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Facebook Shorts Should Thank Their Lucky Stars

Facebook Chart2

Let me tell you a quick story first. As most indices pushed to their respective all time highs in April and May of 2015, I was building a heavy short position. Most investors thought I was crazy. Even perma bears like Marc Faber were throwing in the towel at the time, suggesting the markets might never go down again due to the FED’s intervention.

At one point I got so excited that I published this Why Short Sellers Should Be Thanking GOD At least one of my readers didn’t have a sense of humor, sending me a few choice words in return.

Nevertheless, it was a great call. The higher the market pushed the better of an opportunity it was to short.

I feel the same way about the Facebook (FB) today. I continue to maintain that this is one of the best short opportunities out there. And the higher the stock goes…. the better. I have outlined my reasoning for shorting Facebook (FB) here What You Ought To Know About Shorting Facebook & Getting Rich

And with Thursday’s massive $10 gap higher, it’s nearly a certainty that Facebook will have to close this gap and push below $90 a share. Perhaps on the way to another massive gap it left behind. At $20 a share.

Now,  the only remaining question is WHEN? If you are long-term investor, willing to ride this short position out, anytime would be a good opportunity. If you want more exact timing, when the market completes today’s bounce and reverses again. If you would like to know when that happens, please Click Here. 

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Facebook Shorts Should Thank Their Lucky Stars Google

Should Bears Expect A Massive Rally…

Daily Chart AJanuary 28 InvestWithAlex

1/28/2016 – A positive day with the Dow Jones up 125 points (+0.78%) and the Nasdaq up 38 points (+0.86%)

….perhaps to new all time highs?

That is certainly possible and it would make sense to explore this notion further. Here is a good take on a subject matter.

First, investor sentiment is definitely point towards a reversal.

investor sentiment

As I have mentioned here over the last few weeks, most sentiment indicators are oversold and point to some sort of a rally. As the chart above suggests. Some of these indicators are at extreme levels. Perplexing some of the bulls/bears, including yours truly, as to why the bounce thus far has been so weak.

Opposing View: While sentiment indicators point towards a reversal, it is not set in stone. At certain times markets can decline substantially while sentiment indicators stay relatively flat. Most of the crashes or bear market acceleration points have started under oversold conditions. If it was as easy as going long now, well, everyone would be making money hand over fist.

Second, the structural sell-off off of November 3rd, 2015 top is riddled with massive down gaps. So much so that the Dow in particular looks like a pound of Swiss cheese. With gaps all the way up to 17,500. Actually, the Dow still has an unfilled gap as high as 18,100 from June of last year.

Why is that important?

Markets tend to close their gaps. That in itself suggests a massive rally ahead. But that doesn’t guarantee a rally either. While most of these gaps will have to be closed, there is no written rule on when. It might be years and only after a much larger market sell-off plays itself out.

Finally, some sort of a oil rebound can send the market surging higher. Right? Maybe. We have discussed oil in our earlier post today. And while the correlation is likely to hold both ways, there is no indication that oil prices have bottomed. As I have mentioned earlier, oil might push much lower. Dragging the stock market lower, not higher.

That is to say, while there are quite a few indicators pointing towards a massive rally, the market might fail to deliver. At the very least, “Buy the Dip” crowd should be very cautious here.

This conclusion is further supported by my mathematical and timing work. It clearly shows a severe bear market between 2015-2017. In fact, when it starts it will very quickly retrace most of the gains accrued over the last few years.  If you would be interested in learning when the bear market of 2015-2017 will start (to the day) and its internal composition, please CLICK HERE.

(***Please NoteA bear market might have started already, I am simply not disclosing this information. Due to my obligations to my Subscribers I am unable to provide you with more exact forecasts. In fact, I am being “Wishy Washy” at best with my FREE daily updates here. If you would be interested in exact forecasts, dates, times and precise daily coverage, please Click Here). Daily Stock Market Update.January 28th 2016  InvestWithAlex.com

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Should Bears Expect A Massive Rally… Google

The Best Way To Play The Oil Bottom Is…..

Russia - RSX - InvestWithAlex

to buy Russia (RSX). More on that in a second……

First, there are a few things telling me that the oil bottom might be quite a ways off and some people might not even believe where it finally bottoms. What makes me say so? Well, everyone is looking for the bottom. That typically suggests that such a bottom is no where near today’s levels.

Case and point…..

He said the bank expected oil prices to rise between $70 and $75 a barrel by the fourth quarter. He said that projection already took into account the entry of Iran, which Standard Chartered estimated would add 400,000 barrels a day in global supply.

Perhaps. If we study structural or long-term bottoms in the stock market or commodities we notice one thing. When they arrive, most investors are nowhere to be found. First, they are so utterly disgusted with the asset in question, they wouldn’t touch it with a 12 foot pole. Obviously oil is nowhere near that point.

Second, no one would be looking for a bottom as most investors would believe that the underlying class would never recover. And with every day trading grandma trying to time the oil bottom, that is obviously not the case with oil today. Perhaps Mr. Cramer is right and oil will have to go to $10 or lower, no matter how crazy that sounds today, before some sort of a structural bottom is put in place.

With that in mind, buying Russia as a whole might be your best bet here. Of course, when the time is right. As was outlined here Is It Time To Buy Russia (RSX)?

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The Best Way To Play The Oil Bottom Is….. Google

What You Ought To Know About Today’s Fundamental Picture

Daily Chart AJanuary 27 InvestWithAlex

1/27/2016 – A negative day with the Dow Jones down 223 points (-1.38%) and the Nasdaq down 99 points (-2.18%)

I am sick and tired of talking about the FED. The view expressed here last night What To Expect Out Of The Fed is just as accurate today as it was six months ago. Nothing has changed. The Fed cannot avoid the “Judgement Day”. It is time we talk about something else.

Today, you can easily find very smart people on both sides of the market. And while some suggest that a new secular bull market is just starting up, others see nothing but trouble ahead. Let’s explore.

“We’re actually kind of early or still maybe in the middle innings of a bull market, and we’re not near the end as many think,” she said. Where we think investors want to go now are dividend growth stocks,” she said. “These are companies that might not have the highest yields around, but they have the best potential to grow their yields.”

Well, that’s kind of exciting….isn’t it?  According to both analysts the stock market is about to surge higher. And while one suggests a bull market will continue for many years to come, the other implies it will terminate soon, but only after a blow off top is put in place.

In other words, load up on call options.

I am just a little confused as to why it would start now if this bull leg initiated at 2009 bottom. Also, I find it curious that everyone is awaiting some sort of a blow off top. First, the market rarely repeats itself and/or gives investors what they want. And second, couldn’t we all be friends and consider May 19th top on the S&P/Dow and June 20th on the Nasdaq as blow off tops? I was there and they definitely felt like “blow off” tops to me. At least at the time and if you were shorting the market. On the flip side……

I would encourage you to check out the last article. It has quite a bit more substance than your average “buy the dip, asset allocation, bull market never ends, etc…” nonsense.

Given two widely different view points from equally intelligent people, who is right? 

I think we have to concentrate on the fundamentals to ascertain what happens next. Here is all you need to know.

  • Shiller’s S&P P/E Ratio is at 24. Fourth highest level in history. Right behind 1929, 2000 and 2007 tops. That measure alone suggests we are in a massive bubble.
  • Forward guidance in Q-3 was down 2%. Biggest drop since 2008. That suggests economic and earnings slowdown. Something I have covered here extensively.
  • Multiple technical patterns suggest the market is ready for another bear leg. Once today’s bounce works itself out.  For instance, the NYSE (largest index by capitalization) has been in distribution for 1.5 years, now getting ready to breakdown.
  • Etc..

Point being, I don’t think one has to be a genius to figure out what happens next.

This conclusion is further supported by my mathematical and timing work. It clearly shows a severe bear market between 2015-2017. In fact, when it starts it will very quickly retrace most of the gains accrued over the last few years.  If you would be interested in learning when the bear market of 2015-2017 will start (to the day) and its internal composition, please CLICK HERE.

(***Please NoteA bear market might have started already, I am simply not disclosing this information. Due to my obligations to my Subscribers I am unable to provide you with more exact forecasts. In fact, I am being “Wishy Washy” at best with my FREE daily updates here. If you would be interested in exact forecasts, dates, times and precise daily coverage, please Click Here). Daily Stock Market Update.January 27th 2016  InvestWithAlex.com

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What You Ought To Know About Today’s Fundamental Picture Google

Apple Blames Foreign Exchange, I Blame This…..

Apple stock price 2015Apple is not doing very well.

We’re seeing extreme conditions unlike anything we have ever experienced before,” Cook said on a conference call discussing Apple’s earnings report. Those conditions show up in foreign-exchange rates.  Cook pointed out that, for example, the Brazilian real is down more than 40%, and the Russian ruble is down more than 50%. “Especially during a period of economic uncertainty, we believe it is important to appreciate that a significant portion of Apple’s revenue recurs over time,” Cook added. 

Right….and I am expected to believe that one of the largest corporations in the world, a company with a massive pile of cash on their balance sheet has failed to hedge their currency exposure?

The real story is, Apple is seeing structural slow down across most of their business lines at the same time the world economy is entering a severe recession.

What’s worse, should it break below $90 a share, and I will bet you my left kidney that it will in 2016, there is no saying where it will stop.

I have been harsh to Apple (AAPL) for over a year now. When the stock was hitting its all time high on May 19th, 2015 and most analyst were falling all over each other in predicting how soon Apple will reach $250 a share, I issued the following dire warning/report….

Smart Money Is Still Distributing Apple (AAPL) To Fools

And when worthless media shills were yapping about how great of a product Apple Watch is, I told you the truth…..that Apple’s innovative drive and future died with Steve Jobs.

Why Apple (AAPL) Watch Will Be A Disaster

I will refrain for the time being in telling you how low Apple’s (AAPL) stock can or will go. Simply understand that Apple’s best days are likely behind it and not ahead.

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What To Expect Out Of The Fed

Daily Chart AJanuary 26 InvestWithAlex

1/26/2016 – A positive day with Dow Jones up 283 points (+1.78%) and the Nasdaq up 49 points (+1.09%). 

When the FED raised interest rates by a laughable 25 bps this past December most indices were pushing close to their all time highs.  Today, most markets are down 10%+.

And that forces people to come to all sorts of crazy conclusions. Anything from an immediate rate cut this week to negative rates to QE-4. More about that in a second.

As for me, I don’t believe the FED has the ability to change their approach or statement at the present moment. To do so would look bad and confirm that the FED is entirely market driven. In all likelihood, they will raise interest rates by another 25 bps tomorrow and keep their statement intact.

At the same time, the FED is likely to use their powers to stabilize financial markets. As has been previously outlined in my analysis on the subject matter. Here is what I have said at that time.

View maintained since August of 2015. 

Excuse my language, but the FED continues to BS the market.  And as far as I can tell, the FED is attempting to maintain the market within a certain range. At the same time, it is now crystal clear what their actual game plan is. It goes something like this…..

  1. Can’t raise or won’t raise. Today’s economy or financial markets won’t be able to digest any rate increases at this juncture. Period. As talked about on this blog so many times before. Why The FED Will Not Raise Interest Rates in any meaningful way. If the FED members have even an ounce of intelligence, and I believe they do, they realize the same.
  2. If the market declines, issue a “Dovish” statement. Bring it up.
  3. If the market recovers, issue a “Hawkish” statement. As they did today. Remember, they don’t want things too overheated.
  4. Rinse and repeat while praying the market and/or the US Economy won’t implode on their own.

That about covers it. There is only one fatal flaw with the plan above. It only works until it doesn’t. It only works until the FED has any credibility left. The problem is, more and more people are beginning to realize all of the above.

As a result of this FED induced disastrous bubble, we will see a number of important structural themes play out over the next few years as the FED blinks and attempts to flood the market with liquidity again.

  • The stock market will have a sizable sell-off into 2017 bottom. At least according to my mathematical and timing work. Click Here to learn more.
  • Interest rates…-10 Year Note should see a double bottom at around 1.4-1.5% over the next 2 years. 10-Year Note: All Systems Are A Go For A Double Bottom
  • The US Dollar should decline. Don’t forget, commercials have a substantial short position against the dollar.

Now, mind you, all of the above is counter to what most investors today expect or believe. That should not come as a surprise. For instance…..

Lamoureux believes the boat is about to tip over and that U.S. equities are at a turning point. He says, “We don’t know where the bottom is going to be…But if you start to step in the market, and you do this gradually over the next couple of weeks, we think we’re at one of the major entry points that will carry the [Dow Jones] for the next 3 to 4 years past 25,000.”

Exactly that line of thinking was discussed in our earlier update today. Listen, if it was as easy as flooding the system with free money, we would all be driving Ferrari’s by now. It is not….not even close. Additional liquidity will have very little impact here and to suggest the market will rally to such an extent is dangerous. If anything, their fundamental view could lead to an all out crash, not a rally. Just as was outlined here Impossible To Inject More Credit – The Jig Is Up

This conclusion is further supported by my mathematical and timing work. It clearly shows a severe bear market between 2015-2017. In fact, when it starts it will very quickly retrace most of the gains accrued over the last few years.  If you would be interested in learning when the bear market of 2015-2017 will start (to the day) and its internal composition, please CLICK HERE.

(***Please NoteA bear market might have started already, I am simply not disclosing this information. Due to my obligations to my Subscribers I am unable to provide you with more exact forecasts. In fact, I am being “Wishy Washy” at best with my FREE daily updates here. If you would be interested in exact forecasts, dates, times and precise daily coverage, please Click Here). Daily Stock Market Update.January 26th 2016  InvestWithAlex.com

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What To Expect Out Of The Fed Google

Impossible To Inject More Credit – The Jig Is Up

Most big bank analysts, CEOs and government officials laugh at any notion that we are at a risk of recession. For instance…….

At the same time, I can argue that we are already in a full blown recession. Covered up by remaining liquidity sloshing thought our financial system. But I will let David Stockman tell you what the real picture is. I agree with his view and analysis 100%. It is definitely worth 5 minutes of your time.

Cash Holders Are Fools…..

Daily Chart AJanuary 25 InvestWithAlex

1/25/2015 – A negative day with the Dow Jones down 209 points (-1.30%) and the Nasdaq down 73 points (-1.58%) 

At least according to mainstream media and numerous financial pundits. Case and point…..

“The global financial crisis created such a high level of risk aversion that people didn’t just wait for the start of the rebound. In some cases, they waited for years,” said Kristina Hooper, U.S. investment strategist at Allianz Global Investors. “I can’t tell you how many investors I came across in 2011, 2012 and even 2013 who had missed out on a lot of the comeback in the stock market and were still sitting in cash.”

Fair enough, but there is another side to the story. Cash has been one of the best performing assets since 2000 top.  Let’s run a simple calculation. In January of 2000 (major top on the Dow), both the 10-Year Note and the 30-Year Bond were yielding around 6%. Flat yield curve at the time – forecasting recession.

Now, lets take $100,000 and compound it at 6% for 15 years. I get $239,655 or a return of roughly 140% (not considering taxes here). Most importantly, don’t forget, the return above is essentially risk free.

And what did the stock market do during this time?  Boy am I glad you have asked.

  • Nasdaq: -10% from 2000 top.
  • Dow: Up 35% since January 18th, 2000 top (About 2% annualized return)
  • S&P: Up 28% since 2000 top. (About 1.7% annualized gain).

But I am not done yet. Feast your eyes on this S&P inflation adjusted chart.

S&P inflation adjusted

Yes, as of May 2015 top, inflation adjusted S&P has returned nothing. Zilch, nada, zero. Same story with the Dow. Nasdaq is still down 30% – inflation adjusted that is.

But I am not done yet. I continue to maintain that today’s market is selling at incredible valuations levels and about to correct in a major way. When it hits bottom again, I fathom that the cash above will outperform the market by a factor of 10x. Inflation adjusted or not.

In other words, while your stock market return will be negative since 2000 top, you could have at least doubled your money in a risk free fashion if you held US Treasury Bonds/Notes during the same time. I understand the yields above are no longer available, but we have compare apples to apples here. Meaning, the same initiation date of January 2000.

So, the next time financial advisers tell you that it’s a fools game to hold cash, pushing you towards the always “undervalued” stock market, show them the chart above and tell them to go pound sand.

This conclusion is further supported by my mathematical and timing work. It clearly shows a severe bear market between 2015-2017. In fact, when it starts it will very quickly retrace most of the gains accrued over the last few years.  If you would be interested in learning when the bear market of 2015-2017 will start (to the day) and its internal composition, please CLICK HERE.

(***Please NoteA bear market might have started already, I am simply not disclosing this information. Due to my obligations to my Subscribers I am unable to provide you with more exact forecasts. In fact, I am being “Wishy Washy” at best with my FREE daily updates here. If you would be interested in exact forecasts, dates, times and precise daily coverage, please Click Here). Daily Stock Market Update.January 25th 2016  InvestWithAlex.com

Did you enjoy this article? If so, please share our blog with your friends as we try to get traction. Gratitude!!!

Cash Holders Are Fools…..Google