Lots to cover today…

Lots of subjects to cover today. We’ll look at the economy, sectors to trade within the economic cycle, and technology. I’ll point you towards some research I’ve recently posted on energy and  international investment opportunities. I’ve adapted a more on-point manner with these important topics to get this information to you efficiently.

Risk off

To start, lets look at some signs of risk-off appearing on the markets. This adds to my comments regarding junk bonds vs. SPX in my last blog – here. The chart below compares the SPX small cap (black line) vs the SPX large cap (red line) indices. Note the divergence when small caps start to underperform. I’ve highlighted the correlation between small & large (pane beneath price chart) which is normally high. The bottom pane is comparative relative strength. Negative divergence by the small caps indicate a risk-off environment. This can be a leading indicator of trouble for the S&P 500.

Energy

Recently I asked if there were any topics you guys would like me to cover. Two readers asked me to write about the energy trade. I have actually covered this subject quite thoroughly in a recent video. It’s pretty informative, if I do say so myself. Here is the video link for those wondering what oil and the producers might be looking like over the coming months: Oil Outlook – ValueTrend

Its the economy, stupid

You know I’ve been harping about the Canadian Liberals regarding their complete lack of awareness of basic supply/demand economics. Sadly, many modern Liberal Governments, including in the USA, have in that common. Historically, most Liberals were aware of how overspending impacts the economy, inflation dynamics, and how to do basic math. Harken back to the good old days of Carter, Clinton/ Chretien, Martin.  Things have changed, but not for the better. Take a look at the chart below – it echo’s my comments here re the Canadian budget. While the Federal Reserve aims to “fight inflation” – US government spending is surging, up 13% year over year. You can’t fix stupid.

You are here

I’m not a Keynes fan, but no matter… here is an interesting perspective by a US PM quoted recently:

“Keynes work shows 16 months from the start of a hiking cycle to peak impact. Recession into Q2 next year” 

I posted this chart a while ago with my notation of where I think we are now.  It tells us where the value is within sectors during differing phases of the economy. Based on recent stability in Staples, Utilities, Healthcare we are likely on the verge of rolling into recession. Believe it or not, that’s when certain sectors like Real Estate and Financials will become attractive. Followed by Technology and Cons. Discretionary stocks. These sectors become attractive as their beaten up value becomes apparent to “smart money”. Smart money starts rolling into them ahead of the recovery phase – think Warren Buffett loading up on bank securities during the tail end of 2008/9 banking crises. First things first – recession means staying defensive….for now.

Don’t expect the tech sector to save the market

“Despite profits declining less than feared during the first quarter, estimates for the second and third quarters are continuing to be dialed back. Projections for tech-company profits in the S&P 500 Index for the second quarter are calling for a 7.3% contraction from a year earlier, a deeper drop than the 6.3% drop for the period forecast at the end of March, according to analyst estimates compiled by Bloomberg Intelligence. In the third quarter, they’re now expected to decline 1.5%, compared with a 0.6% increase anticipated five weeks ago.” Bloomberg News

Here’s the XLK (technology) ETF. Right at that wall of resistance. Will it break out? Out of favor seasonals, and lower earnings, might have a say in that potential. How will that affect the S&P 500 with its massive weighing in the sector? As Clint Eastwood’s Dirty Harry character asked: “Well, punk, do you feel lucky?“. I don’t.

6 technically attractive global index ETF’s

Perhaps its time to start looking for markets that are non-correlated to North American markets for investing, should we wish to profit in the current water-treading consolidation pattern here. Tomorrow (Friday May 12) I will be posting a video presenting, in my opinion, some highly attractive markets that every investor should consider. Here is the EWJ (Japan) ETF chart – which is just one of the potential opportunities I address:

Don’t miss out

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