The leading sectors just resting

The leading sectors are taking couple of days off that is normal and nothing to be worried about.

Banks are catching up

If the bank sector could break this trend line, it would be super bullish for this market. Bottom line is, as long as banks stop going down, the bull market is alive.

Rally is upon us

More stocks are breaking out or ready to break out; leaders like CMG, VMW, FFIV, AKAM, PCLN etc held well yesterday facing profit taking; China stock market is strong; our weak bank sector is catching up, all signal we will see more upside from here.

It is moving, finally!

RDWR is finally moving!

Update: SOL

SOL reached the price target today, 18% in 6 days!

Update: SOLF

I closed SOLF as well, 11% in 4 days!

Update:SPRD

I also closed SPRD, 23% in 5 days, not too bad.

Update: PNRA

I closed the position on Friday. Easy money has been made.

Pour a little cold water to bulls

I borrow a chart from http://slopeofhope.com/. What it tells me is unless we are breaking above the area with red arrows, it is a bear market rally. As a trader, we have to keep it in mind. Don't let the optimism fool you.

The following sectors look well

They are the leading sectors.

They have to move sooner if we want a breakout

Both the semicondutor and the bank sector are sitting at lower end of trading range. I would be encouraged to see they are leading the rally out of the range.

Can we continue the breakout?

Good question. Honestly I don't know. Here are some thoughts about the recent rally off the low. First, the positives, as always.

1. The economic number is much better than the expectation. I think the double dip scenario is already priced in and now better numbers have put a nice cushion underneath.
2. Many stocks broke out.
3. The weekly charts on the major indices look much healthier than the last week.

Now negatives:

1. Many stocks approached the resistance quickly, so do the major indices.
2. The semiconductor and the bank sector are lagging, which is not good.

And the neutral factor is the sentiment, which happened to be a major contributor to the recent rally. I am not sure how many investors have turned bullish after this rally and we will find out soon. If not many believe in this rally, it would give another vote to the positives and we may have a better chance to break out of this huge trading range.

Now it seems we will go up to the upper band of the range and come back to wait and see if the economy is really improving. So I would still be optimistic, but cautiously.

SOL

SOL also acted well, I am about to take profit.

SOLF

SOLF is approaching resistance quickly after I recommended yesterday.

PNRA

I picked this one up two days ago, now it is time to take some profit.

Updated: SPRD

You should take some profit off the table.

These sectors outperform

Biotech, chemical and retail are leading sectors in this rally. Bank and semi are still lagging.

SPRD

I added this to the newsletter two days ago, today it flies!

Critical time again!

Trust me, I am confused like anyone else trading this market. I am a swing trader who needs a trending market to profit. Let me put this way, I need some green bars altogether or some red bars altogether, not a green bar followed by a red bar followed by another green bar. The recent volatility frustrated me and I have no solution to it, but decrease trading to a minimium level.

Back to the market. As usual, some positives, some negatives. Let's list the negative first.

1. Tomorrow we will have the non farm payroll number again and we are still trading at the lower end of range. The longer we stay here, more likely we will go lower.
2. Banking index is VERY weak, especially GS.
3. The Hindenburg Omen and death cross etc all point to a steeper decline.
4. The economic numbers are bad, as usual.

Now positives:

1. China is still holding an uptrend.
2. Draw the trend line differently, the banking index is sitting on the support, due for a bounce.
3. Very bearish sentiment according to AAII. I also did a survey at http://www.bespokeinvest.com 64% readers see Dow 9000， 36% see Dow 11000. It also validates the deep bearishness among the investors.
4. I can't think of any reason the market crash here without any particular bad news. The financial crisis happened just 2 years ago, the Euro crisis and BP crisis just a couple of months ago, it is rare we will see another nasty event in a row.

So which direction should we go? After all those sayings, I honestly don't know. All I know is if we have a negative reaction of tomorrow's number, I will cut longs, buy back FAZ for protection!

Another leading indicator I am using

Besides our banking sector, China has played a major role in my analysis. China has grown to a much stronger economic entity, now the whole world is evolving around it, including our stock market. From the chart above, the Chinese stock market is challenging the resistance and forming a bear flag. So it also says caution and lots of cash needed.

Banking sector broke down

Looking back the last post about four months ago, I emphasized the importance of the bank and it is still valid. The weekly chart of the banking index has clearly broken the trend line. That means caution and cash is the king.

Powerful run by Nasdaq

The Nasdaq has enjoyed a powerful run since the New Year. I remain bullish and I don't see an end right now as long as the bank sector performs.

Hello again!

Finally I found another way to crowl over the Great Firewall after the Hotspot was banned in China. So after being absent for the last 4 months, I am here again. While I enjoy the rapid appreciation of Beijing's housing price, I do hope the authority can give the internet some freedom. Afterall the internet is about communications, it is about the freedom!

Hello from Korea

Sorry for the lack of posting for the last 30 days. I have been busy setting up my new venture in China, which will include investing, training and education. Back to the market, it is consolidating the huge gain from 09. Whether it is a top or a resting phase, we shall see in the new year.

Stopped out of my metal shorts

I will re enter when the time is right.

FMCN

FMCN is working its way back up to the high.

YGE

YGE is breaking out.

Trading range

The NASDAQ is back to a trading range.

F

F met the target and the position is closed.

More sectors look bearish

A bear flag shows up on the biotech chart. Also the chemical looks sick.

The banks have not seen the bottom

This is bad for the general market.

Steel

The steel sector just got creamed last week.

Banks in danger

We are oversold, but still no bounce in sight. I've got the sell signal on banks. No good for the general market.

CYOU

CYOU is another short in the newsletter. I expect it will contain more shorts in the coming weeks.

SOHU

I added SOHU last Thurs.

DRV

Almost got shaken out today, it is breaking out in the end.

Final nail on the coffin?

Looking at the slope of each rally, it gets flatter and shorter. Today's bearish engulfing looks like the final nail on the coffin.

VISN

VISN has performed well since added to the newsletter.

Mainly day trade right now!

I can't ignore the strength, I can't fight the trend, so I covered my NUE, SCHN shorts yesterday. I remain a long term bear, but I respect the current bull trend and daytrade the long side nervously.

Stop is too tight

It was a good pick, but the stop was set too tight. Otherwise, 30% gain!

Short candidates

I have been shorting SCHN since last week, now I am shorting another steel stock: NUE.

Critical time

If the bulls can't push the market higher, a possible double top seems likely.

I am right, this time

I know I have sounded bearish a number of times this year, but I did bravely and timely call a market top on Sep 16th on Twitter, which I feel pretty good about it.

NASDAQ retreating

The NASDAQ quickly approaches the bottom of channel. Can it hold?