SUMMARY:

  Technically, the market could use a pullback or a sideways consolidation after a 10-day, 6% up-move. A correction started yesterday with a one-day reversal which could take the market averages down to new support levels.

  Economic news from abroad  is a bit downbeat with a drop in China’s manufacturing index and similar softness in the euro-region economic recovery.

  Economic news on the home front is anything but upbeat with a possible slowing in the housing industry.

   While Q4 corporate earnings beat expectations, there is some uneasiness about 2014.

    The economy is a tough read right now with a major part of the country reeling from the adverse effects of one winter storm after another.

   That’s a negative in terms of what we are reading now and will be reading for another month, but what about spring and the potential for a surge in spending and house hunting ?

   News that would have generated enormous volatility in recent years is not having as much impact today. Risk here is primarily technical as the market seeks a level that discounts current uncertainties.

      New support is DJIA: 15,930 (S&P 500: 1,814).

Investor’s first reada daily edge before the open

DJIA: 16,040

S&P 500:  1,828

Nasdaq  Comp.: 4,237

Russell 2000: 1,149

Thursday, February 20, 2014, 2014   9:12 a.m.

THIS WEEK’s FOCUS:  Housing Industry

   Tuesday, I called attention to the housing industry, noting that a number of key industry reports would be released this week, giving investors a feel for the Street’s confidence in its outlook.

   The reports were not expected to make good reading, and  so far this week that has held true with ugly numbers  for the Housing Market Index, MBA Purchase Apps, and Housing Starts with Existing Home Sales due at 8:30 Friday.  (See stats under “The Economy” below).

   So far, the housing stocks listed below have held up well, probably because a non-recurring adversity (weather) is being blamed for the reports.

   While the housing stocks have held up well, another day or two will be needed to assess the groups strength in face of adversity.

   If the Street looks beyond the impact of winter weather to better conditions, it will be buyers, especially on weakness. On the other hand, if the numbers are bad and the housing stocks tank, it would bode ill for the industry

Wednesday: Stocks gave ground, but so did the overall market.

 

Beazer Homes(BZH: 2/14/14 – $21.26): Trying to turn up after dropping from  a January high of $25.34  Wednesday close: $20.57

 PulteCorp (PHM: 2/14/14 -$20.02): Holding firm after rebounding from an August low of $14.23  Wednesday close: $19.66

Toll Brothers (TOL: 2/14/14 – $37.79): Putting in a strong performance after  basing out between April and October in the $30 area. Wednesday close $37.06

KB Homes(KBH: 2/14/14 – $19.03):Grinding out a recovery after a May peak at $25.14. Wednesday close: 18.61

DR Horton(DHI: 2/14/14 – $23.62): Recovering from a September – November base at $18 after a drop from its May, 52-week high of $27.45. Wednesday close: $23.16

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BAD NEWS STILL equals GOOD NEWS ???

    We don’t know whether the Street has reverted to its “bad news is good news” mentality, hoping enough of it prompts the Fed to ease off on its taper schedule, or maybe the Street is looking beyond these economic numbers to an  economy that gains traction later this year and next year, hopefully with a boost from economies abroad.

   Maybe the Street doesn’t care anymore, and just wants in, good news or bad, because the U.S. markets are where the action is. Money managers must put clients’ cash to work or lose the business. What’s more, they have to perform, or lose the business, risk or no risk.

   And  until there is a viable alternative to stocks, there is no reduction in buying power, since for every “buy” there is a “sell,” which means the seller must go back in to  put his/her cash to work.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

   A  BEST SIX MONTHS to own stocks – No more corrections ???

   Over the years, the Stock Trader’s Almanac* has expounded on its significant finding that the stock market performs better  between November 1 and May 1 than between May 1 and November 1.

   The Almanac’s  “Best Six” goes back to 1950..  The six months is a snapshot between November and May.  Many major market advances often start before November, but the point made  here is the period between fall and May is where the action is.

  The six months between November 1 and May 1, have consistently outperformed the six months between May 1 and November 1

   Is this going to be another “BEST six months to own stocks ? .   So far, the DJIA is ahead  8.4% since October 31, 2013 even with a 7% correction in the interim. 

   Over of the last 25 years, Nov.1 to May 1, have produced 19 up-years, 3 flats and 3 downers. The best years averaged gains of 11.8% with the best year up 25.6% (1998 – 1999).

   With the market off to a great start in October , it looked like  a BEST six months was a no-brainer. This concerned me, since my research indicated that

prior to the January –February correction, I warned over the last 25 years, there have been 14 corrections ranging between 6% and  16% during this November1  to May1 period. Seven of those started in January, two in December and four in February.

  We have had one correction so far since October 31, another correction is possible, but unlikely. 

   Over the last 25 years, only two corrections occurred during the November 1 to May1 six months.  In 2002 there was a 6.2% correction in January and a 6.5% correction in March/April.  In 2003, there was a 7.0% correction in Nov. 2002/December 2002 and  a 12.9% correction in January/March of 2003.

  JANUARY BAROMETER

As January goes, so goes the stock market for the year, according to the January Barometer (JB).* The 3.6% drop in the S&P 500 in January suggests a very challenging year for investors and clearly not as rewarding as 2013 when the S&P 500 rose 29% after a 5.8% rise in the preceding January.

   The JB boasts an 89% accuracy rate over the years with most of its misses explained by unpredictable events, such as war and  extreme bull/bear turning points.

   The rationale for the JB  having predictable value is that a new year is accompanied by year-end and new year portfolio adjustments and decisions based on  projections for the year ahead. It is also a time when institutions receive a lot of new money that must be put to work.

So far in 2014: The S&P 500 is still down  but half as much at a minus 1.6%.  However since January 31, its up 2.1%.  Conclusion: As a barometer, it still suggests a  challenging year for both bulls and bears.

 

……………………………………………………………………….

THE ECONOMY:

The economic calendar  is lighter this week, but hosts key reports on housing and the economy (see below)

For detailed analysis of both the U.S. and Foreign economies along with charts, go towww.mam.econoday.com. Also included is an explanation of each indicator. If you want to know when the next Employment report or any other key report will be released that info is also there under “event release date.”

 

TUESDAY

Empire State Mfg. Svy. (8:30) Feb. index dropped sharply to  4.48 vs 12.51 Jan..

Housing Market Ix. (10:00) Index plunged I Feb., down a record of 10 points  to 46 vs.  56 Jan. and 57 Dec., 2013.

WEDNESDAY:

MBA Applications (7:45) Down 6 pct. for Feb. 14 week (y/y is down 17 pct.

ICSC Goldman Store Sales (7:45) Rose 2.1 pct. for Feb. 14 week with help of Val

Housing Starts (8:30) Down 16 pct. in Jan.

Produce Price Ix. (8:30) Revamped to include services and construction. Not comparable with past BLS data. Looks like the new index will be referred to as PPI-FD, FD being “Final Demand” (see mam.econoday.com for more info)

THURSDAY:

Jobless Claims (8:30) Dropped 3,000 to 336,000 for the week ending 2/15

Consumer Price Ix, (8:30)  plus 0.1 pct in Jan, vs. an increase of 0.2 pct Dec..

PMI  Mfg. Ix. (8:59)

Philly Fed. Ix. (10:00)

Leading Indicators (10:00)

FRIDAY:

Existing Home Sales (10:00)

Fed’s Bullard speaks (1:10 p.m.)

2014

Feb 4    DJIA 15, 372  A Rally !  How Far ?

Feb 5    DJIA  15,445  Slower Economy to Delay Further Fed Taper ?

Feb 6    DJIA  15,440 Will BIG Money Step In or Step Aside ?

Feb 7    DJIA  15,628  Easy Does It – Rally Failure Possible

Feb 10  DJIA  15,794  Critical Week for Bulls

Feb 11  DJIA  15, 801 Market Crossroads – Up ? or Down ?

Feb 12  DJIA  15,994  Bulls in Charge, but……….

Feb 13  DJIA  15,963 Suddenly, Concern for the Economy

Feb 14  DJIA  16,027 Buyers Panicking ?

Feb 18  DJIA 16,154  A Brief Pause or More Upside ?

Feb 19  DJIA 16,130  Can Market Shake Off Ugly Housing Data ?

  George  Brooks

 

“Investor’s first read – an edge before the open”

*Stock Trader’s Almanac

[email protected]

The writer of  Investor’s first read, George Brooks,  is not registered as an investment advisor.  Ideas expressed herein are the opinions of the writer, are for informational purposes, and are not to serve as the sole basis for any investment decision. Readers are expected to assume full responsibility for conducting their own research pursuant to investment decisions in keeping with their tolerance for risk. Brooks may buy or sell stocks referred to herein.