New Video: What Makes a Frustrating Market?

The S&P 500 is turning out to be a conundrum for many professionals and home traders alike. The conflicting information on good earnings, high unemployment, and other factors continue to batter the market. One moment the SP500 is heading for the stars and the next, it's heading to the cellar.

So what's a trader to do?

In our new video, we share with you some steps you can use to help improve your trading in the S&P 500 and other markets. The new video is approximately 3 minutes long and it will show you several key areas and levels that we am looking at.

As always our videos are free to watch and you do not have to register. We would like to see your feedback on how you see the market, as so many traders are becoming frustrated with the lack of real follow through in either direction.


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Crude Oil and Natural Gas Technical Outlook For Thursday Morning

Crude oil was higher due to short covering overnight as it consolidates some of this week's decline. Stochastics and the RSI have turned bearish signaling that a short term top might be in or is near.

Closes below the 20 day moving average crossing at 76.49 would confirm that a short term top has been posted. If September renews this month's rally, the reaction high crossing at 79.97 is the next upside target.

First resistance is Tuesday's high crossing at 79.69
Second resistance is the reaction high crossing at 79.97

Crude oil pivot point for Thursday morning is 76.88

First support is Wednesday's low crossing at 75.90
Second support is the reaction low crossing at 74.70

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Natural gas was higher overnight as it extends this month's rally. Stochastics and the RSI remain bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near term. If September extends this month's rally, the reaction high crossing at 4.945 is the next upside target.

Closes below the 20 day moving average crossing at 4.570 would temper the near term friendly outlook.

First resistance is Wednesday's high crossing at 4.863
Second resistance is the reaction high crossing at 4.945

Natural gas pivot point for Thursday morning is 4.741

First support is the 10 day moving average crossing at 4.600
Second support is the 20 day moving average crossing at 4.570

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Financials, Crude Oil & Gold on the Move

Most traders I have been talking with are feeling the same thing. Something big is brewing for the equities market but most do not want to get heavily involved until there is a clear direction. The broad market has been consolidating for almost 3 months and it’s important to remember that the larger the consolidation the bigger the move.

Also the biggest and best moves come from failed patterns. So is the big head & shoulders pattern on the SP500 which everyone is yelling about (the sky is falling) really going to happen or is this the BIG fake out? Only time will tell, either way no matter which way it goes I will be sure to catch some of it.

Below area few charts pointing out patterns and trends which could provide some opportunity in the coming days or weeks.

XLF – Financial Sector ETF
Financials play a large roll in moving the major indexes so if this reverse head and shoulders patter breaks out to the upside then the indexes should rally and XLF etf could reach its measured move of $16.50.

USO – Crude Oil Fund
Crude oil almost looked like it was going to breakout and mover higher this week but sellers jumped in sending it lower once again. The daily chart shows a large bearish pennant which is known as a continuation pattern. So it looks as though we should see lower prices for oil.

GLD – Gold Bullion ETF
Gold has been sliding lower for several weeks now and it looks to be showing selling exhaustion. The 5th wave down with the volume spike indicates panic selling as investors cannot hold onto those positions any longer and exit. This is a bullish sign for gold. Also we are seeing gold fall deep into a support level along with the 200 day moving average.

Mid-Week Financial, Oil and Gold Trading Conclusion:
In short, the equities market is in limbo until a clear trend is established. If the financial sector breaks out to the upside then we should see a sizable rally. As for oil it looks to be trading in near the middle of its range but is still in a down trend overall. Gold is almost looking ready for a bounce but I am waiting for more confirmation before jumping on the wagon.

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Crude Oil Closes Lower on Additional Profit Taking.....Here's Wednesday Evenings Numbers

Crude oil closed lower due to profit taking on Wednesday as it consolidated some of this month's rally. The mid range close sets the stage for a steady to lower opening on Thursday. Stochastics and the RSI are overbought and are turning bearish hinting that a short term top might be in or is near. Closes below the 20 day moving average crossing at 76.42 would temper the near term friendly outlook. If September renews the rally off this month's low, June's high crossing at 80.82 is the next upside target. First resistance is Tuesday's high crossing at 79.69. Second resistance is June's high crossing at 80.82. First support is the 20 day moving average crossing at 76.42. Second support is the reaction low crossing at 74.40.

Natural gas closed higher on Wednesday as it extended last week's rally. The low range close sets the stage for a steady to lower opening on Thursday. Stochastics and the RSI remain bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near term. If September extends this week's rally, the reaction high crossing at 4.945 is the next upside target. Closes below the 20 day moving average crossing at 4.563 would temper the near term friendly outlook. First resistance is today's high crossing at 4.863. Second resistance is the reaction high crossing at 4.945. First support is the 10 day moving average crossing at 4.581. Second support is the 20 day moving average crossing at 4.563.

The U.S. Dollar closed lower on Wednesday but remains above the 50% retracement level of the November-June rally crossing at 82.15. The high range close sets the stage for a steady to higher opening on Thursday. Stochastics and the RSI are bearish signaling that additional weakness is possible near term. If September extends the decline off June's high, the 62% retracement level of the November-June rally crossing at 80.47 is the next downside target. Closes above the 20 day moving average crossing at 83.49 are needed to confirm that a short term low has been posted. First resistance is the 10 day moving average crossing at 82.69. Second resistance is the 20 day moving average crossing at 83.49. First support is Tuesday's low crossing at 81.97. Second support is the 62% retracement level of the November-June rally crossing at 80.47.

Gold closed higher due to short covering on Wednesday as it rebounds off the 50% retracement level of this year's rally crossing at 1158.30. Stochastics and the RSI are bearish hinting that additional weakness is possible near term. If August extends the decline off June's high, the 62% retracement level of the aforementioned decline crossing at 1132.70 is the next downside target. Closes above the 20 day moving average crossing at 1196.40 are needed to confirm that a short term low has been posted. First resistance is the 10 day moving average crossing at 1184.90. Second resistance is the 20 day moving average crossing at 1196.40. First support is today's low crossing at 1155.60. Second support is the 62% retracement level of the aforementioned decline crossing at 1132.70.

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Phil Flynn: Fundamentally Flawed

Another failed upside breakout as the global oil market continues to wallow in this endless trading range. As the bull and bear frustrations continue to mount, I have heard traders on both sides of the market that tell me that somehow the markets are wrong and that the fundamentals do not justify the current price. In other words that the market is somehow fundamentally flawed and that the price is out of whack with either your bullish or perhaps bearish reality. Oil bulls are frustrated with the lack of investment that they see in the oil industry and feel we are over estimating the drop in demand.

They point to China and its explosive growth and its growing appetite for oil. They say that the market is not correctly accessing event risk especially with the type of talk coming out of Iran and Israel in recent days especially in the aftermath of European sanctions. The oil bulls say that despite the drop in demand that as the economy continues to recover oil supplies will tighten faster than you think. The latest to express that frustration was noted oil bulls Goldman Sachs who just recently exclaimed that crude oil prices are “significantly” below the level warranted by fundamentals.....Read the entire article.

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Overbought Conditions in Crude Oil Giving Bears the Advantage....Here's Wednesday's Numbers

Crude oil was lower overnight as it extends Tuesday's decline. Stochastics and the RSI are overbought and are turning bearish signaling that a short term top might be in or is near.

Closes below the 20 day moving average crossing at 76.45 would confirm that a short term top has been posted. If September extends this month's rally, the reaction high crossing at 79.97 is the next upside target.

First resistance is Tuesday's high crossing at 79.69
Second resistance is the reaction high crossing at 79.97

Crude oil's pivot point for Wednesday morning is 77.99

First support is Tuesday's low crossing at 76.79
Second support is the 20 day moving average crossing at 76.45

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Natural gas was higher overnight as it consolidates above the 20 day moving average. Stochastics and the RSI remain bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near term.

Closes above last Thursday's high crossing at 4.669 are needed to confirm that a short term low has been posted while opening the door for a larger degree rally into early August. Closes below the reaction low crossing at 4.452 would temper the near term friendly outlook.

First resistance is last Thursday's high crossing at 4.669
Second resistance is the reaction high crossing at 4.945

Natural gas pivot point for Wednesday morning is 4.630

First support is the reaction low crossing at 4.452
Second support is this month's low crossing at 4.290

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Conoco's 2nd Quarter Profit Soars, Plans To Sell Entire Lukoil Stake

ConocoPhillips' (COP) second quarter earnings more than quadrupled on higher commodities prices and as its refining business returned to profitability, with results topping expectations. The company also reached an agreement to sell about 40% of its stake in Russian oil giant OAO Lukoil Holdings (LUKOY, LKOH.RS) and unveiled plans to sell all of it by the end of next year, instead of prior plans to just halve it. Conoco agreed to sell the initial part of its 20% stake in Lukoil for $3.44 billion. The deal is set to close in the current quarter. The rest will be sold to either Lukoil or on the open market.

Conoco, the third largest U.S. oil company by market value after Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM) and Chevron Corp. (CVX), is in the midst of a major restructuring program that includes plans for $10 billion in divestitures in an effort to repay debt, a shift from a debt fueled acquisition spree when commodities prices were soaring. It reported a profit of $4.16 billion, or $2.77 a share, up from $900 million, or 57 cents a share, a year earlier. The latest quarter included a net $1.10 a share in gains. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters forecast earnings of $1.56 a share. Conoco didn't provide revenue figures.

Exploration and production, which accounts for most of the company's profits, saw earnings soar on higher prices, though, as average daily oil and gas production fell 7.5% amid normal field declines and planned maintenance. Conoco's refining business profit also soared as margins strengthened and utilization rates improved. Refiners have benefited as demand for gasoline and diesel began to improve this year, though the sustainability is highly uncertain. Shares closed Tuesday at $54.44 and were inactive premarket. The stock is up 6.6% this year.

From the.....Dow Jones Newswire.

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Crude Oil, Natural Gas, Gold and Dollar Commentary For Tuesday Evening

Crude oil closed lower due to profit taking on Tuesday as it consolidated some of this month's rally. The low range close sets the stage for a steady to lower opening on Wednesday. Stochastics and the RSI are overbought and are turning neutral hinting that a short term top might be in or is near. Closes below the 20 day moving average crossing at 76.41 would temper the near term friendly outlook. If September extends the rally off this month's low, June's high crossing at 80.82 is the next upside target. First resistance is today's high crossing at 79.69. Second resistance is June's high crossing at 80.82. First support is the 20 day moving average crossing at 76.41. Second support is the reaction low crossing at 74.40.

Natural gas closed higher on Tuesday as it extended last week's rally. The high range close sets the stage for a steady to higher opening on Tuesday. Stochastics and the RSI remain bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near term. Closes above last Thursday's high crossing at 4.699 are needed to confirm that a short term low has been posted. Closes below the 10 day moving average crossing at 4.543 would temper the near term friendly outlook. First resistance is last Thursday's high crossing at 4.699. Second resistance is the reaction high crossing at 4.945. First support is the 10 day moving average crossing at 4.543. Second support is the reaction low crossing at 4.290.

The U.S. Dollar closed higher due to short covering on Tuesday as it consolidates above the 50% retracement level of the November-June rally crossing at 82.15. The high range close sets the stage for a steady to higher opening on Wednesday. Stochastics and the RSI are bearish signaling that additional weakness is possible near term. If September extends the decline off June's high, the 62% retracement level of the November-June rally crossing at 80.47 is the next downside target. Closes above the 20 day moving average crossing at 83.69 are needed to confirm that a short term low has been posted. First resistance is the 10 day moving average crossing at 82.82. Second resistance is the 20 day moving average crossing at 83.69. First support is today's low crossing at 81.97. Second support is the 62% retracement level of the November-June rally crossing at 80.47.

Gold closed lower on Tuesday and tested the 50% retracement level of this year's rally crossing at 1158.30. Stochastics and the RSI are turning neutral to bearish hinting that additional weakness is possible near term. If August extends the decline off June's high, the 62% retracement level of the aforementioned decline crossing at 1132.70 is the next downside target. Closes above the 20 day moving average crossing at 1200.50 are needed to confirm that a short term low has been posted. First resistance is the 10 day moving average crossing at 1189.50. Second resistance is the 20 day moving average crossing at 1200.50. First support is today's low crossing at 1156.90. Second support is the 62% retracement level of the aforementioned decline crossing at 1132.70.

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Phil Flynn: All The News That Is Fit To Ignore

Gee I miss the old days when a headline or two would get the oil screaming. When the markets feared that even the loss of just one drop of oil could knock the world out of its delicate supply versus demand balance. You remember those days not to long ago when the market soared on even the most mundane headline. Instead what we have now a lack of passion and that oh so boring market stability.

Oh sure oil may try to reluctantly breakout to the upside as it follows the stock-market on its earnings fueled optimistic rally yet deep down it really does not want too. You see the oil glut the likes of which we haven’t experienced in decades is leading to a drab oil market and heavens forbid less interesting Energy Reports, Oh No! So let’s pretend if only for today that these stories that used to drive markets wild actually still matter to price. Like for example say sanctions on Iran.

Something like, oil traders ran for cover as the long awaited sanctions on a still defiant Iran took hold. (Ok well everything is true except for the running for cover part) Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad warned that sanctions imposed by arrogant Western powers will not slow their nuclear ambitions. (Yikes!) The European Union adopted new sanctions targeting Iran's foreign trade, banking and energy sectors brought sharp criticism from.....Read the entire article.

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Crude Oil Bulls Poised to Take Clear Advantage....Here's Tuesday's Numbers

Crude oil was higher overnight and poised to extend last Thursday's rally. Stochastics and the RSI are overbought but remain neutral to bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near term.

If September extends this month's rally, the reaction high crossing at 79.97 is the next upside target. Closes below the reaction low crossing at 74.70 would temper the near term friendly outlook.

First resistance is last Friday's high crossing at 79.60
Second resistance is the reaction high crossing at 79.97

Crude oil's pivot point for Tuesday morning is 78.79

First support is the 10 day moving average crossing at 77.82
Second support is the 20 day moving average crossing at 76.49

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Natural gas was higher overnight as it consolidates above the 20 day moving average crossing at 4.556. Stochastics and the RSI remain bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near term.

Closes above last Thursday's high crossing at 4.669 are needed to confirm that a short term low has been posted while opening the door for a larger degree rally into the end of July. Closes below the reaction low crossing at 4.452 would temper the near term friendly outlook.

First resistance is last Thursday's high crossing at 4.669
Second resistance is the reaction high crossing at 4.945

Natural gas pivot point for Tuesday morning is 4.586

First support is the reaction low crossing at 4.452
Second support is this month's low crossing at 4.290

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