Morning Movers

The futures were modestly higher prior to the release of economic data, and after the awful housing starts number, the markets turned lower. Dow dropped 58 points, S&P 500 4 points, and Nasdaq fell about 9 points.

SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF (XHB), which tracks the homebuilders, was down 18 cents to $17.76 at time of writing.

Continue reading U.S. Markets Open Lower; Asian Markets End Higher

U.S. Markets Open Lower; Asian Markets End Higher originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 16 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• CBOE DJ Industrial Average Index (DJX) -5.2% to 22.1
• NASDAQ (NDX) -5.5% to 25.4
• Russell 2000 Index (RUT) -6.4% to 24.7
• SPDR Trust Unit (SPY) -5% to 24.8
• CBOE Russell 1000 Index (RUI) -6.5% to 25.3
• S&P 100 Index (OEX) -6.2% to 24.9

Options Update: Index Volatility Decreases as Markets Rally originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 28 May 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Whether you want to believe it or not, more indicators pop up each week that point to improvements in the housing market. Either we're at the bottom now, or we will be soon.

Of course, I just bought my first ever home in September of 2009 (a short-sale in Montgomery County, Md.) so perhaps I'm biased. But even in the worst markets there are signs of life in housing that should encourage investors and homebuyers alike.

Here are three top signs that the housing market has bottomed out.

Continue reading Three Signs Housing Has Bottomed

Three Signs Housing Has Bottomed originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 13 May 2010 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The optimism on Wall Street about housing is surreal given all the public data on housing values, mortgage defaults, foreclosures and new home starts.

Housing prices are going to fall nationally for another couple of years as foreclosures hit 6-7 million in the next 30 months, and the 600,00 to 800,000 homes foreclosed but not yet listed are added to housing inventory. The headwinds created by this will last until foreclosures peak and those homes hit the market in late 2011 to mid-2012. Foreclosures will not hit historical norms until a year or two from that peak.

Continue reading Reason #2 to Short the U.S.: The Housing Market Isn't Recovering

Reason #2 to Short the U.S.: The Housing Market Isn't Recovering originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 30 Jan 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

I love my country: the chaos, the hurly-burly of democracy, the hard work of quiet people and the great, big heart as shown by our private donations to Haiti at a time of near 20% unemployment and underemployment. We forgive wayward politicians and athletes, let our children make more decisions than virtually any people on Earth and we stand for something -- a true city on a hill. But right now, that city is in political chaos ... and pretty broke.

Although, I don't like to say it, it is time to short the United States.

Continue reading Five Reasons to Short the U.S.

Five Reasons to Short the U.S. originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 30 Jan 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The biggest bunch of turkeys out there is homebuilders (actually, a group of turkeys is known as a rafter or gang).

President Obama just signed the Worker, Homeownership and Business Assistance Act of 2009 into law, which renewed the first-time homebuyer tax credit until next April. This bill also gives tax breaks to big companies to offset losses in the past two years, and the homebuilders will be among the biggest beneficiaries. Looks like Congress found another great way to spend our tax dollars!

Continue reading Thanksgiving Trade #6: SPDR S&P Homebuilders (XHB)

Thanksgiving Trade #6: SPDR S&P Homebuilders (XHB) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 29 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Whether the market can keep pushing higher in 2010 despite our shaky economy is anyone's guess, but we hope that this rally has helped you recoup from some of the devastating losses most people experienced in 2008.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, we want to give you six more reasons to be thankful this year. So we've put together a list six trades that should lead you to some very tasty profits in the near future.

Continue reading Six Thanksgiving trades for tasty profits

Six Thanksgiving trades for tasty profits originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 28 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF (NYSE: XHB) bottomed in March and made a direct run to the 200-day moving average by the end of April.

In mid-July, it executed a gold cross, which indicated that its long-term trend was about to change. By early August, it had broken the high of July, establishing an uptrend.

Since then it has been trading within a bull channel, but recently broke the 50-day moving average (blue line) suggesting that XHB will head for the support line and 200-day moving average at around $12.50.

Continue reading Technical trade #5: SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF (XHB)

Technical trade #5: SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF (XHB) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 11 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

When selecting which stocks to buy, ratings from agencies like Standard & Poor's can be useful in creating a balanced portfolio.

But did you know technical analysis is the most accurate way to predict where a stock -- or the market for that matter -- is going?

Technical analysis is more of an art than a science, but when used correctly it can boost your profits to new heights. I took a look at stocks that S&P has a four- or five-star rating on and analyzed their charts to come up with six great technical trades for you.

Continue reading Six technical trades targeted for big profits

Six technical trades targeted for big profits originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 10 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

From TheStreet.com Network

• Bed Bath & Beyond: Above and Beyond
• POLL: Which Company Will Blow Up First?

Continue reading Cramer on BloggingStocks: Don't believe the latest doomsayer's housing hype

Cramer on BloggingStocks: Don't believe the latest doomsayer's housing hype originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 24 Sep 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

When the housing market was at its peak in 2006, KB Home's sales topped $3 billion in one quarter. The company has struggled since, as the worst housing market in generations has led to a decline in housing starts of more than 75% from the peak to the present.

Continue reading KB Home drops amid more losses

KB Home drops amid more losses originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 26 Jun 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The major indices continued to rally into the close Monday, after spending most of the day down substantially. The Dow ended the day up fractionally and the S&P 500 was down less than one point. Institutional money continues to enter the markets, says Jim Cramer, and that has limited the size and duration of pullbacks.

Even as the uncertainty comes out of the markets, the clarity that replaces it is tepid at best. But with the S&P 500 resting at seven-month highs, one troublesome sector has badly lagged: housing and home-building stocks.

Continue reading Markets are up, but what about housing?

Markets are up, but what about housing? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 09 Jun 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Closing Bell: If the pullback never comes... (BAC, WFC, XHB, CROX, DNDN, BRK.A, ADBE)

Closing Bell: If the pullback never comes... (BAC, WFC, XHB, CROX, DNDN, BRK.A, ADBE) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 04 May 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Minyanville Professor Quint Tatro dares to share the kind of keen insight and actionable information you won't find in any prospectus. For more original thought, visit www.minyanville.com.

There are a few things I am watching for today to give me better clues as to the internal character of the market.

Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT): It's off on retail numbers after the stock broke out of a four-month consolidation pattern on good volume. If the stock catches a bid, it is an indication that institutional investors are back stalking retail plays and would be bullish for the general market.

Energy ETF (AMEX: XLE): Energy has recently broken a longer term trend going back to mid-2006. It is bouncing off recent lows on very light volume. If money continues to rotate out of this sector, finding a home in the likes of retail, housing and financials, again a bullish sign. I initiated a short position in XLE this morning.

Financial ETF (AMEX: XLF): Financials have been and will continue to be the key to the market's future. After recapturing the 50-day moving average, this ETF is being brought down by AIG (AIG) and needs to regain its footing. Some consolidation is fine, but anything back below $20 would have me heading back towards the bunker.

Homebuilders ETF (AMEX: XHB): The homebuilders continue to perk up and also remain a key to the future of the tape. They are probing green today above their 50-day moving average on decent early volume. A break here above yesterday's high going on to attack the $19.00 level is also a bullish sign.

These are things I am watching for which will give me my clues to start wading back into the market with real capital.

(Prof. Tatro has positions in WMT, XLE, XLF, XHB).

Clues can be found in WMT, ETFs originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 07 Aug 2008 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Good news from the homebuilders: nowhere to be found originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 18 Jul 2007 08:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Just prior to market's sharp decline, Peter Way cautioned his readers, "There are increasing odds that some market-wide bad times are ahead, and may be getting closer."

Unlike many advisors whose forecasts are based on highly subjective criteria, Way's prediction was based on a specific set of factors that he monitors -- the trading activities of institutional market makers, the positions they establish for their "big fund" clients, and the insurance they take out to hedge these positions. It's a fascinating strategy for more sophisticated investors.

Here, in his Block Trader ETF Monitor he explains, "For some time now, the million-dollar market-makers have sensed that their big fund clients are prepared to flee at a moment's notice. And they know that the exit door is only just so big. Nowhere big enough to let them all through.

Continue reading Big money market makers bet on homebuilders and internets

Big money market makers bet on homebuilders and internets originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 13 Mar 2007 13:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.