Oh, the joys of being an active participant in markets (that is formal speak for ‘trader’). Things change pretty fast and being more trading focused means that we can change our views as fast as the market changes. For the last three or so weeks we’ve been rather bullish. This week we change our stance and return to the comfort of our bear cave. One of the more important lessons we’ve learned from participating in markets for the last almost two decades is that the Kansas City Shuffle is very often a very reliable move. What are we talking about you ask? Well, when everyone is looking right, go left (except in politics please). Still, what are we talking about? In a nutshell, the market has become very bullish, despite the enormous amounts of negative economic data and overall headwinds.
For the last few weeks we’ve harped on about ‘it not needing to make sense, we just follow the market’, but over the last week it seems that the ‘follow through’ is not there. In other words, the market is starting to feel the need to make sense again, which makes us a little bearish. There are still many signs that point to a slowdown/recession in the second half of the year and more and more signs pointing to a looming credit crisis/crunch. Canada put up interest rates unexpectedly, U.S. student loans are once again becoming payable (aka. households have had a reprieve from making payments on student loans and that reprieve is now over, so payments are once again due). Overall, the economic grounds are shakier than what Joburg was a 02:40 on Sunday morning.
Bigger picture (offshore trade ideas)
S&P 500 (SPY)
So, the 4300 level ($430 on SPY) put up a good fight and won. Our horizontal resistance level is marked out at $429.50, although we know that these support and resistance levels are more zones than absolute levels. Thus, the attempted break higher that failed on Friday is rather significant in our view. Momentum is looking a little stretched too. In the bigger picture, we have the making of a longer-term trend change here (from bearish to bullish), but in the short-term, we think that the market is very likely to come down and test the 4200 level ($420 on SPY) again. There is a metric ton of economic data due out next week, so it is a bit of a wildcard week, but from where we sit, it doesn’t look like there is going to be much good data coming out. Thus, we expect the market to be softer in the week to come. As always, we would be happy to be wrong in this regard, but the start of the week might prove a good time to bank some profits on local (South African) long trades that have worked out.
Nasdaq (QQQ)
There is not too much to add to QQQ that was not said above. Although, we do feel that we should stress that Tech has had an amazing run on the back of all this A.I. mania. We’d said a few times over the last week that we think the A.I. bubble is only just beginning, and we still believe so, but some of these tech stocks (NVDA for example) have gone a little far and are due for a pullback in our view. We also see waning momentum in QQQ and a failure to make a new high. Brace for some downside we think.
Gold
We won’t reiterate our downside (range) target for gold every week as it is a multi-month, potentially multi-year setup. That said, we have to wonder if we might not see gold pop a little on the back of weaker equities in general..? Overall, we are still bearish here. It would not be crazy to imagine gold coming down while equities are coming down, specially on the back of bad economic data and some fresh panic. Let’s see how the week goes.
U.S. Dollar Index (DXY)
It’s looking more and more like DXY will test the 101 level. The surprise BOC move (hiking interest rates in Canada) contributed to some USD weakness. Bad economic data in the week ahead will likely add fuel to that fire.
Brent Crude Oil
The Saudis have just about thrown every kitchen fitting at the oil price to get it to go higher and still it won’t budge. This makes us worry a little. If that $70.50 level breaks, $60 might be on the cards. Slowing global growth (aka. recession) and persistent inflation will likely keep putting the breaks on oil prices. We can no longer be bullish here under the current circumstances.
USDZAR
We asked for reprieve and we got reprieve, in a big way! Time for that Kansas City Shuffle though. We’re happy to take some speculative longs around R18.60. Keep a tight stop though.
S&P 500 Volatility Index (VIX)
VIX sub 10 lows would mean that things are ‘back to normal’. While we think that this will likely be the case rather soon, with a doji candle and all the long stories about headwinds we’ve already told above, a test of 16 or 18, or even 20 in the week ahead is likely more probable.
South African trade ideas
JSE Top 40 Index (ALSI)
We’re looking at a weekly chart here on the ALSI. To us it looks like the momentum has started running out and that a move to be bottom of the upwards sloping channel is the most likely move from here. We know that CFR has had a huge impact and that will be no more, so maybe the ALSI comes back down to earth a little.
AngloGold Ashanti (ANG)
Well would you look at that? If it isn’t a beautiful head and shoulders pattern with a target at the primary trendline? It’s makes sense though. Gold is looking wabbly, the Rand has gotten a huge amount stronger. The party is over here for how. ANG is probably worth a buy sub-R400, but for now we think that there is around 20% worth of downside to come.
British American Tobacco (BTI)
We’re just updating the BTI chart here and reiterating our R584 target price.
Aspen Pharmacare (APN)
APN bounced a little, but momentum ran out pretty quickly. Maybe it’s time for the Kansas City Shuffle here too? We’d take the money off the table from the long trade here and run.
Bidvest (BVT)
BVT finally breaking the flag and putting in a good run. As is the case with APN above though, maybe it’s time to go left while everyone is going right? Take the money and run, in other words.
Compagnie Financiere Richemont (CFR)
Look out below! Well, ok, it’s not that simple. Yes, this chart is looking terrible and yes, there is a ton of selling that needs to be done in order to get index trackers inline with the rebalancing. But, and a big but, CFR is one of the most shorted stocks (in proportion to market capitalization) on the JSE at the moment. Everyone is thinking that this is the easy trade, and look, it probably is, but when it squeezes, which it eventually will, it is going to hurt the overleveraged shorts in ways that they will remember for many years. We do still like the short though.
FirstRand (FSR)
What a move from FSR! ‘Locals’ have done really well, and there are lots of arguments why they are all undervalued and why South Africa is ripe of the picking (aka. buy local stocks over offshore), but again with buts, FSR has slammed head on into the R68 resistance level. We could add a support level at R60 here and it would not be completely unreasonable to think that FSR will come back to test it.
Gold Fields (GFI)
Many years ago I (Petri) worked at a small hedge fund in Cape Town, and there my old boss taught me one of his favourite setups. He called it ‘The Eye of Sauron’. Basically, a failure to make a new high very shortly after a pullback at the top of long upward move. Almost a double top, but weaker. Now, The Eye of Sauron sits atop the GFI daily chart, and it looks down at the primary trendline with malice. And it broods. This is going to be a great short trade actually.
Naspers (NPN)
NPN has been pretty range bound, with the odd fake break out the bottom. We have this feeling that the next break out the bottom will not be fake though. R2785, then R2330. The lower target is less likely, but R2785 we think is rather probable indeed.
Sanlam (SLM)
SLM has also had a great run (see FSR comments) and has also slammed into resistance (at R59). For now, we think this party is over and we will be seeing the R51 support fairly soon. Great risk-reward here too, with a super tight stop and almost R8 on offer. A daily close above R60 takes you out of the short and an intraday high above say R61 does the same. Remember though, there are stop hunters out there who will squeeze you to take your money, so trade small(ish).
Sasol (SOL)
SOL forming a nice little base here and longs from last week worked out rather well. Given the oil and general macro narrative above, we think maybe its time to pack this one in for now. Well, for short-term traders at least. For the longer-term investors, SOL is likely still a good hold.
Sibanye-Stillwater (SSW)
SSW is looking for that R31.80 level with a sore heart.
Telkom (TKG)
So… TKG rejected an offer for R46, because it is not enough. Word is that the ‘buyers’ are still sitting around the negotiating table. It smells like TKG pops in here.
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*Please note that these trade ideas form part of a larger weekly plan and the value of financial products can increase as well as decrease over time, depending on the value of the underlying securities and market conditions. The risk of loss arising from trading in Contracts for Difference can be substantial. You should carefully consider whether such investments are suitable for you in the light of your circumstances and financial resources.