Category Archives: Van Metre

The ‘No Pivot’, Black Swan

September 22, 2023 By in $SPSIBI, Biotech, Federal Reserve, LABD, Nissam Taleb, Positions, SPBIO, Van Metre 1 Comment

Then, There’s Biotech

Back in January, this post was contrary to the accepted (and still accepted) theory, there’ll be a Fed ‘pivot’ when the economy turns south.

‘Like ‘bread and circuses’, the ‘pivot’ discussion is a distraction … keeping the proletariat placated.’

We went south a long time ago and not only is there no pivot, rates are most likely going higher still (not advice, not a recommendation).

A Process Of Iteration

Those accessing this site for any length of time, have seen my trading actions going through a process of iteration in real-time.

Those actions have effectively searched (and profited) from moves, but more importantly, are looking for the market that stands to decline the farthest and fastest.

At this juncture, that market could be biotech and specifically, the SPBIO, index (not advice, not a recommendation).

Biotech SPBIO, Monthly

Depending on if, when, and where the neckline is broken, we have an approximate location for a measured move.

Head & Shoulders patterns, while being high probability, can be subject to failure.

One of the most famous of these in recent memory, was the S&P Head and Shoulders of late 2002.

It was an easily recognizable pattern that failed … only later to find out, the market had been manipulated higher by an entity (buying futures contracts) that had ‘unlimited capital’.

Positioning

As this post detailed, the main position going short the index (via LABD) has already been opened (not advice, not a recommendation).

There have been other additions, but they are nowhere near the size of the original entry.

Hard Stop has been moved up from LABD 17.59 to LABD 18.22 (not advice, not a recommendation).

Highly Leveraged, LABD

There’s no guarantee, 3X Leveraged Inverse fund LABD, will be maintained throughout a potential collapse. Events can change, even while this post is being created.

That being said, what’s happening here is akin to ‘settling in’ on a trade, monitoring price action, trend lines, and support/resistance, to mentally prepare for what could be a sustained move.

So far, that approach is working.

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

Too Much … ‘Debt & Disruption’

June 6, 2023 By in DUST, Federal Reserve, GDX, GDXJ, JDST, Texas Freeze, The Maverick of Wall Street, The Speck, Van Metre, ZeroHedge

Another Planned Event ?

So, how’s any business going to operate profitably in an environment that’s systematically being disrupted?

Those that could come up with a plan (for their company or business) in such an environment, i.e., the ‘competent‘, are leaving in droves; letting the slackers, back-biters, corporate gossips, and the incompetent, finally have free rein.

This phenomenon likely applies to all major businesses. We already see the entrenchment.

Then, The Fed

Then, there’s the Fed. Surely, when they see how bad things are, they’ll lower rates; Right?

‘When the Fed realizes the economy’s in a recession, they’re going to lower rates‘.

That’s ‘normalcy bias’. We’re in a new construct: There’s no Fed ‘pivot’, rate lowering, or any ‘accommodation’ in sight.

On top of that, some have figured out, things aren’t quite right at the Fed; looks like different ‘forces’ are at work.

Go to time stamp 10:50 at this link (warning, contains profanity).

Then, The ‘Stackers’

So, we’ve gone from stacking toilet paper to stacking what’s thought to be precious metals.

The question is … are they real or fake?

First, it’s fake silver … and then, even the Perth Mint got into the act with ‘diluted’ gold bars.

As stated, years ago, during the Texas Freeze, when it really hits, the grid goes down, nothing’s working, it’s freezing outside, precious metals are nowhere on the list (not advice, not a recommendation).

Then, The VIX

As if all of the above was not giving us clues that something’s about to happen, there’s the VIX.

Volatility is down … way down … too far down.

All of which bring us to the topic at hand.

Now, The Debt

If you believe the talking heads and ‘finance’ YouTube sites that claim the debt deal will cause massive inflation, well then, let’s pose the following question.

If that was true, why are gold and silver not responding in a huge bull market with upward leaps (a la 1995, S&P) each day, then week and month?

Those close to the market always know something; their actions show up on the tape.

It could be we’ve already past the top in spending …. just by market pressures alone. It’s possible, all that extra allocated ‘pork’ may never get implemented (not advice, not a recommendation).

Lastly, The Miners

The miners GDX, GDXJ, have been in a bear market for years with all-time highs (GDXJ) during the first half of 2011.

Since then, the sector is down over 72%

It’s interesting, that this high stress, physically demanding industry with risk of danger ever present (here, here and here) reached a bear market peak in mid-2020, just as certain ‘items’ were being mandated.

Junior Miners GDXJ, Daily

As the competent leave the general workforce, would the resulting lack of accountability make itself known first in professions where stupidity causes direct effect in reduced production and/or increased accidents?

The GDXJ is at an interesting juncture.

It’s currently under resistance (blue line) that has already been tested.

At the end of the session today, we’re a Fibonacci 8-Days from the low set on May 25th.

If the index is going to reverse lower from here, this is a likely place to start.

Another attempt at resistance would indicate more upside pressure than anticipated; any existing short positions would be closed (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

Nat-Gas … The ‘Disruption’ Trade

May 8, 2023 By in GDXJ, JDST, Natural Gas, UNG, Van Metre, Wyckoff 5 Comments

Waiting For The Next Shoe

Nat-Gas, at multi-year lows but for how long?

We’re not in Kansas anymore and to expect things to operate ‘normally’, is a strategic error (not advice, not a recommendation).

The last update on Nat-Gas, specifically the futures, warned of new lows before a significant reversal:

“The Nat-Gas futures contract for May (NGK23), needs to post above 2.383 soon (in the next day or so), or the contract is at risk of pressing to new lows.”

Well, we’ve moved on from the May contract to the June contract and that contract indeed posted a new low this past Friday, the 5th.

Just Because …

Just because nat-gas is down, does not mean that it has to go up. That type of thinking is another error, typically called a ‘mind trap‘.

A better way to think about the situation, is to figure on a ‘disruption’ of some type, resulting in either a destruction of supply or excess demand over the usual conditions for the season (weather) at hand.

So, let’s see if the charts agree with that premise from a Wyckoff analysis standpoint.

Nat-Gas UNG, Weekly

Each significant downward thrust is becoming shorter in net distance traveled.

The horizontal blue lines tell the story. We’re nearing the end of the down move (not advice, not a recommendation).

Now, on to the daily. Price action penetrated support and has reversed … it’s in Wyckoff ‘spring’ position.

Natural Gas, UNG Daily

Of course, what happens next is the question.

Just as this post said we’d revisit it towards the summertime, showing there’s no Fed ‘pivot’, we can also propose there’s likely to be a severe disruption in the supply of nat-gas (not advice, not a recommendation).

Housekeeping & The Junior Miners, GDXJ

The expected lower open in the GDXJ did not happen.

So far, it’s been a narrow range day (as of 10:47 a.m., EST).

Price action is oscillating around unchanged and there appears to be no urgency to move either direction.

Standing on the sidelines for now (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

Oil Today … Gold Tomorrow

January 7, 2023 By in 1987, DRIP, DRIP-23-01, Federal Reserve, Jerimiah Babe, Positions, Taleb, Van Metre, Wyckoff, XOM, XOP, ZeroHedge 8 Comments

Commodities, Have Peaked

First, we’ll review oil; tomorrow, we’ll look at gold.

From an intuitive standpoint, you can almost feel it.

The oil and gas sector has launched to unsustainable highs.

Behemoths like Exxon (XOM) with its 63,000 employees have gone from below $30/share to above $110/share, an increase over 280%, in just two years.

In the history of the equity, going all the way back to 1984, that’s never happened.

Even in 1987, before the crash, XOM was up for the two-year period, a paltry 108%, by comparison.

Now, data is coming in nearly by the day about collapsing demand, layoffs accelerating, and inventories piling up.

The latest from Steven Van Metre, at time stamp 4:25, discusses just how fast the downdraft is, and will be.

Important Note:

Before we leave the Van Metre link above, at time stamp 8:50, the assertion is made of what the Fed will do when slower growth data comes in. i.e., interest rates will be halted or lowered.

Nassim Talib called this kind of thinking “Normalcy Bias”.

The opinion of this site is, it’s a trap. Thinking what happened last time, will happen this time.

Let’s mentally bookmark this post and come back six-months from now to see what happened.

We’re in uncharted territory and other agendas are at work.

Like ‘bread and circuses’, the ‘pivot’ discussion is a distraction … keeping the proletariat placated.

Demand Collapse

We’ve got demand collapsing on a daily basis right in front of our faces and yet, it’s a big mystery (to some).

What’s not known, is how the general population will react to undeniable truth when it finally hits, en masse.

We have a good hint of what’s in store as reported by Jerimiah Babe during the first minute of this report.

Moving on to the Oil & Gas Sector.

Oil & Gas XOP, Weekly

The weekly chart shows the multi-year resistance area that was tested (and rejected) back in mid-June, last year.

The next chart shows we also have a terminating wedge.

Price action has come back to the lower boundary; suggesting a breakdown is a probability.

If we get a breakdown, measured move support is identified at approximately -47%, below current levels.

Strategy & Trading

Obviously, the charts paint a bearish picture.

Over the past week, XOP was covered here and here.

The first link discussed how price action was very close to making a new daily high. That happened the next session (Friday) and indeed, it had Wyckoff ‘spring’ characteristics.

Price action moved higher and closed higher for the day, but it did not post a new weekly high … keeping the bearish case on the table.

A popular leveraged inverse fund is DRIP (not advice, not a recommendation).

At The Close

As this post comes to a close, a quick check on ZeroHedge turns up this: ‘Tipping Point‘

We’ve jumped over ‘recession’ and have gone straight into crisis and depression.

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

Pandora & Twitter, The Box Opens

November 29, 2022 By in $SPSIBI, Biotech, LABD, LABD-22-12, Positions, SPBIO, The Speck, Twitter, Van Metre, Wyckoff, ZeroHedge

Fuel, For The Downside

With Twitter’s lifting of the ban on truth, linked here, we may be entering the next phase of collapse.

Whether or not it’s going to immediately show up in market price action, is unknown at this point.

Nascent Reversal?

The last update identified the markets were poised for potential reversal.

Two days later and we’re mostly down; that’s in spite of the supposed positive ‘machine’ bias as presented at this link.

A positive machine-market could still happen (data released tomorrow) but for now, price action itself, is posting lower; this is the crux of Wyckoff analysis … ‘What is the market saying about itself’.

In line with the truth being let out, not surprisingly, chief cook and bottle washer, biotech, is having a rough time.

Biotech Bear Market

Prior posts have documented the bear flag that’s been forming for over nine-weeks. Now, we have an apparent coiled action, ready for the downside.

Since we’re short this sector via LABD (not advice, not a recommendation), we’re going to look at LABD, to identify the potential.

SPBIO, 3X Leveraged Inverse, LABD

We have three charts, all depicting daily action.

The first (un-marked) chart is close-in and it looks like a mess. That is, until you put in trend lines and a Fibonacci count as shown on the second chart.

Adding the mark-up.

Then, keeping those trend lines intact, pulling farther out, we see the potential if there’s a sustained move.

Price action has been trading in a tight range over the past eight-days. Let’s see what happens next.

Positioning

Not advice, not a recommendation.

Short position in SPBIO via LABD; details are as follows:

LABD-22-12:

Entry @ 19.9194, 20.91***: Stop @ 19.28***

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

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

Bond Reversal

October 25, 2022 By in Bonds, Positions, TLT, TMF, TMF-22-01, Van Metre, Wyckoff

‘The Market Is A Tyrant’ … Wyckoff, 1910

This update, posted over the weekend, showed potential bond capitulation, set-up for reversal.

Wyckoff’s admonition (above quote) from his book Studies In Tape Reading, meant, the market dictates our actions.

Our job is to do what the market is telling us.

If we look at charts of TLT, and leveraged fund TMF, at this point (11:30 a.m., EST), it’s an obvious reversal.

Bonds TLT, Daily

We won’t know for sure if it’s an island gap, until the following sessions.

One indicator of potential (sustained) reversal is the leveraged bond fund TMF.

If we compress the daily chart, capitulation volume is clear.

Last Friday’s volume (29.1-million shares) was the highest by far, since the fund started in mid-April of 2009.

Bonds 3X Leveraged Bull, TMF, Daily

Trade or not?

It’s the trader’s discretion; with it being hard to imagine who wants U.S. Bonds.

However, as Steven Van Metre presents in this update, (time stamp, 3:30), foreign investors are interested.

With that, a long position has been opened at TMF 6.705 (TMF-22-01), with a stop in the vicinity of TMF 6.30.

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 16, 2022 By in $SPSIBI, Basic Materials, Bonds, David Weis, DJUSBM, Gold & Silver, IYM, IYR, J.P. Morgan, LABD, LABD-22-08, Michael Cowan, Positions, SLV, SPBIO, Spring-to-Up-Thrust, Survival Lilly, TLT, TMF, TSLA, Van Metre, Wyckoff, ZeroHedge 4 Comments

What To Watch

First off, it’s nice to know, traders at J.P. Morgan, don’t have clue as what to do.

They say it themselves; Not One Person

On top of that, I’m supposed to pay money reading about how clueless they are. 🙂

No thanks. Let’s see if we can do better than the average ‘investment firm’.

Before we get started, a reminder; as Michael Cowen says:

‘It’s the bear market that reveals those who really understand’, not the bull market ‘geniuses‘.

With that, let’s get into it; first up, is silver.

Silver: Wyckoff Analysis Results

The downside reversal was identified to the day.

Adding to that post, Europeans could not only be freezing or starving this winter, but also subject to radiation poisoning.

Surely, they’re all thinking that ‘stack’ of silver is going to save them.

Silver (along with gold) remain trending lower.

Silver (SLV) is currently at support levels; therefore, some upward action (staying below SLV: 18.5) is normal behavior.

Bonds: Are They Ready?

Hold your nose … bonds could be setting up for a rally.

As Steven Van Metre reports here, the Fed ‘shenanigan’ meter is pegged.

Bonds, TLT Weekly

Note, the bullish TLT, set-up is not confirmed until MACD ticks higher (not advice, not a recommendation).

Also note the repeating pattern of ‘spring to up-thrust‘.

Last up, biotech

Biotech SPBIO, Hourly (Inverted)

We’re going to use the chart from yesterday’s post to set the stage for getting closer-in.

This past Friday’s early morning ‘spike’ is barely visible; the 30-minute (inverted) chart below, has more detail.

SPBIO, 30-minute (Inverted)

Price action rejected the lower levels (higher on SPBIO) and pulled away throughout the session. That ‘pulling away’ continued on, all the way into the close.

That’s a clue there may be follow-through at the next session.

If the early session opens ‘gap-higher’ (SPBIO, lower), into the resistance area (four magenta arrows, hourly chart), it would be the fourth time pressuring at this area; markets rarely hold a fourth attempt.

Summary

Of course, other markets are being watched like real estate (IYR), Tesla (TSLA), and even Basic Materials (DJUSBM), a potential sleeper for significant downside.

Updates are planned if/when low risk shows up.

Positions: Current Stance (courtesy only, not advice).

The following is the positioning of my firm’s main (largest) account.

LABD-22-08:

LABD Entry @ 25.1278, 24.735, 26.025, 22.99, 22.29***, Stop is @ LABD 21.23***

***, Indicates change

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

Fighting The Last War

January 26, 2022 By in DUST, GDX, GDXJ, GLD, Gold & Silver, Gold Miners, JDST, JDST-22-01, Van Metre 1 Comment

Because, Last Time Will Work This Time

Gold fund GLD, saw record inflows for the past year.

So, that’s the place to be, right?

In a rare (media) event, the answer may be included in the above link.

The analyst in the article is quoted as being “surprised” the actual metal, gold, has not moved appreciably higher as a result of massive ETF inflows.

Since before 1980 when gold reached an all time high (back then) of $850/oz., its’ been ‘inflation, inflation, inflation’.

That Was Then:

It’s been forty-plus years (some would argue more) of non-stop inflation.

At some point, the music stops; we seem to be very close.

Everybody stampeding into gold and related markets (i,e., the miners) appears to be fighting the last war: Inflation.

Where We Are Now:

In Steven Van Metre’s latest update, he presents just how precarious and fragile is, the current market environment.

It’s a short video, just under 13-minutes; it’s worth the time.

The internet’s been the great equalizer and so everyone has access to the same information.

After watching his video (time stamp 6:07), it raises the question as to why anyone, or any financial manager, would want to be long in the equity market (not advice, not a recommendation).

To Be, Or Not To Be, ‘Certified’

Let’s just throw in that ‘certified’ management actually underperforms non-certified peers. At least in the case of the CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst).

In the article above, it even states that ‘experience’ is a deciding factor. Imagine that. 🙂

One has to be smart to pass the certification tests. No doubt. However, ‘smart’ does not equal ‘savvy’.

Taking all of this into account, it’s reasonable to think we’re possibly just one ‘fat-finger’ away …

Gold Finished Testing ?

We’re a few hours from the Fed announcement but the market looks like it’s already made a decision.

The daily chart of gold (GLD) shows all that’s happened since the potential for up-thrust breakout was first presented.

The zoom chart shows price action right at the support/trendline of the terminating wedge.

More importantly, we see that action is below the established resistance line; possibility indicating the test is complete.

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

Straight Talk On Gold

January 23, 2022 By in GLD, Gold & Silver, Gold Miners, NEM, Neo Feudalism, Useful Idiots, Van Metre, Vernon Coleman 1 Comment

The Air’s Going Out

It’s time for the truth on gold and the miners.

Before we get to the charts, we’re going to start with an unlikely source:

Dr. Vernon Coleman

His latest video post is here; it’s important to watch in its entirety.

At time stamp 13:30, in the link, he says that restrictions are backing off, not because of any real change of conditions; no, they’re backing off to clear room for the next scam.

Useful Idiots

For obvious lies to have any effect, one has to have a whole pack of idiots to believe them.

The last post showed with the anecdotal ‘Target’ update, of that, there is no shortage.

So how does one think a dirty, dangerous mining operation is going to be functional with an ever declining or impaired workforce coupled with a potential ‘climate lockdown’?

Let’s not forget, these operations are also working to solve problems that don’t exist (i.e. ‘sustainability’ and ‘net zero’).

Was it like this in 1929 ?

The latest post from Economic Ninja, talks about the market becoming more “narrow” … which is just an alternate term for “thinning-out”.

All of this brings us to the market at hand: Gold and the miners.

Newmont Mining (NEM):

We’ll go straight to the inverted daily chart of NEM:

This prior post did an excellent job showing the potential bearish reversal conditions for NEM.

However, there’s at least one more bearish condition and that is, ‘up-thrust’.

Remember, that if it’s ‘up-thrust’ on the regular chart, it becomes ‘spring’ on the inverted.

The zoom chart below shows price action has come back to test support quickly; an indication the downside thrust cleared out the weak hands and allowed strong hands to take positions.

We’re talking ‘inverted’ here.

So, what’s likely happened in the real (non-inverted) world:

The herd has bought into the inflation narrative.

They think Newmont, the miners and the gold market, are breaking out to the upside. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the professionals have likely used the opportunity to sell or sell-short.

Back In The Day

Way back in the day, when Steven Van Metre, still had his 1970s wood-paneled office, he used to talk about how the Fed knows its actions are deflationary.

Also, how the Fed was in no way going to educate the public; so, they let that public believe that it’s all about inflation and dollar destruction.

The herd is nearly always on the wrong side of the trade. Here’s a blast from the past to help make that case.

Data Dump & Asset Transfer

With so many bits of data swirling around like Cryptos, Digital Dollar, UBI, Supply Chain Destruction, Depopulation, Neo Feudalism, and on, who of us in the proletariat, really know how it’s all going to play out?

However, there’s one thing of which, we can be sure:

It’s an asset transfer of Biblical proportion.

Next On The Schedule

This post is already long and we’ve not discussed the mining indices and downside projections.

Depending on price action or news, we’ll cover that in tomorrow’s update.

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