Category Archives: The Speck

Biotech … The Big One?

September 10, 2025 By in $SPSIBI, Biotech, GDX, GDXJ, Gold & Silver, Gold Miners, Greg Hunter, HOOD, IBB, Karen Kingston, LABD, LABD-25-10, Nasdaq, ORCL, Positions, QQQ, S&P, S&P 500, SPBIO, Speck-Effect, SPY, The Speck, XBI 3 Comments

Next Leg Lower

Unfortunately, the (mad scientist) graphic at left, is not too far removed from what’s really going on in biotech.

While the S&P, Nasdaq Qs, Gold Miners, Semiconductors, Financials, The HOOD, ORCL, and others, continue to make all-time highs, conspicuously absent is biotech, XBI and IBB.

Now, it appears that quietly, in the background, XBI is reversing to the downside.

Biotech XBI, Daily Close

The up-thrust is there, but is a weak penetration of resistance.

Even so, on the ‘test’, volume contracted by -49.24%, when compared to volume on the upside penetration.

Until proven otherwise, this set-up appears to (currently) be the best short opportunity.

With that said, all other short positions have been closed to focus on biotech.

Leveraged inverse fund LABD is being used at this juncture: Trade LABD-25-10, with stop at the session low (not advice, not a reocmmendiaton).

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

UnitedHealth … Dead Cat Bounce?

May 16, 2025 By in Health Care, Positions, Speck-Effect, The Speck, XLV, XLV-25-03, ZeroHedge

How Far, How Long?

Two major hits to UnitedHealth (UNH), in the past four days, here and here.

Let’s throw in this one as well, and make it an even three, link here, website link here. Is that why the healthcare costs are going up unexpectedly?

The Wall Street Journal, UnitedHealth, and ZeroHedge, may have presented conditions for an interim low (not advice, not a recommendation).

The press is usually last and typically presents (these days, anyway) nothing new.

The price action itself, told us something was wrong.

United Health UNH, Daily

Massive, historic volume for UNH, may indicate a temporary bottom and retrace to test Fibonacci levels.

Separately, the XLV short XLV-25-03 was closed with 6.93% profit (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

‘Curve Fitting’ Biotech … Part 1

April 17, 2025 By in $SPSIBI, Biotech, LABD, LABD-25-08, Positions, SPBIO, Speck-Effect, The Speck, ZeroHedge

Fibonacci, First

We’re letting the market decide what support/resistance, trendlines, and Fibonacci levels are significant.

We’ll even make an attempt to pick the timeframe(s) that best describes current action.

There’s a lot going on in a market sense, as well as ‘behind the scenes’ with revelations like this, and this, and this.

With that said, we’re looking at the 3-Day chart and Fibonacci levels.

Biotech XBI, 3-Day

The 3-Day is being used; it best shows current trending action (planned for next update).

The XBI, has near perfect (Fibonacci) symmetry.

Price action has made its way back to the 23.6%, level, and is hesitating.

Watching the action in real time, XBI gives the sense it does not know quite what to do … is it in a pause, gathering steam to move higher, or was the massive squeeze, on Wednesday, the 9th, all there was?

Positioning

As stated in the earlier update, XBI action on the 15th, put it at The Danger Point®; the location where risk was least for a short position (not advice, not a recommendation).

It’s been slow going since then (ratcheting lower) but the one thing XBI, is not doing … is moving significantly higher.

More trade discussion, stop levels, link here (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

Curtains For Biotech?

November 27, 2024 By in $SPSIBI, Biotech, Holiday Turns, LABD, SPBIO, The Daily Sceptic, The List, The Speck, XBI, XBI-24-01 Tags: , , 1 Comment

Today, Is ‘Day 13’

Strange things happen in the markets just before, during, or just after a holiday week.

This time is no different.

With all that’s gone on in the past few weeks, one gets a sense ‘the jig is up’.

One example of the curtain being pulled back on a well-established grift, is this unrelated, but related post, link here.

So, it could be with biotech.

The past two weeks look like a change of character (not advice, not a recommendation).

Biotech XBI, Daily

It’s been a Fibonacci 13-Days since the reversal on 11/11.

The sector has accelerated to the downside on record volume and now, is testing that break.

The ‘Axis Line’, is also the location of the 61.8%, retrace for the current down-move and test.

Although there’s been no new daily low to ‘confirm’ the test is complete, (upside) risk may be at a low.

Positioning

For reasons to be covered in a later update, this sector’s being shorted directly as opposed to using leveraged inverse LABD (not advice, not a recommendation).

Trade is labeled: XBI-24-01

Stop level for the short is (or will be) the session high, currently at XBI 99.79 (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

Moderna, Collapse & Class Action

October 27, 2024 By in Biotech, MRNA, Speck-Effect, The Speck

Just As Forecast

Moderna, MRNA, is down -88%, from its all-time highs.

Having worked the markets for nearly forty-years, it (typically) goes as follows …

When a stock declines 80% or more, in short order (12-36 months or so), those with absolutely no analysis skills or discipline, who bought-in because everyone else is doing it (making a supposed fortune), have now lost their shirts.

So, they do what they know best, blame somebody else. Let the lawsuits begin.

The whole thing is so much like High School.

Class action is nothing new. What is new this time around, or what could be new, is the ‘discovery’ process.

One has to wonder if (or when) the lawyers are going to come across this piece of ‘discovery’.

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

Gold … Measured Moves

October 19, 2024 By in Charles Hugh Smith, GLD, Gold & Silver, Gold Miners, Gold Production, Speck-Effect, Statista, The Speck Tags: , , ,

Is This … ‘Inflation?‘

Is gold rising because of ‘inflation’ or just another market going through pattern-influenced moves?

Maybe there’s something else, something no-one talks about.

As far as known, the following insight (first discussed here) is exclusive:

Since 2020, world-wide gold output is declining; output for 2023, down over 9%, since 2019, link here.

Could this be a clue? Full article is here.

Well, enough of the truth.

Let’s get back to our fantasy world; the highly simplistic excuse that gold’s responding to ‘massive inflation’ and ‘money printing’.

Gold GLD, Monthly

One wedge, with its target already reached.

There’s another potential wedge (not advice, not a recommendation).

Since futures are trading about $200/oz. higher than GLD (at 1/10 oz. pricing), the second measured move if reached, corresponds to about $3,300/oz. (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

The Usual Suspects

June 16, 2024 By in Artificial Intelligence, Federal Reserve, Food Supply, Genesis 41, Interest Rates, James Grant, The Speck, Usual Suspects, Wyckoff, ZeroHedge 1 Comment

Can It Get Any More Stupid?

It’s been a while since rounding up The Usual Suspects.

However, like last time, the stupidity, misdirection, misinformation, outright falsehoods, overall grift and schtick, has got to the point where an update is needed.

We’ll start off by repeating No. 1 from the prior ‘suspects’ as it encompasses the whole genre of ‘non-thought’ by the public and financial press alike; readers of this post excepted, of course. 🙂

No 1. There (still) is no Fed Pivot. Seriously, have rates really, actually been lowered? Everyone has a huge case of ‘normalcy bias’. i.e., what the Fed did last time will happen this time.

The 40-year bond bull market from the ’80s, ended in 2020. We’re in a different paradigm now.

We’ll add in this updated post, James Grant, of Grant’s Interest Rate Observer.

He second’s the motion: The 40-year bond bull market, is over. Period.

No 2. It has always been about the food supply.

Food is boring and gets no ‘clicks’ on my grifting ‘silver, gold stacking’ website or YouTube, so I ignore it.

After all, my business, is to get more business.

Just a reminder, if anyone really wants (inedible) gold or silver (cheap), this might be a way to get it.

No 3. The market has ‘thinned out’ to an incredible degree.

Now, instead of The Mag 7, there are only three and one of them, is a washed-up gaming stock.

How apropos, when considering the opening paragraphs about the overall public and financial press.

No 4. Is Artificial Intelligence just another lie?

Looks like according to this, it can’t be trusted. Who could have guessed?

I’m shocked! Shocked!

No 5. Ruh-Roh Scooby, fake meat’s bad for your health.

Didn’t see that one coming.

No 6. Well, there could be a new ‘scarient‘ in the works.

However, looking at price action of the biotech sector, far below its all-time highs, the market itself, is saying ‘No, not this time.’

No 7. Could the S&P make it to 6,300?

After all, it’s all about the numbers, right?

The S&P bottomed at 666.67 on 3/9/09.

Summary

If there ever was a time as Wyckoff said, to ‘completely ignore the financial press’, this may be that time.

He also stated, ‘reading price action is hard, taking literally decades and many losses to master’, a skill which is never really complete.

As the ‘About‘ section states, this site is one leader’s perspective on that action; presenting it, in a strategically cognizant form.

As far as is known, no other site is doing the same.

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

Newmont’s Decision … Down

May 25, 2024 By in Dr. Elder, GDX, GDXJ, Gold & Silver, Gold Miners, NEM, Speck-Effect, The Speck

Now, It Gets Interesting

Is it about to become a dumpster fire?

As usual, we have the rabid gold and silver bulls, breathless; ‘This is it!’, ‘This is the big one!’, ‘Dollar collapse, imminent!’

All the while, nobody’s reporting the fact, that ever since ‘The Speck’ was introduced in 2019, and of course, Speck ‘protection‘, gold production has dropped to 2014 levels, and has not recovered (source, Statista).

Is it as simple as ‘supply and demand’? Is the ‘inflation’ narrative, just another ruse?

Even as gold and silver are rising (for now), the mining sector’s GDX, GDXJ, are far below their all-time highs.

As if to put icing on the cake, Newmont, appears to have reversed (not advice, not a recommendation).

Newmont Mining NEM, Daily (inverted)

Similar to recent biotech analysis, we’re inverting the chart to show the potential.

Note: This ‘inversion’ technique is a psychological exercise covered in one of Dr. Elder’s books (here and here).

It’s a basic fundamental for un-biased analysis.

Back in the day, while publishing on SeekingAlpha (a whole story in itself), users of that site would complain about charts being ‘upside down’. 🙂

Moving on, we have the following:

There’s a lot going on in this chart.

Price action has recoiled off the support (resistance non-inverted) and is now at a point where it may attempt to retrace for a test.

MACD has become successively bullish; now has a crossover signal.

As shown in prior updates here and here, the support level’s in the vicinity of the 23.6%, retrace.

That indicates bullishness on the chart above or weakness on non-inverted (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

The Bearish Bet on Biotech

May 23, 2024 By in $SPSIBI, Biotech, LABD, LABD-24-11, Prechter, SPBIO, The Maverick of Wall Street, The Speck, XBI

‘Monkey See … ‘

The next ‘show’ is about to begin; let’s take our seats, get the popcorn ready.

Setting the stage, we have this, just out.

Looks like there’s another ‘Speck’ on the horizon. You know, ‘The Thing’ as The Maverick of Wall Street, likes to call it.

But we can’t have this crisis go to waste. How about a press release, letting everyone know, we’re about to make (yet) another bundle of cash.

Is that really going to happen, this time around?

To find the answer or the probability, we’ll go to the chart of biotech XBI, and have it tell us the likely outcome.

Biotech XBI, Daily (inverted)

As we’ve being doing previously, here, and here, we’re using the daily but inverting it to show bearish (LABD) potential.

As a reminder, this update, indicated a possible stop for a short position (not advice, not a recommendation).

That location is labeled ‘Stop No. 1‘, on the chart.

Yesterday’s action presented the opportunity to move the stop; it’s labeled as ‘Stop No. 2‘.

Rule of Alternation

This ‘rule’, coming from Robert Prechter Jr., says:

‘What happened last time, is not likely to happen this time.’

That guides us to expect something different.

From the perspective of the analysis above, that ‘different’ is pointing probabilities to the downside (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

Deep ‘Kimchi’ Update … Newmont

May 11, 2024 By in Gold & Silver, Gold Miners, Michael Bordenaro, NEM, SBUX, Speck-Effect, The Speck, Wyckoff, ZeroHedge 1 Comment

Setting Up For ‘Breakout’ or, ‘Digging-In’ …?

Gold’s near all-time highs, silver’s rebounded, testing recent highs; yet Newmont’s at a paltry 23.6%, retrace.

So, you tell me. What’s likely to happen to Newmont, if gold or silver head back lower, even just a little bit?

That dude in the picture, needs to keep on diggin’. 🙂

Wyckoff, In-The-Know

Years ago, Wyckoff told us not to pay any attention to the financial press, the local circus.

However, that does not mean he didn’t know what was going on. He did, and sometimes down to the penny.

We don’t know for sure what’s (really) happening with Newmont and the mining sector but among other things, it might have something to do with this, this, and this.

Even so, price action’s the truth; let’s look at our chief cook and bottle washer’s progress since the last update.

Newmont Mining NEM, Weekly

The chart has expanded the Force Index (middle panel) for better clarity.

Going back to the last update, it had this to say:

“A reasonable expectation is NEM, retraces, testing the wide bar and volume before continuing to the downside or moving back higher to a breakout.”

Price action has done exactly that. It came down to test the wide (4/25/24) bar and then back up to resistance, where we are now.

The only thing missing at this point, is the breakout or reversal (not advice, not a recommendation).

Show Me, The Money

Anyone with two Latte’s rubbing together, knows the economy may (already) be in full-blown collapse.

Anecdotal (and factual) evidence of that can be found here, here and here.

Adding, Nemont itself is not doing well as evidenced by this recent (February) article about dividend cuts, asset sales.

Seems like everybody’s looking around for cash.

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