Tag: Excess Low

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Commentary

Daily Brief For August 4, 2021

Editor’s Note: On Thursday (8/5) and Friday (8/6) there will be no Daily Brief newsletter. Additionally, there will be no Weekly Brief Sunday (8/8), either. All commentaries to resume August 9, 2021.

Market Commentary

Equity index futures trade higher ahead of key fundamental events.

  • Worry dwindles and volatility ebbs.
  • Ahead: Data on jobs and services.
  • A mixed bag. Positioned for higher.

What Happened: U.S. stock index futures auctioned higher and sideways as participants discounted drivers like the COVID-19 coronavirus and China clampdown. 

At the same time, earnings are robust and stimulus remains in play; “Aside from the healthy earnings outlook, we also see equities being supported by continued monetary stimulus from the Federal Reserve and the attractiveness of stocks relative to low bond yields,” said Mark Haefele of UBS Group AG (NYSE: UBS). “Cyclicals are expected to benefit from the shift in consumer spending away from pandemic winners such as mega-cap tech.”

Ahead is data on ADP employment, Markit services PMI, and the ISM services index.

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.

What To Expect: As of 6:30 AM ET, Wednesday’s regular session (9:30 AM – 4:00 PM EST) in the S&P 500 will likely open just 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 after a repair of the $4,370.50 minimal excess low; after testing the low (a level which corresponded with a volume-weighted average price or VWAP anchored from the July 19 swing low), responsive buyers initiated a rally that pushed prices to a higher close, away from value. 

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.

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.

In doing so, participants negated all of Monday’s selling which, as stated Tuesday, was not supported by value or strong metrics with respect to breadth and market liquidity. 

Coming into today’s session, opportunity resides in the S&P 500, Nasdaq 100, and Dow Jones Industrial Average; indices are trading at key go/no-go levels. 

Further up movement puts in play balance-area breakouts. In such a case, the modus operandi shifts from responsive trade (i.e., fade the edges) to initiative trade (i.e., play the break). Failure to expand range portends a rotation back into balance. 

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).

Below are some rough levels to base expectations around. The width of the balance area, projected off the high end of the balance, is the typical target in such a breakout (e.g., $4,490 SPX cash).

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).

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 $4,406.25 low volume area (LVNode) pivot puts in play the $4,417.75 LVNode. Initiative trade beyond the $4,417.75 LVNode could reach as high as the $4,428.25 and $4,438.50 Fibonacci price extensions.

In the worst case, the S&P 500 trades lower; activity below the $4,406.25 LVNode puts in play the $4,392.75 micro-composite point of control (MCPOC). Initiative trade beyond the MCPOC could reach as low as the $4,381.75 untested point of control (VPOC) and $4,365.25 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.

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 6:30 AM ET.

News And Analysis

Markets primed for Powell second term at risk from surprise pick.

China typhoons create latest supply-chain threat as ports close.

Economic data positive for risk but business cycle risks building.

New York City to require proof of vaccination for indoor activities.

Asia-Pacific on track for a strong rebound although scars will last.

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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Commentary

Daily Brief For June 14, 2021

Market Commentary

Index futures balance and attempt to discover higher prices.

  • Ahead: Fed 2-day policy meeting.
  • Indexes trade sideways to higher.

What Happened: U.S. stock index futures auctioned sideways-to-higher, ahead of an impactful Federal Reserve policy meeting.

Further, it is likely that cost-push inflation will be the main driver of inflation into next year. That is according to Moody’s which suggests the Fed is betting on this, too. If wrong, however, it would be due to a wage-price spiral which is still unlikely to occur given that the economy is not near full employment.

Adding, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) will likely not change its forward guidance on interest rates or asset purchases; “The statement will likely strengthen the FOMC’s assessment of the acceleration in inflation and possibly mention the central bank has the tools to address inflation if needed. This would be an effort to keep long-term inflation expectations in check.”

Graphic updated 6:51 AM ET.

What To Expect: Monday’s regular session (9:30 AM – 4:00 PM EST) in the S&P 500 may open just outside of prior-range and -value, suggesting the potential for immediate directional opportunity. 

Adding, during the prior day’s regular trade, the best case outcome occurred, evidenced by initiative trade above the $4,227.00 high volume area (HVNode). This is significant because that particular level marks a pivot (i.e., above = bullish, below = bearish) on the composite profile. 

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.

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

In the best case, the S&P 500 trades sideways or higher; activity above the $4,239.50 regular trade high puts in play the $4,249.00 minimal excess high. Initiative trade beyond that figure could reach as high as the $4,270.00 161.80% Fibonacci price extension and $4,294.75 127.20% extension.

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.

In the worst case, the S&P 500 trades sideways or lower; activity below the $4,239.50 puts in play the HVNode pivot at $4,227.00. If lower, the $4,213.75 low volume area (LVNode) comes into play first. Thereafter, participants ought to look for responses at the $4,206.25, $4,198.75, and $4,177.25 HVNodes.

Graphic: 65-minute profile chart of the Micro E-mini S&P 500 Futures.
Graphic: Daily candlestick charts of the S&P 500 (top left), Nasdaq 100 (top right), Russell 2000 (bottom left), and Dow Jones Industrial Average (bottom right). Note where each index is trading in relation to resistance.
Graphic: SHIFT search suggests participants were most interested in put strikes at and below current prices in the larger cash-settled S&P 500 Index (INDEX: SPX) and Nasdaq 100 Index (INDEX: NDX), last week.

News And Analysis

Economy | Goldman: ‘Too big to fail’ may not apply in China anymore. (BBG)

Economy | U.K.’s Johnson set to announce a delay to end restrictions. (REU)

Markets | Reasons to question retail-driven meme stock craze narrative. (SG)

Markets | SEC plans market structure review amid meme stock frenzy. (WSJ)

Markets | Russell index rebalancing bringing meme stocks mainstream. (BBG)

Markets | Bitcoin higher on news Tesla will use when mining is cheaper. (BBG)

What People Are Saying

Innovation And Emerging Trends

Economy | Americans hoarded money to survive during the pandemic. (BBG)

Markets | Market veterans are mourning the slow death of historic pits. (FT)

FinTech | Investors are craving more of the payments company Stripe. (WSJ)

Economy | A great resignation wave could be coming for companies. (Axios)

About

Renato founded Physik Invest after going through years of self-education, strategy development, and trial-and-error. His work reporting in the finance and technology space, interviewing 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, afforded him the perspective and know-how very few come by.

Having worked in engineering and majored in economics, Renato is very detailed and analytical. His approach to the markets isn’t built on hope or guessing. Instead, he leverages the unique dynamics of time and volatility to efficiently act on opportunity.

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 May 13, 2021

Market Commentary

Index futures in price discovery.

  • Inflation contagion hits pocketbook.
  • Ahead: Claims, PPI, and earnings.
  • Index futures are lower but steady.

What Happened: U.S. stock index futures continued their sell-off, overnight, after a strong move lower, Wednesday.

Graphic updated 7:00 AM EST.

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

Adding, during the prior day’s regular trade, the worst-case outcome occurred, evidenced by initiative trade below Tuesday’s excess low. This is significant because that reference marked the start of a prior intermediate-term bounce.

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.

This downside price discovery comes alongside the release of poor employment and payroll data. 

Price Discovery (One-Timeframe Or Trend): Elongation and range expansion denotes a market seeking new prices to establish value, or acceptance (i.e., more than 30-minutes of trade at a particular price level). 

“‘Markets have lost a little bit of confidence that the Fed has control of inflation’ and the concern was that the central bank might wait too long to address the rise,” Victoria Fernandez, Crossmark Global Investments chief market strategist, said. “I am not sure the market is extremely comfortable with that at this point.”

However, that said, stock indexes may be positioned for a vicious rebound as near-term downside discovery may have reached a limit, based on market liquidity metrics and the inventory positioning of participants. According to SqueezeMetrics, the steepness of the GammaVol (GXV) curve suggests that there’s more risk to the upside than the downside, at the S&P 500’s present juncture.

More On Gamma: In the simplest way, gamma is the sensitivity of an option to changes in underlying price. Dealers that take the other side of option 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.

Knowing the above, for today, participants can trade from the following frameworks. 

In the best case, the S&P 500 trades sideways or higher; activity above the $4,051.00 regular trade low targets the $4,069.25 high volume area (HVNode). Initiative trade beyond the HVNode could reach as high as $4,082.75 HVNode, $4,105.75 low volume area (LVNode), and then the $4,117.00 POC. 

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 (like HVNodes described above) 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.

In the worst case, the S&P 500 trades lower; activity below $4,051.00 puts the index within a composite low-volume zone, a situation in which follow-through, to the next high-volume area, is likely. Further, participants, in such a case, should look for responses at the $4,015.00 and $4,001.00 POCs, the $3,980.00 50% Fibonacci retracement, the $3,943.00 HVNode, and lastly, the $3,918.25-$3,908.00 Fibonacci and volume area confluence zone.

Graphic: 4-hour profile chart of the Micro E-mini S&P 500 Futures.
Graphic: Daily candlestick charts of the S&P 500 (top left), Nasdaq 100 (top right), Russell 2000 (bottom left), and Dow Jones Industrial Average (bottom right).
Graphic: Physik Invest maps out the purchase of call and put options in the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE: SPY), for May 12. Activity in the options market was primarily concentrated in short-dated tenors, in put strikes as low as $389.00, which corresponds with ~$4,000.00 in the cash-settled S&P 500 Index (INDEX: SPX).
Graphic: SHIFT search suggests participants were most interested in short-dated put strikes at and below current prices in the cash-settled S&P 500 Index (INDEX: SPX), Wednesday. 
Graphic: SHIFT search suggests participants were most interested in long-dated call strikes at and above current prices in the cash-settled Nasdaq 100 Index (INDEX: NDX), Wednesday.

News And Analysis

Crypto | Musk splits from Cathie Wood’s Ark on Bitcoin’s environment cost. (BBG)

Economy | Travel bookings are surging as vaccines unleash pent-up demand. (Axios)

Markets | The SPAC King doing just fine even as the bubble starts to burst. (BBG)

Energy | Top U.S. pipeline recovering from a devastating ransomware attack. (REU)

Markets | Hedging gets frantic as puts soar amid stock market hammering. (BBG)

Economy | April’s inflation surge wasn’t as drastic as it looked. Real test ahead. (CNBC)

What People Are Saying

Innovation And Emerging Trends

MedTech | Unpacking how mRNA molecule became a vaccine game-changer. (FT)

Energy | Nuclear reactions are increasing in an inaccessible Chernobyl chamber. (CNET)

Climate | The Fed privately presses big banks on risks from climate change. (REU)

Economy | China bets on productivity, over population, to drive its economy. (BBG)

Crypto | Fintech giant Ant Group’s MYbank joins China’s digital yuan platform. (SCMP)

About

Renato founded Physik Invest after going through years of self-education, strategy development, and trial-and-error. His work reporting in the finance and technology space, interviewing 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, afforded him the perspective and know-how very few come by.

Having worked in engineering and majored in economics, Renato is very detailed and analytical. His approach to the markets isn’t built on hope or guessing. Instead, he leverages the unique dynamics of time and volatility to efficiently act on opportunity.

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 May 12, 2021

Market Commentary

Index futures in balance.

  • Tugging as sectors push and pull.
  • Ahead: Consumer prices, inflation.
  • Indices settle, position for resolve.

What Happened: After responsive buying the day prior, U.S. stock index futures auctioned lower overnight, ahead of data on inflation.

Graphic updated at 6:35 AM EST.

What To Expect: 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 worst-case outcome occurred, evidenced by the initiative trade down to the $4,110.50 minimal excess low. Thereafter, responsive buying brought the S&P 500 back in range. Later, participants found it most favorable to transact at last Tuesday’s POC, a development that suggests visually-driven technical traders may be out in full force.

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

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.

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

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.

Further, this week’s early dip comes ahead of inflation figures that will provide clarity on emerging price pressures. Generally speaking, inflation and rates move inverse to each other. Low rates stimulate demand for loans (i.e., borrowing money more attractive). With the rapid recovery, though, market participants are fearful that rates may have to rise to protect the economy from overheating.

That’s pretty significant.

Higher rates may reduce the present value of future earnings, making stocks, especially those that are high growth, less attractive. To note, however, rates haven’t budged much since March. Rates on the 10 Year T-Note sit well below their March high.

That said, here is a quote to sum current conditions: “For an economy coming out of a pandemic, normal rules don’t apply,” said Matthew Cady, an investment strategist at Brooks Macdonald. “For broad sustained inflation you really need to see much tighter labor markets, and the bottom line is that the CPI out-turn due this week is very unlikely to change that picture.”

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

In the best case, the S&P 500 trades sideways or higher; activity above the $4,141.00 POC targets first the $4,163.00 POC and then the $4,177.25 composite high volume (HVNode) pivot. Initiative trade beyond the pivot could reach as high as the $4,224.75 HVNode. 

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.

In the worst case, the S&P 500 trades sideways or lower; activity below the $4,141.00 POC targets first the $4,103.00 excess low. Thereafter, if no response, participants may look for responses at the $4,128.00 and $4,093.00 POCs.

At this juncture, it pays not to be involved; the risk-to-reward of establishing new swing positions, in a tight trading range, is poor. Responsive trade is the course of action. Only after trading beyond the HVNode pivot, or excess low, may participants have the conviction to participate in initiative trades.

Graphic: 65-minute profile chart of the Micro E-mini S&P 500 Futures.
Graphic: Daily candlestick charts of the S&P 500 (top left), Nasdaq 100 (top right), Russell 2000 (bottom left), and Dow Jones Industrial Average (bottom right). The Dow is the strongest of the four. The Nasdaq is beginning to strengthen, relative to its peers. 
Graphic: Physik Invest maps out the purchase of call and put options in the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE: SPY), for May 11. Activity in the options market was primarily concentrated in very short-dated tenors, in strikes as low as $396.00, which corresponds with ~$4,050.00 in the cash-settled S&P 500 Index (INDEX: SPX). Despite some size bets on both sides of the market, a short duration suggests an overall lack of commitment. 
Graphic: SHIFT search suggests participants were most interested in put strikes at and below current prices in the cash-settled S&P 500 Index (INDEX: SPX), Tuesday. Exposure was concentrated in both the May and June monthly expiries.

News And Analysis

Commodities | Colonial faces deadline to decide on hacked pipeline restart. (BBG)

Politics | Israel and Hamas escalate deadly strikes as the U.S. calls for calm. (BBG)

Markets | SPAC fees to support banks through 2022 even as deals dry up. (BBG)

Markets | COVID-19 concerns, chip sell-off roil the Taiwanese stock market. (WSJ)

Markets | SEC warning over bitcoin futures risks in mutual fund investments. (BBG)

Markets | A higher U.S. corporate tax rate is not a key credit risk driver. (Fitch)

What People Are Saying

Innovation And Emerging Trends

Economy | Housing-market surge is making the cheapest homes the hottest. (WSJ)

Markets | Media account Litquidity Capital is the Meme King of Wall Street. (VOX)

FinTech | eBay joined the NFT frenzy, will allow sale of NFTs on its platform. (REU)

About

Renato founded Physik Invest after going through years of self-education, strategy development, and trial-and-error. His work reporting in the finance and technology space, interviewing 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, afforded him the perspective and know-how very few come by.

Having worked in engineering and majored in economics, Renato is very detailed and analytical. His approach to the markets isn’t built on hope or guessing. Instead, he leverages the unique dynamics of time and volatility to efficiently act on opportunity.

 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

Market Commentary For The Week Ahead: ‘Fast Moves’

Key Takeaways:

  • U.S. Senate passes a $1.9T relief package.
  • COVID vaccination timeline is sped up.
  • Equities are recipients of $12B in inflows.
  • Treasury yields aren’t at worrisome levels.
  • VIX term structure suggests no real panic.
  • Real GDP growth to be over 6% this year.

What Happened: U.S. stock index futures ended the week mixed.

This came after U.S. non-farm payrolls grew by 379,000, versus a consensus of ~180,000, improvement in sales and manufacturing data, as well as news that COVID-19 coronavirus vaccinations were accelerating.

Dynamics Unpacked: On a relative basis, the Nasdaq-100 is weaker, while the S&P 500, Russell 2000, and Dow Jones Industrial Average are stronger. This push-pull dynamic, in prior sessions, made it hard for participants to resolve directionally, evidenced by volatility.

On Friday, after an attempt by market participants to resolve lower, via a break of consolidation, stock indexes made a vicious rebound.

Why did stock indexes make a sudden reversal? Well, despite indexes being best positioned for sideways or lower trade, technically, near-term downside discovery reached its limit, based on market liquidity metrics and the inventory positioning of participants.

As stated in Friday’s morning commentary, according to SqueezeMetrics, the steepness of the GammaVol (GXV) curve suggested there was more risk to the upside than downside.

More On 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.
Graphic 1: SqueezeMetrics data suggested a near-term turnaround after Thursday’s violent liquidation.

Adding, also, coming into Friday’s session, market liquidity suggested (1) buying pressure was increasing and/or (2) sellers were absorbing resting liquidity (opportunistic buying or short covering into weakness), while speculative options activity was concentrated on the call-side.

In simple terms, one could argue, based on the aforementioned dynamics (e.g., speculative derivatives activity), that participants bought last week’s dip.

Graphic 2: Physik Invest maps out the purchase of call and put options in the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE: SPY), for the week ending February 26, 2021. Noting activity in short- and long-dated tenors, near the $380, a strike that corresponds with $3,800.00 in the cash-settled S&P 500 Index (INDEX: SPX).

Important to note, though, is the S&P 500’s long-term trend break, prior to Friday’s dramatic reversal and higher close, as well as Friday’s divergent volume delta in ETFs that track the S&P 500, Nasdaq-100, and Russell 2000.

Graphic 3: Long-term uptrend in the cash-settled S&P 500 Index (INDEX: SPX) was broken.
More On Volume Delta: Buying and selling power as calculated by the difference in volume traded at the bid and offer.
  • QQQ Market Liquidity
  • IWM Market Liquidity
  • SPY Market Liquidity

What To Expect: Directional resolve and volatility, given news that the U.S. Senate, on Saturday, passed President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 coronavirus relief plan, as well as the (2) short-gamma (Graphic 4) environment (i.e, volatility is exacerbated due to dealer hedging requirements), as mentioned in the prior section.

Graphic 4: SpotGamma data suggests Nasdaq-100, the weakest index discussed in this commentary, is below the “Short-Gamma” juncture.

What To Do: In the coming sessions, participants will want to pay attention to the VWAP anchored from the $3,959.25 peak, the $3,720.50 minimal excess low, as well as the $3,837.75 high-volume area (HVNode).

Volume-Weighted Average Prices (VWAPs): Metrics 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.

More On 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.

More On Volume Areas: A structurally sound market will build on past areas of high-volume (HVNode). Should the market trend for long periods of time, it will lack sound structure (identified as a low-volume area (LVNode) 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.

In the best case, the S&P 500 opens and remains above the $3,837.75 volume area. Auctioning above the VWAP anchored from the $3,959.25 peak would suggest buyers, on average, are in control and winning since the February 15 rally high.

In such a case, participants can look to the $3,892.75 HVNode for favorable entry and exit, the $3,934.25 profile ledge, and $3,959.25 overnight rally-high.

More On Ledges: Flattened area on the profile which suggests responsive participants are in control, or initiative participants lack 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 Overnight Rally Highs (Lows): Typically, there is a low historical probability associated with overnight rally-highs (lows) ending the upside (downside) discovery process.

Any activity below the VWAP anchored from the $3,959.25 peak may leave the $3,837.75 HVNode as an area of supply — offering initiative sellers favorable entry and responsive buyers favorable exit.

In such a case, participants can look to other areas of high-volume (i.e., $3,795.75 and $3,727.75) for favorable entry and exit, as well as the repair of the $3,720.50 minimal excess low.

Graphic 5: Profile overlays on a 65-minute candlestick chart of the Micro E-mini S&P 500 Futures.
Graphic 6: 4-hour chart of the Micro E-mini S&P 500 Futures.

Conclusions: The go/no-go level for next week’s trade is $3,837.75.

Any activity at this level suggests market participants are looking for more information to base their next move. Anything above (below) this level increases the potential for higher (lower). 

Levels Of Interest: $3,837.75 HVNode.

Cover photo by Chris Peeters from Pexels.

Categories
Commentary

Market Commentary For 3/4/2021

Notice: To view this week’s big picture outlook, click here.

What Happened: After Tuesday’s end-of-day spike liquidation, U.S. stock index futures were further sold, during Wednesday’s sessions.

What Does It Mean: Broad market indices are mixed.

On a relative basis, the Nasdaq-100 is weaker, while the S&P 500 and Russell 2000 are stronger. This push-pull dynamic is making it hard for participants to resolve directionally, evidenced by recent volatility.

Based on Wednesday’s action, the S&P 500 and Russell 2000 are in balance, while the Nasdaq-100 is in price-discovery mode, evidenced by a successful break from balance. In other words, the outlook is mixed; one may argue that lower prices in the S&P 500 are likely, given the relative weakness of the Nasdaq.

Adding, there’s one guarantee over the next few sessions: volatility.

Given that the S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 are in short-gamma territory (Graphic 1), option dealers are required to hedge their exposure in a manner that exacerbates volatility. This hedging activity will worsen with the purchase of put options by market participants looking to hedge their downside, which is happening, as evidenced by Graphic 2.

More On Gamma: Gamma is the sensitivity of an option to changes in underlying price. Dealers that take the other side of option 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.
Graphic 1: SpotGamma data suggests Nasdaq-100 at or below “Short-Gamma” juncture.
Graphic 2: Option activity for the largest ETFs that track the S&P 500, Nasdaq-100, and Russell 2000.

Important to note is market liquidity, which suggests (1) buying pressure is increasing or (2) sellers are absorbing resting liquidity (which could be opportunistic buying or short covering into weakness).

  • IWM Market Liquidity
  • QQQ Market Liquidity
  • SPY Market Liquidity

What To Expect: Thursday’s regular session (9:30 AM – 4:00 PM ET) will likely open just inside of prior-value and -range, suggesting a limited potential for immediate directional opportunity.

During Wednesday’s trade, the worst case outcome occurred: participants auctioned past Tuesday’s regular trade low, emboldening sellers and starting a new auction, to the downside. The session ended on a spike lower, away from value, with the Nasdaq-100 breaking its week-long balance area, to the downside.

More On Spikes: Spike’s mark the beginning of a break from value. Spikes higher (lower) are validated by trade at or above (below) the spike base (i.e., the origin of the spike).

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

Important to mention is overnight discovery, which established clear excess on the composite profile.

More On 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.

Given the aforementioned dynamics, participants can trade from the following frameworks.

In the best case, the S&P 500 either (1) remains rotational, trading responsively between the $3,785.00 gap boundary and $3,837.75 high-volume area (HVNode), or (2) auctions past the $3,837.75 HVNode.

Thereafter, if higher, attention shifts to whether the S&P 500 can get past the $3,861.25 low-volume area (LVNode). Doing so suggests the most recent downside probe was an auction failure (i.e, participants rejected lower prices, sparking a rapid recovery).

In the worst case, participants auction past the $3,777.75 regular trade low (RTH Low). In such a case participants may target the $3,727.75 and $3,689.50 HVNodes.

More On 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.
Pictured: Profile overlays on a 4-hour chart of the Micro E-mini S&P 500 Futures.

Levels Of Interest: $3,837.75 HVNode, $3,777.75 RTH Low, and $3,727.75 HVNode.

Categories
Commentary

‘Tug Of War’: Market Commentary For The Week Ahead

Key Takeaways:

  • Sentiment still stretched despite cooling after the vaccine value rotation on news of further lockdowns, which could have a material consequence on the economic recovery.
  • The pandemic-induced liquidation of businesses not equipped to survive disruption and the accelerated adoption of new technology suggests growth stocks have staying power.
  • Broad-market equity indices ended in a larger balance area suggesting further acceptance of the positive response to upside earnings surprises, a divided government, and vaccine results. 
  • Friday’s monthly options expiry may mark a decisive move depending on how existing derivatives exposure is rolled forward and the presence of impactful news.
  • Institutions differ in opinion over the market’s strength into year-end.

What Happened: Following the post-election rally, U.S. index futures remained range-bound as sentiment cooled in the face of new lockdowns and fading stimulus hopes.

What Does It Mean: After Monday’s initiative upside drive on news that another COVID-19 coronavirus vaccine developed by Moderna Inc (NASDAQ: MRNA) was 94.5% effective at preventing cases of the virus, U.S. index futures pared their advance, as participants struggled to maintain higher prices, evidenced by a divergent delta (i.e., the non-presence of committed buying) and mechanical trade (i.e., low-excess at the edges of balance).

Pictured: Profile overlays on a candlestick chart of the Micro E-mini S&P 500 Futures.

What To Expect: On Friday’s end-of-day sell-off away from value, the S&P 500 closed within a prior balance area marked by the $3,580 spike base and $3,506.25 excess low. 

Given that Friday’s session failed to retake Wednesday’s spike liquidation, auctioning back into the micro-composite high-volume node at $3,557, the fairest price to do business during the prior week’s balancing activity, initiative sellers remain in control.

As a result, participants come into Monday’s session knowing the following:

  1. Prior end-of-day spikes were the result of weak-handed, short-term buyers liquidating in panic.
  2. The selling did not attract increased participation (i.e., price diverged from value).
  3. Friday’s monthly options expiry may mark a decisive move depending on how existing contracts are rolled forward. Given that $3,600 is the highest gamma strike, the probability of sustained directional resolve, absent material news, is much lower.
Graphic by SpotGamma.com.

Therefore, in light of a weak response to the $3,557 high-volume node and Friday’s options expiry, participants can carry forward the following frameworks for next week’s trade. 

If participants manage to spend time and build value in or below the prior selling activity, then initiative sellers remain in control and the liquidation could be the beginning of a new trend to the downside, confirmed by range expansion beyond the $3,506.25 excess low. Otherwise, there is the potential for a failed break-down in which participants manage to rotate back over the $3,580, a balance area boundary. 

Conclusion: Friday’s monthly options expiry may mark the beginning of a decisive move. The only thing that’s needed? A catalyst. 

In case of sustained upside, Goldman Sachs Group Inc (NYSE: GS) gives the S&P a $3,700 target on an expectation the v-shape recovery will continue into next year. Contributing factors including a divided government, vaccine administration, rebound in profits, low rates, and a small rise in the yield curve. 

Graphic by Goldman Sachs, retrieved from The Market Ear.com. 

In case of further balance or selling, JPMorgan Chase & Co (NYSE: JPM) sees vulnerabilities as mutual funds look to sell $160 billion in global equities to revert to their target 60:40 allocation.

Levels Of Interest: Micro-composite HVN at $3,557, the $3,506.25 excess low, as well as the $3,580 balance-area low.

Categories
Commentary

Market Commentary For 11/19/2020

What Happened: Alongside concerns over another round of shutdowns due to rising COVID-19 coronavirus infection numbers, U.S. index futures maintained lower prices overnight, suggesting acceptance of Wednesday’s spike liquidation.

What Does It Mean: As of now, after an earlier test, the S&P 500 index future is trading above a micro-composite high-volume node at $3,557, the fairest price to do business during last week’s trade. This comes after participants struggled to maintain higher prices for the three sessions prior, evidenced by the divergent delta (i.e., non-presence of committed buying) and low-excess at the edges of balance.

This week’s mechanical trade and minimal-excess extremes, therefore, suggests Wednesday’s end-of-day spike was the result of weak-handed, short-term buyers liquidating in panic. This statement is supported by the fact that the selling did not attract increased participation (i.e., price diverged from value).

Further, participants come into Thursday’s session knowing two key points: (1) higher prices were dominated by short-term, weak-handed participants and (2) Wednesday’s end-of-day spike liquidation did not attract increased participation, suggesting much of the selling was done in panic.

As a result, after breaking balance and testing the high-volume area at $3,557 overnight, the S&P 500 offers participants a clear framework for approaching today’s trade. Therefore, if participants manage to spend time and build value in or below the prior day’s selling activity, then initiative sellers remain in control and the liquidation could be the beginning of a new trend to the downside. Otherwise, odds favor a response as the market has now advertised prices below balance, at last-week’s fairest price, offering buyers favorable entry.

The latter scenario would result in a failed break and rotation back into the upper-balance area. The former would suggest range expansion to the lower end of last week’s balance, $3,506.25.

Levels Of Interest: Micro-composite HVN at $3,557, the $3,506.25 excess low, as well as the $3,585 balance-area low.

Categories
Commentary

Market Commentary For 11/13/2020

What Happened: During Thursday’s regular trading in the S&P 500, market participants lacked conviction to break above the initial balance, which lead to a liquidation that found buyers just above Tuesday’s excess low.

Alongside news that president-elect Joe Biden cemented his Arizona victory and U.S. states began reimposing COVID-19 coronavirus restrictions, buyers cautiously extended range overnight, auctioning toward the upper-end of the three-day balance area.

What Does It Mean: As of now, the market remains rotational between the $3,506 excess low and $3,580 spike base.

Further, the market’s failure to negate Monday’s end-of-day spike points the possibility of a failed higher time frame breakout, and keeps initiative sellers in control. Trade below the aforementioned excess low would confirm the failure of a higher time frame breakout.

Moreover, given the likelihood of an open in prior-range and -value, there’s the potential for more balance and rotation in an area where the greatest volume of trade took place over the past three days. This scenario is supported by current positioning. If the market was to initiate outside of this area, then participants will have conviction to follow-through (in whatever direction that may be).

As a result, participants start the day off with a clear framework; in such case, if price is accepted outside of the balance area, we should be inclined to place trades in the direction of the activity. Otherwise, the market will stay range-bound, favoring short-term, responsive trade.

Levels Of Interest: $3,580 spike, $3,506 excess low, the high-volume areas at $3,600, $3,540, and $3,500, as well as the low volume areas at $3,520, $3,575, and $3,608.

Categories
Commentary

Market Commentary For 11/12/2020

What Happened: Wednesday’s trade built on Tuesday’s response, establishing higher value in the S&P 500, but failed to negate Monday’s end-of-day spike, suggesting initiative sellers remain in control. Sellers extended range overnight, auctioning into the high-volume area that corresponds with the October rally-high.

What Does It Mean: As of now, acceptance of the spike remains intact, confirmed with the market’s failure to trade through the low-volume area beneath $3,580. Adding, the possibility of a failed higher time frame breakout remains, confirmed by trade below the $3,506.25 excess low.

Further, given the likelihood of an open in prior-range and -value, there’s the potential for balanced, rotational trade in an area that represents where the greatest volume of trade took place over the past two days. If the market was to initiate outside of this area, then participants will have conviction to follow-through (in whatever direction that may be).

As a result, participants start the day off with a clear framework; in such case, if price is accepted outside of the balance area, we should be inclined to place trades in the direction of the activity. Otherwise, the market will stay range-bound, favoring short-term, responsive trade.

Levels Of Interest: $3,580 spike, $3,506.25 excess low, the high-volume areas at $3,600, $3,540, and $3,500, as well as the low volume areas at $3,520, $3,575, and $3,608.