Last week, the major U.S. stock indices closed in positive territory for the second consecutive week. Once again, they were led by the small-cap Russell 2000 and tech-heavy Nasdaq 100, which both gained 3.4% for the week.   #-ad_banner-# As I have stated in this space on numerous occasions, technology and, to a lesser degree, small caps, typically lead the broader market both higher and lower. So, the quality of the recent rally is encouraging.   Another encouraging sign is that all sectors… Read More

Last week, the major U.S. stock indices closed in positive territory for the second consecutive week. Once again, they were led by the small-cap Russell 2000 and tech-heavy Nasdaq 100, which both gained 3.4% for the week.   #-ad_banner-# As I have stated in this space on numerous occasions, technology and, to a lesser degree, small caps, typically lead the broader market both higher and lower. So, the quality of the recent rally is encouraging.   Another encouraging sign is that all sectors of the S&P 500 finished in positive territory last week. After technology, financials were the best-performing sector. Financial stocks are a direct beneficiary of the sharp rise in long-term interest rates following the minutes of the April 26-27 Federal Open Market Committee meeting.  Ironically, the recent rise in interest rates — which the stock market has lived in fear of since the Federal Reserve’s quantitative easing program came to an end in October 2014 — may have helped fuel the current stock market rally. Investors now seem to be taking rising rates as an indication that the extremely cautious Fed… Read More

Most major U.S. stock indices closed in positive territory last week, led higher by a 0.9% gain in the small-cap Russell 2000 and a 0.8% advance in the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100. However, these indices remain in the red for 2016 and are much weaker than the S&P 500, which is up 0.4% year to date. #-ad_banner-# This trend is important because technology and small-cap stocks typically lead the broader market both higher and lower. As long as… Read More

Most major U.S. stock indices closed in positive territory last week, led higher by a 0.9% gain in the small-cap Russell 2000 and a 0.8% advance in the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100. However, these indices remain in the red for 2016 and are much weaker than the S&P 500, which is up 0.4% year to date. #-ad_banner-# This trend is important because technology and small-cap stocks typically lead the broader market both higher and lower. As long as the Russell 2000 and Nasdaq 100 are underperforming the S&P 500, it warns of more overall weakness. However, we are seeing some promising longer-term signs in the form of rising interest rates and commodity prices, which I will discuss in detail today. Last week’s strongest market sectors were energy (1.8%) and financials (1.4%), while real estate (-2.3%) and utilities (-2.2%) were the weakest. The rise in long-term interest rates was behind most of these moves, as higher rates benefit banks but are a drag on real estate sales. The table below shows the biggest sector-related inflow… Read More

The major U.S. stock indices posted their third negative weekly close on Friday. The benchmark S&P 500 ended the week 3.1% off its April 20 high, which came two days after I warned readers going long was a dangerous prospect. Last week’s decline was led by the blue-chip Dow industrials, which lost 1.2%. However, the index is actually in the lead for the year with a modest 0.6% gain. Meanwhile, the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 and small-cap Russell 2000 — which typically lead the broader market both higher and lower — are down 5.8% and 2.9% year to date. Read More

The major U.S. stock indices posted their third negative weekly close on Friday. The benchmark S&P 500 ended the week 3.1% off its April 20 high, which came two days after I warned readers going long was a dangerous prospect. Last week’s decline was led by the blue-chip Dow industrials, which lost 1.2%. However, the index is actually in the lead for the year with a modest 0.6% gain. Meanwhile, the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 and small-cap Russell 2000 — which typically lead the broader market both higher and lower — are down 5.8% and 2.9% year to date. #-ad_banner-# From a sector standpoint, last week’s decline was led by real estate (-1.6%) and consumer discretionary (-1.5%). Utilities were the only sector of the S&P 500 to finish in positive territory, gaining 1.2%.   The table below shows that, for the second week in a row, the biggest positive percentage change in sector bet-related assets invested over the past one-month and three-month periods went to energy. Continued expansion would bode well for energy stocks and oil prices in the weeks and months ahead.  Follow… Read More

Editor’s Note: You probably can’t tell from the recent market activity, but we’re in the midst of a short-term bull market. While most regular investors don’t even realize it’s going on, the pros know how to take advantage of it. You don’t have to be a Wall Street insider to make money from it though. In fact, anybody who’s prepared could make a small fortune. One ex-Wall Street insider is targeting several companies setting up for big moves, and he wants to share them with you. To find out… Read More

Editor’s Note: You probably can’t tell from the recent market activity, but we’re in the midst of a short-term bull market. While most regular investors don’t even realize it’s going on, the pros know how to take advantage of it. You don’t have to be a Wall Street insider to make money from it though. In fact, anybody who’s prepared could make a small fortune. One ex-Wall Street insider is targeting several companies setting up for big moves, and he wants to share them with you. To find out how to make double-digit gains in as little as four days, follow this link. But you need to act quickly. This information will be taken off the web on Friday, May 13, at 11:59 p.m. The major U.S. stock indices posted another negative weekly close last week, led lower by the small-cap Russell 2000, which lost 1.4% and is now down 1.9% for 2016. The tech-heavy Nasdaq 100, another perennial market leader, fell 0.3% and is down 5.7% for the year.  #-ad_banner-#The market is at an important near-term… Read More

The major U.S. stock indices gave back the previous week’s gains and then some last week, due in part to tepid March new home sales and weaker-than-expected Q1 GDP. They were led lower by the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100, which lost 3% and ended April down 5.5% for the year.   Meanwhile, the benchmark S&P 500 has already fallen 2.2% since peaking on April 20, about a week after my Market Outlook entitled “In The Week Ahead: Start Protecting Your Portfolio Now” discussed the likelihood of a bearish reversal. From a sector standpoint, last week’s market decline was led by technology… Read More

The major U.S. stock indices gave back the previous week’s gains and then some last week, due in part to tepid March new home sales and weaker-than-expected Q1 GDP. They were led lower by the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100, which lost 3% and ended April down 5.5% for the year.   Meanwhile, the benchmark S&P 500 has already fallen 2.2% since peaking on April 20, about a week after my Market Outlook entitled “In The Week Ahead: Start Protecting Your Portfolio Now” discussed the likelihood of a bearish reversal. From a sector standpoint, last week’s market decline was led by technology (-3%) and health care (-2.9%). Energy and defensive utilities and consumer staples were the only sectors to finish the week in positive territory. #-ad_banner-# In last week’s Market Outlook, I pointed out that energy saw the biggest positive percentage change in sector bet-related investor assets over the past one-week and three-month periods, according to Asbury Research’s own ETF asset flows-based metric. Not surprisingly, crude oil prices have also been showing some strength lately, which I will talk about in more detail later in… Read More

All major U.S. stock indices posted gains last week except for the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100, which fell 1.5%. The losses in this typically market-leading index were driven in large part by the 3.8% drop in Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL). Although the trend in the market is clearly positive, the recent weakness in technology may become problematic if it persists for more than a week or two. From a sector standpoint, last week’s overall market strength was driven by energy, which gained 5.5%. The weakest sectors were utilities (down 3.2%) and — you guessed it — technology (down 2%). Read More

All major U.S. stock indices posted gains last week except for the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100, which fell 1.5%. The losses in this typically market-leading index were driven in large part by the 3.8% drop in Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL). Although the trend in the market is clearly positive, the recent weakness in technology may become problematic if it persists for more than a week or two. From a sector standpoint, last week’s overall market strength was driven by energy, which gained 5.5%. The weakest sectors were utilities (down 3.2%) and — you guessed it — technology (down 2%). #-ad_banner-# Asbury Research’s ETF asset flows-based metric shows the biggest positive percent change in sector bet-related investor assets over the past one-week and three-month periods occurred in energy, which is precisely what fueled the recent gains. This strength has resulted in an emerging bullish trend in the oil services sector, which I will discuss in more detail later in the report.   Bearish Chart Pattern In Key Tech Index I have been pointing out a growing list of metrics that collectively warn of a… Read More

Before we get to the Market Outlook… We’ve been getting a lot of questions lately about Pro Trader, which is quickly becoming one of the most popular and profitable services we offer. So, I wanted to reach out in case you had any questions of your own. If you’re unfamiliar with the service, I suggest you watch this special presentation. In short, Pro Trader is a weekly advisory that uses a unique options strategy — one that allows you to generate massive gains, even if a stock moves against you. It works in bullish,… Read More

Before we get to the Market Outlook… We’ve been getting a lot of questions lately about Pro Trader, which is quickly becoming one of the most popular and profitable services we offer. So, I wanted to reach out in case you had any questions of your own. If you’re unfamiliar with the service, I suggest you watch this special presentation. In short, Pro Trader is a weekly advisory that uses a unique options strategy — one that allows you to generate massive gains, even if a stock moves against you. It works in bullish, flat and bearish markets, giving you up to a 90% chance of making money on any given trade. It recently helped subscribers close trades with annualized returns of 245%, 374% and even 657%. If you have any questions or simply want to learn more, feel free to give me a call at  1-888-308-6247. I’m at my desk Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST. If you call after hours, leave me a voicemail mentioning that you are calling about Pro Trader and I’ll be in touch within the next business day. Good trading, Nate Equall… Read More

The major U.S. stock indices closed in the red last week, giving back much of the previous week’s gains. They were led lower by the small-cap Russell 2000, down 1.8%, and the Nasdaq 100, which lost 1.3%. #-ad_banner-# As I’ve stated in previous reports, these two indices are particularly important because they tend to lead the broader market both higher and lower. So last week’s poor performance is not a good sign for the market as we begin the second quarter,… Read More

The major U.S. stock indices closed in the red last week, giving back much of the previous week’s gains. They were led lower by the small-cap Russell 2000, down 1.8%, and the Nasdaq 100, which lost 1.3%. #-ad_banner-# As I’ve stated in previous reports, these two indices are particularly important because they tend to lead the broader market both higher and lower. So last week’s poor performance is not a good sign for the market as we begin the second quarter, especially considering both are in negative territory year to date. The only sectors to show gains last week were energy, up 2.2%, and health care, up 1.2%.   The financial sector was the poorest performer, losing 2.9%. The table below, which displays Asbury Research’s own ETF asset flows-based metric, shows that the biggest outflow of investor assets over the past one-week, one-month and three-month periods came from financials.  Further weakness in financials, which is what these asset flows point to, would indirectly suggest flat to lower U.S. interest rates later this quarter, which I will discuss… Read More

Note from the editor: Before we get started today, right this minute, investors are collecting hundreds and even thousands of dollars in additional income on stocks like Amazon.com (Nasdaq: AMZN), Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL), Google (Nasdaq: GOOGL) and other popular names.  These aren’t special dividends or anything like that. Instead, these investors are “stealing” the money from Wall Street’s biggest firms. Even though it may not sound 100% legal, it is — and it could allow you to collect an additional $850 a week in income. Click here to find out how. The major U.S. Read More

Note from the editor: Before we get started today, right this minute, investors are collecting hundreds and even thousands of dollars in additional income on stocks like Amazon.com (Nasdaq: AMZN), Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL), Google (Nasdaq: GOOGL) and other popular names.  These aren’t special dividends or anything like that. Instead, these investors are “stealing” the money from Wall Street’s biggest firms. Even though it may not sound 100% legal, it is — and it could allow you to collect an additional $850 a week in income. Click here to find out how. The major U.S. stock indices closed in the green last week. The advance was led by the small-cap Russell 2000 and tech-heavy Nasdaq 100, which gained 3.5% and 2.9%, respectively, posting their best weekly closes since late December. This is a good sign, but keep in mind that these market leaders are still in negative territory for the year, underperforming the benchmark S&P 500. This suggests stocks have some work to do before the all-clear can be sounded. #-ad_banner-#All sectors of the S&P 500 finished in positive territory last week except for energy, which fell 1.3%. Technology and consumer staples led, both gaining… Read More

After five weeks of consecutive gains, the major U.S. stock indices closed in the red last week. They were led lower by the Russell 2000, which declined 2%.   In the March 14 Market Outlook, I said that a chart pattern in the Russell 2000 targeted an eventual 19% decline to 880 as long as the 1,096 area loosely held as overhead resistance. The small-cap index traded as high as 1,104 on March 21 before closing at 1,080 on Friday. As long as resistance continues to contain on the upside, my 880 target remains valid. #-ad_banner-# Every sector… Read More

After five weeks of consecutive gains, the major U.S. stock indices closed in the red last week. They were led lower by the Russell 2000, which declined 2%.   In the March 14 Market Outlook, I said that a chart pattern in the Russell 2000 targeted an eventual 19% decline to 880 as long as the 1,096 area loosely held as overhead resistance. The small-cap index traded as high as 1,104 on March 21 before closing at 1,080 on Friday. As long as resistance continues to contain on the upside, my 880 target remains valid. #-ad_banner-# Every sector of the S&P 500 finished in negative territory last week except for health care, which gained 1.6%. This was the reverse of the previous week, which saw all sectors finish higher except for health care. Asbury Research’s proprietary metric shows that the biggest sector-related inflows of investor assets over the past month went into energy and technology, which are up 2.5% and 1.8%, respectively, for the year. As long as these two sectors continue to attract investor assets from other sectors, they are likely to outperform the S&P 500 in the weeks and potentially months ahead. Focus On Technology This… Read More