Z-SYMBOLS

Two more sells-Sangamo and SunRun–on the CPI bounce

Two more sells-Sangamo and SunRun–on the CPI bounce

Yesterday’s bounce on the better-than-expected July CPI inflation numbers–the annual rate dropped to 8.5% from 9.1% in June while economists surveyed by Bloomberg were expecting a drop to an 8.7% rate–looks to be fading today, August 11, but I’m going to squeeze in two more sells, Sangamo Therapeutics (SGMO) and Sunrun (RUN) for tomorrow to take advantage of this Bear Market rally. Both sells are out of my Volatility Portfolio. The high potential upside of these two picks has driven them to big gains in the Bear Market rally that began in July. That same volatility, on the downside, makes them stocks I don’t want to hold in any return of the Bear Market.

Buy/sell/hold: Tesla’s near-term pivot points

Buy/sell/hold: Tesla’s near-term pivot points

The long-term case for buying Tesla (TSLA) is easy to make (or easy to argue.) The company has created electric vehicle technology that delivers faster speeds, longer range, and greater efficiency than any of its emerging competitors. The company has done a superlative job of building out its global supply chain so that it has suffered less disruption due to raw material glitches or chip shortages than any of its competitors. The big long-term questions for Tesla are Can it drive costs out of its production system? and How long will it take for competitors to catch up with Tesla’s technology advantage? (Just for the record I come down on the “buy” Tesla side on these questions.) In the short term the buy/sell/hold case for Tesla is more complicated.

Two more sells-Sangamo and SunRun–on the CPI bounce

3 sells for today’s CPI bounce–my goal is still to sell into this Bear Market rally

Despite today’s CPI inflation bounce and the continuation (flagging but still in business) of July’s Bear Market rally, my goal is still to sell into rallies. I don’t think this Bear Market is over and done with. I see another down leg when investors and traders admit that the Federal Reserve isn’t going to be able to get inflation under control with just another 100 basis points of interest rate increases (and, the other part of this hopeful scenario, to begin cutting interest rates by the middle of 2023.) So I’ll be making three sells today out of my Jubak Picks Portfolio to take advantage of the CPI bounce.

I’m selling my Nvidia Put options today on the stock’s two-day drop

I’m selling my Nvidia Put options today on the stock’s two-day drop

It’s hard making a profit on volatility trades in a market that’s as volatile as this one.

You’ve got to get the direction right, the timing, and the price. Miss one and get the other two and you can still wind up in the red. Which is where I find myself on the Nvidia Put Options (NVDA220819P00165000) I bought in my Volatility Portfolio on July 22 with a strike of $165 and an expiration date of August 19.

Another chip maker–this time is Micron–warns and chip stock take a hit

Another chip maker–this time is Micron–warns and chip stock take a hit

First, it was Nvidia (NVDA) cutting its guidance for revenue and earnings due on August 24. Today, August 9, it was Micron Technology (MU) warning that its revenue for the fourth-quarter revenue may come in at or below the bottom end of a forecast range provided in the company’s earnings call on June 30. Micron is scheduled to report on September 27. All this comes as the market is on edge anyway ahead of tomorrow’s report on CPI inflation. As of the close on Tuesday, August 9, shares of Micro Technology were down 3.74%. Shares of Nvidia were down another 3.97% after closing down 6.30% yesterday.

Buy on the rumor, sell on the news: I’m selling ChargePoint out of my Volatility Portfolio tomorrow, August 9

Buy on the rumor, sell on the news: I’m selling ChargePoint out of my Volatility Portfolio tomorrow, August 9

As I referenced in my post “What to sell and when in this Bear Market Rally,” I’m applying the old Wall Street advice of buy on the rumor and sell on the news to electric vehicle charging stocks. Specifically to ChargePoint Holdings (CHPT)Like just about any stock associated with controlling global climate change, ChargePoint soared ahead on the surprise deal that revived “green spending” in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. There’s money in that bill for promoting electric vehicles and for solar and wind power. (And let’s not forget big bucks for hydrogen power, too.) That bill has now passed the Senate (amazingly) and looks almost certain to pass the House of Representatives, where Speak Nancy Pelosi can, I think, be counted on to hold her slim majority together. Which means all that potential spending good news for stocks in this sector is now out there.

Trick or trend: Anticipation of bigger interest rate increase from the Fed leads to a stronger dollar–add to dollar ETF UUP

Trick or trend: Anticipation of bigger interest rate increase from the Fed leads to a stronger dollar–add to dollar ETF UUP

In the last week, as odds have climbed of a 75-basis-point interest rate increase from the Federal Reserve at its September 22 meeting, the U.S. dollar has reversed its slide during the last two weeks of July.
Stands to reason. Higher U.S. interest rates make dollar-denominated assets, such as Treasuries, more attractive. More dollar buying, stronger dollar.

What to do about your oil stocks?

What to do about your oil stocks?

I’ve seen several comments on the site asking this question. I assume we’re talking about oil stocks in the short- and medium-term. In the long term, I think it’s clear that you should be thinking about selling these out of your portfolio at a profit (of course) whenever you can. Demand for oil will fall in the long-term–defining long-term as 5 years or more–or we can all count on figuring out how to survive 120-degree (Fahrenheit) heat. Today, August 5, is a good synopsis of what’s going on with oil and oil stocks in the short- and medium-term.

Please watch my new YouTube video: Quick Pick Cummins Part 3

Please watch my new YouTube video: Quick Pick Cummins Part 3

My one-hundred-and-sixty-fourth YouTube video “Quick Pick Cummins Part 3” went up today. I’m returning to my pick Cummins (CMI) because the company just released strong second-quarter earnings. What caught my eye is that besides not affirming guidance for the rest of 2022, the company reported growth in gross margins and operating margins at a time when many companies are feeling squeezed.

Oil falls on surprise build in U.S. inventories in spite of a shockingly small increase in production from OPEC+

Oil falls on surprise build in U.S. inventories in spite of a shockingly small increase in production from OPEC+

As of 2 p.m. New York time today, August 3, U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude was down 3.30% to $91.30 a barrel. International benchmark Brent fell 3.07% to $97.45 a barrel.

The drop was a result of Wednesday data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration showing that U.S. crude and gasoline inventories unexpectedly rose last week. U.S. crude supplies were up 4.5 million barrels in the week ended July 29, while gasoline supplies rose 200,000 barrels. This comes at a time when gasoline inventories usually fall on high seasonal demand. This report was, for the day, more than enough to offset the announcement of a smaller than expected increase in oil production by OPEC+ of just 100,000 barrels a day for September.

Please Watch My New YouTube Video: Quick Pick First Majestic Silver

Please Watch My New YouTube Video: Quick Pick First Majestic Silver

My one-hundred-and-sixty-first YouTube video “Quick Pick First Majestic Silver” went up today. This hasn’t been a great year for precious metals hedges. However, allow me to make the case for First Majestic Silver (AG), given the coming recession and my expectations for the Fed’s schedule of rate increases. A hedge for 2023? At the current price, it’s an attractive bit of insurance against a big surge in risk.