Gloom and Doom

It’s pretty difficult when looking at index charts to see anything other than gloom and doom.  There is technical damage everywhere you look, and a general feeling of dread has gripped the market.  The financial news headlines have become predominantly negative with more and more talking heads predicting more gloom and doom to come.  Having traded for more than 28 years, I can tell this is the normal process of correction.

If you remember when the selloff began I suggested this would take weeks if not months to resolve.  That was not a prediction of the future just the experience of an old trader that has seen this many time before.  The market will eventually heal and better days will return.  Remember its always darkest before the dawn, and we will likely see more days of gloom and doom ahead but when it’s over a target rich environment will emerge as great stocks will be at discount prices.  Believe that.

On the Calendar

Motor Vehicle Sales tops the Economic Calendar which comes out very early in the pre-market and is the only report likely to move the market today.  Forecasters expect Motor Vehicle Sales to remain soft with total unit sales slipping to 17.0 million annualized rate vs. the February 17.1 reading.  Domestic sales expected to slip from 13.2 million in February to a 12.9 million rate today.  The Redbook is out at 8:55 AM, a Fed Speaker at 9:30 AM and a bill auction at 11:30 AM wrap up the calendar for today.

We also have a light day on the Earnings Calendar with only 18 companies expected to report results.

Action Plan

Yesterday was an ugly day in for the market with three of the four major indexes dipping deep enough to test their 200-day moving averages.  Only the QQQ managed to hold just above its 200-average which was just over one point away from the low of the day.  The SPY really took it on the chin closing below the 200-average, despite the late rally bouncing the indexes off the lowest prints of the day.  Even the popular FANG stocks had not escaped technical damage with AMZN now down more than 15% from its high print less than one month ago.

Currently, futures are pointing to a gap up open of more than 75 points, but I would be very careful trying to anticipate a bounce with the QQQ’s so close to a 200-average test.  If you take a look at the weekly index charts, we are very close to testing the weekly 50-averages which could easily see a test in the coming days.  Remember its always the darkest before the dawn.  The selling will eventually stop, and great stocks will be on sale at discount prices.  However, repairing so much technical damage could take some time, and we could see some very choppy price action ahead as the markets try and build a level of support.

Trade Wisely,

Doug