Trade Setup Summary for Monday, August 11, 2003:
Sell 984.50/cover for up to +10 pts. (Sell BreakOut)
Recap of Monday's Action:
Good Morning and thank you for joining us today.
Today is the FOMC meeting and on these days we do not offer a Headline Call and therefore no trade suggestions. On the FOMC meeting days when interest rates are announced the market can become very volatile often stopping out traders on both sides of the market so we avoid trading on these days and let the market evaluate the interest rate decision.
Our Headline Call on Monday was looking for the market to sell off and ideally from a higher early run up in prices. We got the early run up in prices off a relatively flat opening. After the first hour had finished and we had a run up in the Dow over +60 points we wanted to get short at the BreakOut with our strong bearish Market Force indicators.
The first Hour One pivot at the B/O was hit at 984.50 and there were several chances to get short there. Trading at this price gave us a short very near THE TOP TICK OF THE DAY. Prices collapsed quickly running down almost 12 points from the high in a rapid fast spike down. After this occured we saw the stabalization of the markets as they pushed up slightly with the Dow up a bit at the close. So over all we did not get the full down day we were expecting as the rapid drop off the Hour One BreakOut created consolidation.
At the time of the BreakOut we noticed the NAZ to be particularly strong but the VIX showing strong bearish signs. When we have a strong Bearish Headline Call coupled with an early price rally which we had indicated would especially be favorable to lower prices you want to give the lower move the benefit of the doubt. We saw the market collapse through the bottom of the Value Area but then gain some strength and rally back up through the top of the VA finding balance in that area.
Much of this activity was due to the anticipation of today's FOMC meeting and the question of what will happen to interest rates.
Today's Call & Briefing:
No Headline Call today due to the FOMC meeting as mentioned. Our bias for today is bearish after a slight rally attempt. We do not trade on these days as the volatility is strong usually and traders can get stopped out even when on the right side of the market with the right trade ideas. By standing aside we let the market make it's varied responses to the Fed decision and then we can discover a clearer bias for tommorrows trading action.
Today is a good day to do some extra research or take some extra time off.
Value Area: 976.00 - 981.40
Watch for bearish price action to push below the 976.00 area.
Buy Pivot Target: 974.75 - 975.75
No trade at this pivot today.
Sell Pivot Target: 986.25 - 985.25
No trade at this pivot today.
10 Day "Pit Bull" Moving Average: 978.30
We are still hovering within a small zone surrounding this 10 Day Moving Average. The indecision around this number means the market prices are actually in balance with what traders feel is fair value. Usually the FOMC meetings brings out the true bias of the markets so let's observe how the decision is absorbed.
Pro Trader's Action
As mentioned we do not have any trades scheduled for today as we do not offer a Headline Call. After observing the price action we will have a full Morning Call briefing tomorrow and some great trade ideas.
I was glad to hear from many of you today who caught that drop on Monday off the early action. Trading the S&P500 is a fast, gutsy business and always wil be. As you progress in reading and understanding our briefings each day your trading results should improve tremendously.
All the best of success and in your skill development, Mohan