The Bears finally had their day thanks to the Fitch downgrade of the US credit rating.  The SPY gapped down 0.84%, DIA gapped 0.46% lower, and QQQ gapped down 1.19%.  After that open, the Bears followed through until noon in all three major index ETFs.  At that point, SPY and QQQ meandered sideways the rest of the day.  Meanwhile, DIA sold off very slightly from noon for the rest of the day. However, all three major index ETFs did bounce up off the lows in the last 30 minutes.  This action gave us gap-down, large black-bodied candles in the SPY and QQQ.  At the same time, DIA printed a gap-down black-bodied Spinning Top-type candle. All three also closed below their T-line (8ema).

On the day, all 10 sectors were in the red with Technology (-2.81%) way out in front (by almost a percent) leading the way lower while Consumer Defensive (-0.06%) was barely in the red and held up better than the other sectors.  At the same time, the SPY lost 1.39%, DIA lost 0.97%, and QQQ lost 2.19%.  The VXX shot higher by more than 9% on the day to 25.02 and T2122 dropped but remains in the mid-range at 37.02.  10-year bond yields climbed to 4.082% while Oil (WTI) dropped 1.98% to close at $79.76 per barrel.  So, on Wednesday we saw the first significant Bearish move in a long time.  (First in four weeks in the DIA.)  However, there was no major technical damage done.  It was definitely a Bearish day but unless there is follow-through, support has not been taken out.

The major economic news reported Wednesday included the July ADP Nonfarm Employment Change, which came in well above expectations at +324k (compared to a forecast of +189k but also far less than the previous level, which was +497k but was revised down to +455k).  Later, the EIA Weekly Crude Oil Inventories showed a much bigger than expected drawdown of 17.049 million barrels (versus a forecasted 1.367-million-barrel drawdown and the prior week’s 0.600-million-barrel draw).  Elsewhere, there was also a parade of people from government and business who called the Fitch rating reduction either mistimed at best to flat wrong.  These included Treasury Sec. Yellen who said the decision was “arbitrary and based on outdated data,” and former Treasury Sec. Summers (who is a fiscal hawk and opponent of recent Fed/Treasury actions) called the move “absurd … If anything, the data in the last couple of months has been that the economy is stronger than what people thought, which is good for the creditworthiness of US debt.”  It also included many across the business world, such as JPM’s CEO Dimon who called the decision “ridiculous” but also said “it doesn’t really matter.” Others have commented that there have been no changes since the GOP Congress held the US debt ceiling hostage. (Implying the idea of doing it now when you didn’t do it in June is suspect.)  Still, Fitch did it Tuesday night.  (Personally, I think Fitch waited on, or at least took advantage of, the widely expected Trump Jan. 6 indictment to slip in the rating cut with less media attention.  Not that it helped much.)  Regardless, it is what it is, the US is still the largest economy and safest debt in the world, and we move on.

SNAP Case Study | Actual Trade

In stock news, AAL said Wednesday they have begun talks with both BA and EADSY (Airbus) over a potential order for at least 100 new narrow-body jets.  (Bloomberg reported the order could end up over 200 jets over the next seven years.)  Later, GM and EVGO celebrated the opening of the 1,000^th fast-charging station installed by their collaboration project.  (The first was installed in 2020 and their goal is 3,250 in major metro areas.)  Elsewhere, TSLA has begun leasing office space in India, increasing the speculation the EV-maker will enter the Indian car market after CEO Musk recently had talks with Indian PM Modi.  At the same time, XPEV (Chinese electric carmaker and direct TSLA competitor) shares fell when it was announced its VP of Autonomous Driving had resigned.  Meanwhile, NTR (the world’s largest fertilizer producer) announced it has indefinitely paused plans to ramp up production and has halted work on a new “clean ammonia” project in LA. The announcement cited falling prices and, specifically, the resumption of exports of potash from Belarus (which had been blocked from exports by now-expired sanctions for supporting the Russian invasion of Ukraine).  Later, CHK reported that it expects the cost to service oilfields to fall 5%-7% in 2024 due to falling demand causing prices to be lowered.  (This roughly matches FANG’s similar expectation for reduced costs next year, reported last week.)

In stock legal, government, and regulatory news, GSK filed suit against PFE in US federal court on Wednesday alleging that PFE’s “RSV vaccine” violates four of GSK’s patents.  Elsewhere, the UK antitrust regulator announced Wednesday that it is opening an investigation of the CCJ and BEP’s $7.9 billion acquisition of BAM’s (Westinghouse parent) nuclear power plant equipment maker.  Meanwhile, plaintiffs against JNJ have urged a US judge to ban more bankruptcy claims by JNJ for at least six months.  This comes after the same judge denied JNJ’s second attempt in the prior six months to file for bankruptcy of its LTL subsidiary (onto which it had transferred all talc liability).  At the same time, the US Labor Board ruled in a 3-1 decision that business work rules may not interfere with employees’ rights to join unions.  This ruling came against SRCL but now applies broadly.  (The ruling prohibits rules against discussing work conditions, distributing union literature, and prohibiting social media posts by employees.)

After the close, ATUS, AEE, ANSS, APA, BTG, CCRN, CPE, CIVI, CLX, COKE, CTSH, CYH, CW, ETSY, EVH, GXO, HLF, HUBS, KGC, MKL, MCK, MELI, MGM, MKSI, MOD, NCR, NE, PYPL, QRVO, O, HOOD, SIGI, SHOP, SPNT, SNEX, TS, WCN, WTS, and Z all reported beats on both the revenue and earnings lines.  At the same time, ALB, DOX, BKH, CHRW, CENT, CF, CAKE, CODI, HI, NGVT, LESL, LNC, MRO, MET, PK, CNXN, PSA, QCOM, SM, RUN, WMB and WSC all missed on revenue while beating on earnings. On the other side, AFG, CHRD, DASH, NTR, SPG, SBGI, TRIP, and ZG all beat on revenue while missing on earnings.  Unfortunately, ATO, ET, FMC, GT, VAC, OXY, PR, PTVE, UFPI, and UGI missed on both the opt and bottom lines. It is worth noting that ALB, HUBS, QRVO, and SHOP raised their forward guidance.  However, CCRN, NGVT, VAC, and NTR reduced their forward guidance.

Overnight, Asian stocks leaned heavily to the red side again.  Only Shanghai (+0.58%) and Shenzhen (+0.53%) were in the green while Taiwan (-1.85%), Japan (-1.68%), and Thailand (-1.37%) led the region lower.  Meanwhile, in Europe, we see a similar story starting to take shape at midday.  Only Russia (+0.85%) and three smaller bourses are in the green while the CAC (-0.81%), DAX (-0.78%), and FTSE (-0.85%) lead the region lower in early afternoon trade.  In the US, as of 7:30 am, Futures are pointing toward a start to the day just on the red side of flat.  The DIA implies a -0.11% open, the SPY is implying a -0.15% open, and the QQQ implies a -0.25% open at this hour.  At the same time, 10-year bond yields are spiking to 4.145% and Oil (WTI) is off one-tenth of a percent to $79.41 per barrel in early trading.

The major economics news scheduled for Thursday includes the Weekly Initial Jobless Claims, Preliminary Q2 Nonfarm Productivity, and Preliminary Q2 Unit Labor Costs (all three at 8:30 am), July S&P Global Composite PMI and July S&P US Services PMI (both at 9:45 am), June Factory Orders, ISM Non-Mfg. Employment, and July ISM Non-Mfg. PMI (all three at 10 am), and Fed Balance Sheet (4:30 pm).  Major earnings reports scheduled for before the opening bell include GOLF, WMS, APD, BUD, APG, APO, APTV, ARW, BALY, BHC, BCE, BDX, BV, BIP, BRKR, CNQ, FUN, CQP, LNG, CI, CLVT, COMM, COP, CEG, CMI, DQ, DLX, DNB, EPC, ENTG, EPAM, EXPE, FCNCA, FOCS, HAS, DINO, HGV, HII, H, ICE, IRM, ITRI, ITT, K, MMP, MDU, MIDD, MUR, NJR, ONEW, PZZA, PH, PBF, PNW, PBI, PRVA, PWR, REGN, SABR, SBH, SNDR, SRE, FOUR, SO, SAVE, STWD, TRGP, TGNA, TFX, TPX, TKR, BLD, TRMB, VC, VMC, WBD, W, WCC, WLK, and WRK.  Then, after the close, AES, AGL, AL, ATSG, ABNB, LNT, AMZN, COLD, AMGN, AAPL, ACA, TEAM, BGS, BIO, SQ, BKNG, BWXT, ED, CTVA, DVA, DKNG, DBX, EOG, EXPI, FND, FTNT, GEN, GILD, GDDY, ICFI, MTZ, MCHP, MODV, MNST, MSI, ZEUS, OTEX, OPEN, PBA, PBR, POST, RMD, RBA, RKT, RYAN, SWN, SYK, TPC, VTR, and WERN report.   

In economic news later this week, on Friday, July Avg. Hourly Earnings, July Nonfarm Payrolls, July Participation Rate, July Private Nonfarm Payrolls, and July Unemployment Rate are reported.

In terms of earnings reports, on Friday, we hear from ADV, AMR, AXL, AMRX, BSAC, BBU, BEPC, BEP, CLMT, CNK, CRBG, D, ENB, EVRG, FLR, FYBR, GTES, GLP, GTN, GPRE, LSXMK, LSXMA, LYB, MGA, OMI, PAA, PAGP, PPL, QRTEA, TU, TIXT, TNC, and XPO report.

In miscellaneous news, the relevant international standards body proposed its first set of rules for auditing company climate-related disclosures. (The new rules are intended to help auditors give investors reports free of “greenwashing” distortions.)  Elsewhere, after the close, Fitch followed up its US long-term treasury downgrade by also reducing FNMA and Freddie Mac credit ratings.  Just like US bonds, they lowered both ratings from AAA to AA+.  (FNMA and Freddie Mac guarantee roughly 70% of US mortgages.) Meanwhile, in what is hopefully a sign, although the Bud Light boycott by outraged conservatives hurt sales of that brand, the company (BUD) beat on earnings and posted 6.4% revenue growth quarter-on-quarter as well as 2.2% revenue growth from the same quarter last year. The company did miss its previous revenue forecast for the quarter but only by 1.7%. So, hopefully, this shows folks that cancel culture, and culture wars in general, are bad and ineffective ideas. (Can’t we all just get along man? lol)

So far this morning, GOLF, ADDYY, WMS, APG, APTV, BDX, BRKR, CI, CEG, DLX, EPC, ENTG, EPAM, FCNCA, GEL, DINO, IRM, ITT, MIDD, MUR, NTDOY, REGN, SCMWY, TFX, BLD, and TRMB all reported beats on both the revenue and earnings lines.  Meanwhile, AHEXY, APD, BUD, BALL, BV, FUN, CLVT, PBF, PRVA, SBH, and WRK missed on revenue while beating on earnings.  On the other side, BCE, HAS, HII, PWR, and VC beat on revenue while missing on earnings.  Unfortunately, BALY, COMM, COP, DQ, ONEW, SAVE, TKR, WBD, and WLK all missed on both the top and bottom lines.  It is worth noting that APTV and WIX have raised their forward guidance.  However, ENTG and WCC have both lowered guidance.  

With that background, it looks like again we are trying to open a bit lower. Prices have recovered from the premarket lows to some extent, but we have also now come down off premarket highs. The bears will be looking to get follow through to their best candle in weeks as a premarket struggle at potential support is underway in all three major index ETFs. As far as extension goes, none of them are too far away from their 8ema (T-line) yet and the T2122 indicator is still in the mid-range. So, both sides of the market still have room to run if they can muster the momentum to do so. Also, keep in mind that despite yesterday’s candle, we were due for a pullback and the Bullish trend has not been broken yet. We do have some economic news both this morning and during the day, as well as Trump gets arraigned this afternoon (his last arraignment was a non-event for markets but generated plenty of news coverage). Any of those could potentially give the market a push one way or the other. Plus, remember the heavy earnings schedule, including AAPL and AMZN after the close…and we also get July Payrolls data on Friday. So, be ready for some volatility.

As always, be deliberate and disciplined…but don’t be stubborn. If you have a loss, admit you were wrong and take that loss before it gets out of hand. And when the price does move in your direction, always move your stops in your favor and take a little profit off the table. You have to keep the “Legend of the man in the green bathrobe” in mind. In a winning situation, it is NOT HOUSE MONEY you’re betting, it’s YOUR MONEY! There is absolutely no reason to keep raising your bet (risk) size just because you’ve had a win. Finally, remember that trading is not a hobby. It’s a job. The money is real and so is the risk. So, treat it that way. Do the work and follow the process. Stick to your trading rules, trade with the trend, and take those profits when you have them. Do the work!

See you in the trading room.

Ed

🎯 Mike Probst: Rick, Got CTL off the scanner today. Already up 30%. Love it.

🎯 Dick Carp: the scanner paid for the year with HES-thank you

🎯 Arnoldo Bolanos: LTA scanner really works $$, thanks Ed.

🎯 Bob S: LTA is incredible…. I use it … would not trade without it

🎯 Malcolm .: Posted in room 2, @Rick… I used the LTA Scanner to go through hundreds of stocks this weekend and picked out three to trade:  PYPL, TGT, and ZS.   Quality patterns and with my trading, up 24%, 7% and 12%…. this program is gold.

🎯 Friday 6/21/19  (10:09 am) Aaron B: Today, my account is at +190% since January. Thanks, RWO HRC Flash Malcolm Thomas Steve Ed Bob S Bob C Mike P and everyone that contributes every day. I love our job.

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