Category Archives: Bonds

Beware … The Bond (Bull) Trap

April 2, 2023 By in Bonds, Neil McCoy-Ward, TLT, Wyckoff, ZeroHedge

… Almost There

The 40-year bull market in bonds, is over.

Until price action proves otherwise, each increase in bond price (decrease in rates) is going to be viewed on this site, from a bearish perspective.

That’s not to say bond prices won’t go higher. Counter-trend moves can be trading opportunities.

However, with market blow-ups, internet and broker outages the norm (think, SVB), taking a position against the overall main trend, is not something you’ll typically find presented on this site (not advice, not a recommendation).

With that said, let’s look at where the long-bond proxy TLT, is at this juncture.

Long Bond TLT, Daily

The chart may be hard to read but it shows the entire move lower from the all-time high posted on March 9th, of 2020.

The magenta arrow and bar is the Fibonacci 23.6%, retrace.

That’s where we’re focused on the chart below, an expanded version of the daily.

The potential set-up is obvious.

If price action breaks out of the (orange) wedge pattern into a measured move, it would retrace to the Fibonacci 23.6%, level, while at the same time, getting itself into Wyckoff Up-Thrust (reversal) position.

The up-thrust would be created if/when price action pushes above the known resistance area shown as the horizontal blue line.

The Danger Point®

If price action moves into the set-up area as shown, TLT would be at The Danger Point®

This is an area of instability.

At that point, it does not take much force to move the action in either direction, hence the name.

Strategy

As this post is being created, a quick check of ZeroHedge turns up this article, just released.

The article makes the statement as well, the bond bull market is over and uses the 10-yr Treasury to show the upside (yield) breakout.

The bottom line:

We’re in a highly dynamic environment where the typical money manager, financial advisor (as reported by Neil McCoy-Ward) finds themselves “clueless”.

If ever there was a point in time to focus exclusively on what price action is telling us using Wyckoff analysis, this is the time (not advice, not a recommendation).

The Sunday futures open in about six hours.

Stay Tuned

Charts by StockCharts

Note:  Posts on this site are for education purposes only.  They provide one firm’s insight on the markets.  Not investment advice.  See additional disclaimer here.

The Danger Point®, trade mark: No. 6,505,279

Bond Breakdown … Rates Higher

February 16, 2023 By in Bonds, TBT, TLT

Nail, In The Coffin

If there was any remaining hope for the economy, the next leg lower in bonds (with rates higher) should just about take care of it.

Of course, if one knows what’s likely to happen, then preparations can be made.

The breakdown in bonds is already underway and this morning’s pre-market action (as of 9:08 a.m., EST) is more of the same … down.

The daily chart of bond proxy TLT, shows the wedge and measured move. With that said, there’s no guarantee of bonds heading lower, just probabilities.

Also, if bonds go lower there’s nothing that says they can’t just keep going … with rates ever higher.

Bonds TLT, Daily

Of course, one does not have to sit idly by and watch their account(s) be decimated with persistent down moves.

Leveraged inverse bond fund TBT, has been around a long time; it’s a viable tool to either hedge positions or trade outright (not advice, not a recommendation).

Leveraged TLT, Inverse: TBT, Daily

Within the past two weeks, TBT, is up over +11%, which is quite respectable for a bond fund.

Stay Tuned

Charts by StockCharts

Note:  Posts on this site are for education purposes only.  They provide one firm’s insight on the markets.  Not investment advice.  See additional disclaimer here.

The Danger Point®, trade mark: No. 6,505,279

The Set-Up … SOXX & QQQ

November 27, 2022 By in Biotech, Bonds, IBB, Nasdaq, QQQ, Semiconductors, SOXX, SPBIO, TLT 1 Comment

Hitting The Channel

The majority of the indices are at their right-side channel lines.

We’ll cover semiconductor SOXX, and QQQs, below. However, biotech IBB, and SPBIO, are in similar positions.

From a calendar and data standpoint, there’ll be plenty that could be used as an ‘excuse’ for market moves but let’s ignore the (intended) distractions and take a look at what the market is saying about itself.

First up, is the semiconductor index, the SOXX.

Semiconductor’s, SOXX, Daily

The chart has Fibonacci retrace levels shown. Price action has retraced to 38.2% and stalled.

But wait, there’s more.

Putting in a trading channel, we could be at a reversal point.

Note the upward thrust energy (‘Force’) has dissipated.

the NASDAQ is in a similar situation but weaker from a retrace standpoint.

NASDAQ, QQQ, Daily

Looking at the monthly chart for the Q’s (not shown), it’s been a Fibonacci 13-months since all-time highs.

Force dissipation and ‘Contact Points’ are near identical to the SOXX.

Summary

Biotech IBB and SPBIO, are in similar positions. In fact, the overall markets appear poised for downside reversal.

As discussed in the last update, the bond market could be signaling danger ahead with its sharp upward reversal; now (potentially) entering its sixth week.

Stay Tuned

Charts by StockCharts

Note:  Posts on this site are for education purposes only.  They provide one firm’s insight on the markets.  Not investment advice.  See additional disclaimer here.

The Danger Point®, trade mark: No. 6,505,279

Bond Market, Signals Trouble

November 25, 2022 By in $SPSIBI, Biotech, Bonds, Jerimiah Babe, LABD, LABD-22-11, LABD-22-12, Michael Cowan, Positions, SPBIO, TLT, Wyckoff, ZeroHedge 1 Comment

It’s Not About The Fed

The potential for a sustainable bond reversal was identified way back in mid-October.

Now, over a month later with bonds moving decisively higher, the ‘narratives‘ are out in force.

Those narratives revolve around ‘pivot me this, or ‘pivot me that‘, or an infinite number of the same variations.

The reality is, there’s not going to be any ‘pivot’.

Even if there was, as Michael Cowan reported weeks ago, the market keeps crashing anyway (not advice, not a recommendation).

With that in mind, a popular narrative is that bonds are higher because the Fed will lower rates when they see we’re in a ‘recession’.

Well, they won’t ever see a recession because we’ve skipped that part; going straight to collapse and economic depression. 🙂

Of course, as Jerimiah Babe puts it, Americans won’t do a thing to get ready until the last minute … most likely after the market is down 50%, or more.

Instead of the placating, proletariat calming narrative, it’s a recession; maybe bonds are moving in response to those in the know … something much worse may be ahead.

Could bonds be signaling, we’re close to a market rout?

Bonds, TLT, Weekly

We’re going to start with the original analysis, showing the potential for a sustained reversal.

From the October 16th, post.

A month or so, later.

As with the dollar analysis from years ago, a weekly bullish divergence as we see here, may result in a rally that lasts longer and goes farther than anyone expects.

Of course, the real question is ‘what does it mean?’

As Wyckoff said over a century ago, we won’t know the full reason for a move until it’s over.

One view of it however, different from the accepted narrative, we could be headed for some kind of disconnect; those in the know are shifting to ‘relative’ stability.

Moving on to other markets, we have the following:

Positioning

Not advice, not a recommendation.

The push higher in biotech SPBIO, discussed in the prior update did not materialize.

Instead, we got a new daily low, followed by some upward testing action.

A day-trade in LABD was opened and closed; then near the market close, opened again.

Details are as follows

LABD-22-12:

Entry @ 19.9134***: Stop @ 19.10***

Note: Positions may be increased, decreased, entered, or exited at any time.

***, Indicates change

Stay Tuned

Charts by StockCharts

Note:  Posts on this site are for education purposes only.  They provide one firm’s insight on the markets.  Not investment advice.  See additional disclaimer here.

The Danger Point®, trade mark: No. 6,505,279

Tesla’s Rally … In Trouble

November 5, 2022 By in Bonds, TLT, TSLA 1 Comment

‘Bag Holders’

Remember, Musk, cashed-out, long ago.

What’s left are bag holders; that ‘bag’ may be about to head south, in a hurry.

The last update on Tesla, link here, had this to say about a potential rally:

“If bonds rally, the rest of the market may also rally; that could include our chief cook and bottle washer, Tesla.”

So far, the bond rally has not materialized; TSLA’s spring set-up (i.e., rally), looks like it’s failing.

We’ve already presented that TLSA’s in a distribution phase and has been for nearly a year, link here.

Tesla (TSLA), Daily

Price action’s in a trading channel Fibonacci 13-Days wide; from lowest (channel contact) print to highest print.

Note that Friday’s bar was wide, with increasing volume; 74.6%, higher, than the previous session.

Summary

As noted in the prior update, TSLA printed an outside-up, on the weekly two successive weeks.

“Price action bounced at support and penetrated it several times before printing outside-up on the weekly (twice).”

Such prints are also called ‘key reversals’. Each time, that reversal has been negated.

Price action itself, tells us the TLSA rally, is failing.

The ‘distribution’ may be complete, with a ‘mark-down’ phase about to start.

Stay Tuned

Charts by StockCharts

Note:  Posts on this site are for education purposes only.  They provide one firm’s insight on the markets.  Not investment advice.  See additional disclaimer here.

The Danger Point®, trade mark: No. 6,505,279

Bond Reversal Bellwether

November 1, 2022 By in $SPSIBI, Biotech, Bonds, LABD, LABD-22-09, Positions, S&P, S&P 500, SPBIO, SPY, TLT, TMF, TMF-22-01, ZeroHedge

Is The ‘Collapse’ Back In Play?

When the market does not respond as expected, that means something else is happening.

Such may be the case for bonds.

Yesterday, we got this announcement during market hours.

Of course, the already hammered bond market (TLT), got hammed some more.

It’s what happened next, and what’s happening today, that’s important.

That is, the sell-off was quickly reversed (to the upside) with that upside continuing this session.

The bond supply is being absorbed.

So, what does that mean?

It’s possible, the bounce, melt-up, squeeze or whatever one wants to call it could be over. There may already be a ‘flight to safety’ if there’s such a thing these days.

But let’s not hypothesize on what could be happening. The market itself (price action), tells us.

Bonds TLT, Daily

At about mid-session, this is where we are.

We’re right at the downtrend line.

The attempt to mover lower (yesterday), has been rejected.

As a result of today’s new daily high, the stop on position TMF-22-01, has been moved up (not advice, not a recommendation).

So, we’re now between the downtrend and the ‘rejection’; something’s likely to break.

Summary

The S&P (SPY) just posted an up-thrust reversal early this session and is still moving lower as of this post.

Keep in mind, all of this is happening before any Fed announcement … as if the market has already decided.

A quick note on biotech, SPBIO.

Position size has been increased in SPBIO, leveraged inverse LABD, as shown below (not advice, not a recommendation).

This sector remains at The Danger Point®

If the bounce really is over, biotech is likely to get hit the hardest.

Positions, Market Stance (courtesy only, not advice).

TMF-22-01:

Entry @ 7.166, Stop @ 6.77***

***, Indicates change

LABD-22-09***

Entry @ 19.88, 19.71***, Stop @ 18.69***

Note: Positions may be increased, decreased, entered, or exited at any time.

Stay Tuned

Charts by StockCharts

Note:  Posts on this site are for education purposes only.  They provide one firm’s insight on the markets.  Not investment advice.  See additional disclaimer here.

The Danger Point®, trade mark: No. 6,505,279

After The Close …

October 31, 2022 By in $SPSIBI, Biotech, Bonds, GLD, LABD, LABD-22-09, Positions, TLT, TMF, TMF-22-01

Bonds, Gold, Biotech

Bonds:

Instead of upside follow-through, we had downside test and reversal.

Gold:

GLD, closes lower and is now down seven consecutive months … a record for the tracking ETF.

Biotech

Index SPBIO, has been attempting to move higher, with it posting into an up-thrust last week.

Today it couldn’t hold the upside; now looking like a nascent reversal.

Note: Position changes at the bottom of this update.

The test and reversal in bonds (TLT) is obvious and there’s no open position in GLD.

So, we’ll focus on biotech.

Biotech ($SPSIBI, SPBIO) Daily

The zoom area of the chart shows price action just can’t seem to get above resistance (blue line).

Successive attempts were made throughout today’s session to go higher, but it didn’t happen.

Getting in closer on the hourly chart, we see the apparent upside failure during the last hour of trading.

Biotech SPBIO, Hourly

There is no doubt where at The Danger Point®

Right about mid-session, a short position was opened via LABD (not advice, not a recommendation) as LABD-22-09.

Summary

Today’s expectation for bonds was a follow-through to the upside … it didn’t happen.

In response, the initial TMF-22-01, position was closed with the secondary remaining open (not advice, not a recommendation).

Meanwhile, biotech SPBIO, was having its own problems; that is, being in up-thrust condition and not being able to make a new daily high. i.e., The Danger Point®

Positions, Market Stance (courtesy only, not advice).

TMF-22-01:

Entry @ 6.705, 7.166, Stop @ 6.68

Partial Exit @ 7.053***

***, Indicates change

LABD-22-09***

Entry @ 19.88***, Stop @ 18.94***

Note: Positions may be increased, decreased, entered, or exited at any time.

Stay Tuned

Charts by StockCharts

Note:  Posts on this site are for education purposes only.  They provide one firm’s insight on the markets.  Not investment advice.  See additional disclaimer here.

The Danger Point®, trade mark: No. 6,505,279

The Market Set-Up … This Week

October 30, 2022 By in Bonds, David Weis, GLD, GOLD, IYR, Real Estate, Spring-to-Up-Thrust, TLT, TSLA, Wyckoff 3 Comments

What To Watch … Bonds, Gold, Real Estate, Tesla

Bonds:

Last Friday, the bond reversal posted a shallow retrace.

We’re looking for upside follow-through at the next session.

Gold:

If gold (GLD) closes below 154.67, on Monday, it will be seven consecutive down months.

Momentum has slowed to a potential inflection point.

Real Estate:

If bonds move higher, real estate may follow. We have potential targets and Fibonacci timeframes.

Tesla:

This update, said to watch if/when TLSA, broke below support.

It did just that during the following week but now, it’s hesitating.

As a result, we have a Wyckoff ‘spring’ set-up.

Now, on to the charts.

Long Bond TLT, 30-minute

We’re drilling down to the 30-minute.

The blue line is Fibonacci 23.6%. Price action (at this point) shows the beginning of a move higher from that level.

Moving decisively higher at the next session, puts the terminating wedge into play, shown here.

If we get a wedge breakout, then we have a measured move target in the vicinity of TLT, 115.00.

Gold (GLD) Weekly Chart

A close below 154.67, on Monday, would put GLD, at seven consecutive down months.

GLD, has never closed lower seven consecutive months; not since inception, on 11/18/04.

Gold remains in a down-channel that’s a Fibonacci 13-Weeks wide.

Last week’s move helped to re-confirm the channel.

That action is itself, a Fibonacci 34-Weeks from the ‘changing of hands‘ high, during week-ending, 3/11/22.

However, momentum of price action has slowed.

If there’s going to be a break to the upside, this would be the place; otherwise, watch for continued GLD downside.

Real Estate IYR, Weekly

If bonds continue their upside reversal with rates lower, we can expect real estate IYR, to have some type of ‘dead cat’ bounce.

If so, how long and how high.

An infinite number of scenarios are possible. However, the chart of IYR, shows what to expect for two of those possibilities.

Real Estate IYR, Weekly

The uptrend (blue line) has been decisively broken. What has not yet happened, is a ‘test’ of that break.

Shown are potential tests; Week 8 (from 10/14/22, lows), at Fibonacci 38%, and Week 13, at 50%.

Between ‘Week 8’ and ‘Week 13’, is the December Fed meeting … a possible catalyst.

Tesla (TSLA) Weekly

This one seems a bit far-fetched but here it is, anyway.

If bonds rally, the rest of the market may also rally; that could include our chief cook and bottle washer, Tesla.

Price action bounced at support and penetrated it several times before printing outside-up on the weekly (twice).

By definition, it’s a Wyckoff spring set-up.

A spring tends to go straight into an up-thrust; a repeating pattern, shown on the chart at around TSLA, 315.

Set-ups can also fail … so, we’ll be watching this one closely.

Stay Tuned

Charts by StockCharts

Note:  Posts on this site are for education purposes only.  They provide one firm’s insight on the markets.  Not investment advice.  See additional disclaimer here.

The Danger Point®, trade mark: No. 6,505,279

Bond Reversal Targets

October 29, 2022 By in Bonds, IYR, Positions, Real Estate, TLT, TMF, TMF-22-01, ZeroHedge 1 Comment

Trade or Strategic

It’s either a short-term trade or a strategic reversal.

On the strategic reversal side is this just out from ZeroHedge.

‘Inflation’ may have peaked; where have we heard that before.

However, the charts presented in that link, do show we’re at an extreme.

If we look at the TLT, price action itself, which is impulsive down, we’ll go with the short-term first (not advice, not a recommendation).

With that, Friday may have been the ‘test’ from our capitulation model.

The weekly chart of bonds TLT, shows the anticipated up-tick in MACD, as well as the measured move target from the terminating wedge.

Long Bond, TLT, Weekly

Note, the wedge has not (yet) broken to the upside … we’re still at The Danger Point®, where the trade could fail.

If we look at the daily chart, probabilities point higher.

Long Bond, TLT, Daily

If this past Friday was the ‘test’ of the move, the retrace was a very weak Fibonacci 23.6%.

A new daily high in the next session(s), will help to confirm we’re headed higher.

Positions, Market Stance (courtesy only, not advice).

TMF-22-01:

Entry @ 6.705, 7.166***, Stop @ 6.68

***, Indicates change

Note: Positions may be increased, decreased, entered, or exited at any time.

Summary

If bonds continue to move higher, with rates heading lower, what’s going to happen to real estate, IYR ?

The wheels of the real estate crash have already been set in motion. If bonds rise, rates fall and IYR moves higher, there are specific targets to watch for short opportunities.

We’ll discuss those targets and more, in the next ‘The Market Set-Up … This Week’

Stay Tuned

Charts by StockCharts

Note:  Posts on this site are for education purposes only.  They provide one firm’s insight on the markets.  Not investment advice.  See additional disclaimer here.

The Danger Point®, trade mark: No. 6,505,279

The Capitulation ‘Model’

October 26, 2022 By in Bonds, GLD, Gold & Silver, Positions, Real Estate, TLT, TMF, TMF-22-01, Van Metre 1 Comment

Using The Gold Market Example

First up is the (downside reversal) analysis of the real estate market.

It was wrong; at least for now.

There’s nothing wrong with being wrong … it’s being wrong and staying wrong, that’s the problem.

What appears to be correct so far, is the upside reversal in the bond market.

We’re going to look at another capitulation to get some idea of what to expect if indeed bonds have reversed.

This past April, the gold market (GLD) capitulated on the upside. At the time, it was quickly and correctly identified as a ‘changing of hands’.

Gold (GLD) Capitulation

From a strategic standpoint, gold has not looked back.

Down around 20% (although slightly higher in today’s pre-market), there seems to be no major catalyst to get a similar capitulation reversal.

Using that reversal model and looking at bonds, we’ll use the 3X Leveraged Fund TMF, as the example.

Leveraged funds accentuate market moves, sometimes giving a clearer picture.

Bonds (TLT) 3X Leveraged Bull Fund, TMF

As far as what might be behind a (sustainable) bond reversal, we have this report from Steven Van Metre.

Using The ‘Model’

Note in the GLD reversal, prices went lower for a while and then came back to ‘test’.

Using that, we can expect TLT, TMF, price action to rise for some (unknown) period of time; then come back to ‘test’, before continuing higher (not advice, not a recommendation).

Stay Tuned

Charts by StockCharts

Note:  Posts on this site are for education purposes only.  They provide one firm’s insight on the markets.  Not investment advice.  See additional disclaimer here.

The Danger Point®, trade mark: No. 6,505,279