It’s always interesting when markets repeat.
Three years ago, in June of 2016, the 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF NASDAQ: TLT broke out of a consolidation pattern around 132 and ran up to make the all-time high at just over 143.
That was quite the treasury bonds rally. Is the recent price action similar?
Last week, the Treasury Bonds ETF (TLT) broke out of a price consolidation pattern around 132 and today, it topped out at 143.
There is one big difference in the nearly identical point gains from the same initial level, in 2016 the move took a month, but this time it only took 5 days!
I went looking for the last time the TLT moved 6% or more in 5 days. It’s been a while since a treasury bonds rally like that.
A move of this speed and size hasn’t happened since June of 2012!
The June 2012 high was followed by a month-long correction before it was later exceeded.
However, the subsequent high in July did not follow through, and it created a double top that began a roughly 25% decline that lasted 18 months.
I’m not predicting that a long-term top in TLT was set today, but it seems likely that it’s melt-up should pause for a while.
So what does this mean for stocks?
The media will focus on the big ugly percentage declines in the indexes in the morning that recovered.
However, only the Dow Jones Industrials ETF (DIA) broke Monday’s low, and not by much.
So while the volatility was high, it turned out to be a ‘consolidation’ day on the charts.
There is one exception, the NASDAQ 100 ETF (QQQ). It closed over its prior 2-day range.
Yesterday, I suggested that for as long as the markets consolidate the ‘range’ will guide the markets next move.
The bullish case for stocks is that the QQQ may have just begun to bounce, and SMH is back in a bullish phase.
The bearish case is that if the indexes breakdown of their ranges that are now 3-days in the making, that’s a lot of fuel for the next move down.
Until we get the range breakouts, the volatility is just noise.
Important Stock Market ETF Levels:
S&P 500 (SPY) Support at the swing low, 281.72. Big support area is 280 to 277.70 (the 200 DMA). Resistance at 288.82 and gap fill at 290.90.
Russell 2000 (IWM) Support at the swing low, 146.21. Next big support is 145.30. Resistance at 150 and gap fill at 151.28 which is also near the 2000 DMA
Dow (DIA) Made a new swing low today. Support at the swing low, 254.36. Next support levels are 252.50 and 247.Resistance at 261.15 and gap fill at 262.43.
Nasdaq (QQQ) Closed over prior 2-day range. Swing low is at a trendline from the December 2018 low. Support at Tuesday’s low, 181.07, the swing low, 179.20. Big support is the 200 DMA at 175.65.
KRE (Regional Banks) Traded under 50, but closed over it. Support at swing low, 49.40 and 49.00. Big resistance at 52, then at 50 DMA, 52.80.
SMH (Semiconductors) Closed at 110.61 (well over 110). Look for it to lead if market rallies. 200 DMA is 102.40. Gap fills at 114.46.
IYT (Transportation) Support at 179.20. Next big support is 175. Big Resistance at 185 (200 DMA).
IBB (Biotechnology) 101 is big support. 104 has been pivotal since April. Big resistance around105.
XRT (Retail) Support area at 40.30-40.00 Major resistance around 42.
Twitter: @marketminute
The author may have a position in the mentioned securities at the time of publication. Any opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author, and do not in any way represent the views or opinions of any other person or entity.
