Slope of Hope Blog Posts

Slope initially began as a blog, so this is where most of the website’s content resides. Here we have tens of thousands of posts dating back over a decade. These are listed in reverse chronological order. Click on any category icon below to see posts tagged with that particular subject, or click on a word in the category cloud on the right side of the screen for more specific choices.

Memorial ETFs: Overseas

By -

Preface to all ETF posts this weekend: This is not a normal holiday weekend. Supposedly, when we return to the trading world Tuesday, there will be some resolution (or more chaos) regarding the debt ceiling. In the meanwhile, I have gathered together different families of ETFs for review, and I have stated my remarks in the caption area below each.

I would also like to note that, as a special this holiday weekend, I am giving away my Joy of Charting book, which I will ship to you free of charge for signing up at ANY subscription level. Just drop me a line when you subscribe to tell me where to send it. As an added bonus, I’ll also provide a copy of my Solid State audiobook for your listening pleasure, free of charge!

This is acting beautifully. It has been persistently repelled by the long-term trendline, in blue, and we broke below a multi-week trading range last week. It retraced back to its old range on Friday, and I am looking for this to resume its downward trajectory next week.
(more…)

Fed Repeats 1999 (by LZ)

By -

The 12-year cycle of animals is the most popular aspect of the Chinese zodiac. This year 2023 is one, and prior ones were in 2011, 1999, 1987 and 1975. All of these years have some relevance to this year. A lesser bear market cycle ended in 1974 (it was the nominal low, but not the inflation-adjusted low). In 1975, stocks rallied hard. They recovered almost all their losses by early 1976. The bear was caused by shockingly high inflation, similar to what was experienced last year.

The year 1987 was in the middle of a bull market, but interest rate hikes helped turn a big rally into a big crash. This seems like the least relevant of the four prior rabbits, but if the Fed started hiking again maybe not.

(more…)