Bonds have had one of the worst years in modern times and one of the fastest rates of interest rate rises.

The good news is the market has absorbed the bond’s performance. A better risk-on environment is when the SPY outperforms the long bonds. The same is true with junk bonds outperforming long bonds. Another indicator of risk-on.

The yield curve remains inverted — or the potential recession indicator has not, to date, caused a recession. Hence talk of a soft landing. Will yields tap out at 5.5-5.75%? Many think so. However, higher for longer seems more likely.

Furthermore, inflation is not quite done. The PCE, due out this week, is at 4%, not 2% And just as it took from 2020 until spring 2022 to see inflation soar then peak, it is likely we will not see the impact on these rates until 2024 or even 2025. Talking technical, bonds do not look likely to rally from here (TLT). However, we are watching the October 2022 lows carefully.

A potential double bottom exists if TLTs can clear back above 98. A move under 95, though, points more to a retest and possible break of the low 91.85.

How does this impact small caps?

Small caps, as measured by IWM, are key for the fall and into 2024. You can also look at SML, the S&P 600. Over the weekend, we covered that the Russell 2000 (IWM) could be forming an inverted head-and-shoulders bottom going back from the start of 2023. First though, it must hold 180 and clear 190. No small task.

Small caps are related to commercial real estate, so that is a caveat.

Why could small caps do well? The Government has spent a lot of money on US manufacturing, and the Dallas-fed index fell less than expected. In the US quest for more independence on goods, we must look to costs and labor for the trend to sustain. It must be noted though, that prices and wages paid soared. 

The IWM chart shows a lack of leadership thus far against the SPY. The Real Motion Indicator has no real divergence from price. Nonetheless, IWM needs more everything-more rally, more leadership, and more momentum.

Our small caps quant model has done well this year, buying companies with earnings growth. The basket is an interesting combination of semiconductor companies, home building and beauty staples.

For more detailed trading information about our blended models, tools and trader education courses, contact Rob Quinn, our Chief Strategy Consultant, to learn more.

If you find it difficult to execute the MarketGauge strategies or would like to explore how we can do it for you, please email Ben Scheibe at Benny@MGAMLLC.com.

“I grew my money tree and so can you!” – Mish Schneider

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Follow Mish on Twitter @marketminute for stock picks and more. Follow Mish on Instagram (mishschneider) for daily morning videos. To see updated media clips, click here.

Mish in the Media

Mish served as guest host for the Monday, August 28 edition of StockCharts TV’s The Final Bar! Mish puts her own spin on the Market Recap, starting with the indices and then exploring sectors using her “Economic Modern Family” analysis. She then sits down with Keith Schneider for an insightful interview. Keith discusses topics such as agricultural commodities, biotechnology, and volatility.

Mish and Charles discuss a secular bear market in bonds and why gold could outshine expectations in this appearance on Fox Business’ Making Money with Charles Payne.

Mish and Paul Gruenwald discuss soft landings, recession, inflation, GDP and China on Yahoo Finance.

Mish looks at a selection of popular instruments and outlines their possible direction of travel in this appearance on CMC Markets.

Mish talks NVDA and “Trading the Weather” in these two appearanceson Business First AM.

Read Mish’s commentary on Gold in these two articles from Kitco.

Mish and Nicole discuss where to park your money, barring any watershed event, in this video from Schwab Network.

On the Friday, August 18 edition of StockCharts TV’s Your Daily Five, Mish covers bonds, the dollar, risk-off indications and several key commodities with actionable levels to consider.

Mish joins Maggie Lake of Real Vision to discuss what rising bond yields mean for investors across the market landscape, what comes next for stocks and commodities, and why she is taking profits here in the growth and AI stocks.

Mish shows why January and now the July reset worked in this appearance on Business First AM.

Mish discusses Alibaba’s stock price in this appearance on CNBC Asia.

In this guest appearance on David Keller’s The Final Bar on StockCharts TV, talks higher rates and why China may deserve a second look for investors.

Mish discusses inflation, bonds, calendar ranges and places to park your money on the Benzinga Morning Prep show.

Mish covers why August is a good time for caution in this appearance on Business First AM.

Mish and Jared go over oil and what might happen with small caps and regional banks in this appearance on Yahoo! Finance.

Coming Up:

Mish will be on break starting August 30 and return Tuesday, September 5th.

September 7: Singapore Breakfast Radio, 89.3 FM

September 12: BNN Bloomberg & Charting Forward, StockCharts TV

September 13: Investing with IBD podcast

October 29-31: The Money Show

ETF Summary

S&P 500 (SPY): 440 now back to pivotal.Russell 2000 (IWM): Popped off the key support. 185 pivotal.Dow (DIA): Will watch to see if it can back over 347.Nasdaq (QQQ): 363 pivotal.Regional Banks (KRE): Needs to hold 44 to be convincing.Semiconductors (SMH): 150 back to pivotal.Transportation (IYT): 239 still support to hold, with 252 biggest overhead resistance.Biotechnology (IBB): Compression between 124-130.Retail (XRT): The 6-month calendar range low is 62.90 — needs to clear it.

Mish Schneider

MarketGauge.com

Director of Trading Research and Education