George Putnam
The Turnaround Letter
Geoffrey Seiler
Bullmarket.com
Chuck Carlson
The DRIP Investor
Nicholas Vardy
Bull Market Alert

MarketWatch's technical look


Bookmark and Share

 "The technical backdrop has taken a distinctly bullish turn," says Michael Ashbaugh. in MarketWatch's The Technical Indicator he looks at the market averages and a trio of trades.

"Perhaps most obviously, the S&P has staged a 10-to-1 rally, and a 28-to-1 spike, from its 200-day moving average. And by any measure, this raises a bullish technical flag.

"With a gravity-defying rally, the S&P extended its gains, clearing resistance at 930 last Thursday. From current levels, significant resistance holds at the 2009 closing high of 946 while initial support rests at 930.

"Meanwhile, the Dow's near-term view is similar. With this week's rally, it's staged a 'V'-shaped reversal, breaking to one-month highs. Looking ahead, significant resistance holds at 8,799 - matching the 2009 closing high - while support rests at 8,580, matching the breakout point.

Advertisement
Banner

"The Dows spiked atop both major moving averages this week, notching one-month highs. At the same time, Thursday's break atop the early-July peak wrecks its head-and-shoulders top, inflicting serious damage to the bear case.

"And not surprisingly, the Nasdaq remains the strongest benchmark. From Thursday's close of 1,885, its first significant support holds at the early-July peak of 1,861.

"The Nasdaq not only cleared the early-July peak, but also edged atop the June high, notching its best level in nine months. Though near-term extended - and due to consolidate - its longer-term outlook remains bullish.

"Still, the upturn comes immediately after a previously ominous backdrop. efore this week, the technical playbook had been that the S&P 500 would chop around through the summer - perhaps even break to the low 800's - setting the stage for a seasonal fall breakout.

"Yet as it turns out, the S&P held support around the 200-day and the 875 area, staging two 10-to-1 reversals this week. So the question now is whether the S&P follows the playbook, consolidating until the fall, or instead, surprises technicians with a break atop the neckline this month.

"And ultimately, the markets will decide. Ideally, the S&P 500 would pull back to the 910 area, offering a higher risk/reward entry. (Which, of course, means this won't happen.)

"Yet setting aside tactical views, the U.S. markets' technical backdrop has strengthened this week, and the question now is how the S&P responds to its neckline, in the 970 area.

"We have also highlighted some names well positioned technically. These are intended as radar screen names - sectors or stocks positioned to move near term. 

"Brocade Communications (NASDAQ: BRCD) is a mid-cap name positioned to rise. It's gapped from a well-defined two-month trading range, opening the way to an extension of the uptrend. From current levels, first support holds at $7.75, matching the top of the gap.

"America Movil (NYSE: AMX) has returned 14.7% and remains well positioned. It's established a two-month trading range, recently finding support at its 50-day moving average. A pullback to the breakout point, around $39.50, would mark an attractive entry.

"Posco (NYSE: PKX) is a large-cap steel name based in South Korea. Very simply, it's cleared resistance on increased volume, and its outlook remains higher barring a violation of the breakout point."


News Flash

Goldcorp: 'My favorite major'
by Curtis Hesler, editor Professional Timing Service

The secular bull in gold and the commodity sector is not over. However, it is not at the ground floor any longer either; as such, stock selection must be more carefully considered.


Read more...

 

Money manager's small cap buys
by Jim Oberweis Jr., editor The Oberweis Report

Small-cap growth stock valuations are cheap, and like most things in life, economies are cyclical, even if this is a long and painful one. For the rare, brave contrarian with a reasonably long time horizon, that spells opportunity.


Read more...


   

Opportunities in homebuilding?
by Bernie Schaeffer, editor Schaeffer's Investment Research

Based on our "expectational analysis" strategy -- which  combines fundamental, sentiment and technical metrics -- I initiated long positions in two homebuilding stocks: Lennar Corporation (LEN) and Toll Brothers (TOL).


Read more...

 

Cliffs Natural: A DRIP favorite
by Vita Nelson, editor MoneyPaper

Our latest featured dividend reinvestment stock is Cliffs Natural Resources (CLF). Founded in 1847, the former Cleveland-Cliffs is the largest producer of iron ore pellets in North America.


Read more...

 

S&P's trio of info tech ETFS
by Dylan Cathers, S&P Capital IQ Equity Analyst, S&P The Outlook

Information technology is one of four sectors that S&P Capital IQ’s Sector Strategy Group currently recommends investors overweight in their portfolios.


Read more...

 

Crescent Point: Bakken bet
by Brian Hicks, editor Wealth Advisory

Master Limited Partnerships (MLPs) are unique investments that combine the tax benefits of a limited partnership (LP) with the liquidity of common stock.


Read more...

 

Natural gas: A bottom?
by Jason Cimpl, editor Daily Profit

Natural gas has collapsed for the past four years and has been on a gradual decline for almost a decade. Prices topped near $16 in 2005 and then declined to $2. So did natural gas just bottom?


Read more...

 

FBR Focus bests 99% of peers
by Walter Frank, editor MoneyLetter

Funds that invest in a relatively few stocks or sectors are less diversified than broadly invested funds and their volatility can be much higher. But the team at FBR Focus (FBRVX) seems to be getting it right.


Read more...

 

Celgene: Catalysts ahead
by John McCamant, editor Medical Technology Stock Letter

Celgene (CELG) recently kicked off the 2012 JP Morgan Healthcare conference by pre-announcing 4Q11 results and providing 2012 guidance.


Read more...

 

Water, water
by Richard Band, editor Profitable Investing

In the current environment, investors should focus any new stock purchases on companies with recession-resistant franchises and generous dividends -- such as water utilities.


Read more...