A pre-earnings sell off in AGO knocked out the stop for a small -$144 loss on a 400 share lot. If there is a whisper number for this week's earnings it likely isn't good. The second sell came in VLY . Gap moves in this stock are not unusual (both up and down), but the loss of support with a 'sell' trigger in stochastics is reason enough to step aside and bank the small profit of +$404 on a 400 share lot. To subscribe to these trade signals in real time, click on the performance chart below:

Break to new near term highs on rise above $80 resistance. Well on its way of testing resistance at $84. The 40-week MA has been excellent support throughout this rally suggesting strong institutional demand. The point-n-figure chart shows a fresh ascending triple top breakout with a target of $94. The trend is very much your friend. Public Storage, Inc., a real estate investment trust, engages in the acquisition, development, ownership, and operation of self-storage facilities in the United States. Its self-storage facilities offer storage spaces for lease on a month-to-month basis for personal and business use. The company also has interests in commercial properties containing commercial and industrial rental space; facilities that lease storage containers; and ancillary operations that include reinsurance of policies against losses to goods stored by its self-storage tenants, retail sales, and truck rentals at its self-storage locations. Trade Ideas If you would like to try

Friday's focus was all on the large caps with a channel breakout in the S&P and a nudge over resistance in the Dow . Sympathy gains in the remaining markets kept the bulls interested without the powerful buying (i.e. heavier volume) associated with a follow through day. Moving average resistance remains limiting with the 20-day MAs in the NASDAQ , NASDAQ 100 and converged 20-day and 50-day MAs resistance in the Russell 2000 . The semiconductor index is similarly curtailed by the 20-day MA and channel resistance. These moving averages have halted every attempt at rallies since the breakdowns in May. Challenges on resistance will be backed by MACD bullish crosses in the NASDAQ , NASDAQ 100 , semiconductor index, Dow , S&P and Russell 2000 . For all indices the last crossover occurred in early June and kept markets in a sideways (to modest bullish) pattern for 3-weeks. Should this repeat it will help keep the indices primed for the all important follow through day.

[For clearer and updated charts click on the individual author links to be taken to their Public Stockchart list]. Matthew Frailey pointed in favor a bottom on the large cap indices, but was looking to a '30' or below in the Ultimate Oscillator before declaring a major bottom in the NASDAQ. Many commentators (me included) focused on the MACD histogram bullish divergence in May/June which failed to deliver on its promise. The MACD trigger line of the NASDAQ has shaped a bullish divergence for June/July, but Robert New considers this part of a larger 12-month bearish head-and-shoulder reversal pattern. Support at 2,025 will be considered key not just for July - but as neckline support too. Mitchell Meana has highlighted a more recent bullish divergence in MACD of the Q's. Although the 50-day MA looms ominously as resistance in this clean chart. Michael Winfree's Qs chart is in a similar vein. Dan Basch has some interesting downside targets for the NASDAQ 100; for t

A channel breakout in the S&P and relative strength in the Dow has focused most of the buying on large cap issues. I was surprised to see the Trade Ideas scan take 4 minutes to come up with 8 stocks (in days of strong buying it is usually a matter of seconds to get 8 stocks). Stocks making bullish crosses of the 50-day MA by the 20-day MA over the last month include REXI , SEH , HNZ , SHU , CTS and IGE . As a consumer staple, HJ Heinz ( HNZ ), would probably be the pick of the bunch. $43 resistance has been a tough nut to crack but it could be third time lucky based on today's action. 2006 has been good for the stock and with stops on a loss of the 50-day MA ($41.40) it could be good for you too. A push to $44 would trigger a double top breakout on the point-n-figure chart and send it on it's way to the latter chart's target of $64. Trade Ideas REXI DADE SEH TEF HNZ SHU CTS IGE If you would like to try a full version of the Trade-Ideas software, fol

Already we have some payments coming in from the original loans. The number of potential loan candidates has grown rapidly since May and if you are interested in supporting developing business across the globe one should head to the KIVA website and set up an account for yourself. Alternatively, if you order a 1 year subscription I will allocate $25 to a KIVA loan program of your choice. Potential Site Advertisers - I will allocate 100% of your payment into the KIVA pot. KIVA

Resistance proved to be too much for the bulls as yesterday's heavier volume churning broke in favor of the bears. This swung the Trade Ideas scan from 8 stocks in 1 minute to 8 stocks in 50 minutes . A couple of fast-food joints in the shape of Wendy's ( WEN ) and McDonalds ( MCD ) made the cut. Recent crosses in the 50-day MA by the 20-day MA were observed in UCFC , WEBX , MYE and MCD . The best looking chart looks to belong to Brandywine Realty Trust ( BDN ). Resistance of a large bullish ascending triangle at $32 is very close to been beaten. One can run stops on a loss of $31. Earnings are due for Friday so this will likely make or break the stock. Point-n-figure target of $43 looks well within its range. Projected target is $37. Trade Ideas LNDC UCFC BDN WEBX WEN MYE MCD SPH If you would like to try a full version of the Trade-Ideas software, follow this link for a free 7-day trial.

Markets are doing enough to hold the last couple days worth of gain. The Trade Ideas scan is pumping out stocks at a brisk rate; the current crop of 8 covered 1 minute of the software's time. A couple of the picks are making fresh 'mini-golden crosses' of the 50-day and 20-day MA: AKZOY and NOC . Other recent crosses between the 20-day MA and 50-day MA can be found in SHU and TAP . Northrop Grumman ( NOC ) looks to have continued institutional support after a picture perfect test of the 200-day MA back in June. Look for a measured move to $81. M&F Worldwide ( MFW ) looked to have pushed a break of $16.50 earlier in June but was stalled out at weekly resistance of $17.50. The stock is finding support at $16.50 (former resistance now support) and has merit here. Stops on a break of $16.40. An alternative stop may be placed at the 200-day MA for those looking to give the trade a little more room. Shurgard Storage Centers ( SHU ) was another stock to find instiutional su

Markets did enough to hold yesterday's gains without making a serious enough challenge of resistance. The Trade Ideas scan wasn't as jumpy as yesterday with the 8 picks for tomorrow covering a time span of 4 minutes . The most frequent pick to appear was NRI at three times. Four of the picks made relatively recent crosses in their 20-day and 50-day MAs: KYE , NXL , NRI and EPD . And realty funds were again popular with NRI and NXL . Neuberger Berman Realty Income fund (NRI) does look to be the best of the bunch as it completes the right-hand-side base of a 4-month consolidation following a positive test of the 200-day MA back in May. Projected target is $23. The pivot price is $20.74. Stops on a loss of $20.10. DYN was a recent newsletter subscriber feature for July 24th [$] Trade Ideas If you would like to try a full version of the Trade-Ideas software, follow this link for a free 7-day trial.

Here are some brief highlights from the public lists of Stockcharts.com. The opinions give here are those of the posters and not of my own. If you like any of the research they present many have websites and if they don't then your 'Vote!' would be welcome. Matthew Frailey has a nice chart showing where the next sector of leadeship will be: large caps. His stance on the dollar is similar to my own (a bullish reversal head-and-shoulder pattern) and has a long term chart showing strong support at around 80. Following on from Matt's large cap prognosis, Ryan Henry had this to say about the S&P from his use of Elliot Wave Theory: This lower band contines to provide support. It doesn't appear as if May's correction is over, but it does indeed appear corrective Ted Burge was less optimistic on the current rally. His opening remarks were: The support and resistance levels were incredible again today and they are all prepared for you for tomorrow on my site. FY

Strength in large caps has tippled over to tech and small caps but there is still much work to do to consume plentiful supply. The semiconductor index remains weak even as it posts gains. The Trade Ideas scan was busy, the following 8 stocks appeared in the space of a minute . Large number of realty picks; VNQ has shaped a solid 4-month base with resistance at $69. A measured move for this should put the stock around $78; ICF runs in a similar vein with resistance at $87 and a target of $97; and KRG which has cleared $15.50 resistance and is on course to test $20. Momentum players should take a look at XTXI . Use the 50-day MA for stop placement and wait for break of $95 before buying. Recent bullish crosses in the 20-day and 50-day MA (mini-"golden cross") can be found in the realty picks: VNQ , ICF and KRG , but also in AMT and PBKS . . Trade Ideas If you would like to try a full version of the Trade-Ideas software, follow this link for a free 7-day trial.

The 1-week performance comparisons for July 12th to the 14th were a mixed bag. Jim Cramer's picks and the market ETFs failed to record a single profitable net return. The Trade Ideas scan and my newsletter picks managed one winning set of picks; for my newsletter stocks it was last Friday's picks and for the Trade Ideas scan it was Thursday's picks. From the three days the best pick belonged to my newsletter pick, JSDA . The stock featured to subscribers for July 14th and returned a +12.52% on the week. It was closely followed by one of Jim Cramer's picks, BAX , which returned +12.23% . There was plenty of choice for biggest losing stock. The winner went to Jim Cramer's pick AUY . It recorded a disapointing -10.00% loss. If you would like to try a full version of the Trade-Ideas software, follow this link for a free 7-day trial. If you would like to subscribe to my newsletter you can do so by ordering monthly, 6-month, or annual membership from the 'Quant

The break to new lows in the semiconductor index could spill to the tech averages ( NASDAQ and NASDAQ 100 ) as the week's lows were tested in the latter indices. The semiconductor index closed 0.88 shy of its point-n-figure target, suggesting targets of 1,840 and 1,300 for the NASDAQ and NASDAQ 100 may not be as far fetched as initially appeared. To add insult to injury, both averages gapped down from the open and this could be the bearish trigger to initiate a new leg in the decline (a gap up on Monday would create 'bullish island reversals'). The declines in the tech averages put a halt to the bullish divergences in the MACD histograms, but not the MACD trigger lines - yet! Technicals continue to weaken although the rate of distribution (as measured by the trend in on-balance-volume) may be slowing. Higher volume on Friday as the result of options expiration will have muddied the distribution question. Large caps [ Dow and S&P ] put up the best fight but were

Fresh lows in the semiconductor index will weigh heavily on the Tech averages as they struggle to hold recent lows of their own. Even with the broad selling there was some action on the Trade Ideas scan: JTP again featured prominently, but there was as stock which featured a few of times late in 2005 on my parent site - CVO . Cenveo ( CVO ) currently trades inside a narrow range, close to the 50-day MA and a 6-month supporting trendline (but below a longer 10-month trendline - see a weekly chart). The channel allows for a relatively low risk entry with a stop at $16.78. The point-n-figure chart has a target of $24.50 but this would be negated on a drop to $16. Earnings are scheduled for August 10th. Cenveo, Inc. provides print and visual communications services in North America. It operates through two segments: Envelopes, Forms, and Labels; and Commercial Printing. The Envelopes, Forms, and Labels segment manufactures and prints customized envelopes for billing and remittance, and d

Shorts are hammering the market as another volatile rally bites the dust. For the last 20 minutes there have only been 3 suggestions on the Trade Ideas scan: JTP (the most frequent), ESE and JPS . In the case of JTP, Thursday's break of $13.40 has come on a modest increase in volume. Key resistance is at $13.60, part of a base which dates back over 2-years. Another tier of resistance can be found at $14.50. Not the most exciting of movers in early afternoon trading. The yield on the fund is 8.20%. The Nuveen Real Estate Income Fund (JRS), Nuveen Diversified Dividend and Income Fund (JDD), Nuveen Preferred and Convertible Income Fund (JPC), Nuveen Preferred and Convertible Income Fund 2 (JQC) and Nuveen Tax-Advantaged Total Return Strategy Fund (JTA) have adopted a managed distribution policy under which the fund seeks to maintain a stable monthly distribution level, stated in terms of a fixed amount per common share, representing net investment income and net realized capital gai

Bernake's remarks has brought an overreaction in the market, likely driven by short covering. Whether the positive test of support made on Wednesday has any meat to it will be made clear over the next few days. The Trade-Ideas scan was again popping out stocks at a healthy rate. One of the more recent stocks on the scan list was PBCT . The stock is fast approaching a test of $34 resistance. A break of $34 (or $34.23 depending on the data provider) should see the return of momentum buyers. Rally from early 2004 has slowed considerably over the last 12 months but the trend remains intact. The point-n-figure chart holds to a triple top breakout from May 26th but shows no upward price target. It pays a 3.1% yield. Earnings scheduled for July 21st (this Friday) - will this be the fundamental driver? People's Bank provides a range of financial products and services to individual, corporate, and municipal customers primarily in the state of Connecticut. The bank also generates consume

I had just read the Barrron's article on Apple today. I am not sure what the love affair with Apple is all about. The Ipod market is saturated (fair enough - no need to flog a dead horse) so the focus is switched to a Macintosh which can use Windows. Why is this so wunderbar? If one wants to run Windows one is more likely to buy a PC over an Apple capable Mac (cheaper). And if one is an Apple user there will likely be no desire to run Windows (other than a gamer perhaps). So where is the market for this machine? If ever there was a cue for recession then this dumb idea should be the push? For other Design by Committee fluff take a spin Googling opinions on the Xbox 360 and the with/without hard drive option (Thank You Microsoft) and soon to be PS3 with its price tag and "security features" (Thank you Sony - again. And to think I *loved* Sony Walkmans in their day). Cases of too many people paid too much money to design too far up their..... Apple AAPL

Another bad week-on-week performance for all stock picking systems. The market ETFs performed strongest (relatively) closing down 'only' -2.51% . After that is was a toss up between my newsletter picks ( -3.44% ), Jim Cramer ( -4.04% ) and the Trade Ideas scan ( -5.95% ). For the Trade Ideas scan picks this was the worst week-on-week performance in 51 comparisons. Only three stocks were profitable: my newsletter picks OKE ( +2.27% ) and CSH ( +9.21% ), and Jim Cramer's WFC ( +0.07% ). If you would like to try a full version of the Trade-Ideas software, follow this link for a free 7-day trial. If you would like to subscribe to my newsletter you can do so by ordering monthly, 6-month, or annual membership from the 'Quantity' box in the right-hand-margin. If you would like to see Jim's picks you can tune into his TV show, or get them from Madd Money or Mad Money Recap . SPONSORED BY:-

The afternoon rally saw gains in a number of REITs. One which caught my attention was the streetTRACKS Wilshire REIT ( RWR ). The breakout from the declining channel was followed by a confirmation retracement to gap support ($75.25), followed by today's bounce. Larger resistance lurks at $79.15. The ETF pays a 3.9% yield. The point-n-figure chart holds to a triple top breakout from June 30th with a target of $95. A more flexible stop would be placed on a loss of $70. Trade Ideas If you would like to try a full version of the Trade-Ideas software, follow this link for a free 7-day trial.

Link to NPR's interview transcript with KIVA's Matthew Flannery. If you are looking to divert money to something other than the stock market then the KIVA program is a worthy goal. KIVA

A rough week for all the stock picks. Only two stocks were 'up' (it should read 'flat'), TAP and ENH of my Subscriber picks didn't register a loss but couldn't push gains above 1%. In an unusual turn of events the Trade-Ideas scan scored a not a single profitable trade ( -3.18% ), but the losses were not as great as those picks of Jim Cramer ( -5.40% ). My newsletter picks had the best (relative) return at -2.39% , which was ahead of the market ETF returns of - 3.64% . The worst pick of the week belonged to Jim Cramer's NUE - down -10.95% . If you would like to try a full version of the Trade-Ideas software, follow this link for a free 7-day trial. If you would like to subscribe to my newsletter you can do so by ordering monthly, 6-month, or annual membership from the 'Quantity' box in the right-hand-margin. If you would like to see Jim's picks you can tune into his TV show, or get them from Madd Money or Mad Money Recap . SPONSORED BY:-

Hi Longtimer, I have been fishing for leadership stocks since mid-May as this was the time market internals (chiefly the indicator measuring the number of NASDAQ stocks over the 50-day MA) had reached levels associated with bottoms in the past. Of course, markets have continued to decline with not a bottom in sight (pushing the market internals deeper into oversold territory) and this had made the hunt for new market leaders very difficult. My most recent weekend post was an attempt to investigate where this decline might end and when it might be appropriate to step back in given I am holding to a bullish bias. My Collective2 portfolio, linked here , is an attempt to demonstrate a strategy to trade this bottom. On May 16th I increased my equity exposure to 75% from 30% when I considered a bottom (of sorts) in place - this was burned on its first attempt as 6 of the (then) new 9 positions were stopped out for a loss. I then tried a second wave of buying in early June and this has turn

No great change in the markets as buyers and sellers were reluctant to do business - It probably turned out to be a better day for the bulls because of this. This meant the Trade Ideas scan continued to produce defensive stock ideas and Heinz (HNZ) was no exception to this rule. The stock trades inside a well defined channel on increasing volume. A shareholder battle rages from within, but this potential negative hasn't damaged the stock's price. A 3.4% yield is a nice payoff if dividends can keep pace with a rising stock price. A move to $44 will trigger a double top breakout on the point-n-figure chart and send it well on its way towards the latter chart's target of $64. One for the ROTH-IRAs perhaps? H. J. Heinz Company, along with its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture and marketing of processed food products. Its products include ketchup, condiments and sauces, frozen food, soups, beans and pasta meals, infant food, and other processed food products. The company

Markets took another step downwards as the last remnants of technical strength in the S&P peeled away. Volume was less than Thursday's, either a reflection of complacency on the part of the bulls, or some measure of seller's exhaustion. With June lows holding in the S&P and Dow the former looks more probable. The Russell 2000 played the same game as large cap indices with only tech averages [ NASDAQ and NASDAQ 100 ] at new closing lows. The semiconductor index escaped the worst of the selling as the index tested new channel support, although this has been suffering since it last made highs in February - unlike the other tech averages. If there is an average ready to lead to the upside it should be the semiconductor index - it's due a period of buying. Tech market internals [ $NASI , $NAA50 and $BPCOMPQ ] continued their downward slide so assuming a bottom is not in place (although buyers should have the edge given the oversold condition of these internals)

Bears have either ceded some of their advantage, or are just toying with the bulls as another day of losses was greeted with somewhat tepid volume. Either that or the bulls are been very stubborn about selling. It could have been a day for traders and investors to hit the panic button as we head into the weekend on the back of escalating trouble in the Middle East - but in the end, nothing really changed. Yes, the tech indices made new lows - but this happened earlier in the week. Yes, large caps made it all the way back to June lows - but then managed to find the will to bounce. Yes, the semiconductor index is a mess - but it has avoided the bulk of the selling over the past three days (although it probably has more to do with the other indices catching up to it). But what really got my attention was the strong end-of-day action from my Trade-Ideas scan. The last couple of days have been like squeezing blood from a stone, but today there was a handy clip of stocks in the last hour of

The results are in for the first Blogger Poll on the Market. I would publish the results here but it is fairer for you to follow the link and find out for yourself. They also include a list of Blogger participants. Blogger Poll

The second wind of stocks is suffering the same fate as the first. I will wait before adding a third batch until some of the heat is taken out of the market. It has been a rough ride for Breakouts with little in the way of leadership coming forward to drive a rally. Market internals remain oversold, but there is nothing to say these can't head lower. Altogether, the last couple of months have trimmed around -$3K off the Collective2 balance with only a handful of stocks able to push gains. NAVR was the latest victim, losing -$700 from a 2,000 share lot ( -7.0% ) as the 200-day and 20-day MAs gave way. Five stocks remain in the portfolio with the remainder of the balance in cash (about 55% cash). NAVR