April 25th – Give Me A Break

 

After the 1st round of the French Elections Sunday, we saw price break through many of the trend lines that we were watching.

 

SPX – This chart was from the weekend report showing that trend line resistance for the SPX.

And we had a break out on Monday, even if I use the peak of the spike on April 5ths reversal.  We’ve seen daily cycles run various lengths, see the 2 boxes drawn below, and so this does have the ability to run a bit higher.

Lat’s look at the NASDAQ

 

NASDAQ – From the weekend report, The NASDAQ regained the 50sma and a possible MACD cross ( Inverse H&S).

 

NASDAQ broke out and I’ve mentioned that some of the TECH stocks have looked stronger than other stocks.  TTWO, JBL, AMD, etc. looked set to break out last week.  Now the question is, “Will that Gap fill, or will this just break & run?”  In January a strong gap break out higher did fill in 5 days, and then it took off higher. This gap could fill now or it could fill later on a back test of the break out at a dcl.  There is no real way of knowing.

 

USD – So far the USD has been putting in lower lows and lower highs.  On Monday, it held the lows so far.  The YEN,  USD & GOLD  all dropped quite a bit, while the EURO Surged higher. That was the knee jerk reaction, and time will balance this area out.

 

WTIC –  Oil held up at the 200sma, simikar to what it did in November. Is it dropping back  in a similar 1-2-3-4-5 manner, or is Oil still seeking out the ICL and will break the March lows?   Its hard to know, since the XLE broke to new lows.  I’m watching this 200sma for now and will look for signs in Energy stocks as time moves on.

 

NATGAS – No real change.  Some readers mentioned that they saw NATGAS at $3.07, but FINVIZ & STOCKCHARTS do not show that as a low. Even if it did, it remains above the 200sma & 50sma at $3.04.  I’m still debating re-entering my NATGAS long trade as it gets oversold here. NATGAS does look good so far.

 

GOLD, SILVER, & MINERS

 

Gold & Silver dropped and actually made a good attempt at recovering after the slam down overnight.

   Gold broke the uptrend line & 10sma and that is important to identifying a drop into a dcl.  I personally do not think that this was all we will see for a dip however.  Miners did NOT act like this recovery into the end of the day is real. Gold has time to drop further and is not even close to oversold.  1 scenario could be a drop into  Fed Mtg next week and then we see the dcl.  I will discuss this further with Miners.

 

SILVER –  Silver dropped and also put in a nice reversal candle.  It is still below the 50sma at this point and notice how the stochastics is not nearly as oversold as it has been at prior lows. I would expect a bit more weakness.

 

GDXJ – GDXJ actually gapped down on light volume.  I sold 1/2 of my JDST position, simply because that is my trading style. This could drop further, but it actually looks like selling dried up a bit short term.  Maybe it bounces for just a day or two and then resumes selling into the May 3 Fed Mtg?

 

GDX – GDX broke the uptrend line and the 10sma, signaling that it is dropping into a dcl. It also closed below the 50sma. This chart does not look like the selling is done either.  Again, we could see an up day on Tuesday and draw in the bulls / Buyers, and still have more selling ahead.

 

HOW WILL THINGS PLAY OUT FROM HERE?  There is no magic formula to know the exact track that things will take, but I can throw out a few ideas just to give visual ideas.

 

GDX –  I expect more downside sooner than later, so this is a less likely scenario.  It shows a bounce now as a 4th daily cycle that tops out at the FED MTG next Wednesday, and then it drops into an ICL.  That’s just 1 possibility.

GDX – A small bounce and then a dip into the dcl on May 3 Fed Wednesday next week. A bounce out of the Fed Mtg then rolls over after a few days into the ICL. Either way, the best buying opportunity is a few weeks away , but it could be the best buy of the year, stay tuned!

 

The General Markets broke higher and do have time to run further.  It just feels like the FED MTG next Wednesday May 3rd is going to play into the timing on all of these markets.  Oil is dropping after back testing a break down, I am watching Energy stocks for clues of where the lows might come in. NATGAS is holding up well.  We are finally getting the drop in Gold that we expected and SILVER & THE MINERS have been weak for a while now. Even though N.Korea is threatening to blow up a US Ship in the seas and other things are happening that would seem like RISK would have people buying Precious Metals, Miners have been weak and Gold & Silver are now dropping too. We are pretty much due for an ICL in the next few weeks, and that drop will be deeper than many expect.  A ‘bounce’ into a 4th daily cycle is expected first, and then that drop will come. Enjoy your Tuesday trading.

.

~ ALEX

.

 

TRADING –

 

XME – I wanted to take a look at the XME, because it represents Metals & Mining.  I know that the Miners aren’t very strong, but the XME does look to be holding up well on the 200sma.  SO I looked again at VALE, CLF, AKS, CENX, FCX, AA, etc.  Some daily charts do look good, others need a little work.   It is earnings season and they look set up to ‘pass’ or ‘fail’ .  Let’s take another look at a couple of them.

 

 

AKS –  April 20th I had this chart in my report. I like a wedge pattern when it breaks to the upside. Is this ready?

 

I wrote a report on Steel stocks, and liked the way they were setting up.

 

STLD – Earnings were released last week.   Is this Breaking out from a huge consolidation?  It looks to be, and STLD  ran like a gazelle out of the last consolidation.  I would expect this to eventually continue higher if earnings remain solid. A stop could be placed under the recent break out.

STLD WKLY – a “W” Pattern formed in the 2014-2016 consolidation. This looks ready for one more leg higher. If it is anything like that last run, it would be almost straight up.

AKS – AKS has volume increasing as it pushes against the 200sma and trend line. This one continues to look good. I’m not sure when they release their earnings though,  pre-market or after market, but I think it is today.

CENX –  The MACD does look to have divergence and the RSI is close to crossing the 50%.

 

AA – Nice burst of volume as it attempts to break out.  They released earnings Monday and last I saw AA was up $1 in after hrs at $34.35, right under the 50sma and above that trend line.  AA looks good.

 

TGB DAILY –  As mentioned above, I do not love all of the daily charts on  the metals stocks yet.  They look “o.k.”, but not really bullish.  Here TGB could be at support, but the 50sma has been strong resistance and the MACD is sloppy.  The 200sma is below and price may still want to go there.  The weekly charts do seem to be setting up nicely, however, so I am watching all of the metals stocks.  Let’s look at TGBs weekly chart…

TGB WEEKLY –   The weekly chart looks great.  TGB breaking to the upside would be a buy, but so far the consolidation continues and again, that 200sma is still below price and may be a target.

224 replies
  1. chartfreak1
    chartfreak1 says:

    I scrolled through the comments early this morning and I missed a few that were directed to me.

    Just a note: I am in & out with the markets and the ‘comments’ s ection of the reports this week. This is the week that I spend a lot of time at my parents house, helping with spring clean up & Yard work. Yesterday I spent more time outside than with the markets, it was in the 70’s and I have no regrets 🙂 .

    So some of the steel & Metals stocks may be shaping up, for those that prefer to go ‘long’ while waiting for Miners to drop & form a trade-able low. Just want to be aware of earnings releases and their timing.

  2. Cason
    Cason says:

    Nat gas – everyone was right! May futures closed at $3.06. June futures are about 10 cents higher at $3.16. May futures expire tomorrow so UNG and friends will he facing contract roll, please understand how that affects your positions.

  3. chartfreak1
    chartfreak1 says:

    Gold & Silvers reversal candles yesterday did their job. They got the “Buy the dip” Crowd to think that buying into the close yesterday would pay off. Buyers would think that they were buying a reversal and their positions would be rocketing higher today.

    Today they will have to endure a gap down in Miners and wonder, “Should I sell now on this gap down to protect funds, or am I selling the lows and will regret it?”

  4. Tammie
    Tammie says:

    Alex, the low on JNUG in December was $3.77 I think – do you think it will go below that at the upcoming ICL?

    • chartfreak1
      chartfreak1 says:

      Yes it should, but also I believe they are doing a reverse split to boost price, so those numbers wont be the same, but Dec lows will be taken out in my opinion.

        • chartfreak1
          chartfreak1 says:

          I dont have a pre-set selling plan for the rest, I kind of have to watch it if I can. Buying low around $13 allows us to watch it and sell when we want to lock in gains. A big position can be sold in smaller increments ( That is what I do) . Selling THE TOP is not likely. It becomes more of a feel at this point, and I try not to get too greedy. JDST can open down $3 one morning if the DCL comes in, but the run has been excellent so far. Well worth that dreadfully long wait with GDXJ at the 50sma forever.

          You can see now that GDX & GDXJ are dropping into that DCL. Miners often slam down for 2 or 3 days sharply into the dcl ( Worse for the ICL). I just watch it and lighten up as I see fit.

          Kind of hard to explain – its not a method or target at this point. Currently we are at $13 to $20. Selling will be tough, because we hate to part with the run, but last time it dropped from $23 to $19 in a day. I will likely sell a little here an there.

          LOOK AT A CHART OF JDST- IT DROPPED $23 to $13 in 4 days in early March. I’m not giving this back : )

          • chartfreak1
            chartfreak1 says:

            Possibly – I was thinking that it would get there and break above it by the ICL. I dont know where the dcl will come in.

            I want to sell all of mine near the dcl, and re-short the 4th daily cycle bounce for another stronger run.

          • nancytheartist
            nancytheartist says:

            This was my first attempt to “hedge”….Bought some DUST and JDST,,,but after you said you had lightened up yesterday…I got ready this morning in case gold was going down more. I sold out and learned some lessons. These 3X move insanely fast! Next time I will put it all in JDST…I did very well with that, but DUST only made me $1!
            Now I will be looking for the 4th cycle to “hedge” again brfore the big dump to the ICL. Thanks Alex!

          • chartfreak1
            chartfreak1 says:

            NICE TRADE NANCY – As a hedge , it takes the pain of the miners selling down away or eases it a bit anyway.

            They do move insanely fast, and when they go against you, you just have to let them go.When they go in your favor… $ 12.5 to $20 in 8 days. That is 60+%

  5. chartfreak1
    chartfreak1 says:

    FCX looks good. Strong volume after earnings ( revenue missed, but price looks good). It does have overhead resistance at the 200 & 50sma, but with this volume it could break right through in time .

  6. Brian
    Brian says:

    I have GDX in a price channel and it is sitting on some resistance in the $22.65 area. If that area doesn’t hold I don’t see any reason for it to not get to the $21 area later this week or by the FOMC

    • chartfreak1
      chartfreak1 says:

      Hi Bran, I see GDX traded below $22.65 already. It is tough when the drop into a dcl or especially an ICL comes along. The supports and important technical areas get broken, and that finally changes sentiment to allow a rel low to be put in place.

    • chartfreak1
      chartfreak1 says:

      BHP – I just dont know about these Oil stocks yet. At times they bounce before a bottom and then do a final drop. BHP can drop to the 200sma.

      HBM – I was watching that too. Sits on the 200sma and I like the weekly chart. It’s close to a buy for me ( Obviously low risk / reward using the 200sma as support ).

      IEO – Possible bear flag, under the 200 & 50sma with 50sma crossing below the 200sma. Light volume, looks rather weak, I need more signs of strength

      • nancytheartist
        nancytheartist says:

        Do you consider this more a copper play than a gold/metals play? Have you notice it follows copper more than gold?
        I have some as a core position but want to add. If it drops more with gold , it seems wiser to wait for the coming ICL, correct? Were you looking at it for a fast trade?

        • Maria
          Maria says:

          waiting …. no purchases….
          i am playing dust/jdst … 😉
          heres the description i have.. fyi
          The Company is engaged in the production of copper concentrate, consisting of copper, gold and silver, as well as zinc metal. The Company is focused on the discovery, production and marketing of base and precious metals.

  7. chartfreak1
    chartfreak1 says:

    AKS shot up and hit the 50sma area and sold off… now it is even back below the 200sma.

    I’m watching it to see if they’ll buy it back today. Short term chart timing is what I am watching. 15 minute, 30 minute, 60 minute..looking for signs of stabilization. If it gets back over the 200 sma I may take an entry. MAYBE.

    • danyo
      danyo says:

      I was JUST about to ask what gives on the price action in AKS today! didn’t they beat expectations? Great call on JDST btw Alex…I just cashed in half my position myself…

      • chartfreak1
        chartfreak1 says:

        NIce – take it from them before they take it back : )

        THAT was a tough trade if you entered with me way back on every bounce at the 50sma GDXJ. Patience really paid off, but the daily grind was ‘ difficult & trying’. Congrats

        • danyo
          danyo says:

          Admittedly I got in around 14.5 and got kicked off the trade once before reentering at 15. It did get get a bit boring watching it waver back and forth around there…

          Looking at the gold chart, it looks like it has some room to drop still. Assuming miners are leading the decline and bottom ahead of gold, wouldn’t it make sense to short the actual metal now instead?

          • chartfreak1
            chartfreak1 says:

            yes, I actually bought JDST on the first tag of the GDXJ 50sma, so I had to trade that around a bit too and start again on the next tag. I was riding JDST from $12.75 to $15+ a couple of times and that is a tad frustrating when you think that the move has finally started & GOLD kept breaking out higher.

            THAT was the problem, GOLD was so bullish , and we were in JDST, that is always a confidence shaker for me, but cycle ‘timing’ usually corrects it. 🙂

            Thats why I say Nice trade Danyo – eventually worth the frustration, but by no means an easy one .

  8. Glenfidd
    Glenfidd says:

    Took a bounce trade Jnug at 4.55. Don’t want to swim to hard against the current. Admittedly don’t like seeing Abx down 9%

  9. chartfreak1
    chartfreak1 says:

    FCX looks good breaking through the 50sma,

    AA struggling with its moving averages, good volume, but it does look good. May just be a matter of time.

    CENX stalled at the 50sma today ( so far)

  10. chartfreak1
    chartfreak1 says:

    I kind of want to add to my MACK position with it back over the 50sma, but this has been one long boring ride too.

    I expected the pop higher out of this base weeks ago to have some follow through, when it recovered the 50sma for the first time.

    Sitting tight for now, but I like the base formation.

  11. chartfreak1
    chartfreak1 says:

    AKS – down 8% after originally popping higher on Earnings. Really selling down today.

    In fact, the daily chart looks like a huge bearish engulfing

  12. nancytheartist
    nancytheartist says:

    So, we are expecting another gold move up in a 4th cycle before dropping to the ICL. Is this the time to try riding JNUG for the 4th up, or is it too short time-wise before the turn down?

      • Rob
        Rob says:

        I agree. If you want to play the 4th DC, wait for a left translated top (between 1-8 days??) then short, but keep it on a short leash, you never know. 🙂

      • Geurt.
        Geurt. says:

        Thanks ALEX….. would you let us know when “you think” to buy again JDST or DUST. Last night after closing I sold some and this morning I sold the rest all. Profit? $. 750.00
        But….. when we see an other chance I like to do this again ALEX !!!!
        THANKS a lot, and stay calm my dear.

  13. chartfreak1
    chartfreak1 says:

    NAK is pushing ( without success) against that 50sma again. Really needs a good solid POP above it, or else it might drop down to teh 200sam again.

  14. Hawaiifive0
    Hawaiifive0 says:

    Alex, if I draw JBL on the 15 min 5 dyas, I end up with a descending triangle and what appears to be a bounce on the 50 day. I trying to learn intraday charting. So is that the correct interpretation?

    • chartfreak1
      chartfreak1 says:

      Sorry I missed this. Sometimes I leave my screen and come back & if it went to sleep, I have to refresh and lose track of whats new and whats old in the comments. Somehow I missed it.

      • Hawaiifive0
        Hawaiifive0 says:

        No problem. I’ll ask something similar in the future. Just trying to learn intraday charting.

        • chartfreak1
          chartfreak1 says:

          It is basically ( or exactly) the same as a daily chart pattern-wise, but what I keep in mind is that using a daily chart , it can take something 7 days to play out. Using a 5 minute chart, it can play out in an hour. A 1 hr chart can play out in 7 hrs ( or by the days end) etc.

          It takes time to get used to it, but you’ll see, for example, ‘Oversold’ to ‘Overbought’ on a daily chart can take lets say 7 days.
          Oversold to overbought on a 30 minute can happen in 6 hrs.

          A 5 minute chart can go from oversold to overbought in an hr or less. So patterns fulfill faster. The target completes quicker, etc

          That is the big difference…time.

  15. dialogueuser
    dialogueuser says:

    Hi all – I just sold my GDXS (double short GDX). I was asked by others to report on my experiment, so here are the details:

    1. I bought GDXS for $14.9035 on 7th April (when GDX was $23.83).
    2. I sold all for $16.96 just now, when GDX was $22.16.

    Analysis: GDX went down 7% over 18 calendar days, and GDXS gave me a return of 13.83%.

    Overall, I think this experiment worked well because the 2X nature of the short made it easier to hold through all the shenanigans (and uncertainties) a few days ago when GDX rose to $24.73. In fact, because it was only 2X, I felt able to double down on the bet at that top (thinking that the downside was less severe if GDX broke through).

    Overall, I’m pleased with the result and would use GDXS again in the future.

    • chartfreak1
      chartfreak1 says:

      I remember your buying that , nice trade and a little safer feeling than the 3x etfs.

      Thanks for sharing, I’m sure many readers will use this for the next daily cycle.
      This is actaully a POST that I will copy & put in the report tonight for the benefit of those that do not have time to skim the comments after work.

      Thx D

      • dialogueuser
        dialogueuser says:

        Great – glad to help. GDXX is the 2X bull version of this short ETF, so I might play with that during the next ICL…

    • littletimeleft
      littletimeleft says:

      spreads are pretty wide on GDXX and GDXS (low volume too), did you get good executions?

      • dialogueuser
        dialogueuser says:

        I didn’t track that aspect closely. I did get slightly less than I expected, although I put that down to the currency transaction (into GBP), which is also a big spread.

        I guess with GDX down 7%, and me getting 13.83% in execution, I’m happy enough, but I agree that might be an issue in certain circumstances.

        • chartfreak1
          chartfreak1 says:

          I think a key to success in this trade is selling on the way up, because buyers are there, and buying on the way down, because sellers are there….and I think you may have done both of those.

          That is also 2 of the hardest things to do…sell on the way up is one that I force myself to do against what I really want to do.

          • dialogueuser
            dialogueuser says:

            To be very clear, Alex, I could only do it because of your reports, and the community here. Your work gives me an edge that gives me the confidence to take some short-term drawdown, and being clear when I need to abandon the trade (and potentially reverse direction). Quite simply, I would never have taken that trade if I wasn’t here.

          • chartfreak1
            chartfreak1 says:

            Sure and thanks, but you pulled the trigger on both sides of that trade, buy & sell. That to me means that you learned and applied it along the way. I never posted about GDXS –
            so good trade Dialogue 🙂

    • Ken
      Ken says:

      Here could be your next experiment dial:
      Try GDX Puts ITM 3 months experation next time. Less cash outlay with greater returns.

      • nancytheartist
        nancytheartist says:

        Thanks for this. Options scare me because I lost so much once…but perhaps GDX puts might be useful. How/why do you select in the money 3 months expiration? I don’t get free trades on options, but it wouldn’t be too bad to pay a fee.

        • Ken
          Ken says:

          Hi Nancy,
          In this case because the Puts would used as a hedge, that would be considered by me as a very short term trade to protect long positions.

      • Cason
        Cason says:

        I gotta try the longer dated but I don’t want to front the extra money. I have often had options come up to expiration only to run wildly the next couple of weeks. Like maybe SPY Apr monthlies? Ugh!!!

  16. chartfreak1
    chartfreak1 says:

    Getting a little divergence in the SHORT TERM charts for a bounce in AKS.

    Nothing says that it will last once that short term 5 & 15 minute charts get overbought again.

  17. MM
    MM says:

    Alex,
    When/how do you determine if the miners/GDX are simply heading down into an ICL right now, rather than getting a modest 4th DC? I sense we are heading directly for the ICL in the next week.

    • chartfreak1
      chartfreak1 says:

      I might think that normally too, and I’d think that the FED MTG would be the ICL & Miners rocket from there, but there is reason to believe that this isnt a drop into an ICL. It will be in future reports, maybe the next one.

      remember that Golds 3rd daily cycle was extremely right translated and an ICL needs to kill bullish sentiment. Miners may not be very bullish in peoples minds, but Gold still looks all out bullish even with recent selling.

  18. Ken
    Ken says:

    One more 100K question (I promise 😉 ) :
    Will the BO’s of QQQ, IWM, SMH etc. Hold there BO’s ?

  19. Daz Clark
    Daz Clark says:

    FWIW. Sold my JDUST just now, was a little early on the entry but still bagged 30 or so %. looking to enter again on a bounce, if we don’t get one then that’s cool also. Back to almost all cash bar my old friend CLF.

    • Cason
      Cason says:

      Nice trade. I know most have said that they don’t like trading the short side as much. And neither do I. But you have to trade what the market gives you. Trading against it does NOT work, trust me I’ve tried. Sometimes, you just got to make a buck. JDST was a fantastic trade for me; had a really large position.

  20. chartfreak1
    chartfreak1 says:

    Nice double bottom with divergence MACD & oversold on GUSH ( I’m tempted , looks like it wants to run to $70 , but I am Not buying it myself, so hard to say that I am recommending it. if I bought it, my stop would be 2 days ago lows).

  21. Glenfidd
    Glenfidd says:

    Sold Jdst a day early – left the other $3 on the table:(
    Surprised Jnug volume didn’t get 100 million through. Nugt matched Jnug volume which is interesting- maybe nugt coming back as preferred trading vehicle.
    Barrick volume (51 million) and sell off were both impressive

    • Cason
      Cason says:

      Yeah, that’s why I was only selling half. Also, while GDXJ was starting to really get oversold, Gold was not, at least on the daily. Now after today, I had to take some money off the table for sure. Giving it all back is always a terrible option!

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