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us stock market, stock trading
Begin Part 2 of 4
Dow/NYSE
The short handle to the 8-week cup was telling everyone to get ready, and Friday it received the catalyst for a continued move higher. Nice breakout on solid volume and internals.
Stats: +262.73 (+2.6%) to close at 10,368.86.
NYSE Volume: 1.457 billion (+4.7%). Price/volume action remains very good after a churning session on Wednesday. Volume was not the strongest we have seen this year, but it was up smartly on a breakout.
Up volume: 1.084 billion
Down volume: 327 million. First billion-plus up volume session since January.
A/D and Hi/Lo: NYSE advancing issues jumped to 2.4 to 1. They had held the edge even as the index moved laterally the prior three sessions, a portent to the move that was to come.
New highs: 192 (+18)
New lows: 27 (+10)
The Chart: http://www.investmenthouse.com/cd/$indu.html
A very pretty 8-week cup with handle breakout Friday on rising, above average volume. The action continues the outperformance the Dow has shown since late January when it took over from the Nasdaq when investors turned to old economy sectors that should do well in a less than robust economic recovery. Friday they were at it again even as some money was diverted to the Nasdaq as it always is when there is a big rally.
The move pushed the Dow over the January high at 10,300 and into the middle of the summer 2001 trading range before it broke down in the September meltdown. That range runs up to 10,600, but it does not get any easier as there is more at 11,000. We expect the Dow to run up toward that 10,600 level on this move before it then has to take a breather. In this post-boom market, there are no extended runs without heading back lower to fill in the base a bit.
S&P 500:
The Dow needed help, and the S&P delivered. These are the 500 largest cap stocks in market, and they were struggling in January before finding bottom in February and forming that double bottom with handle pattern. Thus, as the big techs burned lower, the other large cap stocks were able to form a good base, fighting off the effects of the techs. That shows how much better these stocks were performing than the techs. Then Friday they got some tech help and there was a great breakout of that double bottom pattern. The move popped it over resistance at 1125 and the simple 50 day MVA (1126.53). After a nice breakout on continued good price/volume action the next point of resistance is 1150, a point of prior lows and highs as well as the 200 day MVA (1152.86). As with the Dow, we do not expect it to clear much farther beyond that level on this move before it has to consolidate the move.
Stats: +25.05 (+2.3%) to close at 1131.78.
Volume: NYSE volume jumped again on the breakout, what the index needed to show to clear up any doubts about the price/volume action from earlier last week (1.457 billion; +4.7%).
The Chart: http://www.investmenthouse.com/cd/$spx.html
THIS WEEK
A powerful move to end the week with breakouts on the Dow and S&P 500. It is too bad the Nasdaq could not make it three with a surge in volume. That leaves open the question as to what the big techs will do; attempt a further rally and follow through or just fade. In any event it appears that whether the Nasdaq follows or languishes, certain economically sensitive areas will continue to reap the benefit of the improving economic picture. Friday's vastly improved news in the manufacturing sector bodes well for the non-tech sectors as the country gets back to business though it may not be a powerful move.
As for the indexes, after such a powerful move we may see a continued move on Monday, but in this market the MO is to rally sharply and then take some profits. The breakouts in the Dow and S&P give us more confidence any pullback will hold, but this can give us better exit points on some put plays we want to get out of and also allow us to get in on some moves we may have missed on breakouts. The Nasdaq rallied, but it has not followed through or shown real buying power from the big money. Also there is potentially some trouble from ORCL's news; is NVLS' losing a penny less than expected that wonderful of news when ORCL is not going to make its previous forecast?
As for the non-large cap tech stocks, the new uptrend remains in place and is bolstered by the moves in the Dow, the S&P and the broad NYSE advance/decline line. We will therefore continue to look to those plays to the upside. AS for Nasdaq big names, there may be a few upside plays to take advantage of such as KLAC and the like that are actually in good patterns and moving higher. Downside positions are in limbo now after Friday's big price surge, and we will not look to initiate many more of those until the tech index gives us a better picture of whether Friday was something for real or just another pretty day.
Support and Resistance
Nasdaq: Closed at 1802.74.
Resistance: 1800 is slight resistance. The 50 day MVA is next at 1857.23, but the bottom of the November consolidation range at 1875 has proved to be support and resistance in the past. A break over that point is the turning point. The 200 day and simple 50 day MVA are next (1911.06 and 1903.62, respectively). That is just under the top of the November consolidation at 1934 to 1941.
Support: 1775 is some support and then the November gap up point at 1745. 1700 has held loosely. After that, there is not much until 1626, the early October gap up point and the April 2000 intraday low at 1619.58.
S&P 500: Closed at 1131.78.
Resistance: 1150 (former support and resistance) and the 200 day MVA (1152.86) are next and are important resistance. The next level is 1175 marking the December and January tops. That point also marks roughly the lows of summer consolidation.
Support: 1125 is the hump in the double bottom, and the simple 50 day MVA is also there at 1126.53. 1100 can act as support and did so last week. Then 1075 to 1080 continues to hold tough, right at the March 2001 intraday low. There is a jumble of prices in a range from 1075 to 1050. 1050 was tested twice in October, holding both times.
Dow: Closed at 10,368.86.
Resistance: Cleared the January high at 10,300 on the breakout. 10,400 to 10,600 makes up the rest of the June, July, and August 2001 trading range.
Support: The January high at 10,300. Then the 200 day MVA (10,033.77) and 10,000. After that is 9730, the first January low and has provided some support. There is some support at 9691, the bottom of the November, December and January range.
Weekly Economic Calendar (All times Eastern). The figures are the consensus expectations, not ours.
3-5-02
ISM Services, February (10:00): 51.0 versus 49.6 prior.
3-6-02
Factory Orders, January (10:00): 1.4% versus 1.2% prior.
Fed Beige Book (2:00)
3-7-02
Initial Claims, 3/2 (8:30): 380K versus 378K prior.
Productivity-Rev., Q4 (8:30): 380K versus 378K prior.
Consumer Credit, January (3:00): $3.2B versus -$5.1B prior.
3-8-02
Nonfarm Payrolls, February (8:30): Unch. versus -89K prior.
Unemployment Rate, February (8:30): 5.8% versus 5.6% prior.
Average Workweek, February (8:30): 34.1 versus 34.0 prior.
Hourly Earnings, February (8:30): 0.3% versus 0.0% prior.
TEAM TRADES
CNMD: In a cup from September to December when it tried to make a breakout but failed. It then formed an ascending wedge on top of that base; we really like this type of base on base pattern as it can give really strong moves. It was ready to make the breakout and Friday it did. We were watching it all session move up toward the breakout of the wedge at 21.55. At 12:30 CT is started to make a move after slowly building all session. It started jumping on higher volume and hit the buy point at a quarter to 12. We put in a limit order at 21.55 but got jumped over. The ask went to 21.60 and was moving higher. We modified the order a few minutes later to the current ask at 21.62 and that was good enough to do the trick. The stock ran up over 22 over the next 10 minutes, but then moved laterally the rest of the session, finding some resistance at 22.
CUB: A pre-split play on the Stock Split Report that is just coming off of the 18 day MVA after a nice low volume pullback. This is just where we like to catch them on these pre-split moves: right off of some support. We could have moved in earlier as soon as it started to make the move, and we often do that, but this stock can move an easy $5 to $10 on a move so we were not in a hurry; plus it had just recently announced and was not just days before the actual split when the momentum can just take over. So, we were looking for the move to show us some legs. Well, the stock was dormant until about 12:00 CT when it started a steady climb as volume moved in big time. It made one run to 55.60 (buy point at 56.10), backed off, and then rallied right up through the buy point as volume continued to expand. When it was close to the buy point volume was running over 100% of average. It is more thinly traded, but we have had good luck on these pre-splits. It hit the buy point; the spread was 15 cents to 20 cents. It then narrowed down to 10 cents and the ask dropped to 56.07. We had put a limit order in at 56.10, and it was not filled at the time the ask was 56.07. Strange, but the fill came a few minutes later at 56.10. Not a big deal, but not what it should have been. Anyway, the stock hung around at 56.10 for 20 minutes or so and then finally ran up toward the close to hit 56.70 on strong volume. Not a bad start; now if it will give us that $10 run.
THE PLAYS:
BONUS PLAY: APA moved on good volume but stopped short of the buy point. CLS hit the put buy point but then rebounded with the market; the bias is still down, and it does not look good.
DCOM (Dime Community Bancshares--$29.51; +0.21; no options): S & L.
http://biz.yahoo.com/p/d/dcom.html
STATUS: Formed a cup in August through December, but has not been able to make a strong breakout. It has instead flirted with the left side high (30.64), making higher lows as it makes its way. The last month it has formed a pennant, tightening around its short-term MVA's (18 day at 29.33). Friday it showed its third consecutive doji at that level, and Friday we saw a big volume spike (123,100; average 63,800). With the volume we will see if the stock can finally make a breakout move, and we will target 35.
BUY POINT: 30.30 on minimum volume of 90,000. Stop: 28.50 (50 day at 28.64). POSITION: Stock only.
AFG (American Financial Grp--$26.28; -0.04; optionable): P & C Insurance.
http://biz.yahoo.com/p/a/afg.html
STATUS: Took a huge drop from 30 in August, and after a couple of failed attempts to get over its 200 day MVA (24.90), AFG blasted back over that level in mid-February. It is resting after that move, forming a flying plateau over its 10 day MVA (25.90). Volume was big on the recent move up, and it has remained strong, though lower, as it settles in the pattern (Friday a doji on volume of 171,900; average 109,800). Setting up for another good move. Excellent buying. Target: Initially, the high at 30.75. The recent pattern high is 26.85.
BUY POINT: 26.58 on continued strong volume (minimum 148,000). Stop: 24.72.
POSITION: Stock and/or June $25 calls to buy (AFG FE - low open interest).
MKSI (Mks Instruments--$29.00; +2.14; optionable): Scientific & Tech. Instr.
http://biz.yahoo.com/p/m/mksi.html
STATUS: MKSI has made a great move after testing below its 50 and 200 day MVA's (25.18 and 24.50), and Friday blasted over the center of a small double bottom the stock had formed since early January. The move also took out the left side high, and volume was down but great at 482,600 (average 196,400). We are looking for some weakness after the strength of the last two sessions, but we will look for it to hold the 28 level. After a successful test, we will look for a strong run back up. Great money flow and buying. Target: May high at 32.
BUY POINT: Test: After holding 28-28.50 on a lower-volume test back, a move back over 29 with continued strong volume. Stop: 27.06 (7%; center of pattern at 27.38).
POSITION: Stock and/or July $25 calls to buy (QQB GE - under 50 open interest).
ISLE (Isle of Capris Casinos--$16.89; +0.09; optionable): Resorts & Casinos.
http://biz.yahoo.com/p/i/isle.html
STATUS: ISLE formed a large cup from late 2000, recently making it back up to the left side highs, briefly hitting a new high at 17.90. It tested its 50 day MVA (then 14, currently 15.18), formed a pennant that has tightened up to show a short consolidation over the short-term MVA's (18 day at 16.34). Friday we saw a doji with increased volume (258,100; average 250,000), and ISLE looks poised to make another move. On a breakout, targeting 21. Solid buying and good relative strength.
BUY POINT: 17.47 on volume of 338,000. Stop: 16.25.
POSITION: Stock and/or July $15 calls to buy (QEP GC - low open interest).
Quick updates prior bonus plays.
BAX - Still holding support at the short-term MVA's after the bounce.
IR - Could take a rest here after the impressive run.
UPS - Another doji at the long-term trendline; we will see if it pulls back or takes it out.
WTSLA - Moved higher again on strong volume; sliding the stop loss up to just below the 18 day MVA (30).
IDTI - Reversed hard with the rally, closing at the 50 day MVA. Decent volume, and just under the stop advisory level.
DRIV - Put play, and took a weak bounce. Bias still down to the target of 10.25.
WBST - Continues up, but wary of the low volume.
MARKET FAVORITES: CDWC took off through resistance in the rally rather than dropping back for a put. ISSX made a weak bounce; we will keep an eye on both.
1) FISV - Looking for a new high
2) AMAT - Set for a move through resistance
FISV (Fiserv--$43.93; +1.19; optionable): Business software.
http://biz.yahoo.com/p/f/fisv.html
STATUS: FISV has performed well, forming a 10-week cup. It gave up its 50 day MVA (41.56) in the process (from the mid-December high of 44.61), but after holding strong at 40, and making a good move up over the last two weeks. FISV pulled back early this week to test the 50 day, but bounced again the last two sessions, Friday on lower, but still strong volume of 1.57 million (average 1.35 million). Looking for the breakout over the high. Target: 50.
BUY POINT: 44.71 on increased volume. Stop: 41.58 (7%)
POSITION: Stock and/or June $40 calls to buy (FQV FH).
AMAT (Applied Materials--$47.98; +4.51; optionable): Semiconductor equipment.
http://biz.yahoo.com/p/a/amat.html
STATUS: Great move with the semis Friday. AMAT has been making consistent bounces along its 50 day MVA (43.52). Friday we got a big infusion of volume (26.6 million; average 16.8 million), and AMAT closed just under its recent high at 48.65. After such a strong move, we could see a bit of a pullback, but will look for AMAT to show continued strength after holding the 47 range. On the continued upside move, we will be wary of a possible Nasdaq reversal, but are targeting 54.
BUY POINT: From here, a move over 48.65 on continued strong volume. Stop: 45.34 (7%). If we get a bit of a pullback toward 47, in a renewed rally, a move over 48 on continued strong volume. Stop: 44.73 (7%).
POSITION: Stock and/or July $42.50 calls to buy (ANQ GV).
Quick updates of prior Market Favorites:
SNRA - Followed up the strong selling with a stronger bounce back up near our entry point.
CHKP - Bounce, but not so strong, and closed at the down trendline.
ALTR - Pretty strong bounce with the market, but right under the 10 day MVA.
YHOO - Another put play that rebounded us out of a profitable position. A strong bounce over the resistance of the 50 day MVA.
BRCM - Hit the target Thursday on the old play, and triggered a stop advisory on the new play Friday.
End Part 2 of 4
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us stock market
stock trading
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