XLF Volatility Signals Fears

XLF Volatility Signals Fears [video_player type=”youtube” youtube_remove_logo=”Y” width=”640″ height=”360″ align=”center” margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″]aHR0cHM6Ly95b3V0dS5iZS9xekZIbWtnTnIwRQ==[/video_player] XLF volatility signals fear is at an extreme. The implied volatility is telling anyone looking to stay away from the long side of this market. It is also telling us is that no longer risk is here, but here to stay. The XLF IV% is over 30% for the foreseeable future. There is something going on that is much bigger in the financials than the rest of the market. The bond market is doing nothing less than exploding to the upside. The bonds are already trading like Armageddon. Volatility is here to stay for at least the rest of the year and probably into 2017.

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Stock Market Divergences

Stock Market Divergences [video_player type=”youtube” youtube_remove_logo=”Y” width=”640″ height=”360″ align=”center” margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″]aHR0cHM6Ly95b3V0dS5iZS9zSnhiT3RuY2lQOA==[/video_player] Stock market divergence is taking center stage with the Nasdaq still outperforming the RUT and S&P by a wide margin. Eventually the indexes will have to get back in alignment before the bear market is over. Let’s also take a look at the high volatility in the XLF. In tonight’s video you’ll also find out: Why I think XLE has bottomed. What position I’m taking in AMZN.

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Commodities Go Up

Commodities Go Up [video_player type=”youtube” youtube_remove_logo=”Y” width=”640″ height=”360″ align=”center” margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″]aHR0cHM6Ly95b3V0dS5iZS9NYjFPYTVWbnQxMA==[/video_player] Commodities go up today with the dollar imploding. What you need to know about gold, oil, bonds, and stocks going into Friday.

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Stock Market Levels

Stock Market Levels [video_player type=”youtube” youtube_remove_logo=”Y” width=”640″ height=”360″ align=”center” margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″]aHR0cHM6Ly95b3V0dS5iZS9IZDJZZENfblBpNA==[/video_player] Stock market levels are important to keep on your screen. We have been pointing out the significance of the 1871 level in the S&P for quite some time. Today the sharp sell off stopped at the 1871 level and rallied. The financial stocks represented by the XLF sold off to new lows before the rally.

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Stock Sell Off

Stock Sell Off [video_player type=”youtube” youtube_remove_logo=”Y” width=”640″ height=”360″ align=”center” margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″]aHR0cHM6Ly95b3V0dS5iZS83UkRNbHVmdy1WTQ==[/video_player] As predicted the selling the broader market resumed today with the Bond markets exploding to the upside. Fear is in the air but the volatility index is still not reacting to what has amounted to heavy selling across all sectors and the financials seeing a nearly 3% decline.

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GOOGL Earnings

GOOGL Earnings [video_player type=”youtube” youtube_remove_logo=”Y” width=”560″ height=”315″ align=”center” margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″]aHR0cHM6Ly95b3V0dS5iZS9OTUJSdFA3bHRMaw==[/video_player] GOOGL earnings makes Google or Alphabet, Inc is the new 800lb gorilla. The largest company by market cap! Can GOOGL lead the markets higher? We will soon see. The risks in this market is vast. Let’s go through them one by one tonight.

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Selling Premium Weekly Options

Selling Premium Weekly Options [video_player type=”youtube” youtube_remove_logo=”Y” width=”560″ height=”315″ align=”center” margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″]aHR0cHM6Ly95b3V0dS5iZS9ZcUxzMzdhUXh6TQ==[/video_player] Selling Premium in Weekly Options has been what’s out there. The SPX last week stayed within the expected move. Ideal for premium sellers. So what to expect next week? I’ve been watching the SKEW which has dropped off significantly. I’m interpreting this as traders are reloading for the next down move. I also like to look at the VVIX which is the volatility of the volatility. This sank to a 2 month low and another sign of traders reloading for the next down move. Once again the financials are showing much higher implied volatility than the SPX. The XLF 5 day options has significant backwardation versus the further out options. There may be a few more days of short covering, but get ready for more volatility.

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Treasury Notes

Treasury Notes [video_player type=”youtube” youtube_remove_logo=”Y” width=”560″ height=”315″ align=”center” margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″]aHR0cHM6Ly95b3V0dS5iZS94SER4c0ZxdkkyOA==[/video_player] Treasury notes is where a lot of the flight to safety money goes. We will continue to keep an eye on where institutional investors are going to put their money to work. So far bonds are holding strong. Also, tonight we will take a look at a lot of stocks with earnings.

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FOMC Announcement Sparks Selloff

FOMC Sparks Selloff [video_player type=”youtube” youtube_remove_logo=”Y” width=”560″ height=”315″ align=”center” margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″]aHR0cHM6Ly95b3V0dS5iZS94UnlaOFZWMVJ1Yw==[/video_player] The FOMC announcement sparks a sell off in stocks today. The FOMC announcement shows a 180 in policy from only 6 weeks ago when they raised rates for the first time in 9 years. The sell off in stocks led to another spike in volatility. The Fed indicates a slow down in the economy and that their policy of 4 rate hikes in 2016 may be on hold. A case where bad news may really be bad news for the stock market. The tech heavy Nasdaq leads the decline today with AAPL near 52 week lows.

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Will the Lows Hold

Will the Lows Hold? [video_player type=”youtube” youtube_remove_logo=”Y” width=”560″ height=”315″ align=”center” margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″]aHR0cHM6Ly95b3V0dS5iZS90Y0g4SVlxaHVNMA==[/video_player] What are the odds the SPX lows hold? We can use the chain to determine what the probability a strike price will be in the money by expiration. That will tell us the probability of the lows being tested or broken. There’s a lot of news coming out in the next week. The FOMC will make their first announcement since raising rates in December. Will they live up to their promise of 4 rate hikes in 2016 or has the market action of the last few weeks spooked the Fed?

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Don Kaufman Don Kaufman

TheoTrade co-founder, former CBOE market maker and thinkorswim Chief Derivatives Instructor.

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