IWM Broadening wedge here, long term bullish, short term bearish..
I think IWM is headed to 165 fibonacci support or Sept lows.
Has a split channel with support on the white trendline, I think It tags it in the next couple of days (170-171).
If it breaks below 170 we're headed to 165..
Today IWM closed above its 20sma but got rejected by its 50sma.
Use those MA as your entries.
Below 20sma - Short to white trendline
Above 50sma and that's a breakout.. target 177,180
IWM trade ideas
Head and Shoulders Topping Formation on the Russell2000The recent failure of First Republic Bank highlights the problems facing the US banking system. These problems include the continued increase of delinquency rates on Credit cards, Commercial Real Estate & Automobiles, as well as a decrease of commercial bank deposits and M2 money supply (-4.2% YoY). These problems, among others, are causing banking institutions to rein in their lending to build reserves and take on debt from the FED & FHLBs to meet deposit withdrawals. This reduces the profitability of banks and restricts credit into the economy, which reduces economic activity as a whole. The economy had already begun slowing heavily before the credit crunch began in March 2023, but the current business cycle downturn, combined with 3 large regional bank failures and rising continuing jobless claims, portend a severe & lengthy economic contraction. The Conference Board Leading Economic Indicators registered a -7.2% YoY Contraction recently. Since 1968, Any Conference Board LEI contraction of more than -2% YoY has never yielded a false positive in regards to a coming recession.
Over 40% of Russell2000 companies are unprofitable and over 24% of S&P500 companies are zombie companies. Markets are still very overvalued within the context of a 5% Fed funds rate, contracting earnings, a credit crunch, and ongoing quantitative tightening by the FED. The markets have been seeing less buying volumes as well as carving out a head and shoulders top on the Russell2000. Other problems facing the banks include the popping auto & commercial real estate debt bubbles, as well as increasing large corporate bankruptcies (The most since 2010 thus far this year). The IPO market is the weakest it has been since 2009 (by total proceeds), which is also hurting Investment banking profits. I see the potential for 5%-10% possible upside and 35%-50% downside for the Russell2000 & S&P500 over the next 9 -18 months.
Thank you for reading,
Alexander C. Lambert
Put to Call Ratio Correlation IndicatorOverview of the put to call ratio correlation indicator I released over the weekend.
It is linked below.
Its best to review the indicator description prior to watching the video to get an idea of how it works.
This video goes over the practical application of the indicator in trading.
Let me know your questions/comments below.
Safe trades everyone!
Growth Prospects? - Much work to doInvestors may benefit from keeping an eye on this relationship of IWM to Gold. Small caps, represented by the the Russell 2000 index ( AMEX:IWM ), are generally well-regarded and in favor when growth prospects are good; gold on the other hand is typically considered a defensive store of value. I consider that early 2018 period, when things were generally clicking pretty well in markets, to be a very "key" level and one well worth monitoring. A confirming bullish trigger would be seeing this IWM/Gold relationship break out of the present downward channel, and getting back to and through that key level. Until then, when assessing risk / reward in this 'whipsaw' environment, investors may be better served by exercising continued caution and selectively.
Opening (Margin): IWM April 6th/June 16th Double Die... for a 57.79 debit.
Comments: Doing something a little funky here -- a double diagonal.
The best way to look at this setup is by breaking it down into two aspects: (a) a long call diagonal, with the back month at the +90 delta strike, the front at the -30; and (b) a long put diagonal, with the back month at the -90 delta strike, the front at the -30.
I tend to manage each aspect separately, taking profit on the winning side, while simultaneously looking to reduce cost basis on the losing one, so it's important to know where my break evens are for a given side.
Long call diagonal aspect:
39.42 cost basis, 169.42 break even, 44 wide.
Long put diagonal aspect:
18.37 cost basis, 170.63 break even, 25 wide.
Opening (IRA): IWM April/May 176/169 Short Put LadderComments:
Starting to deploy at intervals into second quarter expiries, targeting the <16 delta strike paying around 1% of the strike price in credit. I'd prefer weakness and higher IV, naturally, but am not getting it in the short term.
Received a 1.79 credit for the April 21st 176; a 1.75 credit for the May 19th 169.
IWM: 170-172 Soft?Short idea.
Since the beginning of 2023, IWM has put in a lower low on the daily indicating that support at 170-172 is soft, and the trend of higher lows established by the Oct swing low seems to be broken. Tough April so far -- currently trading below the 20D / 50D / 200D.
The distribution that price is trading in right now is support, but I think 170-172 gets softer with every test.
Short targets: 175 / 176
Profit targets: 172 / 170 / 168 / 163
Trade invalidated > 178