Mish's Market Minute

Why Buy DBA: Agricultural Fund ETF?

Mish Schneider

Mish Schneider

Director of Trading Education, MarketGauge.com

Last week, I tweeted:

I believe the #commodities prices in food softs $DBA have bottomed. $GLD-well those who know me-that I pointed out bottomed months ago. $SLV now outperforming. That tells you something. Maybe even #oil. Get ready for the Commodities Super Cycle.

If you are not following me @marketminute on twitter, you should consider doing so, as I often make such comments or point out specific trades.

Technically, the charts were already setting up for a buy in the individual grains. We decided to focus on DBA.

Fundamentally, we have geopolitical issues, as we know. I also talk about sugar, which still rocketing in price, a lot. Now weather is becoming an additional factor. I read today that Russia is refusing to sell wheat below $275 a ton, which, combined with failing HRW wheat in the plains and Southwest US and heavy snowpack in the northern plains, means supply could get even tighter.

DBA tracks an index of 10 agricultural commodity futures contracts. It selects contracts based on the shape of the futures curve to minimize contango. Specifically, the underlying index includes corn, soybeans, wheat, Kansas City wheat, sugar, cocoa, coffee, cotton, live cattle, feeder cattle, and lean hogs. And there is a K-1 to investors.

Basically, you get great exposure to lots of commodities.

Technical Analysis:

The first chart shows the Triple Play Leadership indicator, or how DBA is performing against the benchmark.

The price chart of DBA shows the 200-DMA above the 50-DMA, or an accumulation phase according to our six market phases. On Tuesday, the price cleared the 200-DMA, closing .40% higher. On the Leadership charts, DBA poke its head out above the benchmark to show it is now outperforming the SPY.

The second chart shows our Real Motion Indicator or momentum. Here's where things get real interesting.

The 50-DMA is ABOVE the 200-DMA. Momentum is in a bullish phase. Furthermore, the red-dotted line, or measure of momentum, cleared both MAs and the black horizontal line or zero point. Bullish momentum and a divergence with the price chart showing the 50-DMA below the 200-DMA.

What does this all mean? Seasonally, we are entering the make-or-break time for crops. Inflation-wise, food prices continue to escalate. In the U.K., grocery inflation rose again in March to a record 17.5%.

Disclaimer: We have a position.


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ETF Summary

  • S&P 500 (SPY): Needs to clear 400 and hold 390
  • Russell 2000 (IWM): 170 held- 180 resistance
  • Dow (DIA): 325 could not hold-pivotal
  • Nasdaq (QQQ): 305 support 320 resistance
  • Regional Banks (KRE): Weekly price action more inside the range of the last 2 weeks  
  • Semiconductors (SMH): Follow through on that key reversal lower w/ 250 support
  • Transportation (IYT): 219 is a level that has been like a yo-yo price
  • Biotechnology (IBB): Held key support at 125 area-127.50 resistance
  • Retail (XRT): Granny holding 60-still in the game-especially since that is the January calendar range low.


Mish Schneider

MarketGauge.com

Director of Trading Research and Education

Mish Schneider
About the author: serves as Director of Trading Education at MarketGauge.com. For nearly 20 years, MarketGauge.com has provided financial information and education to thousands of individuals, as well as to large financial institutions and publications such as Barron’s, Fidelity, ILX Systems, Thomson Reuters and Bank of America. In 2017, MarketWatch, owned by Dow Jones, named Mish one of the top 50 financial people to follow on Twitter. In 2018, Mish was the winner of the Top Stock Pick of the year for RealVision. Learn More