MBWealth's Commodity Blog » cocoa

Protected: The Line in the Sand February 06, 2012

Matthew Bradbard — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 22:08:39 +0000

Upbeat Expectations 2/3/12

Matthew Bradbard — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:32:17 +0000

A positive jobs number and things heating up in Iran and Crude is back on the move advancing 1.5% today. We may see a bounce but until we see a trade back over $99 I still am thinking prices have more downward pressure. My target in March is a trade closer to $93-94 in the coming weeks. What is disturbing though is the disparity between the Crude daily chart and the distillates as Crude is on the lower end of the recent trading range while heating oil and RBOB are breaking out to new highs. It is a classic case of the tail wagging the dog. My sense is all products should trade lower in the coming weeks but time will tell. Natural gas is cheap but with the absence of two major events; either extremely cold weather or a significant shut in on production there is no catalyst for prices to move higher…look elsewhere. Job growth and lower unemployment rate had stocks off to the races with equities at fresh 2012 highs up near 5% ytd. Stocks will likely forge their way to higher territory as I am back in the camp as being long makes sense as long as the 9 day MA holds. That pivot point comes in the S&P at 1318 and in the Dow 12655. Gold and silver in my estimation made an interim top this week and we should see correction in the short run. Gold lost 1.8% with the June contract giving back most of the week’s gains today. I would expect a further $50-75 correction in the weeks to come. A 50% Fibonacci retracement from the current leg puts prices back at $1650. Silver was able to hold on to most of the week’s gains but still registered a 1.6% loss today. A correction here would likely drag March futures back near $31/ounce. Nothing new to report in forex as I am still expecting a bounce in the dollar and for the other crosses to back off. In full disclosure I have no recommended plays until we find a top in foreign currencies. OJ continues to slide as prices have lost ground eight of the last nine sessions…expect that to continue. I like the move in cocoa bouncing off the 50 day MA but the inverse relationship it generally exhibits to the dollar has me holding off on new purchases but have this commodity on your radar in case the dollar moves south as opposed to north as I expect. Base on the Market’s assumption that sometime in the next year we may see rates increase Treasuries got hit hard today with 30-yr bonds depreciating 1.5%. Aggressive traders can fade rallies in 30-yr bonds and 10-yr notes with stops just above their 20 day MA’s. Those levels are 143’11 and 131’06 respectively in the March contracts. Today in the AG music chairs market corn and wheat was flight while soybeans advanced 1.27%. We could see prices grind higher but I prefer to be on the sidelines with customers if and when they get stopped out of their longs that they should be trailing. A leg lower could be bought but I would like to see a correction before initiating new positions. Expect further downside in live cattle as today prices gave up 1.2%. A 50% Fibonacci retracement in April puts prices to 125.70 while 61.8% drags prices to 124.75. Lean hogs are a buy on dips that hold the 20 day MA; in April at 88.35.

Risk disclosure: The risk of loss in trading commodity futures and options can be substantial. Past performance is no guarantee of future trading results.

If Equities Fall 1/30/12

Matthew Bradbard — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:31:36 +0000

Over the next few sessions we will know but we may see some gains given back in equities as minor chart damage is being done. That being said expect higher trade in Treasuries and commodities on a stock retraction. Crude continues to flirt with $100 unable to pick a direction. The longer this consolidation pattern continues the larger the breakout the tough part is determining what direction will prices breakout. A settlement above $100.50 or below $98 would likely signal the direction but until then who knows? Natural gas failed to hold onto early gains trading down 3.4% as of this post. As long as the 9 day MA holds on a closing basis at $2.59 in March I’m assuming the bottom is in. Equities have not given up much ground but prices have lost ground now for the last three sessions and today could be the first settlement below the 9 day MA. If that happens expect the 20 day to support and then the 50 day MA. Those levels are 1293 followed by 1250 in the S&P and 12470 followed by 12090 in the Dow…trade accordingly. Gold failed to trade higher today but I am still eying the 61.8% Fibonacci level at $1750 in February. Considering the run we’ve seen of late I would not be adding new positions at this level but rather be looking for an exit door. Those still long are encouraged to trail stops. March silver is having trouble holding above $33.75 as that level has been rejected the last three sessions. Momentum remains with the bulls but without a settlement above $34 very soon I would expect a $2.50-4.00 correction. The dollar dug in its heels today gaining for the first time in four sessions. If the 79.00 level can hold in March for the next few trading days we may get a dead cat bounce. I would expect all buying to be rejected between 80.25-80.50 if we can even muster that much. Aggressive traders can sell the commodity currencies with stops above the recent highs…this is a good risk to reward trade. Cocoa got within $10 of the 100 day MA but failed to reach our target. From here it looks like lower trade which would be confirmed on a trade below the 50 day MA; in March at 2255. Cotton looks destined for lower ground as well…this too would be confirmed on a trade below the 50 day MA; in March at 92.75. Treasuries gained for the fourth consecutive session and do not appear to be done on this leg. We’ve already seen new contract highs in 10yr notes and we could be headed for fresh highs in 30-yr bonds…trade accordingly. Ags traded lower today with soybeans the biggest loser at a 2.77% loss. Those that are long corn or wheat could tighten up stops as we may experience a bit of a give back. A trade under the 20 day MA’s in both lean hogs and live cattle should have traders back on the sidelines.

Risk disclosure: The risk of loss in trading commodity futures and options can be substantial. Past performance is no guarantee of future trading results.

Protected: The Line in the Sand January 30, 2012

Matthew Bradbard — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 17:30:41 +0000

Taking a Breath 1/25/12

Matthew Bradbard — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:46:01 +0000

I misread the recent action thinking we were approaching a turning point but now it appear the markets were just taking a breath and now the underlying moves are back on track….trade accordingly. Crude appears to be finding its footing as further sales are being rejected. With a settlement back above $100 I would become more friendly. On a close above $102 in March I then would be looking for buying opportunities thinking we get a new high…trade accordingly. I say a bottom is in on natural gas and aggressive traders can be long. On a false start I would not hold it back to the bottom but a stop just below the 9 day MA would be my suggestion. Prices have already jumped 23% off their lows. In the coming weeks I could see a further 50-75 cent appreciation. Can you say short squeeze? The 9 day MA supported a trade lower in the morning only to end at fresh highs …well as of this post. I remain impressed but I still think we see an interim high very soon so I would start trimming your positions. I am not getting bearish just advising booking profits on longs. I had expected metals to back off but clearly after today’s action the bulls remain in the driver’s seat. Gold traded above the 100 day MA for the first time in seven weeks and now has completed a 50% Fibonacci retracement. Just above $1750 in February is the 61.8% Fibonacci level. Silver is above its 100 day MA the first time since mid-September when prices collapsed from above $40/ounce. I expect prices to get back near $37 but not before a correction but at this point we may juice prices a bit higher. I am holding out for new entries for clients under $30/ounce. The dollar continues to drop losing 0.50% as of this post. With dollar weakness comes strengths in other crosses. The commodity currencies were the best performers with the Euro and Swiss slightly behind. Signals point to higher trade in crosses and lower in the dollar. I unsuccessfully recommenced picking a top in the commodity currencies and traders should have been stopped at a loss. Cocoa should continue to work higher on further dollar weakness.. 2500 in March is the 100 day MA..use that as your target when evaluating risk to reward. Cotton is sale with stops above the recent highs. If coffee breaks the recent lows expect $2.00 to be breached in March. The sentiment is bearish in Treasuries and if you notice today the 20 day MA rejected further upside…that level continues to be your pivot point; in 30-yr bonds at 143’6 and 130’24 in 10-yr notes. 2013 Euro-dollars are at fresh contract highs…let them work higher and we will be looking for bearish entries on a sign of an interim high. Corn and wheat closed back over their 20 day MA’s. Ag traders can scale into longs expecting further upside. My suggestion would be to build a long position and to stagger stops behind the market. Trail stops on longs in live cattle as a new contract high was rejected…do not rule out profit taking. Lean hogs were slight gainers…stay long and run stops just under the 20 day MA.

Risk disclosure: The risk of loss in trading commodity futures and options can be substantial. Past performance is no guarantee of future trading results.

Turning Point 1/24/12

Matthew Bradbard — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 22:08:15 +0000

Turing point…not today and probably not tomorrow but I would expect the equity market to give back its recent gains in the very near future. What that likely means is money out of stocks and into Treasuries and commodities…just an opinion. Crude remains in no man’s land as prices could go either way in my opinion. My bias is leaning to the bullish side but I would prefer to be buyer on breaks. For instance I see solid support in March just under $94/barrel so long entries closer to that level sound extremely appealing. In two sessions natural gas has leapt 15% with a close back above the 9 day MA today for the first time since early December. It is too early to call a bottom but a spike in volume and the capitulation we got are precursors for a bottom being established…stay tuned. Another gain today in equities but the pace is waning with prices higher by 0.25% on average. I know it is a broken record but expect higher ground as long as the 9 day MA holds. FOMC decision tomorrow could derail the ascent so stay alert. Gold closed back under the 50 day MA giving up 0.75% today. Weekly charts still look supportive but the daily screams overbought. $1650 in February will need to hold or I would move to the sidelines. For the first time in five sessions silver failed to make a new high on an inside day today. Like gold the weekly chart still appears like we have more upside but prices have started to roll over on the daily chart. I say lighten up or tighten stops as we may be close to an interim top. The dollar index failed to make a new low but as long as prices remain below the 50 day MA I remain bearish; that level is 80.10 in March. The Euro and Pound remain buys while the commodity currencies appear like we could see a retracement…trade accordingly. The Yen broke down today breaking all short term MA’s. I am expecting a move back under 1.2600 on this leg. Cocoa bounced off the 50 day MA surging almost 7% today lifting prices to two month highs. Try timing a long entry again buying a dip placing stops just under the 50 day MA. Corn was higher by 1.7% today while wheat added 2.2%. I’m comfortable buying dips in either Ag product placing stops under the recent lows. I think in the coming months we could see March corn above $7/bushel and wheat closer to $7.50/bushel. April live cattle is on the verge of making new contract highs having appreciated 4% in the last two weeks. It has been a nice run for bulls but there is no reason to believe prices should not see higher ground. April lean hogs are running into trouble at the same resistance level that capped upward momentum in late December. That being said as long as the 20 day MA holds at 87.30 I remain friendly.

Risk disclosure: The risk of loss in trading commodity futures and options can be substantial. Past performance is no guarantee of future trading results.

Protected: The Line in the Sand January 23, 2012

Matthew Bradbard — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 17:38:46 +0000

A Straight Line… 1/19/12

Matthew Bradbard — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 22:15:28 +0000

Nothing included markets move in a straight line…stocks will not move higher in a straight line nor will natural gas move lower…all things must come to an end. I am still in a holding pattern waiting for direction in Crude oil. We’re still experiencing a tug of war in the distillates as RBOB was lower today and heating oil was higher…the reverse of previous sessions. Natural gas was lower by 7% today making it 21% already in 2012..a rocky start! The reality is I still do not see signs of a bottom. Equities continued their climb with the S&P exceeding our target of 1300 and the Dow within 100 points of our target…see previous posts. The 9 day MA should continue to support and as long as prices hold above that level I remain friendly. Gold is having trouble getting above the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement level at $1663 in February. I still see $1676; the 50 day MA but much more than that is not likely in my opinion on this leg…trade accordingly. Silver bulls are running on fumes as well…I am not advocating a bearish trade yet but start looking for an exit door on longs. The dollar index broke the 31 day EMA, a level that has supported since mid-November…could the tides be shifting? The Euro and Swiss franc are above the 20 day MA and the Pound is on the verge of penetrating that level…all starting to look more friendly. From where I stand the commodity currencies look the weakest along with the Yen and the European currencies appear to be a buy. Trade small because the forex market has been manic of late. Cocoa is back above the 50 day MA…aggressive traders can work back into longs with stops below the recent lows. Sugar #11 could be bought with stops below the 50 day MA as well. Treasuries appear to be rolling over but my clients have been fooled too many times so we will remain on the sidelines…forced into the market I would be a seller. Grains were higher by 1-2.25% today though I remain on the sidelines still to see if we get a test of the December lows. Next week if we have not I may be a buyer of wheat and or corn for clients…stay tuned. Live cattle and lean hogs remain a long proposition until prices breach the 20 day MA on the downside.

Risk disclosure: The risk of loss in trading commodity futures and options can be substantial. Past performance is no guarantee of future trading results.

Tortoise or Hare 1/18/12

Matthew Bradbard — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 21:51:06 +0000

Every investor has a different strategy but slow and steady sometime wins the race. The idea is to be consistent and take small losses and let profits run…easier said than done. For three weeks now Crude has been stuck in a $5 trading range and this looks to continue. Today prices reversed mid-day to close slightly higher back above the 9 day MA above $101/ barrel in March. The sidelines is my suggestion until we get a clearer picture. A close below $98.50 or above $102.50 would likely set the tone in that direction but until then sit on your hands. We’re getting mixed signals from the distillates which is supporting sideways action in Crude with RBOB inching higher gaining over 2% today while heating oil closed lower for the fifth straight session. No new lows today but still waiting for a bottom in natural gas and believe it or not I am hearing whispers of $1.00 handle…stay tuned. Equities bounced off the 9 day MA today and closed higher by approximately 1% depending on the exchange. Ytd stocks are off to a healthy start appreciating just over 2%. Expect the grind higher to continue, using the 9 day MA as your pivot point on a closing basis. Gold and silver closed above their respective 40 day MA’s. My next target remains the 50 day MA which in February gold comes in at $1678 and in March silver at $31.16. On the daily chart prices are overbought so if we start to turn south have an exit strategy to book profits on longs because as we all know metals can change course quickly. Copper is nearing a three month high and if prices surge above $3.80 the next stop would likely be $4/lb., a level not seen in nearly five months…stay tuned. Day three of a dollar setback and the first settlement below the 20 day MA in two weeks. An interim top may be in so stay tuned … a close below 80.45 in March I would turn bearish. The standouts today were the European currencies…expect that to continue on further dollar weakness. The Euro, Pound and Swissie can be bought with tight stops. Cocoa needs to re-take the 50 day MA in the next few sessions or I would take remaining longs off. That level is 2295 in the March contract. Treasuries were lower today but until we see consecutive closes under the 20 day MA in both 30-yr bonds and 10-yr notes considering it just a trading range and I have no long or short interest. Those levels are 143’22 in 30-yr bonds and 130’25 in 10-yr notes. Fresh lows in corn and wheat as we may make an attempt at the December lows while soybeans were able to tread water today. On a lower trade that holds the December support I will look to be a buyer of Ag for clients…stay tuned. Not my favorite trade but if long live cattle place stop just below the 20 day MA and let the market guide you. Lena hogs have picked up ground the last four sessions. As I’ve voiced I think this is the beginning of the next leg higher. Lean hogs are not making headlines but we could see a nice appreciation in the weeks to come…this fits the bill for a good swing trade.

Risk disclosure: The risk of loss in trading commodity futures and options can be substantial. Past performance is no guarantee of future trading results.

Protected: The Line in the Sand January 16, 2012

Matthew Bradbard — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 22:13:55 +0000