Pullbacks Are Nice
Let`s start with the Yen Carry trade, where do you think the
juice came from for that S&P ride above 1500? Gee, somebody was sure
waiting for a pullback to get in on that trade. Frankly, it was a rather tepid
reaction to the major disappointment by the BOJ, but traders really want to
move assets up, and the Yen is their best friend.
Ergo, the next level to watch is 95 in the cross, once the
Yen breaks above 91 with strength. We haven`t had a legitimate selloff yet, so
let us see how this cross reacts at the first sign of selling in the market. A
lot of stops could get hit on the unwind of this trade on any major market
sell-off of 4 days in length with a couple of 100 point Dow down days thrown in
the mix.
Further Reading - Gold Market Dip Buying Strategy
Volatility Bounced Off The Bottom
This brings me to Vol, which was bought up prior to the
European close mid-day selloff, watch for Thursdays, after a nice morning ramp
up in assets, always be wary of the 10:30 CST, market sell-off.
Traders were buying Vol discreetly on the run-up to 1500 in
the S&P, and then it was on, on the equities selloff to support levels,
some shorts covered the 4-week downslide in the Vol trade, and this caused
quite a nice move in the Vix off the bottom.
The Vix is really going to pop at the first Risk off event
of 2013 as there are so many traders short Vol right now.
We ended back near the lows as the “Mid-Day V-Trade” in
markets nearly completed with equities finishing with a higher close. Have to
keep the trend alive for the close!
Further Reading - Seaway Pipeline No Panacea for Cushing's Oil Glut
This brings me to Netflix, which had a 40% plus pop today,
yes you read that correctly. I didn`t check what the options were pricing in,
but rest assured it wasn`t for a 40% earning`s move! There is no question with
the skepticism over Netflix`s financial balance sheet, that with a substantial
short interest in the stock, that a lot of shorts got squeezed today.
I haven`t seen this with a big, well-known name in a while.
I imagine some hedge funds had significant losses today. Just ouch! Not
Porsche-VW ouch, but still that had to hurt!
I subscribe to Netflix, but their content sucks. It is just
that other outlets like television and basic cable programing sucks more! What
has happened to quality programming these days?
It is too early to tell what would be a good level to short
Netflix if at all, but definitely something to keep on the ole radar. Anything
that can move 40% in a day can`t be all bad!
Further Reading - Netflix & SEC: Not a Fascinating Social Media Story At All
Apple – No Bottom Pickers Yet
Speaking of bad, we come to Apple, which had a 13%
correction today on an up market. You never can tell with markets, when I went
to bed last night I was half expecting a significant rebound in pre-market with
some “Re-Analysis of Earnings”. Hey, if Amazon can do it, why not Apple?
It obviously wasn`t in the cards, and it is obvious that
those who count are making quite the fortune on this slide in Apple. As nothing
on Wall Street moves unless somebody is usually positioned ahead of time, and
wants the asset to move! I have seen earning`s misses, and a stock barely
budges.
I might add, that was interesting price action right at the
Earning’s release with a great head fake to the $527 area before the takedown
to support at $483, and the guidance issues doing the rest of the damage.
Further Reading - Amazon vs. Wal-Mart: Let The Battle Begin
For a trade where is the next level of support? The $420 level has been thrown around, but who knows as today was an up market! I guess just watch how things shake out and go from there, as apple will bounce at some point on a short covering rally.
Another question, are all the forced liquidations over?
Maybe at this level, but if Apple takes the next leg down it could get ugly.
This is where longs might want to look for a trade, after a nasty capitulation,
forced liquidation selloff. The point
where longs cry uncle, and apple is too cheap to go that low, and viola,
their pain can provide for a nice short-term Long entry.
The Trend Still Intact
All in all, the market took apple`s takedown rather well,
which is probably bullish! But sometimes at first, markets just quietly put in
lower highs, and lower lows, and then boom, the selloff happens! As of now the
trend is still intact, and equities will try to close the week out higher.
It should be a rather slow day in markets as the econ data
is relatively light, and nobody is really interested in selling the market at
this point. I wouldn`t expect Friday to be the catalyst with markets pretty
dead after noon.
