Commentary:
Following a morning gap down, stocks fought back to end the session mixed. Trade was also mixed. As has been common in recent sessions, the Dow Jones Industrial Average exhibited the most relative strength, as institutions continue to have an appetite for large cap, dividend paying stocks. The Blue Chip Index ended the session up by 0.2%. The S&P 500 closed fractionally higher, while the Nasdaq ended the day just below the break even mark. Smaller cap issues continued to struggle as the S&P MidCap 4000 and the Russell 2000 slid 0.3% and 0.7% respectively. For the most part, stocks were in consolidation mode on Wednesday.
Market internals also ended mixed on Wednesday. Volume edged higher by 1.8% on the Nasdaq but slid 8.7% on the Big Board. Advancing volume finished the day at par with declining volume on the NYSE but outpaced declining volume on the Nasdaq by a ratio of 1.4 to 1. The Nasdaq just missed posting another accumulation day as it was unable to climb back to positive territory. The light volume on the NYSE eliminated any possibility for back to back accumulation days.
Yesterday, on an uptick in volume, the Direxion Daily Gold Miners 3x Bear ETF (DUST) tested support at the 50-day MA, but then reversed to close in the upper third of the day’s trading range. Ideally, we would like to see an inside candle form prior to DUST attempting a possible move higher. As an alternative, an undercut of the 50-day MA and the formation of another reversal candle would also provide a potential long setup for this ETF. The entry under either of these scenarios would be a move above yesterday’s high of $37.76.
Over the past three sessions, the iPath DJ-AIG Livestock Total Return Sub-Index ETN (COW) has attempted to rally back above its 20-day EMA to not avail. Each time it has tried to reclaim this key mark, COW as been met with selling pressure, and has closed near session lows. A move below the three day low of $29.74 could present a shorting opportunity in this ETF. We are placing COW on the watchlist. Trade details are posted in the watchlist segment of the newsletter.
Overall, we would rate Wednesday’s price action as positive for bulls. In the wake of Tuesday’s big advance, a day of consolidation should be expected prior to the market attempting another move higher. The fact that stocks gapped down, tested key support levels, and closed near session highs, has provided further evidence that bulls may be wrestling control of the market.
Today’s Watchlist:
COW
Short
Shares = 600
Trigger = 29.69
Stop = 30.24
Target = 28.80
Dividend Date = n/a
Notes = see commentary above
XRT
Long
Shares = 250
Trigger = 53.52
Stop = 52.20
Target = Retest of 52-week high
Dividend Date = n/a
Notes = see commentary from 12/30
Daily Performance Report:
Below is an overview of all open positions, as well as a performance report on all positions that were closed only since the previous day’s newsletter. Net P/L figures are based on the $50,000 Wagner Daily model account size. Changes to open positions since the previous report are listed in red text below. Please review the Wagner Daily Subscriber Guide for important, automatic rules on trigger and stop prices
- COW added to the watchlist.
- Reminder to subscribers – Intraday Trade Alerts to your e-mail and/or mobile phone are normally only sent to indicate a CHANGE to the pre-market plan that is detailed in each morning’s Wagner Daily. We sometimes send a courtesy alert just to confirm action that was already detailed in the pre-market newsletter, but this is not always the case. If no alert is received to the contrary, one should always assume we’re honoring all stops and trigger prices listed in each morning’s Wagner Daily. But whenever CHANGES to the pre-market stops or trigger prices are necessary, alerts are sent on an AS-NEEDED basis. Just a reminder of the purpose of Intraday Trade Alerts.
- For those of you whose ISPs occasionally deliver your e-mail with a delay, make sure you’re signed up to receive our free text message alerts sent to your mobile phone. This provides a great way to have redundancy on all Intraday Trade Alerts. Send your request to [email protected] if not already set up for this value-added feature we provide to subscribers.
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Notes:
Edited by Deron Wagner,
MTG Founder and
Head Trader