AT40 = 69.0% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs)
AT200 = 63.3% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs
VIX = 9.9
Short-term Trading Call: cautiously bullish

Commentary

Last week, I complained about the stock market’s “rubber band” getting stretched. I claimed that AT40 (T2108), the percentage of stocks trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs), had to push into overbought territory (above 70%) and/or the volatility index, the VIX, had to push to new all-time lows to enable a push higher for the S&P 500 (SPY). The S&P 500 made another all-time high yesterday, but AT40 rallied just short of the overbought threshold by closing at 69.0%, and the VIX closed with a gain 5 out of the last 6 trading days. AT40 jumped from 63.5% to 69.0% and firmly confirmed yesterday’s rally in the stock market.

On the way here, the S&P 500 delivered a small bearish divergence on Tuesday that looked like the beginning of a confirmation of my concerns (the S&P 500 rallied while AT40 declined). Sure enough, the S&P 500 took a dip next. Yet, faithful buyers rallied the index off its low of the day and kept up the pace by creating yesterday’s 0.7% gain and new all-time high.

The S&P 500 (SPY) delivered the shortest of hiccups before soaring to a new all-time high this week. The index has closed at or above its upper-Bollinger Band (BB) 6 out of the last 7 trading days.

The Nasdaq is matching the S&P 500 stride-for-stride.

The PowerShares QQQ ETF (QQQ) actually closed just BELOW its upper-Bollinger Band (BB) at its fresh all-time high.

The volatility index, the VIX, was faded hard on Wednesday, but it looks like it is stabilizing above all-time lows.

The brevity and shallowness of the dip is part of a months-long pattern. I was amused by the conventional financial media that assigned great weight to the selling and went on expeditions to explain the losses. Most, if not all, of those explanations, appear meaningless now.

My short-term trading call remains at “cautiously bullish.” If AT40 fades from here, I will get a lot MORE cautious and likely even downgrade to no better than neutral. A close for the S&P 500 below Wednesday’s intraday low would take me quickly to bearish. However, I assume now that the market’s momentum will carry it confidently into the overbought territory before any bearish signals trigger. I fully recognize that a bearish signal in this context is much less a selling trigger than it is a “stop buying and wait for the next entry” trigger.

STOCK CHART REVIEWS

Axovant Sciences (AXON)

AXON was slammed again this week on poor testing results. I laid out my trading rule on AXON three months ago. AXON failed the test, and I bailed. Another lesson learned and confirmed in risk management.

Axovant Sciences Ltd. (AXON) looks like it is on its way out the door…

Caterpillar (CAT)

CAT is “enough said.” Its relentless drive higher continues and underlines the raging bullish sentiment in the stock market. My call options sold right after the open on Monday. I am eagerly awaiting the next dip to the lower part of the upper Bollinger Band (BB) uptrending channel.

Caterpillar (CAT) keeps ripping higher to fresh all-time highs.

First Solar (FSLR)

FSLR is by far my favorite solar stock, so I am kicking myself for not having a fresh position. Yesterday, FSLR achieved a MAJOR breakout to an amazing 6+ year high. There was a time not long ago that I thought FSLR might never reach this point, at least not for many more years. It is now time to more aggressively buy the dips.

A historic breakout for First Solar (FSLR)!

KB Home (KBH)

It is hard to believe that KBH still sports a float where 22% is sold short. Today’s post-earnings result announced as loudly as possible that home builders remain as strong as ever. KBH gapped up post-earnings to the top of its upper-BB and did not look back. The 12.3% gain took KBH to a 10 1/2 year high. I cannot wait to review this month’s housing data with KBH as context.

KB Home (KBH) made a confident statement about the state of the housing market.

Dominos Pizza (DPZ)

In this market, I play the dips where they get served. Yesterday, the CEO of Dominos announced he will retire mid-year. The stock gapped down after the open and bounced back after it traded lower. I rushed in to load up on a call option given the stock’s prior strength rallying off the November lows and its 200DMA breakout a week ago. I was rewarded much faster than expected as the call option nearly doubled with the stock ripping to a 4.9% gain. It was like the stock picked up where it left off.

DPZ closed the gap down from October earnings. I locked in profits on this trade (per rule to sell after realizing a quick double), but DPZ is solidly locked into the buy-the-dip list.

Dominos Pizza (DPZ) quickly resumed its previous momentum and closed the gap down from October’s earnings.

SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT)

At some point I will stop pounding the table for retail as a trading and investing theme for 2018... XRT is up 4.6% year-to-date versus the S&P 500’s 3.5% year-to-date gain.

The SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) has not been this high in 15 months.

Ulta Beauty (ULTA)

ULTA was tricky to play this week. The stock has yet to regain its momentum after traders quickly faded the gains from the entire Wells Fargo upgrade. Still, the past 3 days generated two hammer patterns with the lows neatly testing support at the uptrending 20DMA. The stock looks ready to lift again.

My options for this week will (very likely) go out worthless. I bought shares to ride what I think will be an eventual resumption of old momentum. I am also looking to replay call options for the next few weeks. If ULTA closes below its 20DMA, the next stop will be a visit to 50DMA support.

Ulta Beauty (ULTA) was soundly rejected from 200DMA resistance. Disappointed traders quickly took the stock down to 20DMA support from there. However, two hammers at support suggest a rebound is finally in the works.

“Above the 40” uses the percentage of stocks trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) to assess the technical health of the stock market and to identify extremes in market sentiment that are likely to reverse. Abbreviated as AT40, Above the 40 is an alternative label for “T2108” which was created by Worden. Learn more about T2108 on my T2108 Resource Page. AT200, or T2107, measures the percentage of stocks trading above their respective 200DMAs.

Active AT40 (T2108) periods: Day #473 over 20%, Day #287 over 30%, Day #87 over 40%, Day #35 over 50%, Day #26 over 60% (overperiod), Day #61 under 70%

Daily AT40 (T2108)

Black line: AT40 (T2108) (% measured on the right)
Red line: Overbought threshold (70%); Blue line: Oversold threshold (20%)

Weekly AT40 (T2108)