Entering Weak Seasonality

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The indexes might’ve hit their annual high already, at least for the next few months. US stocks tend to struggle in August and September, particularly in the second year after elections. Seasonality might sound unserious to many, but so far, the market has been following the script relatively closely. It would be irrational not to pay attention to it. 

This doesn’t mean that there won’t be any stocks making new highs and advancing. After all, bull markets are stock pickers’ markets. There are always stocks that significantly outperform the averages. The one major trend so far this season is the strong performance from companies related to AI, ranging from data center components to energy sources.  We saw it again last week with big moves in META, CDNS, CLS, GLW, MPWR, MSFT, NVT, RMBS, SANM, etc. I am not saying to go and chase those stocks. Most are extended and need time to set up again. The pullback to their 20 and 50dma are likely to attract buyers and help them form new bases and better entry points.

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Bull Markets Correct Through Sector Rotation

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The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq 100 keep making new all-time highs on almost a weekly basis lately. The dips are shallow and don’t last long. Naturally, the price action in the indexes differs significantly from the action in momentum individual stocks, which are a lot more volatile. We saw it again last week, when stocks like PLTR and HOOD had 6-10% pullbacks while the indexes barely moved. The pullback in many momentum stocks earlier last week coincided with a rally in lagging sectors like homebuilders. This is not the first time we have seen such rotations. The month of July started in a similar manner. So far, the pullbacks in momentum stocks haven’t led to a substantial correction; they just offered better risk-to-reward entry points. Sector rotations and dip buying are among the two most prominent bull market characteristics.

We are at the beginning of a new earnings season. We should be talking about earnings surprises and unusual market reactions, but this is not what the market is really focused on. Two other elements seem to have a bigger impact on sentiment – tariffs and interest rates. 

The Fed is meeting again this week. The expectations are for no change of the current path – meaning rates stay the same and there’s a consideration for a cut later in the year. And yet, the Fed might surprise us. There has been a lot of political pressure lately for lower rates. Any hint of rate cuts from the Fed will likely lead to a rally in the more interest-rate-sensitive groups in the market, such as homebuilders and biotech companies.

You might think that tariffs don’t matter and have been priced in already, but this is not what we saw in the market reactions to trade deals. They lead to significant gaps – see Japanese stocks last week. Vietnam ETF, VNM, is up 20% since the announcement of a deal on July 2nd. We are likely to see more announcements next week as the next deadline, August 1st, is approaching.

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The Bull Is Still Strong

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There are still plenty of opportunities in this market. Bitcoin hit new all-time highs. The 2x leveraged Bitcoin ETF, BITX, gained 25% in a few days. I participated in this move but missed on the much bigger moves in Ethereum and XRP. ETHU and XXRP went up more than 100% in a couple of weeks.

China has also awakened from its slumber. BABA JUL18 $110 Calls went from 1 to 12 inside a week, and we participated in part of the move.

The opportunities are everywhere: electric helicopters: JOBY, ACHR; drones: RCAT, KTOS, RDW; airspace: ASTS, RKLB; rare earth metals: MP, USAR; brokerages: HOOD, IBKR, BULL, FUTU, TIGR; uranium: LEU, OKLO, SMR; software: PLTR, TWLO, SOUN, AEVA; quantum computing: QBTS, RGTI; e-commerce: SHOP, SE; robotics: SERV, SYM, PDYN; crypto-related stocks: COIN, APLD, CRCL; batteries for electric vehicles: ENVX, QS; energy: NEXT, METC, SOC, etc.

There are certainly some elements of frothiness in the current market, but the bull remains strong. Many of the high-momentum flyers are likely to pull back in the next few weeks, but others will pop up and take their place. Bull markets correct through sector rotation.

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Disclaim