionally, Capelj is a finance and technology reporter. Some of his biggest works include interviews with leaders such as John Chambers, founder and CEO, JC2 Ventures, Kevin O’Leary, businessman and Shark Tank host, Catherine Wood, CEO and CIO, ARK Invest, among others.

Disclaimer

At this time, Physik Invest does not manage outside capital and is not licensed. In no way should the materials herein be construed as advice. Derivatives carry a substantial risk of loss. All content is for informational purposes only.

Subscribe