Issue #444
September 13, 2015
The Oasis

Newsletter


The newsletter with chart analysis for stocks and stock indexes

Stock Indexes Analysis/Evaluation


Traders Await Fed Decision!

DOW Friday closing price - 16433

The DOW experienced an uneventful-but-still-volatile week in which the index had a trading range of more than 500 points but mostly within the previous week's trading range and nothing was accomplished by either the bulls or the bears as far direction is concerned.

The DOW did close in the upper half of the week's trading range, suggesting that further upside above last week's high at 16664 will be seen this week. By the same token, the bulls have not even had any success in getting above the "general" resistance found at 16700, having seen highs the past 3 weeks at 16669, 16632, and 16664, likely meaning they will need some positive fundamental news to come out this week or the downtrend will likely resume.

To the upside and on an intra-week basis, the DOW will show resistance between 16669 and 16730 and then nothing until the 17000 demilitarized zone is reached, which does include the 100-week MA, currently at 17030. Further intra-week resistance is found at 17151 that does include (on a weekly closing basis) the previous 10-month weekly closing low support at 17164, which when broken brought about all the weakness seen the past 4 weeks.

To the downside and on an intra-week basis, support is minor at the low seen 2 weeks ago at 15979, a bit stronger at the October low at 15855 and decent at the recent low at 15370, which does include a previous low from February 2014 at 15370 as well as the 200-week MA, currently at 15340. Below that level, there are no important supports but it must be mentioned that the 50-month MA is currently at 15090 and that is a line that on a monthly closing basis has not been broken since 2010.

The DOW is likely to see a bit of buying interest at the beginning of the week since the index closed in the upper half of the week's trading range, the Asian markets seem to be having some recovery and will likely continue on Monday, and the expectations for an interest rate hike by the Fed have diminished. Nonetheless, the probabilities continue to favor the bears since the correction is still ongoing, September is the worst month of the year, and the fundamental picture will not positively change much if the Fed does not raise interest rates in September.

The probabilities favor the DOW trading over the next 4 weeks between 17164 to the upside and 15340 to the downside (with perhaps a 300 point extension to each side) no matter what the Fed decides to do on Wednesday.

NASDAQ Friday closing price - 4822

The NASDAQ once again led the indexes this past week, having rallied 2.9%, compared to 2.3% for the DOW and SPX. The index, helped by AMZN (up 5%) and PCLN (up 3.5%) closed near the highs of the week and further upside above last week's high at 4862 is likely to be seen this coming week.

The NASDAQ will be a strong barometer for the market this coming week, inasmuch as the index has important and likely pivotal weekly close resistance nearby that if broken would suggest that the correction is over and that the traders will then attempt to renew the uptrend, and if not broken a new round of selling would then likely occur.

To the upside and on intra-week basis, the NASDAQ shows very minor resistance at 4832 and minor at 4862, which does include the 50-week MA, currently at 4850, that is considered decent weekly close resistance. Above that level there is no intra-week resistance of consequence until minor resistance is found at 5008. Nonetheless, on a daily closing basis the 200-day MA, currently at 4920, is considered decent resistance as well.

To the downside and on an intra-week basis, minor support in the NASDAQ is found at 4657 and again at 4614 and at 4580. Below that level, there is decent support between 4547 and 4563. On a daily closing basis, support is found at 4547 and at 4500 (which is the most recent low daily close seen the day after the 4292 low was made). Below that level there is no intra-week support until the 4292 level is reached.

The chart of the NASDAQ is pulling traders in both directions, given that the runaway gap to the upside between 4877 and 4856 was almost closed this week with the rally up to 4862 and with the index having closed near the highs of the week, will likely be closed this week, which in turn would cause the traders to attempt to close the breakaway gap up between 4992 and 4986. Then again, the index gapped up on Tuesday between 4712 and 4746 and it is a gap that has no reason to have occurred and likely will be closed, meaning that the traders will be pulled in both directions this coming week.

In looking at the chart, the probabilities favor the NASDAQ moving up at the beginning of the week but then seeing selling interest toward the end of the week.

SPX Friday closing price - 1961

The SPX confirmed the break of the 100-week MA, currently at 1970, with a second close in a row below the line, suggesting that the correction will continue, given that the last time that occurred was in 2011 and the index stayed below the line on 5 of the next 6 weeks after the confirmed break.

The bulls in the SPX were able to rally the index at the end of the week to close just a couple of points above the mid-point of the trading range, suggesting that a rally above last week's high at 1988 will be seen this week. By the same token and just like with the other 2 indexes, the bulls have been unable to rally the index in an indicative way during the past 3 weeks, having shown intra-week highs at 1996,1986, and 1988, suggesting that the bulls will need fundamental help (the Fed on Thursday) to get above the resistance built in that area.

To the upside and on an intra-week basis, the SPX shows minor to perhaps decent resistance between 1991 and 1993 and decent resistance at 2019.

To the downside and on an intra-week basis, minor support is found at 1911 and a bit stronger at 1903 and then decent at the recent low of 1867. Below that level, there is no support until decent and likely pivotal support at 1820.

The SPX will likely be dependent on what the Fed decides to do on Thursday. Nonetheless, on a purely chart basis, the probabilities favor the bears as the bulls have not been able to generate anything indicative to the upside during the past 3 weeks, since the initial break of support occurred.


The FOMC rate decision is due out this week on Thursday and it is likely to be a strong catalyst for direction as traders have been anxiously awaiting this specific announcement, given that a a third of the analysts expect the Fed to raise interest rates at this time. A rise in interest rates is likely to generate strong movement to the downside as well as a new low for the recent downtrend, while postponement of the interest rate hike is likely to generate additional recovery.

For the beginning of the week though, and until Thursday's Fed announcement, it is likely that the economic reports due out (Retail Sales, Empire Manufacturing, Industrial Production and Capacity Utilization, CPI, Housing Starts and Permits, and Philadelphia Fed) will drive the traders to favor one direction or the other, though probably not in a strong or indicative way. The irony of the situation is that positive reports could impact the indexes negatively and vice versa, given that the Fed will more likely raise interest rates if the economy is doing well.

Stock Analysis/Evaluation
CHART Outlooks

There are no mentions this week due to the fact that the Fed Decision on interest rates is due on Thursday and the indexes and most stocks will move in unison based on that decision.

After the decision though, mentions will be made on the message board.

Updates
Updates on Held Stocks
Closed Trades, Open Positions and Stop Loss Changes

AREX continued the recovery, having generated another green weekly close (the 3rd in a row) and closing in the upper half of the week's trading range, suggesting further upside above last week's high at 2.76 will be seen this week. With oil prices having stabilized around the $45 level, some of the sell pressure has been relieved. Resistance above is found at 3.03 and then nothing of consequence until the 5.00 level is reached. Minor support is found at 2.13 at 1.86 and a bit stronger at the recent low at 1.65. Probabilities favor the bulls.

ARNA made a new 12-day high and closed on the highs of the week, suggesting further upside above last week's high at 2.87 will be seen this week. The second green weekly close in a row does suggest that a bit of a recovery is likely to be seen this week. Intra-week resistance is not found until 3.47 is reached, suggesting that a rally up to that level could be on the short-term horizon. Support is now decent between 2.54 and 2.57. Probabilities favor the bulls this week.

CAT generated another new 5-year low weekly close and at the same time confirmed the break of the important support at 73.84 with a second close in a row below that level. The stock closed on the lows of the week and further downside below last week's low at 71.88 is likely to be seen. Intra-week support is found at 70.23 and down to 69.70 (bottom of the $70 demilitarized zone). Below that level, there is no support until 67.54 is reached. Resistance (likely short-term pivotal) is found at 75.20 that if broken would likely relieve quite a bit of the sell pressure, suggesting that a stop loss at 75.35 can be considered. Probabilities continue to favor the bears.

ENG had a totally uneventful inside week, with the bulls unable to break above the recent and likely short-term pivotal resistance at 1.06 and the bears unable to push the stock back down below 1.00. The stock seems to be stuck right now as the traders await some catalyst. With the stock not sensitive to the indexes, the probabilities continue to favor further sideways trading.

FCEL continued its recovery, having made a new 10-week high, above .95, and back up to the psychological resistance at 1.00. With the earnings report having been mostly non-indicative, the recovery is likely to be mostly short-covering. Nonetheless, the stock has rallied 36% off of the lows and if the bulls can get above and close above the 1.00 level, further upside is likely to be seen with 1.12 being the upside objective, given that no resistance is found above 1.00 until that level is reached. Support is now found between .84-.86 that should not be broken unless the bears have regained control. Probabilities favor the bulls.

FSLR generated a small buy signal, having closed above a minor weekly closing high at 47.80. The stock closed slightly below the mid-point of the week's trading range, meaning that the door is open this week for going above last week's high at 50.46 or below last week's low at 47.50, both likely dependent on what the indexes end up doing. Minor intra-week resistance is found at 51.87 and minor intra-week support is found at 47.03. A break below 47.03 would likely take the stock down to the next support at 45.87. Probabilities favor the stock trading around the $50 level (give or take $3 in either direction) until some new fundamentals come out.

IBM generated a green weekly close, as well as a close in the upper half of the week's trading range, suggesting that further upside above last week's high at 149.04 will be seen this week. Nonetheless, just like with the indexes, the stock has generated a 3 highs the last 3 weeks at 148.97, 148.40, and 149.07 that suggests that the bulls will need fundamental help to get above that area of resistance. In addition, the $150 level has to be considered a strong psychological resistance as well. Minor support is found at 144.51, at 143.32, at 141.85, and decent at 140.62. By the same token, a break of the first level of support at 144.51 is likely to generate a drop down to the 140.62 level. The stock has built a bearish inverted flag formation with the flagpole being the drop from 156.69 down to the recent low at 140.62. A break below 140.62 would offer a 136.55 objective, while a break above 149.04 would negate the flag and likely offer a recovery up to at least the 151.41 level. Probabilities slightly favor the bears.

KMX generated an uneventful inside week as well as a non-indicative weekly close within the $60 demilitarized zone, suggesting the traders are waiting to see what the index market does this week. Minor resistance is found at 61.19, at 61.38, and slightly stronger and more indicative at 62.00. Minor support is found at 58.53, at 58.32, at 56.79 and stronger and more pivotal at 55.26. Probabilities are split evenly among bears and bulls, but the traders will likely decide what to do with the stock based on what the indexes do this week.

LVLT generated an unconvincing green close on Friday, unconvincing since it was only by 21 points above last week's close. Nonetheless, the stock closed near the lows of the week after the traders closed the gap up at 46.09 that did not have any good reason for staying open, suggesting that further downside below last week's low at 44.77 will be seen this week and that the recent downtrend will resume. Very minor support is found at 44.63 and then nothing until the recent lows at 43.07 and 42.89. Minor resistance is found at 45.87 and at 46.24 and a bit stronger and perhaps more pivotal at 46.58. Probabilities favor the bears.

PGR did not see any follow-through to the previous week's break of the psychological support at $30, having closed on Friday back up in that level's demilitarized zone. The stock closed near the highs of the week and further upside above last week's high at 30.42 is likely to be seen. Resistance is found at 30.42 and again at the bottom of the breakaway gap at 30.67. The breakaway gap will be closed if the stock gets back up to 30.87, and that would suggest that the recent all-time highs at 31.42 and 31.57 will be tested. Minor support is found at 29.60, at 29.31, at 29.12 and then stronger at the recent spike low at 27.23. A break below 29.60 though, might be the catalyst for the stock to drop back down to the 28.00 level. Probabilities favor the bulls but if they are unable to close the breakaway gap, the sellers will gain renewed strength.

PHM remained in the trading range between $19 and $21 (based on weekly closes) that has been in effect for the past 20 weeks. The stock did close near the highs of the week and further upside above last week's high at 21.11 is likely to be seen this week. Resistance is found at 21.65 and the pivotal at 22.10. Support is found at the $20 demilitarized zone and then nothing until 19.28 and 18.90. Probabilities slightly favor the bulls this week but if unable to get above 21.65, the selling pressure is likely to resume.

PRAA generated a reversal week, having made a new 6-month low at the 50.03 and then turning around to close in the green and near the highs of the week, suggesting further upside above last week's high at 53.62 will be seen this week. Nonetheless, the bounce was anticipated to happen since the stock reached the main objective of the short-mention, as well as a strong psychological support, suggesting that much of the buying interest was short-covering as well as psychological support buying. Likely short-term pivotal resistance is found at 54.15 that if broken would likely generate a rally back up to the 200-day MA, currently at 56.75. Probabilities favor the bulls getting above last week's high but not above 54.15, and then generating at least a retest of the 50.03 low with a drop down to 52.01 that if broken could cause the traders go get back down to the $50 level.

WMT generated a small short-covering rally, likely in conjunction with the rally in the indexes. Nonetheless, the bulls were unable to negate the break of weekly close support at 67.61, having gotten back up to 67.01 but then falling back to close near the lows of the week, suggesting further downside below last week's low at 63.83 will be seen this week. Though the stock closed in the green, the action suggests the bears remain in total control and that at least a retest of the recent low at 61.50 be seen, if not resumption of the downtrend. Probabilities favor the bears.

XOM generated a small green close on Friday, suggesting that it may have been a successful retest of the recent 5-year low at 72.13. Unfortunately the close was only 20 points above the previous week's close at 72.49, meaning that the bulls will need to generate another green weekly close next Friday to stimulate new buying interest. Minor intra-week resistance is found at 74.68, and 74.91 and then likely stronger and pivotal at 75.98. Minor support is found at 71.85 and at 71.51 and stronger at 66.55. The stock did close near the lows of the week, suggesting further downside below last week's low at 71.80 will be seen. Probabilities favor the stock dropping down to the $70 demilitarized zone during the week but the probabilities also slightly favor the stock turning around to close in the green next Friday above 72.69.


1) FCEL - Averaged long at 2.227 (4 mentions). No stop loss at present. Stock closed on Friday at .94.

2) ENG - Averaged long at 1.92 (3 mentions). No stop loss at present. Stock closed on Friday at 1.02.

3) FSLR - Averaged long at 59.404 (4 mentions). No stop loss at present. Stock closed on Friday at 48.79.

4) AREX - Averaged long at 6.013 (3 mentions). No stop loss at present. Stock closed on Friday at 2.63.

5) ARNA - Averaged long at 4.30 (3 mentions). No stop loss at present. Stock closed on Friday at 2.86.

6) PGR - Averaged short at 30.73 (2 mentions). Stock closed on Friday at 30.23.

7) PHM - Shorted at 22.06. Stop loss now at 22.35. Stock closed on Friday at 20.95.

8) PRAA - Shorted at 63.64. Stop loss now at 59.35. Stock closed on Friday at 53.56.

9) KMX - Averaged short at 65.12 (2 mentions). Stop loss at 64.35. Stock closed on Friday at 60.21.

10) XOM - Averaged long at 76.825 (2 mentions). No stop loss at present. Stock closed on Friday at 72.69.

11) IBM - Shorted at 146.59. Averaged short at 146.68. No stop loss at present. Stock closed on Friday at 147.37.

12) CAT - Shorted at 74.35. Stop loss at 77.35. Stock closed on Friday at 72.63.

13) LVLT - Shorted at 47.10. Stop loss now at 47.65. Stock closed on Friday at 45.27.

14) WMT - Shorted at 65.47. No stop loss at present. Stock closed on Friday at 64.65.


Join The Oasis and receive chart information about stocks you personally follow as well as ideas about other stocks with powerful chart patterns.

Previous Newsletters

View
View Jun 14, 2015 Newsletter

View Jun 21, 2015 Newsletter

View Jun 28, 2014 Newsletter

View Jul 5, 2014 Newsletter

View Jul 12, 2015 Newsletter

View Jul 19, 2015 Newsletter

View Jul 26, 2015 Newsletter

View Aug 2, 2015 Newsletter

View Aug 9, 2015 Newsletter

View Aug 16, 2015 Newsletter

View Aug 23, 2015 Newsletter

View Aug 30, 2015 Newsletter

View Sep 6, 2015 Newsletter

Encyclopedia of Chart Patterns.
A must have for chart aficionados!


Disclaimer

The opinions and commentaries by Mr. De Vito are not a recommendation to buy or sell, but rather a charting guideline, based on his own knowledge and experience, regarding the stocks he is following or that are brought to him by others. Mr. De Vito does not presently offer a track record of his trading experiences. No inference of success and/or failure should be assumed. The information enclosed above, regarding his background, length of trading, and experience, is correct but is not meant to suggest, state, or infer any future success in trading, based on his opinions.

The information herewith included should only be used by investors who are aware of the risk inherent in securities trading. Mr. De Vito accepts no liability whatsoever for any loss arising from any use of the information and/or comments he supplies.




The Oasis is owned by
Oasis Resolutions Inc.