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The charts, graphs and comments in my Trading Blog represent my technical analysis and observations of a variety of world markets...
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N.B.
* The content in my articles is time-sensitive. Each one shows the date and time (New York ET) that I publish them. By the time you read them, market conditions may be quite different than that which is described in my posts, and upon which my analyses are based at that time.
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* From time to time, I will add updated market information and charts to some of my articles, so it's worth checking back here occasionally for the latest analyses.

DISCLAIMER: All the information contained within my posts are my opinions only and none of it may be construed as financial or trading advice...please read my full Disclaimer at this link.

Dots

* If the dots don't connect, gather more dots until they do...or, just follow the $$$...

Where Are We Now?

ECONOMIC EVENTS

 UPCOMING (MAJOR) U.S. ECONOMIC EVENTS...

* Wed. Sept. 20 @ 2:00 pm ET - FOMC Rate Announcement + Forecasts and @ 2:30 pm ET - Fed Chair Press Conference
* Fri. Oct. 6 @ 8:30 am ET - Employment Data
* Wed. Oct. 11, 2023 @ 2:00 pm ET - FOMC Meeting Minutes
* Wed. Oct. 18 @ 2:00 pm ET - Beige Book Report
* Wed. Nov. 1 @ 2:00 pm ET - FOMC Rate Announcement + Forecasts and @ 2:30 pm ET - Fed Chair Press Conference
* Wed. Dec. 13 @ 2:00 pm ET - FOMC Rate Announcement + Forecasts and @ 2:30 pm ET - Fed Chair Press Conference

*** CLICK HERE for link to Economic Calendars for all upcoming events.

Tuesday, September 12, 2023

PART V: Joe Biden's Presidential Battle For Survival: BIDEN IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY

N.B. Parts I, II, III and IV regarding President Joe Biden's massive policy blunders and scandals are described in detail hereherehere, and here, respectively, for your edification.

Due to the extensive length of the prior articles, I've had to break them up into parts. Part V begins, as follows, with the latest scandal, Biden Impeachment Inquiry.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy announced this morning that he is directing the House to begin an impeachment inquiry into President Biden, based on a number of facts and alleged crimes they've already uncovered, which merit further investigation, such as abuse of power, obstruction, and corruption.

No doubt this will put a crimp in Joe's "Bidenomics" claim to fame, as well as his planned second-term Presidential re-election bid in 2024.

Stay tuned for eventual fireworks and more shocking revelations.


* UPDATE September 13...

You can thank President Biden's "Bidenomics" for this inflation hot mess...

And, it looks like the left-leaning press has finally begun to stop covering up Biden's non-stop lies and incompetence. Too bad they didn't wise up and fess up to the truth three years ago!

So, how much longer before Joe resigns? 🤔


ZeroHedge excerpt

However, it seems that the Biden White House Legal Counsel's office is now trying to dictate what the press should say about the impeachment inquiry.

A 'chilling' move, indeed...


ZeroHedge excerpt

There is a great deal of pushback from a variety of States against Biden's 'green energy' push, along with the disappearance of farmland and adequate food supply.

We'll see how much voters want affordable and reliable energy and sufficient food, versus energy blackouts and hunger, when they vote for President in 2024

It's really just as simple as that. 🤔

* UPDATE September 14...

Another day...another scandal for Joe surfaced today for him and his political and media minions to spin, with three federal criminal indictments charged against his son pertaining to the illegal purchase and possession of a gun while using narcotics.

We'll see whether Joe's son, Hunter, ever does any prison time, inasmuch as most ordinary citizens have had to do, who've been charged with the same crimes...or, will he get special treatment, once again, because of the Biden family name, and walk free? 🤔

I won't hold my breath on the outcome.

* UPDATE September 15...

Finally...they're saying the quiet part out loud -- their 'useful idiot' has morphed into, simply, an idiot -- and, now they're in a panic as their 'shadow leader' is fading into the shadows and they have no credible replacement.

The coming weeks should be 'interesting'...and could get ugly...politically...

In the meantime...



Tuesday, September 05, 2023

Will WTI Crude Oil's Boom & Bust Cycles Continue?

Over the past couple of decades, WTI Crude Oil (CL) has been actively spiking and plummeting in between 40.00 and 80.00, to briefly test and spike the waters above 100.00, creating "froth," which has easily been blown off, as shown on the monthly chart below.

In so doing, a "median" price of 60.00 has been established, to where Oil either retreats in times of abundance (and lower prices), or surpasses on its way to scarcity (and higher prices).

As long as the world's supply of Oil remains in the ever-changing hands of differing political idealogues with competing energy adendas, uncertainty will continue to dominate its price, producing wild fluctuations, in the years to come.

For now, the "median" price, and, hence, "fair value," seems to be fixed at 60.00.


Monday, August 28, 2023

DISNEY: Into The Abyss

Disney's stock (DIS) is plunging further into the abyss...below its former support/resistance level of 100, above which lies tremendous price "froth." 

Since 2015, all attempts to hold any longer-term gains have easily been, repeatedly, blown away, as shown on the following monthly chart.

It would seem that there have been fundamental problems with Disney's products that have surfaced been exposed, since then.

The following article privides some insights into such possible issues. 

I've written a lengthy post pertaining to ESG here and the problems it's created for a variety of companies and industries. It seems that its been a money-losing venture for all concerned, as customers have rejected their values and what they're peddling.

People simply want products and services, NOT lectures on how or what to think and behave. It's about time that companies finally grew a pair and got back to basics to give the customer what he/she wants! 😏


Tuesday, August 22, 2023

The "Frothy" History of China's Shanghai Index

Every time China's Shanghai Index punched above 3000, it soon turned into "froth" and was, subsequently (and easily) blown away, only to retreat back into a large sideways Chaos Zone in between 2000 and 3000, as shown on the following monthly chart (SSEC).

Notwithstanding all of China's multiple efforts to shore up its considerable economic woes over the decades, nothing has been successful in the long run...and that's undisputably reflected in this chart.

Today's price is the same as it was in March of 2007.

I doubt this scenario will change any time soon...although, it may worsen if/as conditions deteriorate/warrant in the foreseeable future.



Friday, August 04, 2023

"BIDENOMICS" At Work: Fitch Downgrades U.S. Rating From AAA to AA+

Since he took office on January 20, 2021, President Joe Biden's far-left, so-called, "progressive" economic and energy policies have, in fact, been regressive, reckless, and punitive for Americans

Their income shortfalls versus much higher expenses are proof during this period of high inflation (at levels not seen for 40 years).

In fact, all of his "objectives" have been failures, as detailed in this article.

The U.S. has been stripped of its AAA-rating by Fitch and downgraded to AA+, as noted in the following article.

No wonder he's not busy on the campaign trail trying to sell his self-proclaimed "Bidenomics" (which includes his failed ESG policies) to everyday Americans...instead he's either been lounging at the beach or meeting with with his rich campaign donors, hoping to be re-elected in 2024. In fact, as of July 7, 2023, he's taken 352 total vacation days (39.2%) since he became President!

I think he's in for a rude awakening, if the majority of everyday Americans show up at the ballot boxes, inasmuch as they're "sick and tired of Bidenomics."




Meanwhile, Joe's been busy depleting the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserves and selling oil to economic and national security rival China, following a secret deal made by Biden's Energy Secretary in 2021 [tying in with Joe's son's (Hunter) business ties with China's largest energy company]. 

More details on Hunter Biden's (including the Biden family's) multiple foreign business shenanigans and influence peddling operation involving the receipt of millions of dollars over the years, some of which were solicited while Joe was Vice-President under former President Obama, and perhaps while he was a Senator, can be found here.

It's a wonder that Joe Biden hasn't been impeached yet, given all that various Congressional House committees have recently uncovered, so far...but that may just be a matter of time, inasmuch as House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is weighing whether to launch impeachment inquiry proceedings...as more damning evidence against Joe continues to surface every day.

* UPDATE Sept. 6...

No one can afford Joe Biden's "green energy" ESG projects, as they flounder in massive debt, supply-chain problems and cost-overruns. 

Everyone could see that coming, except for Joe...whose socialist policies and agenda are crippling Americans through perpetual bailouts of his party's rich cronies/donors/investors/business tycoons, which contribute to out-of-control persistent inflation.

Not only that, this agenda is a danger to national security.

And, with over 1600 world climate scientists signing a formal declaration that there is no climate crisis, one wonders why President Biden and other world leaders have been pushing the opposite narrative at all...particularly, since not one of them is qualified or credentialled to make those claims and create policies, laws, and mandates around such lies. 🤔

* UPDATE September 11...

Excellent questions, indeed...perhaps the answers are coming soon, before more damage can be heaped on Americans by Joe Biden and his extreme far-left socialist policies...


* UPDATE September 12...

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy announced this morning that he is directing the House to begin an impeachment inquiry into President Biden, based on a number of facts and alleged crimes they've already uncovered, which merit further investigation, such as abuse of power, obstruction, and corruption.

No doubt this will put a crimp in Joe's "Bidenomics" claim to fame, as well as his planned second-term Presidential re-election bid in 2024.

Stay tuned for eventual fireworks and more shocking revelations.


* UPDATE September 13...

You can thank President Biden's "Bidenomics" for this inflation hot mess...


Friday, May 19, 2023

U.S. DEBT CEILING: Biden Had 100 Days To Negotiate But Rebuffed Republicans

N.B. Inflation was 1.4%
when Trump left office
on Jan. 20, 2021
* See UPDATE below...

Insofar as the proverbial "buck stops at the top" saying dictates, this would then apply to U.S. President Joe Biden, who, for 100 days, refused to negotiate with Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy regarding the upcoming expiration of the infamous Debt Ceiling and its extension with respect to his proposed multi-trillion dollar budget.

So, here we are, with the presumed expiry date of June 1st fast approaching and no deal has been reached.

The ball is in Joe Biden's court, inasmuch as a majority of the House approved the Republican's bill which raises the debt ceiling (albeit much less than what Biden wanted), with alterations to his budget.

Democrats have not prepared a counter-plan of their own, and neither has President Biden.

So far, Biden has refused to budge on their offer, and talks have now broken down today...with no deal reached...and the President is nowhere in sight, but chose, instead to attend a G7 meeting in Japan.

The following article provides further details on today's failed negotiations and walk-out.

As you can see from the following graphic, the rise of America's Debt Ceiling has become parabolic and cannot be sustained, especially with President Biden's budget proposal to raise it by another $5.8 Trillion this year!

And, with a possible recession looming in the midst of, still, high inflation (in spite of higher interest rates, courtesy of the Fed), and bankruptcies already on the rise (stressing banks), it behoves Biden to justify (to the American public) exploding the debt even higher.

Reckless Federal Reserve monetary policies, as well as the Biden Administration's out-of-control fiscal spending and radical energy policies, have led to high inflation (9.06% in June 2022) and higher U.S. debt

N.B. Inflation was 1.4% when President Trump left office on January 20, 2021.

Where we go from here is anybody's guess...market players are currently undecided, as well, inasmuch as the SPX is still stuck in its large sideways "Chaos Zone," that I described in my post of March 31, after briefly piercing above its upper edge.

At the moment, price is currently sitting just beneath its channel median, as shown on the following monthly chart.

Failure of the SPX to break and hold above this median and its upper "Chaos Zone," around 4200, could send it back to its lower edge at 3750, or lower to retest 3500, or even 3000.

So, I'll leave you with this little gem...the sum total of Joe's presidency...in his own words...

Seriously, it's no joke! 😕

* UPDATE May 23...

It appears as though President Biden does not take the debt ceiling negotiations seriously and is being seen as negotiating in bad faith...suggesting that there may be some question about the actual default date that has, up to now, been proclaimed as fact by his Treasury Secretary, as described in the following report.

Markets have been fairly subdued and directionless of late, as described above, but just how long investors' patience with this political charade will last is anybody's guess. 

The longer this drags on, there is a greater chance we'll see markets drift lower, until they reach a critical velocity that produces a plunge below major support (3750 on the SPX).


Wednesday, May 17, 2023

RUSSIAGATE PART III...THE FINALE: The Durham Report

* See UPDATES below...

Former Trump administration Attorney General Bill Barr appointed a Special Counsel (John Durham) on October 19, 2020 to determine whether the FBI's "Crossfire Hurricane" investigation of, first, Presidential candidate Donald Trump and, then, President Trump was based on a factual legal predicate, or not.

After nearly three years of investigation, John Durham finally submitted his report on Tuesday, May 12, 2023 to Biden AG Merrick Garland who released it to Congress and the public on May 15...and concluded that the FBI's initiation of an investigation was NOT based on a factual legal predicate, but was, instead, based on political opposition dirt produced by Trump's rival Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's campaign, that was comprised entirely of lies and false accusations of Trump campaign collusions with Russia.

Durham further concluded that the FBI was BIASED against Trump, while exhibiting favour toward potential wrongdoings by Hillary Clinton regarding their investigations of the Clinton Foundation, as well as her use of a private server and private email while she was Secretary of State under President Obama.

He pointed out that, then President Obama and Vice-President Biden were made aware by CIA Director John Brennan of Clinton's attempts to smear Trump before her campaign released the infamous 'Steele Dossier' containing the salacious and false accusations.

Durham's findings are troubling and highlight the presence of political bias in both the DOJ and the FBI...as well as their undue negative influence operation on President Trump's tenure...coupled with the Democrats' repetition of those lies and a mainstream media complicity, spreading them as if they were fact, without ever investigating them, except for a few, such as Fox News.

Former Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation of whether Trump and/or his campaign colluded with Russia leading up to the 2016 Presidential election determined that there was NO collusion in March of 2019. Furthermore, the DOJ Inspector General also found no wrongdoings by Trump or his associates, BUT did find plenty by the FBI. I reported extensively on "Russiagate" in Parts I and II here and here.

This post, Russiagate Part III, marks the end of this particular political hit job against a Presidential candidate, then President of the United States...a Republic that is supposed to be governed by its Constitution and Bill of Rights...which have been violated by a variety of intelligence leaders who sought to influence an election and delegitimize a duly-elected President.

Whether any consequences or accountability are ever delivered to the American public remains to be seen.

Although current FBI Director Christopher Wray claims that reforms have since been implemented in his department to prevent such interference, it's plain to see that someone did not get the memo...take a look at their interference via Twitter in the 2020 Presidential election (The Twitter Files) and their suppression of evidence relating to the Hunter Biden laptop scandal.

Considering the totality of all of these political interferences and false allegations involving Russia, one could argue that any potential U.S. and Russia relationship or alliance against potential threats from China were degraded...instead, the U.S. and NATO have been funding billions of dollars into assisting Ukraine defend itself from an invasion from Russia under Joe Biden's presidency (after defeating President Trump bid for a second term in 2020). 

The United States' national security and economy have been destabilized, as a result, fighting high inflation and an economic crisis.

No doubt, Congress will have more to say on these issues in the coming days/weeks following their own investigations.

The following articles provide further insights regarding the Durham report...there are many more, and I will add them in due course.



ZeroHedge excerpt




Source: New York Post
(front page May 17, 2023)








* UPDATE May 18...

The Washington Post -- trying to "save face" for pushing the Trump-Russia collusion for years -- is continuing with its foolish losing narrative...


* UPDATE May 19...

" Not only did the impossible happen, but they all did it: the Clinton campaign, the FBI, and the media."


ZeroHedge excerpt

* UPDATE June 21...

Special Counsel John Durham confirmed in his testimony today before the House Judiciary Committee that there was NO LEGITIMATE BASIS on which the FBI undertook their investigation of then Presidential candidate Donald Trump regarding purported Russia collusion during the 2016 Presidential campaign.

It was all one big fat hoax based on a series of lies undertaken and funded by the Hillary Clinton Presidential campaign and the DNC!

Where's the accountability of the FBI for their nefarious actions in opening and perpetuating this investigation?

And, where's the restitution to former President Trump for the subsequent fallout, chaos and harm that this caused during his presidency?