Photo by Barry Naiditch

Mr. Fire Rooster stops dead in his tracks. He becomes paralyzed whenever he hears someone repeat the Chinese astrological prediction for the conclusion of the Year of the Fire Rooster:

“Serious setbacks towards October will bring a long-term bearish market as there is no more fire years before the Tiger year 2022.”

Turns out, what fuels our fire rooster even more than his innate need to be in the limelight, is the fear that he may not be in the limelight. The astrological predication of a sustained bear move coming, aligns well with the philosophy of The Five Stages of Disbelief. (Also known as the Five Steps of a Bubble.)

With our Rooster crowing at the Senate vote to pass the budget thereby opening the door to tax reform, the Dow had not one, but two runaway gaps. I’ve been waiting for the last of the bears and cash rich investors to throw in the towel and buy. Once the last skeptics believe that the fire rooster will do anything to keep the cockling going, we could finally see the blow off rally we’ve patiently waited for. And then the burnout? One encouraging sign that the rally to the top is nigh is with Granny Retail. A while back, I called her Resuscitation Granny. She surely deserves that moniker again.

Looking like XRT would crash below 40 and head way lower, instead, XRT held 40 and closed back above the 50-DMA. With a confirmation of the Recovery Phase, possible that XRT provides the rocket fuel for the blow off. Our Prodigal Son, Regional Banks (KRE), became more lavish after it cleared 57.00 last Friday. Should KRE hold above 56.50 as we learn who the next Fed chairman will be, there’s another rocket launcher in the works. 

As mentioned last Thursday, Big Brother Biotechnology (IBB), a political football, has until October 31st before we know whether it will hold the critical 327 level or not. The Russell 2000, an old cod and not so easily impressed by the Rooster’s crow, sits close to the recent highs at 150.68. Yet if IWM encourages the bears to “believe” then, along with XRT, KRE and IBB maintaining its bullishness, they most likely will. If not, the Year of the Dog is up next. Funny thing, Roosters should be afraid of dogs, but they’re not.

S&P 500 (SPY) 255.25 support Did the blow-off rally start?

Russell 2000 (IWM) Over 150 we will see what Gramps is made of.

Dow (DIA) Wash, rinse, repeat-New highs AGAIN-2 runaway gaps

Nasdaq (QQQ) 147 support. 149 pivotal resistance

KRE (Regional Banks) 57.00 pivotal with 56.49 support

SMH (Semiconductors) Sister Sister-97 some near-term support

IYT (Transportation) 178.50 now pivotal support

IBB (Biotechnology) It’s all about 327 support or a return over 340

XRT (Retail) One more day of confirm could be worth a buy

XLU (Utilities) With all the heat, this confirmed the bullish phase

GLD (Gold Trust) Not much to trade so aside

SLV (Silver) 16 held so now it’s up to 16.50 to clear

GDX (Gold Miners) 23.67 the overhead 50-DMA. 23.00 support

USO (US Oil Fund) A close over 10.45 better.Almost

TAN (Solar Energy) 22.00 now the pivotal number to hold

TLT (iShares 20+ Year Treasuries) 123-126.09 range

UUP (Dollar Bull) 24.30 pivotal now with 24.11 the 50-DMA