US stocks continue to follow the post 2000 Mar-May 40% crash of the NDX with
a strong 5-7 day rally followed by an upward biased consolidation. The SPX
was the prime example last week with a low of 7717, a high of 7817 and a close
at 7786 for a gain of 28pts. The slightly weaker jobs data from the prior
week , flat CPI and weak UMich sentiment all support little/no change by the Fed
mid-Sept with a continued upward bias for the stock market. In the
meantime the low volatility crawl higher is sending bearish sentiment tumbling
with the exception of the ST Composite and Hedge Spread and is a warning of
INT/LT problems ahead.
Last week saw a significant move lower in bearish sentiment although still
not as extreme as before the 2020 and 2022 downturns. The INT/LT, ST/INT
Composites and DM/SM showed ST and INT EMAs reach the strong Sell levels, while
the ST Composite remains above neutral and the Hedge Spread reached a weak Sell.
The VIX call indicator is just short of a weak Sell, while the FOMO call
indicator did reach a strong Sell. Strong ETF call buying pushed the SPX
2X ETF and ETF options indicator to a strong Sell while the NDX 3X ETF and ETF
options indicator moved to a weak Sell.
I. Sentiment Indicators
The INT/LT Composite indicator (outlook 3 to 6+ months) has three separate
components. Starting Aug 26, 2023 SPX options are removed due to extreme 0DTE volume
distortions. New weights are ETF put-call indicator (30%), SPX 2X ETF INT
ratio (40%), and 3rd a volatility indicator (30%) which combines the options
volatility spread of the ST SPX (VIX) to the ST VIX (VVIX) with the UVXY $ volume.
Update Alt, INT view. Bearish sentiment dropped from a weak Sell to just
above a strong Sell based on strong ETF call buying.
Update Alt EMA. Bearish sentiment continued to fall with ST & INT (grn, red)
at strong Sells similar to late 2019.
The ST Composite as a ST (1-4 week) indicator includes the NYSE volume ratio
indicator (NYDNV/NYUPV & NYDNV/NYDEC) and the UVXY $ Vol/[SPX Trend, SMA only]. Weights
are 80%/20%.
Update. Bearish sentiment remains just above a neutral.
Update EMA. Bearish sentiment dropped toward neutral.
The ST VIX calls and SPXADP indicator bearish sentiment moved closer to a
weak Sell.
The ST/INT Composite indicator (outlook 1 to 3 months) is based on the Hedge Spread (52%)
and includes ST Composite (12%) and three options FOMO indicators using SPX (12%),
ETF (12%), and Equity (12%) calls compared to the NY ADV/DEC issues (inverted). FOMO
is shown when strong call volume is combined with strong NY ADV/DEC. See
Investment Diary
addition for full discussion.
Update EMA. Bearish sentiment continued to drop to a strong Sell INT (red).
Update FOMO calls. Bearish sentiment fell to a strong Sell.
Bonds (TNX). Bearish sentiment remains at low extremes as rates
hold around the 4.75% level.
For the INT outlook, the gold miners (HUI) bearish
sentiment is presented in a new format using the data mining software to add
the inverse TNX rate to the ETF ratio.
Update. Bearish sentiment remains at a weak Sell as prices seem to be held
up by a weak US $.
II. Dumb Money/Smart Money Indicators
This is a new hybrid option/ETF Dumb Money/Smart Money Indicator as a INT/LT
term (outlook 2-6 mns) bearish sentiment indicator. The use of ETFs
increases the duration (term).
Update. Bearish sentiment dropped sharply to a strong Sell ST (grn) and INT
(red).
With the sister options Hedge Spread as a ST/INT indicator
(outlook 1-3 mns), bearish sentiment remains at the weak Sell level as
moderate hedging continues.
A new composite SPX options indicator uses both the volume adj (1/B-A) and P/C
equivalent spread (A-B) to compensate for the discrepancy between the two.
This replaces the old SPX options indicator for the SPX ETFs + options below and the
INT/LT composite. No chart.
For the SPX, I am switching to hybrid 2X ETFs plus SPX options. Taking a look at the
INT term composite (outlook 2 to 4 mns), bearish sentiment turned down as the
2X ETF sentiment dropped below a weak Sell.
For the NDX combining the hybrid ETF options plus NDX 3X ETF sentiment with the interest rate effect,
(outlook 2 to 4 mns) bearish sentiment shows similar extremes between ETF and
options as in late 2020 which resulted in a choppy market until options
sentiment rose. Note QQQ options are optimal, but are N/A and are included
in ETF options.
Bearish sentiment dropped well below a weak Sell toward a strong Sell based
on ETF P/Cs.
For the SPX combining the hybrid ETF options plus SPX 2X ETF (outlook 2 to 4 mns)
produces an indicator where, in this case, ETF options are a proxy for the SPY options.
Bearish sentiment for SPX dropped to the lowest level in several years on a
combination of ETF P/Cs and 2X ETFs.
III. Options Open Interest
Using Thur closing OI, remember that further out time frames are more likely
to change over time, and that closing prices are more likely to be effected.
Delta hedging may occur as reinforcement, negative when put support is broken
or positive when call resistance is exceeded. This week I will look
out thru Aug 21. A text overlay is used for extreme OI to improve readability,
P/C is not changed. Also, this week includes a look at GDX, TLT & IBIT for Mar exp.
A new addition is added for OI $ amounts with breakeven pts (BE) where
call & put $ amounts cross. Note multiply OI$ by 100 for shares/contract.
With Fri close at SPX 7786, options OI for Mon is moderate with strong call
resistance at 7850, but little put support until 7700. Minor pullback is
likely.
Wed has small SPX OI with ITM calls at a 7725 straddle offset by ITM puts at 8k.
May remain in mid-7700s.
For Fri AM strong SPX OI has BE at 7745, but a huge straddle at 8k could keep
prices near current levels.
For Fri PM moderate SPX OI shows little put support until 7685 and a late
selloff below 7750 looks likely.
For Mon EOM moderate SPX OI shows a similar setup to Fri PM with call resistance
down to the BE at 7625, but put support is likely to be added on a drop to 7700.
IV. Technical / Other
The following uses barcharts.com as a source and discusses S&P futures (ES) as a third
venue of stock sentiment in addition to options and ETFs. The non-commercial/commercial
spread represents a LT bearish sentiment (dumb money/smart money) indicator. As explained in investopedia,
commercial investors (red) are institutions and are smart money, while non-commercials (green) are speculators such as
hedge funds and are dumb money. Here is the current barchart graph
for the S&P 500 (top) and trader positions (1st bot) with positives as net longs and negatives
as net shorts.
Bearish sentiment is represented by the spread and is positive if red > green
(Buy) and negative if green > red (Sell). ES (SPX) sentiment to near
a weak Sell at -0.8 SD, NQ (NDX) increased to a weak Buy at +1.0 SD, YM (DJIA) remains a weak Sell at -1.5 SD.
A quick look at gold (GC), bearish sentiment is in-between a weak and strong Sell at -1.5 SD.
Click dropdown list to select from the following options:
Tech / Other History
2026
2025
2024
2023
2022
Other Indicators
Conclusions. Both sides of the US/Iran war seem to be content seem
to be content to play a "game of chicken" to see which one caves first, but
Trump seems to have the weaker hand with many of the senior GOP congressmen
worried about mid-term election results. Another potential problem that
does not seem to be getting enough attention is the US
strategic oil reserve levels that
have fallen from over 400M bbls to under 300M bbls the last 4 mns. What
happens when the operational limit of 250M bbls is reached?
Weekly Trade Alert. The SPX is expected to stay around the
7750-7800 through early Fri, but may retreat to 7700 or lower afterwards thru
the EOM. Updates @mrktsignals.
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