February 8th, 2022 by Richard

Is the tide turning for the SPX?

 

Nb. Our comment from the 01/26/22

 

Well, they have certainly stabilised the ship, but whether the initial issue has been corrected we feel the jury is still out on that one.

As this index has plumbed the depths, well R2 to be precise, then it is no surprise at all that there has been a considerable change in the ratios.

Though the question is this; has the “norm” been reversed?

By this we mean the normality of the last couple of years where the ratios recede above a rising zone while the market just keeps knocking on the door until it relents.

The answer is that it did change, with the “very good” activity resulting in the ratios above the zone advancing while those below receded. And, although 4500 came within a whisker of being the new zone, we haven’t had a down move yet.

This is not to say this may not happen again but, at the moment at least, normal service has been resumed.

However, the huge changes in the ratios can be seen in the above table, where our old friend 4295 is now R1. Incidentally, both R2 and R3 have been lower, today has seen them recover slightly. Seemingly, the biggest changes have been saved for above the zone, where Y2 has gone altogether and R3 makes an appearance, which doesn’t happen often these days, especially in an intermediary expiry. But, both R1 and R2 have made considerable inroads, something we are just simply not used to these days.

Looking ahead, then 4495-4505 is still an important level, and therefore what the market does today may well decide whether or not it still has any designs on becoming the next zone, at least for the rest of this week that is.

Otherwise, this market has bounced of R2, and has now powered all the way back up through the minimal Y ratio, so no prizes there. And, as we have said so many times before, this is just how it is these days because of the amazingly wide Y ratio bandwidths.

Depending on what happens with 4500, this rally tells us very little, and it won’t until, or if, it reaches the current zone. So, enjoy the Y ratios volatility and potential whipsaw, but don’t fooled into believing it’s something it is not.  

 

Range:            4295  to  4595           

Activity:          Poor

Type:              Bearish

 

Nb. Our comment for 02/08/22

 

As we said last week, the rally told us nothing until it reached its zone.

Which it did on Wednesday 2nd with the intraday high of 4595.31 just touching the bottom boundary of its zone.

The fact that the market is well below 100-points this level now just tells us how thin it all is out there, and that the bulls last week were just not interested in taking on any futures at all.

Unfortunately, after Wednesday it gets a little bit more complicated as, although the bulls are still waiting in the wings, it seems like so are the bears.

The real problem for us is the total lack of interest in getting the zone to move down to 4495-4505, and thereby confirming the down trend.

To make matters worse, it hasn’t really changed at all. So, a small push could easily still see 4500 become the next zone, but it seems practically frozen in time. Made all the weirder when you consider this market has been at or below it for the last three days, providing ideal conditions for it to actually decide.

Obviously, we would love this to be all cut and dried for you, but the fact remains that if the market doesn’t know what it wants to do then it will quite simply reflect that here.

We have seen a pick up in bullish activity over the last few days, but this has hardly been conclusive.

So, all we can say, is that being below its current zone the market is in bear territory. And that, as evidenced by the pullback from the zone, the bulls are currently in hiding.

However, there is one further aspect we should add, and this is that sometimes, just like the turning of the tide, you get that indecisive period where it just doesn’t know whether it’s meant to be coming or going.

Basically, watch this space, as we will let you know as soon as possible when we get something more definitive.

 

Range:            4320  to  4595           

Activity:          Moderate

Type:              On balance just bearish

 

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February 7th, 2022 by Richard

It's not unheard of but can the FTSE spend a third week in its zone?

 

Nb. Our comment from the 01/31/22

Well, what can one say about last week? Well, quite a lot actually.

Monday was a remarkable day, as it is not often that London loses 200-points. And although the intraday low was 7283.38 and R1 was then at 7250, when you take into consideration not only the magnitude of the fall but also the velocity of it, then that is close enough for us.

And if Monday wasn’t enough for you, then Tuesday was all about Y2, then at 7350.

And the last three days have all been about the zone, 7450 and 7550. And, although the official close on Thursday was 7554.31, that was down to the auction as the real time close was 7550.15, right on the upper boundary.

Which makes the range on Friday, from this intraday high to the intraday low of 7420.20 coupled with the close of 7466.07 (real time 7472.04) a zone bandwidth test. And we did check the honest open, not the official it is the same as the previous days close, and it was circa 7550. Which normally means a breakout the next trading day.

Of course, when we said above that it might be beneficial to the bulls if this market spent the first week in its zone and, although this was the case for most of it, this did not take into consideration the extreme start to the week and then the ensuing no quarter battle to get it back in there.

Therefore, it is scant surprise that there has been considerable change in the ratios. Naturally necessitated by continued high levels of activity.

The changes can be seen above but what is not so evident is the fact that the zone could easily move down to 7250-7350 and, should this happen, it would materially change the entire dynamic of this index for the rest of this expiry.

Otherwise, the main takeaways are the disappearance of all the Y ratio above the zone, and the fact there is now 200-points of the minimal Y1 ratio below it. So, for us, keeping this market in its zone will be hard enough, but if it in itself falls, then a really tough ask, despite the zone bandwidth test on Friday.

 

Range:            7450  to  7550       

Activity:          Good

Type:              On balance only just bullish

 

 

Nb. Our comment on 02/07/22

 

Despite it being “a tough ask” they did manage to keep this market in its zone.

And by doing so, we have now seen a very decent build up in the ratios below the zone.

Again, it was an exciting start to the week, and if you were watching on Monday then that would have given you a massive clue about what might be in store for the rest of last week. At 10:30 the market went down to 7452 before recovering. Then again at 14:50 it had another go, getting back down to 7451 before one final attempt just before the close when it hit 7451 again. Three tests of the bottom boundary, and not one breach in sight.

Therefore, it was hardly surprising when we saw the intraday high of 7549.29, the upper boundary, the very next day.

Of course, we don’t know when 7550 dropped from R1 to Y2, but three days in row where the intraday high was around 7600 suggests it was about Wednesday or Thursday. Interestingly, only the Thursday closed outside of the zone.

It is not unheard of for this market to spend a third week in its zone but, as activity has continued to be so good, we suspect this is going to be even harder to achieve this week

However, there is now some Y ratio either side of the zone, so plenty of scope for it to escape should it want to.

Below the zone is still where there is the more scope, with R1 now starting at 7350.

Above the zone is still rather limited, with R1 remaining at 7600 and thereafter the exponential ratios climb one rung up every 50-points so, if they want a new all-time-high, then they are going to have to work for it and be prepared to take on all those futures forced out by the dynamic delta.

 

Range:            7450  to  7550       

Activity:          Good

Type:              On balance bearish

 

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February 1st, 2022 by Richard

Can the SPX continue up through the Y ratios to its zone?

 

Nb. Our comment from the 01/26/22

 

They tried so very very hard in the January expiry to get it to settle in its zone, with the (in the end) valiant effort to get the market up to 4602.11. The fact that after so much effort they still couldn’t hold it there was the first clue there were stronger undertones at work. The fact that it settled at 4472.07 was a result therefore, as at least it was still in the Y ratios.

However, and also why we have included the ratio table for Feb on the 20th above, is that on Friday the intraday low was 4395.34, coincidentally R1.

The second warning perhaps? Either way the open on Monday was way below this, and the market even went below R2 (which was unchanged from the 20th) before it staged what was a truly spectacular recovery.

This meant that the close at 4410.13 was back above both R2 and R1, which could have easily been job done on one of the most amazing starts to an expiry recently.

Sadly, the ratios below the zone then collapsed on Tuesday and, although they are mostly unchanged today, this weakness was a new experience.

The market yesterday did go below R1 at 4345 (intraday low 4287.11) but didn’t get as far as R2 now at 4245, before recovering to close back above R1. Giving just a glimmer of hope that all hands were rushing to stabilise the ship.

This makes today critical as the ratios are still weak below the zone, which in itself could easily move down to 4495-4505, as it tries to re-establish normal sensitivity and therefore reaction to the ratios, and thereby dispense with any panic.

We have said for quite a while now that these are not risk-free markets, and Monday’s huge test of R2 should also be a lesson as, although it rebounded spectacularly, it could also have gone the other way it was such a close call. Especially as over a great many of the previous expiries this index has been sensitive to just Y2 ratio, so this could just also be a sea change in tolerance levels as well.

 

Range:            4345  to  4595           

Activity:          Moderate

Type:              Bearish

 

 

Nb. Our comment for 01/26/22

 

Well, they have certainly stabilised the ship, but whether the initial issue has been corrected we feel the jury is still out on that one.

As this index has plumbed the depths, well R2 to be precise, then it is no surprise at all that there has been a considerable change in the ratios.

Though the question is this; has the “norm” been reversed?

By this we mean the normality of the last couple of years where the ratios recede above a rising zone while the market just keeps knocking on the door until it relents.

The answer is that it did change, with the “very good” activity resulting in the ratios above the zone advancing while those below receded. And, although 4500 came within a whisker of being the new zone, we haven’t had a down move yet.

This is not to say this may not happen again but, at the moment at least, normal service has been resumed.

However, the huge changes in the ratios can be seen in the above table, where our old friend 4295 is now R1. Incidentally, both R2 and R3 have been lower, today has seen them recover slightly. Seemingly, the biggest changes have been saved for above the zone, where Y2 has gone altogether and R3 makes an appearance, which doesn’t happen often these days, especially in an intermediary expiry. But, both R1 and R2 have made considerable inroads, something we are just simply not used to these days.

Looking ahead, then 4495-4505 is still an important level, and therefore what the market does today may well decide whether or not it still has any designs on becoming the next zone, at least for the rest of this week that is.

Otherwise, this market has bounced of R2, and has now powered all the way back up through the minimal Y ratio, so no prizes there. And, as we have said so many times before, this is just how it is these days because of the amazingly wide Y ratio bandwidths.

Depending on what happens with 4500, this rally tells us very little, and it won’t until, or if, it reaches the current zone. So, enjoy the Y ratios volatility and potential whipsaw, but don’t fooled into believing it’s something it is not.  

 

Range:            4295  to  4595           

Activity:          Poor

Type:              Bearish

 

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January 30th, 2022 by Richard

After Friday's zone bandwidth test in the FTSE its going to be tough to keep it in there.

 

Nb. Our comment from the 01/24/22

We don’t think we can get away with not mentioning the end of the Jan expiry, especially as there was such a huge battle going on between derivatives and equities. And, we were anticipating a move up in the zone to 7350-7450 but, in the end, what we got was 7450-7550. So, the valiant R3 at 7550 that was such a thorn in the equities side in the final fortnight, did eventually capitulate, ending up as the upper boundary of the zone as well as R1. Meaning the EDSP of 7528.28 was actually in the new zone.

Furthermore, the huge levels of activity have continued on into the Feb expiry, so much so it has almost doubled the overall exposure that had been present, and in just one week. Which was rather fitting for an expiry that produced a 3.63% gain over the five-weeks of its length.

Therefore, it comes as no great surprise that the zone in Feb has ended up matching the Jan one, albeit one was at the end of its tenure while the other is just at the start of theirs.

How long will the market stay in its zone, who knows. But we hope it will be for this first week at least, if only just to let the dust settle.

If it doesn’t, then worth noting on the upside 7550 is now just Y2, so in reality, the fact it is the zones upper boundary will probably carry more weight than the level of dynamic delta produced by a Y ratio. The serious levels don’t start until 7650, and if it continues to be as aggressive as last week, then R3 doesn’t kick in until 7700.

On the downside, then what with the recent move up in the zone, it has left a huge amount of Y ratio below it, so the serious levels here don’t start until 7250. So, if you are a bull, then a week in its zone would be very beneficial as it might allow for the ratios down here to build up a bit.

Worth noting also Feb is the more regular four-weeks trip, and Jan also started their trip in their zone, although back then (20/12/2021) this was 7150-7250.

 

Range:            7450  to  7550       

Activity:          Outstanding

Type:              On balance only just bullish

 

 

Nb. Our comment on 01/31/22

Well, what can one say about last week? Well, quite a lot actually.

Monday was a remarkable day, as it is not often that London loses 200-points. And although the intraday low was 7283.38 and R1 was then at 7250, when you take into consideration not only the magnitude of the fall but also the velocity of it, then that is close enough for us.

And if Monday wasn’t enough for you, then Tuesday was all about Y2, then at 7350.

And the last three days have all been about the zone, 7450 and 7550. And, although the official close on Thursday was 7554.31, that was down to the auction as the real time close was 7550.15, right on the upper boundary.

Which makes the range on Friday, from this intraday high to the intraday low of 7420.20 coupled with the close of 7466.07 (real time 7472.04) a zone bandwidth test. And we did check the honest open, not the official it is the same as the previous days close, and it was circa 7550. Which normally means a breakout the next trading day.

Of course, when we said above that it might be beneficial to the bulls if this market spent the first week in its zone and, although this was the case for most of it, this did not take into consideration the extreme start to the week and then the ensuing no quarter battle to get it back in there.

Therefore, it is scant surprise that there has been considerable change in the ratios. Naturally necessitated by continued high levels of activity.

The changes can be seen above but what is not so evident is the fact that the zone could easily move down to 7250-7350 and, should this happen, it would materially change the entire dynamic of this index for the rest of this expiry.

Otherwise, the main takeaways are the disappearance of all the Y ratio above the zone, and the fact there is now 200-points of the minimal Y1 ratio below it. So, for us, keeping this market in its zone will be hard enough, but if it in itself falls, then a really tough ask, despite the zone bandwidth test on Friday.

 

Range:            7450  to  7550       

Activity:          Good

Type:              On balance only just bullish

 

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January 26th, 2022 by Richard

What a start to the SPX Feb expiry which pays the price for trying to get Jan to settle in its zone.

 

Nb. Our comment from the 01/20/22 (Not published for February)

 

Nb. Our comment for 01/26/22

 

They tried so very very hard in the January expiry to get it to settle in its zone, with the (in the end) valiant effort to get the market up to 4602.11. The fact that after so much effort they still couldn’t hold it there was the first clue there were stronger undertones at work. The fact that it settled at 4472.07 was a result therefore, as at least it was still in the Y ratios.

However, and also why we have included the ratio table for Feb on the 20th above, is that on Friday the intraday low was 4395.34, coincidentally R1.

The second warning perhaps? Either way the open on Monday was way below this, and the market even went below R2 (which was unchanged from the 20th) before it staged what was a truly spectacular recovery.

This meant that the close at 4410.13 was back above both R2 and R1, which could have easily been job done on one of the most amazing starts to an expiry recently.

Sadly, the ratios below the zone then collapsed on Tuesday and, although they are mostly unchanged today, this weakness was a new experience.

The market yesterday did go below R1 at 4345 (intraday low 4287.11) but didn’t get as far as R2 now at 4245, before recovering to close back above R1. Giving just a glimmer of hope that all hands were rushing to stabilise the ship.

This makes today critical as the ratios are still weak below the zone, which in itself could easily move down to 4495-4505, as it tries to re-establish normal sensitivity and therefore reaction to the ratios, and thereby dispense with any panic.

We have said for quite a while now that these are not risk-free markets, and Monday’s huge test of R2 should also be a lesson as, although it rebounded spectacularly, it could also have gone the other way it was such a close call. Especially as over a great many of the previous expiries this index has been sensitive to just Y2 ratio, so this could just also be a sea change in tolerance levels as well.

 

Range:            4345  to  4595           

Activity:          Moderate

Type:              Bearish

 

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January 24th, 2022 by Richard

The start of the Feb expiry gives the FTSE far more scope.

Nb. Our comment from the 01/17/22 (Not published)

Nb. Our comment on 01/24/22

 

We don’t think we can get away with not mentioning the end of the Jan expiry, especially as there was such a huge battle going on between derivatives and equities. And, we were anticipating a move up in the zone to 7350-7450 but, in the end, what we got was 7450-7550. So, the valiant R3 at 7550 that was such a thorn in the equities side in the final fortnight, did eventually capitulate, ending up as the upper boundary of the zone as well as R1. Meaning the EDSP of 7528.28 was actually in the new zone.

Furthermore, the huge levels of activity have continued on into the Feb expiry, so much so it has almost doubled the overall exposure that had been present, and in just one week. Which was rather fitting for an expiry that produced a 3.63% gain over the five-weeks of its length.

Therefore, it comes as no great surprise that the zone in Feb has ended up matching the Jan one, albeit one was at the end of its tenure while the other is just at the start of theirs.

How long will the market stay in its zone, who knows. But we hope it will be for this first week at least, if only just to let the dust settle.

If it doesn’t, then worth noting on the upside 7550 is now just Y2, so in reality, the fact it is the zones upper boundary will probably carry more weight than the level of dynamic delta produced by a Y ratio. The serious levels don’t start until 7650, and if it continues to be as aggressive as last week, then R3 doesn’t kick in until 7700.

On the downside, then what with the recent move up in the zone, it has left a huge amount of Y ratio below it, so the serious levels here don’t start until 7250. So, if you are a bull, then a week in its zone would be very beneficial as it might allow for the ratios down here to build up a bit.

Worth noting also Feb is the more regular four-week trip, and Jan also started their trip in their zone, although back then (20/12/2021) this was 7150-7250.

 

Range:            7450  to  7550       

Activity:          Outstanding

Type:              On balance only just bullish

 

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January 20th, 2022 by Richard

The market drags the SPX's zone back to its starting level.

 

Nb. Our comment from the 01/11/22

 

Looks like the door was Y2.

Which was slammed shut very unequivocally. So much so, being above 4800 seems a distant memory now.

What did surprise us however, was the fact that 4805 has held onto being Y2, although it did slip on the 6th to 4810 it recovered the very next day and has since quietly strengthened.

This is not that pertinent at the moment as the last five trading days have been all about the zone.

The -92.96-point fall on the 5th took this market right into the safety of the middle of its zone, 4700.58. The next day the market meandered 20-points either side of its zone, before eventually finishing back in it for the second day.

This made Friday quite the important day, as above the zone the bulls are in charge, whereas below it and it is the bears. In the end it closed below it, but not after an intraday high of 4707.95, giving that upper boundary one more test for good measure.

And with Monday also closing below the zone we would normally say that the decision has been made, making the first line of support the corresponding Y2 below the zone, currently standing at 4570.

Our only misgiving is that the intraday low on Monday was 4582.24, which considering was a fall of 94.79-points inflating the vega, is close enough under these conditions to count as a hit. So, basically, has it done it already?

Either way it is certainly going to make for an entertaining end to the Jan expiry we think, and it could just turn out to be a very original finale as well, as it has been a very long time since this index has been south of its zone when the sharp end of the expiry comes about.

For the record the Y1 ratio bandwidth has returned to the 235-points we were used to seeing for the first few weeks of this expiry.

 

Range:            4570  to  4695           

Activity:          Moderate

Type:              Neutral

 

Nb. Our comment for 01/20/22

 

Hopefully you saw it as soon as you looked at the above table, but the big news is that the zone has returned to its starting point of 4595-4605.

Hugely significant, and not just for the fact it has fallen, which is a bearish sign in the same way that a rising zone is bullish.

It was also the fact that the previous Monday, the 10th Jan, this market had tested Y2 at 4570 before staging a remarkable recovery. A recovery that took it back above the then zone of 4695-4705 for a couple of days. So, the bulls were evidently not spent yet.

However, dropping back below 4700 on the Thursday and Friday was the first indication that the bulls had run out of steam and that the bears were flexing their muscles. And, it was into this scenario that the zone dropped.

So, it looks like we are going to get that recent rarity, an expiry where the zone is actually above the current market level. In fact, so rare of late, they have probably forgotten what to do or how to act.

And, if there was still any doubt as to who is in charge, the market actually closed deep into the fallen Y2 level of 4545.

Worth noting is that when Y2 was still at 4570 the intraday low on Tuesday was 4568.70.

Don’t forget all these problems started when this index messed with Y2 at 4805 in the second week of this expiry, and doesn’t that seem like a very long ago now.

There is still a day to go, but essentially time has run out. So, we feel that this market would be doing very well in our estimation just to get the settlement price in the Y1 ratio bandwidth.

Although, there is a lot of finger-crossing that we might see this index finish in its zone, as that would give us the perfect expiry. Being from one ratio level, in this instance Y2, all the way back to the corresponding one on the other side of the zone before reversing once more to finish in said zone. If you do get these turning points right, it can turn a 5% trip over the length of an expiry into a 10% one, which annualised is “fair dinkum” as they say.

 

Range:            4445  to  4545        or        4545  to  4595           

Activity:          Moderate

Type:              On balance only just bearish

 

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January 17th, 2022 by Richard

With the rollover and expiry looming the FTSE's zone becomes more significant.

Nb. Our comment from the 01/10/22

As suspected R1 at 7400 didn’t last the night, leaving 7450 to take up that mantle.

And last week R2 was at 7500, and between these two levels they pretty much controlled what was happening in the FTSE.

The Tuesday and Wednesday showed just how desperate this market was to catch up with the rampant US markets, and on both days the market made deep incursions into R2 (above 7500) and even closed just north of it, but it was very plain to see that they really didn’t know how to cope with the persistent futures selling brought about by the R2 amount of dynamic delta.

Thursday was all about 7450, and the actual real world intraday high that day was 7498, not the aberration official 7516 caused by their weird policy. Whilst on this subject the real time close of the FTSE on Tuesday was actually 7497.42, it was the auction that took it to 7505.15, which is a cheat in our book.

Anyway, to more pressing matters, and this week the zone has moved up. Not expected, but also not surprising, and as there are still two weeks to go not that important last week anyway.

The real battle has been with R2, which is now gone, although we are sure 7500 will have legacy impact.

The important level is now 7550, which goes straight to R3 from R1, so will be all the more impactful for that. But, if this market couldn’t really cope with R2, and these levels are exponential, we just can’t see it handling this even greater number.

So, in our view, there is now very limited upside, and if the UK wants to follow the US and run for cover in its zone, then at least that has now moved closer. Nevertheless, the upper boundary is still 150-points south, so not insignificant.

This means 7450 and 7550 are the critical levels this week.

 

Range:            7450  to  7550       

Activity:          Good

Type:              On balance only just bullish

 

Nb. Our comment on 01/17/22

All we can say is that we hope you read last week’s comment (above), as if you did then literally everything that happened last week should have made sense.

The first two days were all about R1 at 7450, the market at that time being in the R1 ratio bandwidth of 7450 to 7550.

Had 7450 failed, then we would have been looking at a rather rapid retracement back to the zone.

But, it held, which meant that the market should then test the other end of this bandwidth, namely 7550.

The trouble here was that it wasn’t just the next level up in the exponential ratio scale, R2, but rather R3.

Which is a very significant increase in the number of futures selling bought about by the dynamic delta.

The fact that the market managed to eke out three new all-time-highs was very impressive under these conditions. The fact that two of them were by just a point or so was therefore all the more understandable.

And we must say it, but over the last three days of last week, on any chart timescale it was increasingly blatant that 7550 was a very serious level of resistance, such was the constant interaction with it and the repeated use of the closing auction to try to influence matters.

So, the bulls are going to be rather dismayed to learn that even after all that constant battering, R3 is still there.

And, to make matters worse, this week it is the rollover and expiry, so the zone is going to be ever more influential.

The good news is that it is looking likely that this will move up to 7350-7450.

But if you thought last week’s battle with R3 was intense, then this final week should just raise the stakes even more. What fun.

 

Range:            7450  to  7550       

Activity:          Very poor

Type:              On balance only just bearish

 

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January 11th, 2022 by Richard

If last week was all about the zone, this week the SPX's focus is on Y2

 

Nb. Our comment from the 01/05/22

 

A lot has happened since we last posted, both in the ratios and in the market.

Although a Santa rally, or what we like to call the year end performance bonus rally, was not the hardest call to make.

Way back on the 23rd December this market hit Y2, then at 4730 (please see above) with the intraday high of 4740.74 and a close at 4725.79.

This set the tone, as such a deep incursion into Y2 was quite the hint, and the very next trading day saw Y2 capitulate, and over the next few days we saw it slide from 4755 down to 4805.

The three intraday highs last week of 4807.02, 4804.06 and 4808.93 tell their own story, and so, when it came to yesterday’s 4818.62 it was already on strike 3.

Also, we would be very surprised if Y2 remains at 4805 much past today.

Talking of today, only now has the zone moved, standing at 4695-4705, meaning it has taken just over two-weeks to get back to where it was in the Dec expiry.

And, we very much doubt it is going to stop here either.

All in all, quite a few changes, but none of which that can take us away from the fact that this year looks like picking up from where most of last year ended.

Basically, knock, knock knocking on the retreating ratio door. The big question is which door, Y2 or R1?

In the meantime, the Y1 ratio bandwidth has gone from 235 to 285-points, while the overall Y ratio bandwidth has gone from 435 to 460-points.

This is not symptomatic of hugely committed bull market, but rather more like one stuck in automatic, while all the time there is the potential for a blink of the eye 10% correction.

 

Range:            4705  to  4805           

Activity:          Very poor

Type:              Neutral

 

 

Nb. Our comment for 01/11/22

 

Looks like the door was Y2.

Which was slammed shut very unequivocally. So much so, being above 4800 seems a distant memory now.

What did surprise us however, was the fact that 4805 has held onto being Y2, although it did slip on the 6th to 4810 it recovered the very next day and has since quietly strengthened.

This is not that pertinent at the moment as the last five trading days have been all about the zone.

The -92.96-point fall on the 5th took this market right into the safety of the middle of its zone, 4700.58. The next day the market meandered 20-points either side of its zone, before eventually finishing back in it for the second day.

This made Friday quite the important day, as above the zone the bulls are in charge, whereas below it and it is the bears. In the end it closed below it, but not after an intraday high of 4707.95, giving that upper boundary one more test for good measure.

And with Monday also closing below the zone we would normally say that the decision has been made, making the first line of support the corresponding Y2 below the zone, currently standing at 4570.

Our only misgiving is that the intraday low on Monday was 4582.24, which considering was a fall of 94.79-points inflating the vega, is close enough under these conditions to count as a hit. So, basically, has it done it already?

Either way it is certainly going to make for an entertaining end to the Jan expiry we think, and it could just turn out to be a very original finale as well, as it has been a very long time since this index has been south of its zone when the sharp end of the expiry comes about.

For the record the Y1 ratio bandwidth has returned to the 235-points we were used to seeing for the first few weeks of this expiry.

 

Range:            4570  to  4695           

Activity:          Moderate

Type:              Neutral

 

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January 10th, 2022 by Richard

Two critical levels for the FTSE this week, 7450 and 7550.

 

Nb. Our comment from the 01/04/22

Happy New Year to you all and may 2022 bring you all health, wealth and happiness.

Just to recap the first two days of this expiry were all about the zone, and 7250 did prove critical (please see above).

But thereafter it definitely got its Santa rally hat on and R1 was the next stop, then at 7350.

When we last published it had only just become R1 by a fingernail from the Y2 it had been on the 16th Dec, two trading days prior, so coming under assault from the rampant market we suspect it beat a very hasty retreat.

This means that by the end of last week we firmly believe R1 was at 7400, where it is today.

This then makes perfect sense of the price action last week, especially all the concentrated activity around 7403 on the Thursday and Friday.

Looking forward, as you can see in the above table, 7400 is still R1, but only just, and we wouldn’t expect it to remain so for much more than a day.

7450 is another matter entirely, and is in fact just a smidgen below the R2 threshold.

Which is actually the same situation for 7500, apart from this threshold being R3.

So, it is great it made a new all-time-high, and there is even scope for it to go back there again, but the dynamic delta futures selling brought about by R1 at 7450 and backed up by R2 at 7500 will certainly take the steam, and perhaps enthusiasm out of this market should it test these levels we believe.

On the other hand, and don’t forget we still have three weeks to go in this expiry, the zone is now 200-points south, with virtually no ratio in-between.

 

Range:            7250  to  7400       

Activity:          Moderate

Type:              Neutral

 

 

Nb. Our comment on 01/10/22

 

As suspected R1 at 7400 didn’t last the night, leaving 7450 to take up that mantle.

And last week R2 was at 7500, and between these two levels they pretty much controlled what was happening in the FTSE.

The Tuesday and Wednesday showed just how desperate this market was to catch up with the rampant US markets, and on both days the market made deep incursions into R2 (above 7500) and even closed just north of it, but it was very plain to see that they really didn’t know how to cope with the persistent futures selling brought about by the R2 amount of dynamic delta.

Thursday was all about 7450, and the actual real world intraday high that day was 7498, not the aberration official 7516 caused by their weird policy. Whilst on this subject the real time close of the FTSE on Tuesday was actually 7497.42, it was the auction that took it to 7505.15, which is a cheat in our book.

Anyway, to more pressing matters, and this week the zone has moved up. Not expected, but also not surprising, and as there are still two weeks to go not that important last week anyway.

The real battle has been with R2, which is now gone, although we are sure 7500 will have legacy impact.

The important level is now 7550, which goes straight to R3 from R1, so will be all the more impactful for that. But, if this market couldn’t really cope with R2, and these levels are exponential, we just can’t see it handling this even greater number.

So, in our view, there is now very limited upside, and if the UK wants to follow the US and run for cover in its zone, then at least that has now moved closer. Nevertheless, the upper boundary is still 150-points south, so not insignificant.

This means 7450 and 7550 are the critical levels this week.

 

Range:            7450  to  7550       

Activity:          Good

Type:              On balance only just bullish

 

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