Wednesday, December 8, 2010

New Video - After a Tough 2010, What's Next for Crude Oil Traders?

I doubt that many traders would argue that the crude oil market in 2010 proved to be a tough commodity sector to get any real feel for the trend and direction. 2010 just did not produce any discernible, lasting trend in the oil market. The trends it has produced have lasted little more than just 3 or 4 weeks at best.

So what's next for crude oil traders in 2010 and into 2011?

In today's short video we examine the fact that crude oil briefly traded over $90 a barrel before falling back. So what made the crude oil market reverse course and fall back? Was it selling, was it profit taking, a technical point, or something else? We are examining crude oil in detail using a tool that we think is very appropriate for this type of market at the moment.

We have not discussed this technical indicator in any of our previous videos and I think when you see how it works and how you can use it your own trading, you will be pretty impressed.

We still look at our "Trade Triangles" of course, but "Trade Triangles" tend to work best with markets that eventually get into big trends and that's really where you make your money.

If you have a few minutes and you'd like to learn about this new/old technical indicator that has generally been overlooked by many traders, you will find this video very interesting. This 30 year old indicator has proven to be very effective in this year's crude oil market so you don't want to miss this video.

As always our videos are free to watch and there are no registration requirements. Please take a moment to leave a comment and tell us what you think of the video and the direction of crude oil.

Watch "After a Tough 2010, What's Next for Crude Oil Traders?"



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Is THIS Oil Rally For Real?

Every time crude oil has shown the ability to rally in 2010 experienced commercial traders have scratched their heads in disbelief as tankers fill with crude oil continue to stack up in ports and harbors around the world. Never have we seen oil rally in this way when there has been such a glut of inventory.

Is it different this time? Will the "Obama Claus" rally push crude oil [and commodities in general] through the critical 90+ levels? It's looking like these markets have played out their run and light volume December trading is about to set in. Swing traders and investors beware, this looks like a day traders market for December. Here's your trading numbers for Wednesday....


Crude oil was lower due to profit taking overnight as it consolidates some of the rally off November's low. Stochastics and the RSI are overbought and are turning neutral to bearish hinting that a short term top might be in or is near.

Closes below the 20 day moving average crossing at 85.30 would confirm that a short term top has been posted. If January extends the rally off November's low, May's high crossing at 93.29 is the next upside target.

First resistance is Tuesday's high crossing at 90.76
Second resistance is May's high crossing at 93.29

Crude oil pivot point for Wednesday morning is 89.16

First support is the 10 day moving average crossing at 86.75
Second support is the 20 day moving average crossing at 85.30

Natural gas was higher overnight as it consolidates some of Tuesday's decline. Stochastics and the RSI are diverging but are bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near term.

If January extends the rally off November's low, the 38% retracement level of the June-November decline crossing at 4.654 is the next upside target. Closes below the 20 day moving average crossing at 4.267 would confirm that a short term top has been posted.

First resistance is Tuesday's high crossing at 4.545
Second resistance is the 38% retracement level of the June-November decline crossing at 4.654

Natural gas pivot point for Wednesday morning is 4.440

First support is the 10 day moving average crossing at 4.345
Second support is the 20 day moving average crossing at 4.267

Gold was lower due to profit taking overnight as it consolidates some of the rally off the mid-November low. Stochastics and the RSI are becoming overbought, diverging and turning neutral hinting that a short term top might be in or is near.

Closes below the 20 day moving average crossing at 1378.50 would confirm that a short term top has been posted. If March extends this year's rally into uncharted territory, upside targets will now be hard to project.

First resistance is Tuesday's high crossing at 1432.50

Gold pivot point for Wednesday morning is 1412.70

First support is the 10 day moving average crossing at 1389.70
Second support is the 20 day moving average crossing at 1378.50



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Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Merry Christmas Crude Oil Bulls...From President Obama!

Is the second term of the Clinton presidency back? Even Bill couldn't have timed a better trade as President Obama let's it be known that he is willing to extend the Bush era tax breaks for an extension of unemployment benefits. This as our world currency [crude oil of course] hovers around the most critical level of 90+ a barrel. Is $90 our new support number? Is $100 a barrel in the cards in December? The rest of the week and especially Fridays close will tell us a lot, but for now here is your support, resistance and pivot numbers for Tuesdays trading.

Crude oil was higher overnight as it extends the rally off last week's low. Stochastics and the RSI are overbought but remain bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near term.

If January extends the rally off last week's low, the 87% retracement level of May's decline crossing at 90.62 is the next upside target. Closes below the 20 day moving average crossing at 84.34 would confirm that a short term top has been posted.

First resistance is the overnight high crossing at 90.46
Second resistance is the 87% retracement level of May's decline crossing at 90.62

Crude oil pivot point for Tuesday morning is 89.23

First support is the 10 day moving average crossing at 86.23
Second support is the 20 day moving average crossing at 85.34

Natural gas was higher overnight as it extends the rally off November's low. Stochastics and the RSI are diverging but have turned bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near term.

If January extends the rally off November's low, the 38% retracement level of the June-November decline crossing at 4.654 is the next upside target. Closes below the 20 day moving average crossing at 4.271 would confirm that a short term top has been posted.

First resistance is the overnight high crossing at 4.545
Second resistance is the 38% retracement level of the June-November decline crossing at 4.654

Natural gas pivot point for Tuesday morning is 4.471

First support is the 10 day moving average crossing at 4.357
Second support is the 20 day moving average crossing at 4.271

Gold was higher overnight as it continues to rebound off the mid November low. Stochastics and the RSI are bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near term.

If March extends this year's rally into uncharted territory, upside targets will now be hard to project. Closes below the 20 day moving average crossing at 1380.30 would confirm that a short term top has been posted.

First resistance is the overnight high crossing at 1429.40.
Second resistance is at 1438.10

Gold pivot point for Tuesday morning is 1418.40

First support is the 10 day moving average crossing at 1390.00.
Second support is the 20 day moving average crossing at 1380.30.



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Monday, December 6, 2010

Is This it.....is the SP 500 and Gold in the Last Stages of the Rally?

When we think of Elliot Wave patterns, we think of one market analyst. David Banister of The Market Trend Forecast.Com. We can't think of anyone who has called the moves better in this market in 2010 then Banister. And as we move to critical resistance levels in this rally it's time to check in with him and see how much room is left in this bull run. Here is his most recent article from Monday evening December 6th.......

The Elliott Wave patterns that I use to forecast movements ahead of time in the SP 500 and Gold for my subscribers have been textbook perfect for quite some time. We can go back to the March 2009 lows and clearly identify 5 waves up to the 13 month initial rally high in April of this year. This was followed by a clear ABC wave 2 pattern to the 1010 lows on July 1st. Right now, the SP 500 is in wave 5 up since July 1st, and that means this is a terminal wave underway before a good sized correction ensues.

Investors should expect the SP 500 to rally up to 1285 as a minimal upside target, with the market likely peaking in the Mid January 2011 period prior to a new correction pattern. That correction will take the markets down to the 1150-1180 ranges more than likely from the January highs and knock the sentiment levels back to bearish before the next big advance. Below is where I see the current wave patterns, and as you can see, this is the 5th and final wave stage of the advance. Ride it up, but lighten up as we approach my figures is my advice. Subscribers to my TMTF service have been riding this stage of the bull long since early July, and we keep them updated every week on the action.


Gold has also completed it’s 4th wave corrective pattern at $1331 per ounce recently, and as I have forecasted recently should continue it’s upward trajectory to about $1480-$1525 before a good sized correction will ensue. Gold bottomed this summer in a classic wave 2 correction at $1155 per ounce, which was a 50% Fibonacci re-tracement of the rally up to $1225 from $1040. My objectives are for this pattern to complete around the same time as the SP 500 peak in Mid January as well. Downside objectives from there are likely to be to the $1310 per ounce range from the $1480-$1525 peaks, but more on that as we approach. I do not like to get too far ahead of myself in my projections, taking it one leg and pivot at a time.


If you’d like to be consistently ahead of the major market and precious metals moves and profit from that positioning, then consider subscribing today. Visit Market Trend Forecast.com for the details and a coupon to subscribe.


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Markets Look to Take a Beating on Bernake Comments

Commodity and equity markets look to take a hit on Monday morning mostly due to comments made by Ben Bernanke over the weekend about his views on the possibility the economy will need additional stimulus.

Here is your trading numbers for Monday trading in crude oil, natural gas and gold.

Crude oil was lower due to profit taking overnight as it consolidates some of the rally off November's low. Stochastics and the RSI remain bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near term.

If January extends the rally off last week's low, the 87% retracement level of May's decline crossing at 90.62 is the next upside target. Closes below the 20 day moving average crossing at 85.18 would temper the near term friendly outlook.

First resistance is the overnight high crossing at 89.76
Second resistance is the 87% retracement level of May's decline crossing at 90.62

Crude oil pivot point for Monday's trading is 88.61

First support is the 10 day moving average crossing at 85.31
Second support is the 20 day moving average crossing at 85.18


Natural gas was higher overnight as it extends the rebound off last Tuesday's low. Stochastics and the RSI are turning bullish hinting that sideways to higher prices are possible near term.

Closes above the reaction high crossing at 4.515 are needed to renew the rally off November's low. If January renews the decline off the reaction high crossing at 4.515, November's low crossing at 3.853 is the next downside target.

First resistance is the overnight high crossing at 4.428
Second resistance is November's high crossing at 4.515

Natural gas pivot point for Monday's trading is 4.340

First support is last Tuesday's low crossing at 4.126
Second support is November's low crossing at 3.853

Gold was higher overnight as it continues to rebound off the mid-November low. Stochastics and the RSI are bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near term.

If March extends the rebound off the mid November low, November's high crossing at 1426.00 is the next upside target. Closes below the 20 day moving average crossing at 1379.20 would confirm that a short term top has been posted.

First resistance is the overnight high crossing at 1420.00
Second resistance is November's high crossing at 1426.00

Gold pivot point for Monday's trading is 1,402.80

First support is the 10 day moving average crossing at 1383.20
Second support is the reaction low crossing at 1352.00



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Where Should You Be Playing Crude Oil?

For most retail traders trading crude oil and natural means using tickers like the popular ETF's like USO, OIH, UNG or DIG. But one often over looked company that has been the darling of our hedge fund is NOV, National Oilwell Varco. As the leader in oil rig production for many years through both organic growth as well as Merger and acquisition activity National Oil Varco has stay above support levels for some time giving us safe and consistent profitable swing trades.

One tool we use to watch the trend in NOV is our Smart Scan Chart Analysis technology. And as of this morning [12-6-10] our Smart Scan Analysis still confirms that a strong uptrend is in place for NOV and that the trend remains positive longer term. As always you should trade this strong uptrend with tight money management stops. This kind of rating indicates that NOV is being driven by commercial traders and insiders.

NOV scored +100 on a scale from -100 (strong downtrend) to +100 (strong uptrend). Here is how NOV rated on just a few of our indicators.

+10......Last Hour Close Above 5 Hour Moving Average
+15......New 3 Day High on Friday
+20......Last Price Above 20 Day Moving Average
+25......New 3 Week High, Week Ending Nov. 27th
+30......New 3 Month High in November
+100.....Total Score

Here is a preview of our MarketClub Trade Triangle Chart Analysis and Smart Scan technology system



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Sunday, December 5, 2010

Crude Oil Weekly Technical Outlook For Sunday Dec. 5th

Crude oil's rise from 80.06 accelerated to as high as 89.49 last week and the break of 88.63 indicates that whole rally from 64.23 has resumed. Initial bias remains on the upside this week for next near term target of 61.8% projection of 70.76 to 88.63 from 80.06 at 91.10. On the downside, below 87.14 minor support will turn intraday bias neutral and bring some consolidations before staging another rise.

In the bigger picture, the break of 88.63 resistance confirms that whole medium term rise from 33.2 is still in progress and has resumed. Such rally is treated as the second wave of the consolidation pattern that started at 147.27 and should target 50% retracement of 147.27 to 33.2 at 90.24 and possibly further to 61.8% retracement at 103.70. On the downside, break of 80.06 support is needed to be the first sign of medium term reversal and break of 64.23 is needed to confirm. Otherwise, outlook will remain bearish.

In the long term picture, rebound from 33.2 is not finished yet. But overall view remains unchanged. Crude oil is in a long term consolidation pattern from 147.27, with first wave completed at 33.2, second wave from there unfolding. Current development suggests that a breach of 61.8% retracement at 103.70 is likely. But we'll then start to focus on reversal signal again above 103.70.

Nymex Crude Oil Continuous Contract 4 Hour, Daily, Weekly and Monthly Charts

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Friday, December 3, 2010

Is This a Broad Market Reversal....Better Hold On To Your Hat!

From Chris Vermeulen at The Gold and Oil Guy.com......

This had been an exiting week for traders as the equities market was on a verge of a major sell off. Fortunately, we were watching the market very closely and saw the sentiment and market internals shift shortly after a new low was set last week. That was an early warning for us that a trend reversal to the upside could happen at any hour or day this week.

Wednesday and Thursday’s rallies were on solid volume and the market internal indicators along with market breadth were strong also. There has been a large surge of new highs across the board on the NYSE, NASDAQ and AMEX. These numbers tell me that it’s not just one sector moving the market; instead it’s a broad market advance (institutional buying).

While I don’t typically try to pick major tops or bottoms because of the added risks and lower probability of winning trades, I do tend to spot them forming a few days in advance allowing me to tighten stops and take some profits on positions.

Trend reversals typically have large violent moves near the beginning and end of their life cycle making things not only tougher to trade but potentially more costly. Once I see a trend confirmed with moving averages, volume, and sentiment along with market breadth that’s when I start looking to take positions on pauses or pullbacks to support zones. This greatly increases the odds of winning/making money from the market. There are some really great Options Trading Strategies for taking advantage of these volatility changes in the market which you can get at Options Trading Signals.Com.

SPY Daily Chart:
As you can see the market has clearly broken to the upside above key moving averages after finding support at the 50 day moving average. This rally has some solid volume behind it which I like to see also.

The first 3-4 days of a trend reversal generally post some give moves but after that initial thrust expect a pause or pullback to happen.




SPY 60 Minute Intraday Chart:
We were lucky enough to take profits on our inverse SP500 trade as the market started to give us mixed signals of a possible rally. A couple days later on Nov 26th we saw a major shift within the market sentiment preventing us from shorting the market again.

Two days later the broad market gapped higher triggering protective stops/short covering sparking a fierce two day rally which took the market up to a major resistance level. I do feel as though the market is going higher, but right now, everything is WAY over bought and trading at resistance. Even if the market moves higher for another 2-3 days and breaks this resistance level, it will most likely have a pause, or pullback as it regains energy for another thrust higher.


Mid-Week Trading Conclusion:
In short, it looks as though the trend is now up and the Christmas rally could be gearing up for a good one!

Be sure to get Chris Vermeulen's Free Trading Analysis Book and Analysis or visit The Gold and Oil Guy.Com to get his Pre-Market Trading Videos, intraday updates and trade alerts



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Crude Oil, Natural Gas, Gold and Dollar Commentary For Friday Morning Dec. 3rd

Crude oil was higher overnight as it extends the rally off last week's low. Stochastics and the RSI remain bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near term.

If January extends the rally off last week's low, November's high crossing at 89.10 is the next upside target. Closes below the 10 day moving average crossing at 84.54 would temper the near term friendly outlook.

First resistance is the overnight high crossing at 88.33
Second resistance is November's high crossing at 89.10

Crude oil pivot point for Friday morning is 87.47

First support is the 20 day moving average crossing at 85.07
Second support is the 10 day moving average crossing at 84.54

Natural gas was slightly lower overnight as it consolidates some of the short covering gains of the past two days. In the meantime, stochastics and the RSI are turning neutral to bullish hinting that sideways to higher prices are possible near term.

Closes above the reaction high crossing at 4.515 are needed to renew the rally off November's low. If January renews the decline off the reaction high crossing at 4.515, November's low crossing at 3.853 is the next downside target.

First resistance is the overnight high crossing at 4.370
Second resistance is last week's high crossing at 4.515

Natural gas pivot point for Friday morning is 4.306

First support is Tuesday's low crossing at 4.126
Second support is November's low crossing at 3.853

Gold was higher overnight as it continues to rebound off the mid-November low. Stochastics and the RSI are bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near term.

If March extends the rebound off the mid-November low, November's high crossing at 1426.00 is the next upside target. Closes below the 10 day moving average crossing at 1375.60 would confirm that a short term top has been posted.

First resistance is Thursday's high crossing at 1399.70
Second resistance is November's high crossing at 1426.00

Gold pivot point for Friday morning is 1,390.90

First support is the 10 day moving average crossing at 1375.60
Second support is the reaction low crossing at 1331.10


Secrets of the 52 Week High Rule

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Thursday, December 2, 2010

OPEC Expected to Keep Oil Production Quota Unchanged

OPEC will probably keep its production quota unchanged when it meets on Dec. 11 in Ecuador, ministers from Angola, Venezuela and Libya said. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries considers oil at $80 to $85 a barrel a “comfortable price,” Angola’s Minister of Petroleum Jose Maria Botelho de Vasconcelos said yesterday. Crude traded around $86 a barrel in New York today. Venezuela’s energy minister Rafael Ramirez, who said he prefers a price level of $100 a barrel, told reporters in Doha today that the group will likely maintain its existing output target.

“The current environment is of some stability,” Angola’s Vasconcelos said in an interview. “The sentiment among members is for maintaining the production level.” Libya’s top oil official, Shokri Ghanem, said yesterday in Doha that the organization will seek stricter compliance with the current production target. OPEC, which produces about 40 percent of the world’s oil, hasn’t changed its formal limit since December 2008, when it announced record supply cuts and a quota of 24.845 million barrels a day.

The group’s adherence to that level has faltered as recovering demand and rising prices encourage members to exceed their individual allocations. Compliance among the 11 nations bound by quotas slipped to 51 percent in October, according to data from the group published on Nov. 11. Qatari Energy Minister Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah said today he won’t attend the Dec. 11 gathering in Quito, Ecuador.

Angola’s Vasconcelos said he expects the country’s oil production to increase to 1.9 million barrels a day next year, close to its maximum capacity. Angola pumped an average of 1.73 million barrels a day in November, according to a Bloomberg survey of producers and analysts on Nov. 30. OPEC’s 12 members are Algeria, Angola, Ecuador, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Venezuela. Iraq is exempt from the quota system.

Posted courtesy of Bloomberg News

Bloomberg reporter Grant Smith can be reached at gsmith52@bloomberg.net

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Sharon Epperson: Where is Crude Oil and Gold Headed on Friday?

CNBC's Sharon Epperson discusses the day's activity in the commodities markets, and looks ahead to where oil and gold are likely headed tomorrow.



Can you learn to trade crude oil in just 90 seconds?

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Commodity Corner: Crude Oil Rallies to 2 Year High on Economic Optimism

Crude rallied Thursday to a two year high on rising equities and an increase in economic optimism. Oil for January delivery gained $1.25, settling at $88.00 a barrel Thursday. Oil prices peaked at $88.13 during Thursday's trading session and bottomed out at $86.27. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, initial unemployment benefit claims increased by 26,000 to 436,000 from the previous week. However, the four week moving average decreased by 5,750 a two year low.

In addition, reports on an increase in retail and the housing market sales also boosted the U.S. economy. The National Association of Realtors reported a 10 percent increase in pending home sales for the month of October after dropping 1.8% in September. The greenback fell Thursday against the euro on news that the European Central Bank will delay its withdrawal of stimulus measures and keep its interest rate at a record low of 1 percent. A weaker dollar increases oil prices making it cheaper for buyers with foreign currencies.

Likewise, gasoline futures rose to a six month high Thursday, closing the trading session at $2.36 a gallon. The nearly six cent increase came as East Coast supplies declined. Investors fear that imports may decline on tightening supply conditions in the New York harbor. RBOB gasoline fluctuated between $2.29 and $2.36 Thursday.

Front month natural gas futures continued to climb higher Thursday for the eleventh straight day. Natural gas lost earlier rebounds, gained from cooler weather, after inventories fell below market expectation. The Energy Information Administration reported a 23 billion cubic feet drop for the week ended Nov. 23. Natural gas prices settled at $4.34 per thousand cubic feet, up 7.4 cents from the previous day. The intraday range for natural gas was $4.20 to $4.38.

Posted courtesy of Rigzone.Com



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Phil Flynn: Is Europe Too Big To Fail?

Forget about all of that stellar manufacturing data and jobs data. Ok sure, that may have helped rally the oil yet it was the story that the U.S. stands ready to bail out Europe that sent the dollar falling and the oil on a second wind rally. Reuters News reported that an unnamed US official said the U.S. was prepared to support the European Union’s rescue fund through the International Monetary Fund and the largest contributor is the U.S.. The official said the spread of contagion through the euro region would be a problem for the global economy and because of that I guess the U.S. printing presses are ready to roll.

In other words, it looks like the U.S. just said that we are going to make good on all of Europe’s bad debts and make sure that European citizens can retire when they are 50. Ok maybe they did not say that exactly and they defiantly did not say anything about Europeans retiring when they are 50.( Maybe it was 60) And later the story was denied but don’t you tell that to the investment world because once you make a statement like that it is hard to take it back. Based on the weakness in the dollar after the story broke, it seems the market is convinced that come hell or high water the U.S. will back Europe in their time of economic need.

If the market believes it then there is a lot of pressure on the IMF and the US to make it so. If you don’t think so then you have forgotten the lessons of Fannie and Freddie. They were entities that were supposed to be independent but investors like the Chinese were led to belive that the government sponsored entity was backed by the full faith and credit of the good old American taxpayer. The same taxpayers that we have found out have backed a wide......Read the entire article.


Every Once in a While, You Find Something Amazing....Check out Trend TV

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Do You Really Understand How to Use Market Sentiment and Herd Mentality in Your Trading

We don't know of any trader better suited to teach us how to take advantage of market psychology then Chris Vermeulen of The Gold and Oil Guy.Com. In this report Chris is going to teach you how to read market sentiment so you can day trade and swing trade consistently to earn 3-5% per month trading ETFs. I remember always hearing the pro’s say “if you want to make money, you need to trade against the herd (masses)”. This sounds easy but just how do we go about doing that? I am about to show you…

In short, you must start looking at the market completely backwards. I focus on buying into heavy volume sell offs (panic) and selling position into heavy volume breakouts (greed). This was a very tough transition for me to make and its best to paper trade it for while until you are comfortable with buying into fear and selling into greed. It will feel completely wrong at the beginning but the profits speak for themselves!

The Four Charts I Follow Closely
The 4 main tools need to make money from trading against the herd. While this is only one of my trading strategies it is my favorite. I trade the ES futures contract and some sometimes the SDS and SSO exchange traded funds. This may seem basic at first glance but when you combine them you end up with a highly effective trading strategy.

SP500 - 5 Minute Chart
Here is a 5 minute chart of the SP500 showing where I went short. It is important to know that over the past 2 years the SP500 has provided a 1.25% profit on average each time one of these extreme sentiment readings occur on the charts.

The red indicator on the chart is a simple volume based indicator which measures fear and greed in the market and is very powerful for picking market tops and bottoms. It’s calculated by taking the NYSE up volume and dividing it by the down volume. In short, when you see this indicator start to rise it tells us the majority of traders (the herd) are buying and we should start to look at taking a short position.


Let me show you how to find the trade using the market sentiment....

The NYSE advance/ decline line
Is the most easy to understand. How I use this is simple, when there are 1500+ stocks trading up on the day then the market is getting overbought meaning too many stocks have moved up in a short period of time and traders will most likely start taking profits or exit their positions. I also look at the intraday chart for topping patterns or resistance levels then wait for the other two indicators to confirm Selling Volume on the chart above and the put/call ratio before going short the market.


The last indicator I follow is the put/call ratio
This indicator can be a little tougher to use at times because when the market is trending down the ratio tends to fluctuate near the top or bottom of its range during up or down trends. In a down trend is stays near the top which the chart below shows.

When the broad market bounces and we see the put/call ratio drop into the lower band it’s telling me the majority of traders have finally become bullish. This tends to happen once a previous high is broken as it triggers short covering and breakout traders start to buy.


Trading Market Sentiment Conclusion:
All you need to use these indicators, focus on the 15 minute charts, trade only with trend, and take profits at 1%, 2% and keep a small position open for much larger gains.

It is critical that once you take partial profits once you reach a 1% gain then you must start moving your protective stop into the money to lock in a profit for the balance of the position. All three indicators need to reach the extreme levels at the same time for a trade to be triggered. I have seen the market trend in the extreme levels for several weeks continuing to move up day after day and you will get stuck in that situation if you jump the gun entering a trade before each indicator signals an extreme level.

Final thoughts, his strategy works just as well in a bull market but there are some minor changes required on each of the indicators. Also I use inter market analysis following the US Dollar, Gold, Bonds and the Volatility Index for other trading strategies which I incorporate using the market sentiment.

If you would like to get Chris Vermeulen's ETF Trade Alerts for Low Risk Setups checkout his service at The Gold And Oil Guy.com



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Crude Oil, Natural Gas and Gold Market Commentary For Thursday Morning Dec. 2nd

Crude oil was slightly lower due to profit taking overnight as it consolidates some of the rally off last week's low. Stochastics and the RSI remain bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near term.

If January extends the rally off last week's low, November's high crossing at 89.10 is the next upside target. Closes below the 10 day moving average crossing at 83.82 would temper the near term friendly outlook.

First resistance is the overnight high crossing at 87.10
Second resistance is November's high crossing at 89.10

Crude oil pivot point for Thursday morning is 85.78

First support is the 20 day moving average crossing at 84.95
Second support is the 10 day moving average crossing at 83.82

Natural gas was higher overnight as it consolidates some of the decline off last week's high. However, stochastics and the RSI remain neutral to bearish signaling that sideways to lower prices are possible near term.

If January renews this week's decline, November's low crossing at 3.853 is the next downside target. Closes above the 10 day moving average crossing at 4.312 would temper the near term bearish outlook.

First resistance is the 10 day moving average crossing at 4.312
Second resistance is last week's high crossing at 4.515

Natural gas pivot point for Thursday morning is 4.252

First support is Tuesday's low crossing at 4.126
Second support is November's low crossing at 3.853


Gold was higher overnight as it continues to rebound off the mid-November low. Stochastics and the RSI are bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near term.

If December extends the rebound off the mid-November low, November's high crossing at 1424.30 is the next upside target. Closes below the 10 day moving average crossing at 1370.40 would confirm that a short term top has been posted.

First resistance is Wednesday's high crossing at 1396.60
Second resistance is November's high crossing at 1424.30

Gold pivot point for Thursday morning is 1,389.90

First support is the 10 day moving average crossing at 1370.40
Second support is the 25% retracement level of this year's rally crossing at 1330.20


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Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Commodity Corner: Crude Oil Up 3%

Crude oil rebounded Wednesday on positive manufacturing data from China, encouraging U.S. employment data, and word that the United States may join a European bailout program. Oil for January delivery rose $2.64 to settle at $86.75 a barrel. One factor providing momentum for oil was a monthly update of the China Purchasing Managers Index (PMI).

According to the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing, the PMI increased by 0.9 percent in November. Also benefiting oil was an ADP Employer Services report indicating that private sector employers in the U.S. added 93,000 jobs last month. The finding was above expectations.

In addition, the prospect of U.S. backing for faltering banks in European Union countries proved bullish for oil. Citing an unnamed U.S. official, Reuters reported Wednesday that the U.S. might augment a $980 billion dollar fund to bail out heavily indebted EU region banks using money from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Other news reports, however, quoted a Treasury Department official who denied that talks were underway to contribute funds to the so called European Financial Stability Facility. January crude traded from $83.63 to $86.62.

Bullish sentiment also was evident in the natural gas futures price. January natural gas increased nine cents to settle at $4.27 per thousand cubic feet. Projections of below normal temperatures through next week in the Northeast and Midwest provided an impetus for Wednesday's increase. The natural gas futures price fluctuated from $4.16 to $4.32.

Gasoline for January delivery also ended the day higher, gaining 13 cents to settle at $2.30 a gallon. It peaked at $2.31 and bottomed out at $2.18. The December gasoline contract, which expired Tuesday, finished at $2.27.

Posted courtesy of Rigzone.Com


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Bloomberg: Crude Oil Rises on Gain in Chinese Output, Reduced European Debt Concern

Crude oil climbed on greater than forecast growth in U.S. private employment and Chinese manufacturing and on signals the European Central Bank will act to prevent the spread of the region’s debt crisis. Prices surged as much as 2.8 percent as companies in the U.S. boosted payrolls the most since November 2007, according to figures from ADP Employer Services. Chinese manufacturing grew at the fastest rate in seven months. Futures reached the day’s high after Goldman Sachs & Co. said oil will average $110 a barrel in 2012, up from a forecast $100 of a barrel next year.

“As the global economy goes, so goes oil,” said Andre Julian, chief financial officer and senior market strategist at OpVest Wealth Management in Irvine, California. “The economic numbers in China and elsewhere today have been very strong and point to accelerating growth.” Crude oil for January delivery increased $2.16, or 2.6 percent, to $86.27 a barrel at 12:30 p.m. on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Prices climbed to $86.47, the highest level since Nov. 12.

Brent crude oil for January settlement rose $2.32, or 2.7 percent, to $88.24 a barrel on the London based ICE Futures Europe exchange. Goldman increased its forecast for U.S. gross domestic product growth next year to 2.7 percent from 2 percent. The U.S. economy will expand 3.6 percent in 2012, according to a report sent to Goldman Sachs clients today. The global economy will expand 4.6 percent next year and 4.8 percent in 2012, the bank said.

“Goldman has been banging the bull drum all year,” said Phil Flynn, a Chicago-based analyst and trader with investment adviser PFGBest.......Read the entire article.


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Is Gold Headed For a Major Correction?

David Banister of Market Trends.Com has been hitting gold spot on. And we are lucky enough to get another guest post from him. Let's see what David is thinking about the possibility that gold will head to 1480-1525 before a major correction......

Gold has been consolidating other than a spike to an intermediate wave 3 top of $1424, for about 7 weeks or so now. It’s typical to see Fibonacci periods of time as part of consolidations whether it be an individual stock or a precious metal in this case. Gold was overbought at the $1425 pivot highs a few weeks ago, and that terminated what I label a “wave 3″ pattern. This led us into a 4th wave corrective pattern which we remain in now. My worst case pivot low is expected at $1,321 and so far we have seen $1,331 an ounce and then an ensuing bounce to $1370 ranges.

In the intermediate term then, I’m looking for further consolidation likely for another week or so followed by a breakout over $1425 leading to my objectives of $1480-$1525 to complete the entire rally from the $1040 lows in February of this year. Many are starting to get bearish on Gold and Silver up here, and to me that is bullish and indicative of “4th wave mentality”. In a 4th wave, there is growing bearish sentiment, but not so much as to topple the bull structure.

To wit, last week in my ATP service I recommended a brand new Core Position in a Gold,Silver stock and it rallied as much as 40% intra-week at it’s highs. We are in a super bull market for Gold stocks as I outlined in August of 2009, and we have another four years left to go. I’m seeing alot of amazing chart patterns in the Junior space that are in relentless climbs. Owning the the explorers that are finding the Gold is how best to take advantage of the remaining four years. At ATP, we are exposed to Rare Earths, Silver, Gold, and Oil and Gas related plays in our Core Positions. Make sure you own hard assets and precious metals resources one way or another. My silver forecast in late August was basically predicated on the small investor swarming into the Silver market to buy up coins, look for that to continue and Silver to be over $30 in the not too distant future.

Below is my updated Gold forecast using a weekly chart, remember to Keep it Simple!


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Phil Flynn: A Study In Contradictions

It's no wonder that oil is on track to have one of its flattest trading years since 2003. The last minute late November sell off was another sign that the bulls and bears lack true conviction as they to make sense of some obvious and some obscure fundamentals that are driving the price in this somewhat wide swinging emotional oil market. In fact the trading swan song for November and the first of December snap back really symbolizes omneity of the entire year in the oil market. In a normal time, better than expected readings on U.S. Manufacturing and consumer confidence might inspire an oil rally. You might think that oil would celebrate the fact that business expanded at a faster pace than thought for as the Institute for Supply Management-Chicago Inc. rose to 62.5 the highest since April from 60.6 in October increasing hopes that manufacturers would hire and invest in new equipment as their business booms.

Or perhaps the market might take heart from the fact that consumer confidence soared to a reading of 54.1, the highest level since June in the heart of the Christmas shopping season. Yet with the dark clouds emanating out of Europe and commodity funds getting frustrated with their $100 barrel oil bets, prices drove lower as funds wanted to take what profit incentive fees they could before they go flat for the holiday and start shopping for that GI Joe with the Kung-Fu grip for their kids. That was the case even as the dollar rallied, capping off a month where the dollar rallied off its QE2 lows hitting the highest levels since the Fed hinted that they would print more money as investors seek shelter from economic storm clouds in Europe. The oil bulls lost their moxie as risk in the......Read the entire article.

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Crude Oil, Natural Gas and Gold Market Commentary For Wednesday Morning Dec. 1st

Crude oil was higher overnight and is poised to extend the rally off last week's low. Stochastics and the RSI remain bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near term.

If January extends the rally off last week's low, November's high crossing at 89.10 is the next upside target. Closes below the 10 day moving average crossing at 83.12 would temper the near term friendly outlook.

First resistance is Tuesday's high crossing at 85.90
Second resistance is November's high crossing at 89.10

Crude oil pivot point for Wednesday morning is 84.52

First support is the 10 day moving average crossing at 83.12
Second support is last Tuesday's low crossing at 80.28

Gold was higher overnight as it continues to rebound off the mid-November low. Stochastics and the RSI are bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near term.

If December extends the rebound off the mid-November low, November's high crossing at 1424.30 is the next upside target. If December renews the decline off last month's low, the reaction low crossing at 1315.60 is the next downside target.

First resistance is the overnight high crossing at 1396.60
Second resistance is November's high crossing at 1424.30

Gold pivot point for Wednesday morning is 1,380.40

First support is the 25% retracement level of this year's rally crossing at 1330.20
Second support is the reaction low crossing at 1315.60

Natural gas was higher overnight as it consolidates some of the decline off last week's high. However, stochastics and the RSI are bearish signaling that sideways to lower prices are possible near term.

If January extends this week's decline, November's low crossing at 3.853 is the next downside target. Closes above the 10 day moving average crossing at 4.295 would temper the near term bearish outlook.

First resistance is the 10 day moving average crossing at 4.295
Second resistance is last week's high crossing at 4.515

Natural gas pivot point for Wednesday morning is 4.187

First support is Tuesday's low crossing at 4.126
Second support is November's low crossing at 3.853


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