Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Market Update

I can't wait to get to yesterday's comments with regard to today, there's just so much to keep track of right now that I don't have time until after the close.

The market truly looks like it's straining to get this move off.

USD/JPY has been trading sideways since the intraday highs at 11:50 a.m.

As for intraday breadth, the TICK as of a few minutes ago...
 Remember yesterday's suspected "toehold" for the market to build something off of to the upside at 2 p.m.?

And this morning's flameout around 10 a.m. with TICK breaking the channel, but never really hitting any extremes, all under +1250 and since...

TICK has turned down (number of NYSE advancing stocks less number of declining stocks), right now TICK is closing in on -1000, intraday market breadth is falling apart on what is clearly a manipulated move as more or less expected from recent comments with the finest point put on it yesterday in the Daily Wrap.

 The 3 min trend of the QQQ is showing an overall distribution process from the April 2 forecasted trend as well as the reversal process and today is looking a lot like the "Chimney" in our "Igloo w/ a Chimney" topping reversal pattern, but what is really strange is the leading divergence to the far right which has no supporting base area or supporting divergence (positive) which was also part of the timely comments from last night as there's 1 goal here only, break above the SPX March trendline, I have no doubt it will be a head fake move/bull trap, but it seems they are having a tough time and that's even with outright manipulation NANEx has documented from the afternoon which makes some sense as to these very strange intraday signals.

Now compare to the IWM intraday chart below which makes a lot of sense...

 A positive at yesterday's 2 pm flameout but it's still small and on a 1 min chart. An additional larger positive with yesterday's at this morning's lows and selling capitulation event intraday which also makes sense and the move up in IWM which is proportional to the divergence since 2 pm yesterday. Since then a negative divegrence has set in and the IWM is losing momentum and turning lateral

In other words, even with all of this odd manipulation, the market is struggling to make a clean break.

 Here's a more contextual view of the intraday IWM 1 min chart seeing distribution in to higher prices.

And even stranger (under normal circumstances-you have to recall we saw this yesterday and very strong),...
VIX Futures continue to be under accumulation today during this breakout attempt which is what we would have expected from a head fake move, protection as it tends to be the last event before a major price reversal, again in this case down.

I'm going to try to get to Leading Indicators.

APPL has FINALLY made the move we had been expecting based on the triangle. Some other assets like NFLX and others on the watchlist look like they are getting ready to make the upside move I'd like to use to let the trade come to us (short), so I suspect this entire episode is not over.

After looking at all of the charts over the past several weeks , today does make sense, even though there are strange circumstances and the market is still struggling even with the "extra" support.

I have virtually no doubt that "if" they can pull this off, it is the head fake move that leads to the primary trend reversal in the market.

Unusual Market Activity-I Wonder Why...

We've seen some slightly unusual market activity as of earlier today with USD/JPY sponsoring ES / SPX futures with a divergence to run up USD/JPY about 4-5 hours before the US cash open.

Additional strange elements today have included the fact that THERE HAS BEEN NO POSITIVE DIVERGENCE ON ITS OWN TO LIFT THE MARKET, HASN'T BEEN ALL WEEK, MAYBE LONGER.

Then some strange 3C charts, such as...

 This intraday move looks a bit suspicious off a divergence so small. You may recall what I said yesterday in the Daily Wrap, after the close I'll pull the exact text but the gist was, "There's really no support for an SPX breakout, yet the concept of a head fake move is so strong, I believe they'll find some lever to make it happen.

The move is also highly suspect when it comes, which is close, as a head fake move/bull trap.

Last night's comments could not have been more appropriate or timely.

Other strange charts...

 This odd 3 min SPY leading positive, but it has no process whatsoever, no divergence earlier, it looks like someone has simply push cash in to the effort of creating the SPX breakout.

Intraday Index futures are more or less in line/confirmation, however one of the few people I follow on Twitter, Eric Scott Hunsader of NANEX confirmed "Odd behavior " in the E-mini contract for about an hour around noon time.

There have been even odder charts and while new members may not recognize them as unusual, most of you likely will. Tell me, when is the last time we saw a divergence like this...
 A 5 min leading divergence in IWM with no intraday charts migrating to it and on such a small dip intraday. The first divergence at the white arrow is believable, the second that is leading is highly unusual.

The same chart without my scribble...
IWM 5 min and realize that the overall chart is in a leading negative position.

Why? Exactly as was said last night, I don't know how they'll find the market strength to pull it off because it's not there, but the concept is so strong, it's high probability...

SPX daily...
And that's what it's all about.

However keep in mind that in to this probable breakout/head fake move, Protection is seriously bid a posted yesterday and continued today.

You are seeing market manipulation at its finest, I'm sure NANES will put out a graphic on the spoofing and all the other stuff going on in the E-mini today. At least we are getting somewhere now, I doubt the market will be able to hold it long, lets see if retail bites.

MCP Update

Our last post on MCP from April 15th, MCP "Patience Pays?" seems to have given us the reason we had been seeing those long term accumulation signal. I doubt a 10-year deal with Siemens is something that happens overnight and I doubt it's something that stays utterly quiet, thus the longer term divergences.

However since then, we've had a pullback at resistance of what looks like a "W" base bottom.
 MCP daily chart hitting resistance at a "W" base breakout/resistance area.

This is the 60 min chart and leading positive divergence (a very strong signal on a strong chart/timeframe) at the second "W" base low and the trend since. I'd personally like to see a leading positive divegrence on this chart before I felt strongly and comfortable that it was ready to take on resistance and break out to stage 2 mark up.

However, there are some near term charts suggesting something is building, even if it may not be the breakout that I suspect MCP will eventually make to stage 2.
 MCP 3 min shows the negative divergence at resistance, the pullback and a flat range where we often see accumulation / distribution leading positive.

This has migrated over to the 5 min chart as well.
 The same negative at recent highs and a positive relative, almost leading divergence in the same area.

My gut feeling is that MCP will see a bounce back toward the resistance area and likely not breakout. The other scenario is that this divergence continues to build, continues to migrate to longer term timeframes and does make a break out move, the reason I lean more toward the first probability is the 1 min chart which tends to show timing signals.

1 min MCP.

Personally I'd feel best about a trade in MCP long "IF" there were a shakeout below $.70 level on high volume, a clear positive divegrence as that would give us an entry at lower risk, a better price and a stronger timing signal (head fake/shakeout).

I'll set price alerts for such a scenario, otherwise I'll keep monitoring the divergence and see if it builds more from here.



Intraday Deterioration in USD/JPY

From today's earlier post on the USD/JPY vs. ES/SPX futures, Very Early Update it seems the intraday USd/JPY charts are seeing more deterioration, this may lead to an intraday/short term move lower.

The 7 min charts that are still very much in line with higher USD/JPY are still in place and I would suspect that if we saw a USD/JPY intraday pullback, it would likely make another leg higher unless/until those 7 min USD and Yen futures charts start to fall out of line and diverge.

 1 min USD/JPY (candlesticks) vs ES/SPX Futures, as we saw earlier today the USD/JPY picked up sponsorship of Index Futures / ES and they (ES in purple) and lifted them , they have been largely in line since.
There were some signs of possible trouble brewing in USD/JPY, although there was no divergence in the pair itself earlier this morning (see the post linked above). The hints of trouble were in $USDX and Yen futures independently.

Since then...


 The USD/JPY has put in a sign of trouble with a negative divergence recently (the earlier positive that lifted the pair and index futures which started about an hour after the European open, can be seen to the left in white).

 This is the 1 min $USDX chart, you may remember earlier it already had a negative divegrence suggesting a weakening $USD which would likely lead to a weakening $USD/JPY and as it is sponsoring Index futures...

 At the same time for USD/JPY to come down, the Yen would need to lift, this is the 1 min positive divegrence in Yen futures which has grown since the earlier update this morning.

It's difficult to say if this is just going to possibly lead to a pullback and then a leg higher in USD/JPY or if this is going to become a stronger and stronger divergence and knock it down and end of story.

The 7 min charts are the line in the sand, you can see them in line again at this morning's earlier post linked above, they still look the same, however...
 There has been some migration or strengthening of the $USDX negative divegrence as you can see hints of it on a stronger 5 min chart (the concept of migration of a divergence to a stronger timeframe-stronger divegrence).

For now, we aren't seeing that in the Yen 5 min chart, it is still in line to the downside, pointing to USD/JPY future strength even if there's a pullback.
Yen 5 min still in line and not seeing a stronger divegrence.

For now, I'd say we can't assume too much, but based on what we have right now, a pullback or consolidation short term/intraday in the pair looks more and more probable and for the moment, so does another leg higher.

I did want to mention that there's still a bid for protection. You may recall yesterday's Quick Futures , too large to be retail. They are still building so it seems someone is getting ready for something. I'll update VIX futures and VXX in a few minutes as long as nothing else comes up.

Market Update

It's always the dull markets that are the dangerous ones. We're seeing more activity, even if not outright in prices.

Take the NYSE TICK for example...
 TICK was dull this morning in a narrow range until a mediocre move at -1000 at intraday lows, but that shot up to over +1350 which is an extreme before trending in a channel as the market was largely lateral at that time.

There has been a little more excitement in TICK since, but it's subtle and looks like it may be coiling some energy for a move above that channel.

Remember yesterday's 2 pm mini flameout and suspicions that might be a toehold for a head fake move higher? Here's a more appropriate example this morning in SPY on increasing volume (10 min) and a bullish Hammer, short term selling event. This is where a small, almost insignificant divergence formed (positive), under normal circumstances I don't even know if I'd mention it, but since there has been a lack of anything in recent days that could lift the market, any change in character at this point is worth mentioning.

 DIA this morning saw non-confirmation intraday on 1 min 3C charts just like the rest of the market, but note the positive at the morning lows and mini intraday capitulation event mentioned above.

Since the 1 min chart has been largely in line with price action. This is NOYT the kind of divergence that would support a strong breakout move which is what a head fake would need to be, at least not on its own without some other levers.

 The 2 min chart which is slightly stronger shows yesterday's 2 pm mini flameout, the area I suspected might be a toehold to try to get something together. As you can see, this morning's intraday lows and mini flameout put in a stronger positive divegrence and a slightly wider one now.

Just don't forget the highest probability resolution, as posted last night and again as a reminder, the much stronger DIA 15 min chart.
 Like all of the other averages it was positive at the 4/2 forecast (except IWM) and has since gone to a deep leading negative divegrence. This is not to say a short term move can't break above resistance areas and even be impressive, this is to say the probabilities of that move being anything other than a head fake are very low and its ability to hold gains are very low, it's more likely to be the pivot point that head fakes often are.


SPY intraday is similar, the opening gap saw no confirmation and a slight positive at the a.m. lows.

This is more or less what most of the averages look like for the most part.

However once again, yesterday's 2 p.m. lows figure in to a larger positive divegrence at this morning's lows as suspected yesterday.

The market still needs to put in that head fake move for it to be useful, other wise we are gathering data and waiting on trades to set up, but once again we are probing that area in the SPX making it more obvious and more likely that we do get an upside head fake breakout.

SPX daily probing resistance again, it's way too clear, way too obvious to believe it's not going to see a head fake (false breakout), I'm not quite sure it will be able to hold it long all things considered, but we'd have to see what the charts look like at that point.




Quick Update

As I'm watching charts, I'm seeing something up on the upside, this may lead to our anticipated head fake move. The action seems to be on 3-5 min charts and intraday, I'll have some updates out, for me right now there's not much to do except look at ways it may be used as the trade comes to us if this in fact not just some noise.

I'll have charts out in a few minutes.

The NYSE intraday TICK downtrend just broke as an early head's up

Quick Look at Leading Indiactors

Sometimes what the market isn't telling us (I mean near term intraday) is just as important as what it is, we've seen this in a recent example, 3C charts for GLD recently not giving signals and for good reason lest you be stuck in this...
GLD tightening triangle, it's going to give a strong signal, but it's good we weren't getting much from it otherwise as that's a month of opportunity cost.

Also what the market isn't telling us is a baseline for future moves, but not everything is devoid, just a bit "BLAH" today.

When we consider a head fake move, specifically I'm talking about the March SPX down trend line that has acted as resistance numerous times making all the more attractive for a false/failed breakout (head fake) and all the more visible for retail Technical traders, you have to consider the very near term indications of Leading Indicators and the larger trend indications, simple multiple timeframe analysis.

Our SPX:RUT Ratio Indicator shows this better than many right now as it both called the early April forecast (4/2) for a move higher) and is calling the underlying weakness we have seen through the entire move. The head fake as I have mentioned numerous times is simply one of the best price-based concepts we have for timing a (in this case) downside reversal and it's a fantastic place for tactical entries in to strategic positions or options as timing and the discount are paramount to head fake moves which is why I use options more often at head fakes than any other time.

As for some of the intraday leading indications with some longer term reminders thrown in there...
 Intraday the SPX:RUT Ratio (red) vs SPY above on a 1 min chart shows a lack of confirmation intraday, it's still early enough that this can easily flip to support, but it's important to remember the larger implications in using these price moves to our advantage.

The SPX:RUT Ratio vs SPY on a 15 min chart since the positive divergence in to early April, our April 2nd market forecast and a lack of confirmation of the trend in the indicator (red) which is exactly what we expected to see which was also posted in the 4/2 forecast. Last week's market forecast for a reversal process (lateral trade) worked out well.

Remember though the most common topping price pattern and most useful, "Igloo with a chimney on the right), the igloo typically being the rounding of the reversal process, the Chimney being a head fake move above the reversal process highs and turn to the downside after creating a bull trap in this case (the same applies for bottom reversals to the upside, just inversely which we recently saw a small example of in USO's base area before the last run, a stop run head fake).

Pro Sentiment Indicators have been positive since Friday's 1-day oversold condition leading to Monday's pop higher, they have remained in line since then, but were quite positive on Friday for near term trade.

Longer term, they don't look so great.
The last forecasted cycle from the start of April with initial confirmation, now divergence.

High Yield Corp. Credit is maybe not so surprisingly giving up intraday strength, you may recall yesterday I mentioned the 3C charts here look horrible, I'm surprised we haven't seen a larger near term turn/divergence, although the primary trend is very negatively dislocated.
 HY Corp. Credit intraday not looking so supportive, but within the recent trend...

Since the 4/2 forecast it has confirmed, put in several small negative divergences and a positive on Friday's deeply 1-day oversold breadth condition. As I mentioned yesterday, the 3C charts for HY credit look a LOT worse than does the Leading Indication, which "should" go negative before we get a sustainable and true turn to the downside. I suspect that would happen DURING a head fake move.

On a longer term trend basis...
 HY Corp. credit was in line at the green arrow and then went negative vs thee SPX (green), it's also in a primary downtrend, sooner or later, equities will catch down to credit's reality.

 Yesterday intraday support was found in Treasury yields, today you can see it again (30 year yields), as usual, the market (SPX in green) are drawn to yields like a magnet. However consider multiple timeframe analysis as well.

Longer term 5 year yields, the only aberration to the divergence was that one NFP print sending treasuries lower/yields higher (vs SPX green).

The spot VIX and short term VIX futures are in line so far today, they aren't offering much in the was of intraday information, however don't forget the charts of VIX futures posted yesterday, an usual large positive divergence and remember the coiling in VIX under the 50-day with ANOTHER triangle.

Today for the most part, so far the Leading Indications and the market action is as "BLAH" as the internals were last night (Dominant Price/Volume Relationship, Sector performance, etc.), you may recall that from last night's Daily Wrap, so in some sense, it's almost not surprising that today has been blah, but these are the most dangerous markets as I often say, "It's like the kids in the room next door just a little too quiet", you know they are up to something.

I'll have a Market Update as well as a USO/Oil Update out soon.

Very Early Update

I'm usually not too interested in the A.M. noise, but there are some interesting hints, likely as to who's running the show today , as I said the last few days, I don't see the market's strength or ability to effect a head fake breakout (false/failed breakout) above the very magnetic SPX March resistance trendline without some outside help, USD/JPY may be just the latest in levers that have been called up or maybe it's the one that gets the job done. Either way, as you know, I feel very strongly that any break above resistance will be a head fake move, the concept is at about 80% before a reversal (downside in this case) as I detailed as well as I could last night, therefore it's an interesting opportunity for using price strength to tactically enter strategically weak positions and or sell longs that might have just about overstayed their welcome.

The market doesn't look exceptionally sharp since the cash open (keep in mind many of these are 1 min charts and they take some time to collect)...
 ES 1 min since this morning post European open positive divegrence and a slight negative on the US cash open.

The market averages are confirming intraday so far, but remember these are short term charts and early at that.

SPY 1 min intraday failure of 3C to confirm/negative at the gap up open and in line since like the other averages, yet the TICK Index is very mellow and several of the Leading Indicators providing very near term support to the market are still in place. Yields look to be a bit of a different story.

Early on it was easy to see the USD/JPY was running the show this morning...
 The same divergences as ES/SPX futures at the same places/times.

Although USD/JPY appears to be in line at this capture, this is likely what is causing some early weakness...
 1 min $USDX, the first part of the FX pair (futures) also positive at the same area this morning and negative around the cash open.

Confirming is the Yen 1 min futures, the second half of the pair.
 Yen negative at the same time everything else was positive this morning, remember USD/JPY up means Yen down and a positive divegrence in Yen futures as of this capture, that is confirmation among multiple assets.

However the point being, this looks like intraday/morning noise thus far. Before we go too much further, lets just look at a larger chart of the $USDX and what the April 2nd forecast for the $USD was.
 Just before the positive divegrence to the left (white) on the $USDX 2-days earlier I posted that the $USD will bounce (along with the market forecast on April 2nd) and then see a reversal and a larger decline. That bounce took place a couple of days after the forecast (after the white accumulation area) and then reversed back down as expected to start the next leg, the larger move down.

In the middle of that we have a quite normal counter-trend correction which has been supportive of the market as the $USD has led the market recently, and last night I said I thought there was a decent chance that the $USD see a little more strength in the area, that would be meaningful on a short term basis to USD/JPY and the market, but after I expect to see the $USD move to continue the reversal to the downside started.

As for sturdier timeframes for USD/Yen than intraday 1 min charts that look to be a bit of noise right now, the 7 min charts (not as strong as the 60 min above).

 For now shows the $USDX in line with 3C confirmation so a small continued bounce (relative to the chart above) is perfectly acceptable and makes sense, that means the Yen would have to have some confirmation as well toward near term weakness.

7 min Yen Futures are perfectly in line and confirmed by 3C on the downside, so despite this morning's 1 min charts, until these longer 7 min charts diverge, I suspect USD/JPY will be exerting more influence on the market to the upside or at least try until we get a head fake move and/or these charts break down which the longer term $USD and Yen forecasts both suggest they will.

Ay least we have an idea of who's in the driver's seat.

The NYSE TICK which was very mellow at the start of this post is seeing some more extreme downside below -1000, but again, thus far this is early intraday typical noise. The charts that are important to us are all broken, but a head fake move is still a high probability.


A.M. Update

Other than the Asian Express and some ECB excitement boiling over from yesterday over 50% dilution of Greek Central bank collateral which would wipe out the Greek Financial sector once and for all, which was later denied by ECB sources, US futures have recently come alive as the small dollar bounce mentioned last night before it turns lower is lifting USD/JPY and Futures near perfectly in line.

 ES 1 min futures, 3C positive at the small "W" morning lows starting about an hour after Europe opened.

So is today the USD/JPY helps the SPX limp out a head fake move above resistance finally?

Stay tuned.

Also oil is seeing that little bounce mentioned yesterday so I'll keep an eye on it and let you know if/when that entry or second shot comes around... More in a few minutes,,,