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.

Financial Stampede

By -

Well, as I sit here on Thursday evening, the ES is completely unchanged. It seems astonishing, but index after index, and ETF after ETF, is at lifetime highs. There are a handful of indexes, such as the Dow 30, which aren't quite there yet, but the Dow's equivalent ETF, symbol DIA, is at a lifetime high (based on dividend adjustments, which is really the only sensible way to do it, but I digress).

On the rare occasions I've offered up long ideas recently they have tended to be in the area of financial stocks. I'm not talking about the JP Morgans or the Goldman Sachs, but lesser-known names. The fact that these all tended to be in the same sector wasn't deliberate on my part; it just so happened that the chart patterns were really good on the long side, and naturally, since they were so closely correlated, they tended to garner my attention as good long plays.

Anyway, since there's precious little I can offer as convincing proof that the market's about to fall to pieces ("Wave 3! We're at the cusp! The cusp, I tell you!"), let's review some of the more successful long ideas of late:

0117-finalABC

(more…)

XLF Narrowly Averts Bearish “Death Cross”

By -

XLF, the Financials ETF, is currently trading in a "triangle within a triangle," as shown on the Daily chart below. I'll be watching to see if price pushes and holds above the smaller one. Apex support is at 14.74ish and Apex resistance is at 15.20ish. Also, a bearish "Death Cross" formation has been narrowly averted, so far.

Strengthening Financials are important to any further advance on the S&P 500 Index, in my opinion, and this ETF is one to watch over the next days/weeks, particularly since it is still trading in the October 2008 lows and has never recovered to the 2007 high of 38.15.

 

JPM Takes It On The Chin.

By -

Although I am normally critical of the constant negative reporting of ZH, today I have to say kudos to them.  They do bring out the dark side of the Wall St like no other. Two of their reports stand out today.

  • The going on of JPM and
  • The impending bond default of Greece.

My only point is: do not get caught up in headlines or conspiracy theories while trading or investing- pay attention to risk management. Stock market is not economy. Wall St. is a giant casino and the house always wins.

Riggedmarkets

(more…)