Can Yellen Save The Dollar? – Why Would She?

I expect U.S Equities to roll over here and continue on their way down.

Perhaps some imagine that Yellen will have something to say this morning to “once again” pull markets back from the impending sell off – but I don’t.

If anything I would more so envision the “opposite” as….if there is anything Yellen “needs to say”  it’s something to save the U.S Dollar from falling much further.

This is very thin ice USD is walking on down here…very thin as the rest of the planet really won’t stand to see this thing ( and their billions of useless USD toilet paper stacked in reserve ) go down much further.

the opposite effect of this falling dollar has been “killing the EU Zone” with a rising EUR as well the U.K, New Zealand etc – all getting a little fed up with seeing their own currencies “flying higher” ( and killing export opportunities ) while the U.S devaluation continues.

And don’t kid yourself…the “QE” hasn’t changed in the slightest as it’s only a couple of numbers typed on a computer ( the tapering whatever ) with no “actual real world application”.

A couple of numbers on a couple of screens at the U.S Fed and Treasury Dept to keep the media spin going. That’s it .

Means nothing.

Perhaps a “tiny hint” that interest rates may rise sooner than later will do it….but then again The Fed “just told you” that won’t happen. Or was it the week before they said it “might”?

Or not? The Fed “loves” a lower dollar…it’s everyone else that doesn’t.

These people are literally “winging it” here day-to-day in a continued effort to rid you of your cash.

I’m tuning in to watch.

 

Markets On The Cusp – USD Shakeout

We’re looking for a stronger dollar these days, as the reality of continued Fed tapering and a generally disappointing earnings season ( in my opinion ) begin to take their toll.

As we’ve discussed here in the past, the general effect of tightening the money supply “eventually” leads to higher lending rates/increased borrowing costs, pinching corporate earnings and pressuring stock valuations.

I think it’s fair to say we’ve most certainly seen the “mojo” taken out of the “momo” stocks in the tech sector already, as well the $BKX Bank Index ( which I follow as an additional “bellweather” for U.S Equity strength ) as it “continues” to on its path of “lower highs” and “lower lows”.

Via currencies I’ve been positioned “generally short” for several weeks now seeing AUD/JPY top out around 94.50 as well The New Zealand Dollar finally rolling over. CAD took its last breath here in just the past two days essentially “completing the trio” of risk related currencies to begin their journeys downward.

Pushing through the last remaining day or two of chop in USD, opens the flood gates “wide” to a plethora of excellent “medium term” trade opportunities long the safe havens, and short the commods.

My expectation is to see The Nikkei ( The Japanese Stock Index ) continue to lead markets “decidedly lower” ( and I’m talking like….Nikkei at 11,500 now at 14,500 type lower ) as the general lay of the land has obviously already shifted to a “risk off” / safety seeking environment.

For those interested in more specific and detailed “trade ideas”, regular “intermarket analysis” as well deeper learning / understanding of forex markets – please join us at www.forexkong.net as our trading community continues to grow.

Very Often Early – Rarely EVER Late

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again ( you’ve read it here a “countless” number of times prior ).

I’m very often early, but rarely – RARELY ever late.

So what’s it gonna be? Are we looking ahead here? Isn’t that the future our there in front of us?

Do we want to keep staring in the rear view mirror looking at opportunities gone by ( shoulda /coulda / woulda type thing), or do you want to start looking forward, and start making “pro active decisions” as opposed to making “re-active decisions”?

“Selling on red” is “re-active” as you’ve been punched in the gut, your heart is pounding out of your chest, you panic, and you “react” by pushing the “sell button”. Period.

“Selling on green” is “pro-active” as you’ve put profits in the bank, you sleep great and you are 100% completely and totally calm the next morning knowing that your wife won’t kick your ass, you “made” money and that you’ve got every opportunity to get back in there again – when the time is right.

Explain to me the benefits of “selling on red”. Please – explain it to me.

Fact of the matter is…….you’re just too damn greedy to bring yourself to “sell on green” as you’ve got it stuck in your mind that – “I’ve got this thing beat! I can just make more and more!”.

Time and time again…your greed continues to be your downfall.

No one can say if tomorrows news will bring stories of a cure for cancer, or perhaps “the next big thing” in technology – but we “as traders” can’t depend on that.  Investors as well, must take into consideration longer term cycles and trends to recognize appropriate times to “get off the merry-go-round” short of suffering long and agonizing “drawdowns”, stress and even larger “long-term term risk” in that – what if this really is a big one? Do you “really” have a backup plan?

Personally, I don’t mind so much – being one of the first to the party cuz…..if that says anything about me at all, obviously you’ll assume….I’ll also be one of the first to leave.

As it pertains to investing / trading – I’ll go with this – and you can do “whatever” it is you do.

Forming A Fundamental View – Climb Higher

From a fundamental perspective we need to look at things from the top down.

Now…..depending on “how high you climb the beanstalk” things may appear very different as…we all climb as high as we can ( based on our own knowledge and understanding ) formulating  an overall view of “what we think” is going on below. But what if you don’t climb high enough? Is your perspective “all encompassing”? Or are you only seeing things from a vantage point that ( innocently not knowing ) only allows you to see a small portion of the larger picture.

How high do you need to climb in order to formulate a macro view “wide enough” to feel that you’ve got things in the proper perspective – and in turn use this perspective to your advantage?

This of course…is wildly subjective,and always up for debate as – we all formulate our “macro views” based on our own experience, knowledge and understanding.

My macro views start with “Earth” if that says anything.I then start to work myself down.

Movement in financial markets is merely a “bi-product of human activity” so……it only makes sense to better understand who’s got the largest influence and what their intensions are no? Central Banks sit high above you and are currently in “desparation mode” world wide – doing everything they can to keep the “debt balls up in the air”, while facing the stark reality of continued “slowing global growth”.

As a retail investor don’t kid yourself. This has nothing to do with “mom and pop” buying a couple stocks with hopes of making a buck or two. The big boys push this thing around “like a skinny kid on the playground” with the sole intention of extracting your “hard earned live savings” as readily as possible – then depositing them in their offshore bank accounts.

You are at war every single day you put your money at risk in financal markets, against an enemy with every possible weapon at their disposal. Failure to recognize this generally leads to one thing, and one thing only. Failure.

If you can’t adopt a “warrior type attitude” with respect to your trading / investing then you may want to consider taking something up that’s just a little “teeny weeny” bit  “safer”.

Needlepoint anyone?

 

Commods CLEARLY Rolling Over – Down We Go!

When you see selling in the high flyers such as the Australian Dollar as well the “bullet proof” New Zealand Dollar – you know something is going down.

These “higher yielding” currencies generally hang on to the very last moment til risk is “fully unwound” and shit hits the fan.

I’ve got “weekly swing high” in NZD as well continued weakness in AUD.

Anyone looking through a microscope at “the tiny world of U.S Equities” needs to step back about a quarter-mile or so.

The big  ship takes weeks if not months to turn, and when she turns “wow – does she turn!”

I can only assume ( now ) every stock trader on the planet will soon start watching currency markets / global shifts after seeing the Nikkei top out weeks ago and now this with the continued JPY strength, soon to be USD “rocket ship” – and the waterfall in risk that soon draws near.

It’s all there in the currency market – LONG before you bozo’s see it.

(not you guys………the “other” guys.)

USD Repatriation – Up Before Down

Repatriation – is the process of returning a person to their place of origin or citizenship. This includes the process of returning refugees or military personnel to their place of origin following a war.The term may also refer to the process of converting a foreign currency into the currency of one’s own country.

So from a financial perspective – it’s the currency part of it we’re concerned about.

Don’t you find it interesting how… just when you’ve finally got a handle on the current fundamental issues and geo political concerns that “may” influence movements of a given currency – things start moving in the complete opposite direction?

Huh? Dollar going up? Well……I thought the U.S Dollar was doomed?

Well…..( after weeks of me going on about it ) you “now” have a much better understanding of what’s “really going on” with respect to the U.S and it’s concerns / involvement in The Ukraine right?

Russia continues to “call the bluff” and continues to move forward ( along with her good buddy China ) in creating and promoting trade agreements “outside use of the U.S Dollar” – representing likely one of the “largest and most serious threats” to the U.S “global domination campaign” of our time.

The U.S can’t have this, as it represents a major, major , MAJOR blow to the dollar’s status as the  “global reserve currency” and throws a big monkey wrench into the U.S plans to “print and export toilet paper” – keeping  the ponzi scheme alive a while longer.

They will go to war over this. I guarantee it. They will go to war before letting go of this “insane privilege” as it serves as the very backbone for their ultimate plans.

The east has had it, and has finally decided enough is enough.

So…..before the U.S Dollar can “fall off the side of a cliff” and in “preparation” for such an event many investors will begin “selling/closing” investments financed in USD abroad, and bring that money home FIRST. Get it?

An example:

If you thought the shit was gonna hit the fan and had recently bought a summer home in Italy lets say……you might now consider “selling that home in EUR” and in turn sending / taking that money BACK HOME TO AMERICA ( converted to good ol USD) – where you’ll feel safe/ better knowing your investment isn’t at risk and your money is “safe” back in your piggy bank.

You see? Repatriation. Reee-paaat-reeee-a-shaaawn.

A simple concept with massive implications.

USD needs to go up up up up up ( as investors “unwind” investments abroad) and bring those babies home.

Only “then” to see them further reduced to toilet paper.

 

There's Our USD Swing – Right On Time

As suggested there on Friday “if” we saw an expected turn upward in USD ( or at least…I was expecting it ) this is clearly a “swing low” at a fairly significant area of support.

This could possibly be a very significant “low” for USD, marking “the bottom” of what could turn out to be a very powerful new set of “higher highs” and “higher lows”.

All trades suggested on Friday – moving in the right direction.

Otherwise, The Australian Dollar continues to baffle as “risk is clearly expected to come off” here in coming days and weeks.

The Nikkei taking a bump up this morning –  and that’s “all it is” a bump up, as you’ll recall – nothing moves in a straight line for long. This too…soon shall pass.

We’ve moved from an environment of “buying the dips” to now “selling the rips” so…..you better get your head wrapped around it.

Stocks can and will “fall further” over the coming weeks, if not months.

Over the weekend I’ve had incredible interest in the “Members only / paid services” area – thank you. I’m only a day or two away so for those who’ve already contacted me so I will get back to you via email as to login / site address etc. The payment system will be Paypal based so please be aware and maybe even look ahead. You’ll need a paypal account in order to subscribe/use credit card. It’s a snap to set up.

Trade Ideas For Next Week – If USD Gets Legs

If the U.S Dollar can put in a solid “swing low” and reversal down here ( which it appears to be doing ) then it looks like a number of solid trades setting up, with well-defined risk – having that stops can be put just above or / below any number of USD related pairs such as:

  • short EUR/USD with “stops above” 1.39 ( that’s only 30 pips risk )
  • short GBP/USD with “stops above” 1.6820 ( 100 pips )
  • short AUD/USD with “stops above” 94.60 ( 60 pips )
  • long USD/CAD with “stops below” 1.0856 ( 100 pips )
  • long USD/CHF with “stops below” 86.90 ( 75 pips )

The Kongdicator hasn’t “officially rung the bell” on any of these, as the technology “looks ahead” a specific number of bars / time , taking into account near term volatility and a number of other factors BUT!….I’m out ahead of this with some “general trade ideas” should we see a solid swing in USD, as early as Monday / Tuesday.

Short of that, seeing the U.S Dollar fall below the recent lows in $DXY around 79.28 would have it in some real trouble, simply extending gains in all the currencies mentioned above.

Looking at “EEM” turning lower as of yesterday ( near the “same ol area” of resistance ) also suggest possible U.S Dollar strength ( if you can ever call it that ) to come.

From a fundamental perspective, as much as the Fed wants / loves a lower USD,we’ve come to an interesting junction where ( for the Fed unfortunately ) a showing of strength is really whats needed if these guys want to uphold “any sense of confidence” on the world stage.

Most of you likely don’t realize that Russia’s “announcement” that Gazprom ( largest supplier of Nat Gas to EU ) will soon be signing a massive deal with China “priced in Yuan” was a huge reason for market concerns / risk off type action over the last couple of days as I don’t imagine “that” was mentioned in American news.

I guess J.P Morgan ( one of Americas most “trusted banks” ) shit canned earnings / missing both top and bottom line expectations too but……you know….”that” can’t have much to do with anything either I suppose.

As well curious if anyone took note of my “short Japan trade” EWJ puts / short going back to March 31st?

Have a good weekend all.

What If I Was Right? – And The Top Is In

Lets entertain a hypothetical situation for a moment…I mean – why not right?

Let’s say “what if”………

What if I’m correct in suggesting that the 15,000 area of The Japanese Nikkei Index marks the top, and that indeed ( as seen in the past ) this “top” will soon be mirrored in U.S Equities as well?

Now I’m not talking about a “mid-term top” or a “short-term top” – I’m talking about the “top of all tops”. The kind of top you can only imagine / dream that you may have been fortunate enough to have identified, and in turn – traded accordingly.

Yes….”that” kind of top.

So…..What if I’m right?

Can you imagine having yourself positioned not only “before” a major turn in the markets but for a “bearish turn” at that? Allowing your trades to move into profit based on market dynamics “driven by fear and panic”?

How bout letting those trades sit ( much like an investment ) for several months, or even ( in timing it correctly ) “several years” considering what might be coming down the pipe in a longer term “global macro” sense?

What if these levels in stock market valuations ( in both Japan as well U.S ) reflect levels that may “never be seen again”, or at least not for several years to come?

What if?

It’s fun to think about, especially as these past months have been so tricky.

I keep coming back to that 20 year chart I posted the other day, considering that “wow you know Kong……you might just be right”.

Nikkei_Longer_Term

Nikkei_Longer_Term

You might just be right.

Nikkei Has Topped – There I Said It Dumb Ass

It’s my belief that the Japanese “Nikkei Index” has indeed topped, and actually did so back around 16,450 at the beginning of the year. Ya, ya , ya – I don’t usually do this / make such bold calls but what the hell…..these days I see every bozo under the sun suggesting things will go up forever so…..you can “take heed” or “take a hike” – trade it as you see fit.

This last “run up to around 15,000” ( where I’ve suggested again, and again, and again we’d see reversal ) has been what some might consider “wave 2” ( if you are an Elliot Wave guy ) leaving open consideration for a much larger “next leg down”.

The Nikkei topped AHEAD OF THE DOW in 2007 in very much the same fashion.

Nikkei_Top_Led_Dow_2007

Nikkei_Top_Led_Dow_2007

Remember this “beauty” from a few months back showing the Nikkei over a 20 year time frame?

*Draw a horizontal line at 15,000 in your mind. That is what we call a very, very, VERY strong line of either support or resistance – considering it’s significance over such a long period of time.

 

Nikkei_Longer_Term

Nikkei_Longer_Term

Japan is a disaster, and when looking at things in this context – so is everything else as…..the Nikkei generally leads.

Perhaps this will shed some light as well….on my views about Central Banking and money printing as ( if you can imagine ) the massive dilution of the Yen ( as well USD ) over the past years, if only to achieve an incremental “short-term rise” in stock prices then……..to see things fall right back to where they started – just with waaaaay more “toilet paper” floating around.

Nothing has really changed, short of an incredible “transfer of wealth” from those already left with very little………to those who’ve already got a lot more than they need.

(P.S….in light of this “bold post” I might as well throw caution to the wind and tell you to run out tomorrow, sell your house, rack up every credit card you can, sell everything you own, leverage everything you’ve got another 500%, then “pre – market” dump every penny on a get rich quick “short play” Nikkei/Dow/whatever”, sit back and just watch the millions pile up.)

Please……..don’t be silly. I’m a single gorilla, with a single opinion and view of these things that for the most part – doesn’t generally fit the status quo.

Don’t be a dumb ass.

I know you’re not.