Bond traders have talked themselves into believing the Fed will kill the economy just as stock traders are starting to think that a fading economy could be a good thing, since it would cause the Fed to ease rates. But be that as it may, stocks are stuck in the mud–so oversold that it's hard for short sellers to pound them down further while, at the same time, there aren't enough buyers to move prices decidedly higher.
Certainly, the current scenario could change, especially if more buyers emerge. Yet as earnings season develops, the odds of earnings misses and early announcements of upcoming earnings could easily derail any rally.
Of course, the problem, at this point, is that no one knows how much of a bad earnings season is already baked into stock prices. This is why staying cautious is the most reasonable course of action.
What are Oil Prices and Transportation Stocks Telling Us?
Oil and gasoline prices usually trade in different directions from transportation stocks. But what does it mean when they both move in tandem?
We are in an interesting junction in the MELA system (M–markets, E–economy L–life and financial decisions and A–Algos), as the interplay between the fall in the stock market and the economy may be reaching a make-or-break point. Of course, that's because the main financial engine of the economy, the stock market, is getting crushed. In this section, I will be looking at the relationship between fuel prices and the state of the trucking industry.
Recent economic data suggests that consumers are pulling back on their expenses significantly. Consider the following:
- Consumer confidence is near record lows
- The Atlanta Fed's GDP model is forecasting (-2.1) growth in Q2. If true, this would mean we are in a recession, since Q1 GDP growth was (-)1.6%;
- Other regional Federal Reserve banks, in their periodic surveys, are also registering rapid economic growth. In the case of the Dallas Fed, the comments from businesses surveyed were fairly dramatic;
- The Meta (FB) CEO has reportedly told his employees to tighten their belts and that layoffs are coming;
- ISM and PMI data, as well as moderately rising jobless claims, are also showing a slowing in the economy.
The U.S. Ten Year note yield (TNX) has crashed below 3% again, suggesting that there is a growing number of investors that is betting that the Atlanta Fed and the rising amount of data predicting a slowing economy is correct.
And although inflation is a monetary phenomenon–too much money chasing too few goods–it's hard to argue with the tangible effect of high gasoline prices on individual pocketbooks. Which is why the recent decline in the price of oil and gasoline is worth looking at as the summer driving season develops.
Recently, we've seen a break in West Texas Intermediate (WTIC) below $110 per barrel from its highs near $130 earlier in the year.
For its part, gasoline at the wholesale spot level has dropped to the $3.50 per gallon range. Roughly speaking, that type of drop should lead to retail prices falling below $5 per gallon, give or take some.
In my area, I'm seeing regular gasoline selling at around $4.55-$4.85 per gallon, but prices have begun to creep up. Premium and diesel have not backed off much at all.
All of which brings me to the trucking sector, where the headlines are grim, but stock prices are not falling much further. Case in point, shares of Old Dominion Freight Lines (ODFL), a nationwide freight and logistics firm, seem to be attracting a bit of money these days. In fact, the activity in non-West Coast ports is rising rapidly, which may account for the slight improvement in trucking company share prices as investors price in an increase in demand for their services. Indeed, the data suggests that there is no real slowing in port activity. And that means that somebody is buying products from abroad.
So, the question is, why? Is this the last gasp of the COVID-19 inventory buildup? Are some businesses expecting an economic resurgence at some point in the future? Perhaps a third, more ominous, possibility is that some are fearing a further worsening of the international order and are stocking up on goods just in case. On the other hand, it's always darkest before the dawn. Either way, we may be pleasantly surprised–or unpleasantly fooled. No matter what, it seems that we're about to find out fairly quickly, as events in MELA unfold at the speed of light.
Final thought: What happens if oil and gasoline prices rebound as investors start to price in a Federal Reserve easing cycle?
Welcome to the Edge of Chaos:
"The edge of chaos is a transition space between order and disorder that is hypothesized to exist within a wide variety of systems. This transition zone is a region of bounded instability that engenders a constant dynamic interplay between order and disorder." – Complexity Labs
For more on a risk-averse approach to trading stocks, consider a FREE trial to my service. Click here.
I have recently posted a new Your Daily Five video for StockCharts TV, in which I suggest that the market's liquidity problems may be easing. Check it out here:
NYAD Perks Up as VIX Rolls Over
The NYAD Advance-Decline line (NYAD) recently made a new low and remains in a downtrend, but it is trying to move off of its recent bottom. So, if NYAD can climb back above its 20- and 50-day moving averages, we could have a more convincing rally.
Meanwhile, the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) has rolled over, while NYAD is rising. This is a more normal relationship and is mildly bullish at this time. A rise in VIX means rising put option volume, a bearish development for stocks.
The S&P 500 (SPX) may be in the early stages of a bottoming process. But we still need to see an SPX close above 3900-4000, as that would bring in more money from the sidelines. Very stiff resistance awaits at 4100 and above.
The Nasdaq 100 index (NDX) remains fairly weak, failing to hold above its 20-day moving average, with more overhead resistance at the 50 day and the 12500 area. On the bright side, Accumulation Distribution (ADI) is trying to perk up. This means that short sellers are paring their positions. Unfortunately, On Balance Volume (OBV), which was improving, rolled over again.
12,000 remains tough resistance for NDX.
To get the latest up-to-date information on options trading, check out Options Trading for Dummies, now in its 4th Edition – Get Your Copy Now! Now also available in Audible audiobook format!
#1 New Release on Options Trading
Good news! I've made my NYAD-Complexity - Chaos chart (featured on my YD5 videos) and a few other favorites public. You can find them here.
Joe Duarte
In The Money Options
Joe Duarte is a former money manager, an active trader and a widely recognized independent stock market analyst since 1987. He is author of eight investment books, including the best selling Trading Options for Dummies, rated a TOP Options Book for 2018 by Benzinga.com and now in its third edition, plus The Everything Investing in Your 20s and 30s Book and six other trading books.
The Everything Investing in Your 20s and 30s Book is available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. It has also been recommended as a Washington Post Color of Money Book of the Month.
To receive Joe's exclusive stock, option and ETF recommendations, in your mailbox every week visit https://joeduarteinthemoneyoptions.com/secure/order_email.asp.
