Although the markets closed higher, it was a return to the bearish tone for the Trade Ideas scan. The "Top-8" list came in at a disappointing 2 hours and 20 minutes , with no stocks qualifying for the "20-appearance" list. Not good news if you are a bull. 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 are interested in knowing what I do with the "Top-8" and "20-appearance" data I have prepared a report here . Trade Ideas

It has been a while since the Trade Ideas scan showed some buying merit, but Wednesday was a vast improvement over recent days (irrespective of whether the market was up or down). The "Top-8" list came in at 10 minutes (which I would still consider bearish - but at least it didn't take hours to get 8 stocks), with an unusual large cap tech feel to the "20-appearance" list which came in at 4 hours and 50 minutes - in addition to Ciena (CIEN), Intel (INTC) and Oracle (ORCL), there was strong buying for Apple (AAPL) and Adobe (ADBE) too. Did Tuesday's selling represent the extent of the backtest for August lows? I don't think so - but this rally (for however long it may last) - is showing a little better fortitude than it did last week when indices appeared to rally without the backing of broad stock buying. 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 are interested in knowing wha...

Just for the record keeping - an ugly day for the markets actually saw a modest improvement in the scan. The "Top-8" stocks covered 2 hours and 10 minutes (not good - but better than yesterday), with one pick: the CurrencyShares Japanese Yen Trust ( FXY ), breaching the "20-appearance" barrier. 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 are interested in knowing what I do with the "Top-8" and "20-appearance" data I have prepared a report here . Trade Ideas

Well no surprise to the see the Trade Ideas scan weak for what amounted to a low volume, down day for the markets. The "Top-8" pick list required 3 hours 45 minutes with no picks cutting through the "20-appearance" barrier - this is the worst sequence of intraday buying since I started doing this analysis. My "Have we a bottom?" piece is featured in this weeks Festival of Stocks hosted by Dividends Matter . 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 are interested in knowing what I do with the "Top-8" and "20-appearance" data I have prepared a report here . Trade Ideas

What proved to be a relatively quiet week, was there anything to add from the Stockcharters? Joe Reed 's Dow and Full stochastic chart is in overbought territory: With a Full stochastic buy for the S&P on the weekly chart: I'm keeping an eye on Robert New 's Treasury 10-yield chart. Down at channel support so a big test coming up: He went long the Russell on the test of support: Richard Lehman is looking for more from the upside: 8/25 -- The charts are confirming the new short term uptrends across the board now. Those who played the upward minichannels in the meanwhile were well rewarded this week and should have more to go. The upchannels have a lot of potential room on the upside and suggest another possibly big move to balance out the opening rocket launch last Friday. Long term action is more bullish now as well. So far, the long term breaks suggest a revised slope uptrend rather than a new downtrend -- BUT that's not confirmed yet. 8/23 -- The major stock indi...

The Trade Ideas scan picked up the pace a little on its recent form; a "Top-8" pick list was selected in a more reasonable 28 minutes and five stocks qualified for the "20-appearance" list. This is still a long way from bullish behavior, but it is perhaps the best form the markets have shown over the last couple of weeks. 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 are interested in knowing what I do with the "Top-8" and "20-appearance" data I have prepared a report here . Trade Ideas

Although I liked recent market lows as a buying opportunity, it has proven hard to stay in a position without allowing for the level of volatility present in the markets. Both of the stocks exited may be worth a second look over the coming weeks, but both are no longer part of the portfolio - leaving it 15% equity and 85% cash, down from 33% equity. American Superconductor Corp ( AMSC ) finished with a low volume bullish doji - but intraday lows were enough to exit the 500 share position for a painful -$975 ( -9.22% ) loss: Universal Insurance Holdings ( UVE ) reversed the mini-breakout, bringing the stock back to triangle support. I had ran a tighter stop than the one from my newsletter, closing the 1,400 share position for a -$434 loss ( -5.05% ): Collective2

The Kirk Report has a good link fest of negative outlook on the market. One of his links is to Doug Kass at TheStreet.com , who suggests a cumulative decline of 25% should not be seen as surprising, or impossible (this would put the S&P at 1,166). My measure of intraday buying as measured by my Trade Ideas scan would seem to support a theory for further weakness. In my historical look at the rate of intraday buying from what I term the "Top-8" stocks, rallies from major reaction lows are supported by broad intraday buying - especially into the close of business - giving a "Top-8" list of stocks which is selected well inside 10 minutes, and often in a minute or less. Although the sample is restricted to only one major reaction low (July of last year) there is reason to suggest the very weak buying for the rally from last Thursday's lows is not what bottoms are made of and new lows are necessary to 'reset' the count. Indeed, the strength of buying...

The intraday buying as represented by my Trade Ideas scan has been dire for almost two weeks now. Today's was no exception; a "Top-8" list done in 4 hours ! And no picks for the "20-appearance" list: 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 are interested in knowing what I do with the "Top-8" and "20-appearance" data I have prepared a report here . Trade Ideas

Two new loans made possible by early repayments from KIVA borrowers. KIVA

This was a 3 pm call. The markets gapped up at the open and held these levels throughout the day (at least up to 3 pm). The "Top-8" list covered a time span of 58 minutes - not great, but certainly better than recent days; the "20-appearance" list featured three stocks: 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 are interested in knowing what I do with the "Top-8" and "20-appearance" data I have prepared a report here . Trade Ideas

Advanced Battery ( ABAT ) clipped its protective stop as the stock made a positive test at 50-day MA support - but confirmed a loss of its earlier break of $2.96. The 2,000 share position closed for a +$180 ( +3.3% ) profit: Collective2

Another quiet day for the markets with lackluster intraday buying. The Trade Ideas scan reflected this insipid buying with a "Top-8" list covering 1 hour and 57 minutes , and only one stock, Huntsman Corp ( HUN ), breaking the "20-appearance" barrier: 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 are interested in knowing what I do with the "Top-8" and "20-appearance" data I have prepared a report here . Trade Ideas

Another day of slim pickings for buyers. The Trade Ideas scan "Top-8" pick list was the slowest it has been in quite a while at just under 3 hours . Only two stocks made more than "20 appearances" over the course of the day. No real bottom action yet for the intraday pattern (even if daily action favors a bottom): 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 are interested in knowing what I do with the "Top-8" and "20-appearance" data I have prepared a report here . Trade Ideas

It was another volatile week for the markets with good potential for a bottom based on Thursday's capitulation. How did the Stockcharter's see it? Dr. Joe Reed opens with the week summary: Joe has marked a trigger 'buy' in Full stochastics for the Dow: The S&P has also tested at support level: With the S&P Percent of Stocks above the 50-day MA having reached extreme oversold levels: Joe has a good chart showing the false breakout in the Euro (maybe my dollars won't be as worthless now that I need to work in Euros!): With Gold and the Dollar poised to move: Robert New is looking to Long Term Support for the Nasdaq: Robert's 10-year Treasury Note Yield chart is always a good one to check: But his best chart looks to be his Russell 2000 chart - a 'buy' signal in play: Mitchell Meana has marked a rising channel for the Dow. Presumably the fifth wave is complete: Richard Lehman has his usual weekly summary: 8/16 -- Whew! Nice reversal, and right o...

I have already commented in my Trade Ideas post how today's buying had all the makings of a short covering day, with little in the way of substance buying. The net result for the week was the leave the markets in a broad quagmire of volatility with support and resistance broadly defined. The index which probably has the most benefit - purely on the basis it is the most beat down - is the Russell 2000: Large caps played more to form with the Dow finishing the week with a picture perfect test of the 200-day MA. The Dow is a good example of how Bears currently run the show; dips in May, June and early July were bought up quickly - but the later July dip was sold off at the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement. So how will the current rally fare (61.8% retracement at 13,225)? Unfortunately, the S&P has fewer redeeming qualities as the 200-day MA is support no more and the 50-day MA did its best to contain an earlier rally: The Nasdaq is another index to feel the wrath of the 50-day MA as re...