New! Stocks Quiet On Soft GDP Data

Thursday, April 28, 2011
Stock Market Commentary:

Stocks were relatively quiet on Thursday after jobless claims edged higher and the initial reading on Q1 GDP missed estimates. The market is back in a confirmed uptrend and remains healthy as long as all the major averages continue trading above their respective 50 DMA lines. The recent healthy action was in response to a series of stronger than expected Q1 results and a host of solid economic data. Now that the market is back in a confirmed rally, odds favor higher, not lower, prices lie ahead.

GDP Rises 1.8% & Jobless Claims Edge Higher

Before Thursday’s open, the government said Q1 GDP rose 1.8% which was just shy of the 1.9% expected on the Street. The inflation components of the report also ticked higher which puts pressure on the Federal Reserve to raise rates in the foreseeable future. Meanwhile, the Labor Department said jobless claims rose by 25,000 to 429,000 last week which also topped estimates.  After Thursday’s open, pending homes sales rose 5.1% to a three month high according to the National Association of Realtors. This was sharply higher than Bloomberg’s estimate for a +1.5% increase.

Market Outlook- Market In A Confirmed Rally

From our point of view, the market is back in “rally-mode” as all the major averages continue to trade above their respective 50 DMA lines and are flirting with, or at, fresh 2011 highs! In addition, leading stocks have held up very well even as the major averages slid below their respective 50 DMA lines in mid-April which is another encouraging sign. If you are looking for specific help navigating this market, please contact us for more information.

Want Better Results?

You Need Better Ideas!

We Know Markets!

Learn How We Can Help You!

 

Similar Posts

  • Stocks Quiet As Next European Domino Wobbles

    Market Outlook- Market In A Confirmed Uptrend:
    The last week of June’s strong action suggests the market is back in a confirmed rally. As our longstanding clients/readers know, we like to filter out the noise and focus on what matters most: market action. That said, the action remains bullish until the major averages and leading stocks violate their respective 50 DMA lines. Until then, the market deserves the bullish benefit of the doubt. Barring some unforeseen event, investors will likely be focusing on the jobs market this week and then turn their attention to Q2 earnings. If you are looking for specific help navigating this market, please contact us for more information.

  • Stocks Fall As Investors Digest A Slew Of Economic Data

    Stocks closed lower as investors digested a slew of economic data. Volume, a critical component of institutional demand, was mixed compared to Monday’s levels; higher on the Nasdaq and lower on the NYSE. The higher volume on the Nasdaq marked a distribution day for that exchange but the lower volume on the NYSE helped those indexes avoided that fate. Decliners led advancers by over a 21-to-17 ratio on the NYSE and by over a 16-to-11 ratio on the Nasdaq exchange. There were 12 high-ranked companies from the CANSLIM.net Leaders List making a new 52-week high and appearing on the CANSLIM.net BreakOuts Page, higher from the 41 issues that appeared on the prior session. In terms of new leadership, it was encouraging to see new 52-week highs outnumber new 52-week lows on the NYSE and Nasdaq exchange.

  • Week 2: Stocks & Commodities Fall

    The 12-week rally ended on Tuesday, November 16, 2010 after the major averages plunged in heavy volume back down towards their respective 50 DMA lines. In recent weeks, we have repeatedly written about how the major averages were experiencing wide-and-loose action after a big move and made it very clear that that was not a healthy sign. At this point, we are looking for a new rally to be confirmed with a new follow-through day before taking any new positions. Caution and patience are key at this point. Trade accordingly.

  • Late Dollar Decline Lifts Stocks

    Around 2pm EST the greenback started to fall and U.S. stocks started to rally. Apple Inc. (AAPL) vaulted +$7.66, or +4.18%, and closed above its 50 DMA line on above average volume. Apple has been a strong leader since the March lows and the fact that it quickly repaired the damage is a bullish sign for this rally. A new crop of high ranked stocks are currently working on new bases (Read:10 Stocks on My Watchlist 12.09.09) as the major averages continue consolidating their recent gains above their respective 50 DMA lines. It was encouraging to see the benchmark S&P 500 bounce off support (shown above) for the fourth time in the past few weeks. To be clear, the bulls deserve the bullish benefit of the doubt until the major averages close below their respective 50 DMA lines. At this point, they are acting well and appear to want to move higher.