2/16 Watchlist

Blue-chip stocks (SPY) have moved up into a region of contegstion set in late January and early February. The exchange-traded fund is showing a macd bull signal for the first time in 17 trading days. The associated fear index, the VIX, is down slightly from Friday's close. A decline in the VIX generlly means a rise in SPY.

Treasury long bonds (TLT) have pulled back up from this morning's decline and are trading at the top of a three-trading-day range. It continues to show a macd bear signal.

High-yield corporate bonds (JNK) are trading at the top of the range set last week and have traversed 1.3% low to high in trading today. The macd is bearish, as it has been since mid-January.

2/9 Watchlist

SPY (blue chip stocks) whipsawed higher and lower before retreating to the upper end of yesterday's trading range. Altogether, the exchange-traded fund plowed through three-quarters of a percent, low to high.

Long-term Treasury bonds (TLT) are down, indicating an expectation of higher interest rates ahead.

Crude oil (USO) has gapped up and is trading 3% above yesterday's close. Gold (GLD) is also on the rise, as are emerging markets.

The dollar is up smartly above the euro (EUR/USD), but against the yen is holding close to yesterday's trading range.

To the scans. Here's what's interesting in high-volume . . .

1/28 Almanac

Thursday, Jan. 28, is 22 days before the February options expire, 50 days the March and 78 days the April.

Historically, it tends to be an up day of the week on an up (barely) day of the month in an up month. . . .

1/26 Watchlist

The blue chip stocks (SPY) have risen to the top of Monday's trading range, and then pulled back. Today's high so far: $110.47. Monday's high: $110.41.

This is not progress.

The Treasury long bonds (TLT) are within the 5 cent difference between the high and low on Monday. Also, barely moving, despite a higher opening this morning from which the price dropped. . . .

1/7 Watchlist: Yen signal; AAPL, CVS, ITUB on the scan

• Blue chips, Treasury long bonds stagnate. 
• USD/JPY signals. 
• Junk bonds up a bit.
• AAPL, CVS, ITUB on the scan.
  

No new signals on any indicator, and prices are quite stable, except for corporate junk bonds (JNK) which, as noted in the Morningline, continues to rise for the fourth day.

The yen per dollar currency pair (USD/JPY) continues to show the pps bull signal that appeared this morning. The chart is uptrending, with the steep pullbacks, from early December. For me, it's not a trade at this point. The yen peaked above the top set on Dec. 31, and promptly pulled back to the resistance point. I would consider going long the yen if the price closed around 93.4 or higher. Also, the macd, while in bull territory, is declining toward the zero line, and the stochastic has moved below the 80 line.