WELCOME

Welcome and thank you for visiting!

The charts, graphs and comments in my Trading Blog represent my technical analysis and observations of a variety of world markets...
* Major World Market Indices * Futures Markets * U.S. Sectors and ETFs * Commodities * U.S. Bonds * Forex

N.B.
* The content in my articles is time-sensitive. Each one shows the date and time (New York ET) that I publish them. By the time you read them, market conditions may be quite different than that which is described in my posts, and upon which my analyses are based at that time.
* My posts are also re-published by several other websites and I have no control as to when their editors do so, or for the accuracy in their editing and reproduction of my content.
* In answer to this often-asked question, please be advised that I do not post articles from other writers on my site.
* From time to time, I will add updated market information and charts to some of my articles, so it's worth checking back here occasionally for the latest analyses.

DISCLAIMER: All the information contained within my posts are my opinions only and none of it may be construed as financial or trading advice...please read my full Disclaimer at this link.

Dots

* If the dots don't connect, gather more dots until they do...or, just follow the $$$...

Retro Xmas Shopping

Retro Xmas Shopping

ECONOMIC EVENTS

 UPCOMING (MAJOR) U.S. ECONOMIC EVENTS...

***2025***
* Wed. Jan. 29 @ 2:00 pm ET - FOMC Rate Announcement + Forecasts and @ 2:30 pm ET - Fed Chair Press Conference

*** CLICK HERE for link to Economic Calendars for all upcoming events.

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Relative Strength in This Week's Weakness

Due to an across-the-board sell-off that's occurred, so far, this week in equities, I thought I'd take a mid-week look at the 6 Major Indices and 9 Major Sectors to see which ones have been holding up somewhat better than the others.

From the Daily line chart of the Major Indices shown below, the two Indices that haven't reached their lower Bollinger Band by today's (Wednesday's) close are the Dow Transports and Dow Utilities. They are, however, underperforming the other four Indices in terms of performance from July.


The 3-day percentages gained/lost graph confirms this. The biggest losses, so far this week, have been in the Nasdaq 100 Index, followed by the Dow 30, S&P 500, and Russell 2000.


The Daily line chart of the 9 Major Sectors shows that the only ones that haven't yet closed at/near their lower Bollinger Band are Consumer Staples, Health Care, Utilities, and Financials. The only ones that made a higher swing closing high before this latest pullback are Consumer Staples, Health Care, and Utilities (the "Defensive" Sectors).


The 3-day percentages gained/lost graph shows that the largest losses have occurred in the Consumer Discretionary Sector, followed by Industrials, Materials, Health Care, Energy, and Technology. The sectors with the least losses are Utilities, followed by Financials, and Consumer Staples. While Health Care has only pulled back to its mid-Bollinger Band, it is still  in the first group (the "Offensives") which has had the largest percentage losses.


In summary, while there has been a general sell-off in the Large-Cap, Technology, and Small-Cap Indices in a "risk-off" environment by mid-week, the Dow Transports and Utilities have fared somewhat better, on a percentage-lost basis. They are the ones to watch for any signs of serious weakness, which may take them down to their lower Bollinger Band. If that happens, they may drag the other four Indices down further below their lower Bollinger Band, which may (or may not) hold for a day or two as short-term support. Also, since the Nasdaq 100 has lost the most, while the Russell 2000 has lost the least compared with the 4 Major Indices, they also hold the key and bear a close watch over the next couple of days to watch for either signs of an acceleration of weakness or evidence of stabilization or buying/short-covering.

In addition, the Sectors to watch for any signs of serious weakening are the "Defensive" and Financial Sectors. If that happens, they may drag the other Sectors down further below their lower Bollinger Band, which may (or may not) hold for a day or two as short-term support.

Finally, it's my opinion that any further serious sell-off below lower Bollinger Bands in all these Indices and Sectors would likely be accompanied by a general sell-off in commodities and foreign currencies. In this regard, 80.00 seems to be the level that would need to be held by the U.S. $, as shown on the Weekly chart below. Several intersecting Fibonacci fanlines, the 50 sma (red), the 200 sma (pink), the 5-Year Volume Profile POC (point-of-control), and price consolidation ranges all converge at this 80.00 level, so it's an important level to be captured by $ bulls and held as support.