An emerging area of interest in the markets in general and in this space in particular is the subject of how to blend volatility exposure – both long and short – into a portfolio. Based upon feedback I have received, three recent articles that hav…

The Conference Board: Consumer Confidence Index The May 2012 Consumer Confidence Index dropped -3.8 to 64.9 (preliminary) and a 4-month low, after reaching a 12-month high in February (71.6). Americans are pessimistic. The May reading is below the 74…

USA Consumer Sentiment: Thomson Reuters / University of Michigan Americans are rather optimistic these days as the Index of Consumer Sentiment rose to a 55-month high in May 2012. The May reading of 79.3 (+2.9) is above the 75.9 monthly average from …

USA Consumer Sentiment: Thomson Reuters / University of Michigan Americans are becoming downright giddy, compared to sentiment lows in recent years. From a longer-term perspective, we are neither very optimistic nor very negative these days, but the …

While this week’s news cycle has been Spain, Spain, Italy and Spain so far (reminiscent of an old Monty Python skit, but I digress), it is easy to forget for a moment or so that Greece is holding another round of elections on Sunday. As Greek law pr…

$ $ $Jim Rogers on Spanish Bailout: “The Most Insane Thing I’ve Ever Heard” Jim Rogers, chairman of Rogers Holdings, explains why the euphoria over a Spanish bailout has been short-lived. “The solution to debt is not more debt,” he tells CNBC’s Scott W…

Determining the risk in the financial markets should get easier with more data, more measures and more experience navigating crisis environments, right? Not so fast. Right now, for instance, the CBOE Volatility Index (yes, the VIX does have a formal n…

10JUN12Basically looking at the daily I’m seeing more upside to either the 1.27 fib ARC  ~585.79 or the 1.618 fib ARC ~590.41, before a reversal in trend (next leg down).  There’s probably a more immdeiate bear case out there, just didn’…

10JUN12Basically looking at the daily I’m seeing more upside to either the 1.27 fib ARC  ~585.79 or the 1.618 fib ARC ~590.41, before a reversal in trend (next leg down).  There’s probably a more immdeiate bear case out there, just didn’…

10JUN12I drew the following chart last Thursday night for a friend, updated with Friday’s price action.  My thoughts were that it was rejected by the 4hr donut (.886 fib) on Thursday and so more downside before support around 1.74-.70.  …