Thoughts....

I've posted enough setups this weekend that anyone with a pulse should be able to develop a plan for the coming week. Regardless what occurs in the coming week, I have a plan, and I'll try to trade around it.

I'll try to make a post or two during the week if time permits. If you want to know when one is made, sign up for the free email service. The format is better anyway.

Index Watch for October 20, 2008

Review for Week of October 20, 2008

Breakout Setups
(Click on Symbol for Annotated Chart)

DTG Dollar Thrifty Auto Group
HERO Hercules Offshore
LVS Las Vegas Sands
CC Circuit City
JADE L.J. International
GU Gushan Environmental Energy
EPEX Edge Petroleum
MEE Massey Energy
RBCN Rubicon Technology
WX WuXi Pharma Tech
URG Ur-Energy
FCL Foundation Coal Holdings
BGC General Cable
XING Xao Xing Universal Telephone
SVNT Savient Pharma
PGIC Progressive Gaming
CRZO Carrizo Oil & Gas
DIOD Diodes
CBS CBS Corp
BG Bunge
AVNX Avanex
ANR Alpha Natural Resources
ATI Allegheny Technologies
ADCT ADC Telecommunications
ABH AbitibiBowater
BTIM BioTime
EMAG Emageon
XJT Express Jet Holdings
CADM Cardima
ISSC Innovative Solutions
AWBC American West Bancorp
CLXS Collexis Holdings
MDOR Magnum d'Or Resources

ETF Setups
(Click on Symbol for Annotated Chart)

GSG Commodity iShares
FXI iShares FTSE/Xinhua China
GLD streetTRACKS Gold Trust Shares
DGB DB Gold Double Long ETN
IYC Consumer iShares
IYF Financial iShares
IYT Dow Jones Transports iShares

Short Setups
(Click on Symbol for Annotated Chart)

AMED Amedisys
EBS Emergent BioSolutions
SRCL Stericycle
MPWR Monolothic Power
BDE Boise d'Arc Energy
WEC Wisconsin Energy
WSH Willis Group Holdings
CLX Clorox
MTD Mettler Toledo
NGG National Grid Group
PTV Pactiv Corp
MMM 3M
PPG PPG Industries
SMG Scotts Company
CMTL Comtech Telecommunications
ARJ Arch Chemicals
LH Laboratory Amer Holding
LNCE Lance Inc
SNP China Petroleum & Chemical
AET Aetna
CI CIGNA
INFA Informatica
GOOG Google
ALGT Allegiant Travel
KMB Kimberly Clark
CMP Compass Minerals
BEN Franklin Resources
LHCG LHC Group
LPHI Life Parnters Holdings
ABT Abbot Labs
MCK McKesson
REGN Regeneron Pharma
SIAL Sigma-Aldrich
MON Monsanto
MO Altria Group
BK Bank of New York Mellon
CS Credit Suisse
CD Church & Dwight

Long Setups
(Click on Symbol for Annotated Chart)

AMKR Amkor Technology
AYR AirCastle
BBI Blockbuster
RVBD Riverbed Technology
SCOR comScore
SPC Spectrum Brands
VLTR Volterra Semi
VMW VMware
BRKR Bruker
CLWR Clearwire
CNTF China TechFaith Wireless
COIN Converted Organics
COMV Comverge
CRNT Ceragon Networks
CTB Cooper Tire & Rubber
DIS Walt Disney
DIVX DivX
ELOS Syneron Medical
ENTU Entrust Technologies
ITP Intertape Polymer
LULU Lululemon Athletica
MVIS Microvision
NHWK Nighthawk Radiology
PAAS Pan American Silver
PWER Power-One
BHP BHP Billiton
BRCD Brocade
ACLI American Commercial Lines
ARNA Arena Pharma
AMFI Amcore Financial
AFFX Affymetrix
ACTS Actions Semiconductor
ACW Accuride
ACH Aluminum Corp of China

Setups for October 16, 2008

Thoughts....

I was hoping for a wash-out to the 2003 levels, but we didn't make it. Unless something catastrophic occurs between now and Monday, I think the lows have been put in on an intermediate term basis (6 - 9 months), but I still remain long term bearish. At some point in the near future, we will have the shorting opportunity of a lifetime.

I covered every remaining short position I had Friday morning, took a few but small long positions, and took a significant position in some OTM QQQQ Nov 2008 Calls. My short setups are destroyed so it's going to take a rally before any will offer a low risk opportunity to start establishing positions again.

I should have more opportunities to make more posts during the week for the next couple of months.

Index Watch for October 13, 2008

Review for Week of October 13, 2008

ETF Setups
(Click on Symbol for Annotated Chart)

IYF Financial iShares
IYG Financial Services iShares
KBE SPDR KBW Bank Index ETF
IYT Dow Jones Transports iShares
USO United States Oil Fund
DIG ProShares Ultra Oil & Gas
GSG Commodity iShares
IAU iShares Comex Gold Trust
GLD streetTracks Gold Trust Shares

Long Setups
(Click on Symbol for Annotated Chart)

DIS Walt Disney
VMW VMware
COIN Converted Organics
GM General Motors
INFY Infosys Technologies
XING Xao Xing Universal Telephone
ITP Intertape Polymer
PWER Power-One
UAUA UAL Corp
JBLU JetBlue Airways
NVDA NVIDIA Corp
COMV Comverge
ACH Aluminum Corp of China
AMFI Amcore Financial
CINF Cincinnati Financial
BBG Bill Barrett
SCOR comScore
BHP BHP Billiton
PAAS Pan American Silver
JRCC James River Coal Company
CTB Cooper Tire & Rubber
CYPB Cypress Bioscience
CRME Cardiome Pharma
ENTU Entrust
ACTS Actions Semiconductor
ARNA Arena Pharma
BPHX BluePhoenix Solutions
BRCD Brocad Communications
CLZR Candela
CNTF China TechFaith Wireless Tech
DIVX DivX
ACW Accuride
AIXD Access Integrated Technologies
ACIW ACI Worldwide
IBN Icici Bank
SPC Spectrum Brands
BORL Borland Software
CPST Capstone Turbine
BVN Compania de Minas Buenaventura
CNR CanArgo Energy
DPDW Deep Down

Breakout Setups
(Click on Symbol for Annotated Chart)

CADM Cardima
AWBC American West Bancorp
OPNT OpNet Technologies
OPTM Optium
RURL Rural/Metro
CLXS Collexis Holdings
ADG Allied Defense Group
CSCX Cardiac Science Corp
GHS GateHouse Media
TROXA Tronox
AUTH AuthenTec

Thoughts....

I suspect the market is on the verge of a full blown crash. It's impossible to call a bottom so I'm not even going to make an attempt at it. If the decline does continue, I'll adjust my stops as we push lower until I'm taken out.....really simple stuff. I've added a handful of fresh setups that I think are low risk trading opportunities. In an effort to reduce the noise, all of my comments are located on the charts.

I'll try to make a post(s) during the week if I have the time. If you're interested in knowing when I make one, take the time by signing up for the "Email Service."

Index Watch for October 6, 2008

Review for Week of October 6, 2008

Breakout Setups
(Click on Symbol for Annotated Chart)

REVU Princeton Review
ODSY Odyssey Healthcare
ITP Intertape Polymer
OTIV On Track Innovations
OPNT Opnet Technologies
TRGL Toreador Resources
QLTY Quality Distribution
AWBC American West Bancorp
RMTR Ramtron
RURL Rural/Metro
IPGP IPG Photonics
PMTI Palomar Medical Technologies
CSCX Cardiac Sciences
CHS Chicos FAS
CLXS Collexis Holdings
FOLD Amicus Therapeutics
ALLI Allion Healthcare
VVUS Vivus
BSX Boston Scientific
FIRE Sourcefire
AUTH AuthenTec

ETF Setups
(Click on Symbol for Annotated Chart)

FXY CurrencyShares Japanese Yen
IAI iShares U.S. Broker-Dealers
QLD Ultra QQQ ProShares
TWM ProShares UltraShort Russell 2000
UYG ProShares Ultra Financials
GSG Commodity iShares
USO United States Oil Fund
GLD streetTRACKS Gold Trust
IYT iShares Transports
ITB iShares U.S. Home Construction
DXO PowerShares Crude Oil Double Long

Short Setups
(Click on Symbol for Annotated Chart)

CHD Church & Dwight
BDE Bois d'Arc Energy
AOC Aon Corp
WEC Wisconsin Energy
D Dominion Resources
DCP Dyncorp International
RATE BankRate
UL Unilever
RY Royal Bank of Canada
MO Altria Group
ARE Alexandria Real Estate Equity
AKR Acadia Realty Trust
LNCE Lance
CS Credit Suisse Group
CRM Salesforce.com
NEM Newmont Mining
ISRG Intuitive Surgical
CVX Chevron
MYGN Myriad Genetics
GAS Nicor
BAX Baxter International
SYK Stryker
TFX Teleflex
BAC Bank of America
FLIR FLIR Systems
VPRT VistaPrint
CMTL Comtech Telecommunications
LO Lorrilard
GHDX Genomic Health
LFC China Life Insurance
LHCG LHC Group
GMCR Green Mountain Coffee
PRGO Perrigo
REGN Regeneron Pharma
ABT Abbot Labs
AMGN Amgen
CHTT Chattem
IART Integra Life Sciences
LAZ Lazard
CIG Companhia Energetica de Minas Geras
PSYS Psychiatric Solutions
RAH Ralcorp Holdings
RAI Reynolds American
KMB Kimberly Clark
KO Coca Cola
PG Proctor & Gamble
CL Colgate-Palmolive
CLX Clorox

Long Setups
(Click on Symbol for Annotated Chart)

COMV Comverge
IVAC Intevac
EXPE Expedia
PSUN Pacific Sunwear
SCOR comScore
WLT Walter Industries
RIO Companhia Vale do Rio Doce
JBLU JetBlue Airways
SNCR Synchronoss Technologies
SPC Spectrum Brands
BARE Bare Escentuals
LCC US Airways Group
CTB Cooper Tire & Rubber
CIEN Ciena
COIN Converted Organics
NKTR Nektar Therapeutics
BORL Borland Software
EXTR Extreme Networks
CAVM Cavium Networks
LMC Lundin Mining
ACW Accuride
DPDW Deep Down

Updated Setups
(Click on Symbol for Annotated Chart)

TSCO Tractor Supply
CBE Cooper Industries
CEPH Cephalon
CERN Cerner
CKH Seacor Holdings
CLB Core Labs
PPG PPG Industries
SGEN Seattle Genetics
SPF Standard Pacific
DLIA Delia's
FREE FreeSeas
EJ E-House (China) Holdings

Thoughts....

I hope the market is down hard off the open tomorrow. If it is, I will be taking more profits from the shorts I've positioned myself in over the past couple of months and tightening my stops up on what I keep. Although my sentiment for the long term remains bearish, everything I'm seeing tonight screams a bounce is near / probable. I may be not successful, but I'm going to trade the charts accordingly. Remember, if you want to be a pro, you have to trade like a pro. That means you buy support.....you sell resistance......and you take ALL of the subjectivity out of the equation. When the charts are wrong, their wrong. You take the loss and move to the next one.

I've posted a few setups below I've added to my radar heading into tomorrow. If you want to see a full version, simply click on the picture.

Index Watch for September 30, 2008

Setups for September 30, 2008

Thoughts....

It was a very slow week as far as taking on new positions is concerned. Unfortunately, this commonly occurs given my trading style. I've learned (the hard way) that it's absolutely imperative to follow the charts and to not chase or force trades. I became profitable once I realized this simple truth.

I feel I'm well positioned heading into next week as evidenced by the setups I'll be watching. Hopefully, there will be more setups that reach the actionable levels I have marked below.

I'll try to make a new post sometime during the week if time permits. If you have an interest, sign up for the "Email Service" powered by FeedBurner. It's free, and I think the format is better than the blog.

Index Watch for September 29, 2008

Review for Week of September 29, 2008

Breakout Setups

(Click on Symbol for Annotated Chart)

CLXS Collexis Holdings
RURL Rural/Metro
CSCX Cardiac Science
SOAP Soapstone Networks
TRGL Toreador Resources
IPGP IPG Photonics
ITP Intertape Polymer
ODSY Odyssey Healthcare
ACAD Acadia Pharma
OPNT Opnet Technologies
OTIV On Track Innovations
PMTI Palomar Medical Tech
RRR RSC Holdings
DLIA Delia's
CHS Chicos FAS
LEE Lee Enterprises
BSX Boston Scientific
HCKT Hackett Group
USPH U.S. Physical Therapy
VVUS Vivus
FOLD Amicus Therapeutics
CMRG Casual Male Retail
CTCT Constant Contact
LRN K12
MNC Monaco Coach
GHS GateHouse Media
CML Compellent Technologies
AWBC American West Bancorp
ADVNB Advanta
CRA Celera
FIRE Sourcefire
AXL American Axle
BWS Brown Shoe
GLOW GlowPoint

ETF Setups
(Click on Symbol for Annotated Chart)

GLD streetTRACKS Gold Trust
IAU iShares COMEX Gold Trust
QLD Ultra QQQ ProShares
RTH Retail Holders
SKF UltraShort Financials

Short Setups
(Click on Symbol for Annotated Chart)

MYGN Myriad Genetics
ATLS Atlas America
CALM Cal-Maine Foods
MLM Martin Marietta Materials
TFX Teleflex
GMCR Green Mountain Coffee
LO Lorillard
LAZ Lazard
ECA EnCana
ILMN Illumina
VPRT VistaPrint
RAI Reynolds American
OXY Occidental Petroleum
APH Amphenol
FLIR Flir Systems
GAS Nicor
CMTL Comtech Telecommunications
FISV Fiserv
CNQ Canadian Natural Resources
TSCO Tractor Supply
CEPH Cephalon
REGN Regeneron Pharma
CERN Cerner
CHTT Chattem
ABT Abbot Labs
AGN Allergan
AMGN Amgen
PRGO Perrigo
PSYS Psychiatric Solutions
GHDX Genomic Health
IART Integra LifeSciences
CLB Core Labs
ABX Barrick Gold
KGC Kinross Gold
KMB Kimberly Clark
LHCG LHC Group
AIT Applied Industrial Tech
CIG Companhia Energetica de Minas Geras
CKH Seacor
COST Costco
BWLD Buffalo Wild Wings
RAH Ralcorp Holdings
CL Colgate-Palmolive
CLX Clorox
COCO Corinthian Colleges
CBZ Cbiz

Long Setups
(Click on Symbol for Annotated Chart)

SNCR Synchronoss Technologies
JBLU JetBlue Airways
LCC U.S. Airways
AIXD Access Integrated Tech
SPC Spectrum Brands
PCP Precision Castparts
APWR A-Power Energy
NKTR Nektar Therapeutics
EXTR Extreme Networks
LMC Lundin Mining
GM General Motors
CIR Circor International
ZINC Horsehead Holding
ZRAN Zoran
CPST Capston Turbine
EJ E-House (China) Holdings
FREE FreeSeas
BLC Belo A H Corp
ACW Accuride
AATI Advanced Analogic Tech
SPF Standard Pacific

Updated Setups
(Click on Symbol for Annotated Chart)

QCOR Questcor Pharma
PX Praxiar
SLGN Silgan Holdings

Index Watch for September 22, 2008

I'm not really sure what to think about the market. There's a part of me that thinks we've found a bottom, but the other part still sees too many "toppy" chart patterns. Unfortunately, the uncertainty in the market created by the government has created a far from normal situation. However, I still think there are still an abundance of opportunities as illustrated by the setups below. On the other hand, it may not be a bad idea to sit back and focus on ETFs until there is some sort of resolution. Common sense tells me that market calls will continue to be easier to make than individual stock calls. When you trade the market, the risk is reduced 20% since 20% of a stocks movement comes from the stock itself, while the other 80% comes from the market. By trading the market, the 20% stock movement is taken out of the risk equation. To keep things really simple, I would suggest trading the holders (i.e. QQQQ,. QID, SPY, SMH, DIA, etc.), which allow you to trade individual sectors. It's not going to give you as much action, but it will allow you to fine tune your skills to the point where you feel VERY confident about your trading. Remember, trading should be SIMPLE and OBJECTIVE. There is no reason to make it complicated. When I find myself thinking too much, I know I'm not trading properly.

If you want to know when a new post is made, I suggest signing up for the email alerts via FeedBurner.