There’s One Job Opening for Every Unemployed American-highest level in decades @WSJ

The @wsj reports in its Daily Shot: https://dowjones.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5a1e9cf11f172c5ca14fd9062&id=52439912a4&e=51a4af0f13

(not seasonally adjusted)

THE UNITED STATES

1. Let's begin with some updates on the labor markets which continue to tighten.

• The latest reports show that we now have one job opening for every unemployed American. This ratio is at the highest level in decades. 

• The quits rate remains at post-recession high, suggesting confidence in the job market.

 

• Job openings in wholesale trade dipped by most in a decade. A temporary blip?

 

2. Prime-age labor force participation among American men has been declining since the 1950s.

Source: @jeannasmialek, @josephncohen; Read full article

 

3. The percentage of unincorporated self-employed Americans continues to trend lower. Everyone has an LLC/S-corp these days?

 

#Canada Positioned for Catch-Up to World Markets as #TSX seen breaking out to new all time highs $TSX

#TSX Composite: Breaking Above Key Resistance

 

-          The TSX Composite is breaking above the February downtrend and reclaiming the 200-day moving average.

-          The move confirms the bullish divergence in momentum indicators since June and marks the end to the recent correction.

-          Initial upside measures back to the 2017 highs.

 

#VIX - Volatility Index - Just another warning of things to come

The attached long term chart of the Volatility Index tells it all. It has touched the lowest level in history. What comes after is always the same thing, however, remember this is a long term chart.

 

The daily chart (attachment 2) shows how fast this index can move from one day to another

#Gold Stocks: Focus on Leadership

Focus on Leadership Within the Gold Industry from Paradigm Capital 

Highlighting leadership names within the gold industry. Common characteristics include price above the 200-day moving average, relative uptrend versus the TSX Global Gold Index, and 50-day moving average > 200-day moving average. With Gold coming into converging resistance along the 2017 highs and 2011 downtrend, we continue to recommend sticking with leadership names.

 

 

Intermediate Producers:

-          Agnico-Eagle Mines Ltd.

-          Centerra Gold Corp.

-          IAMGold Corp.

-          Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd.

-          OceanaGold Corp.

 

Junior Producers:

-          Alio Gold Inc.

-          Wesdome Gold Mines Ltd.

 

Royalty Co's:

-          Franco-Nevada Corp.

-          Aurico Metals Inc.

 

Developers:

-          Sabina Gold & Silver Corp.

-          Victoria Gold Corp.

 

 

 

Agnico-Eagle Mines Ltd.:

 

 

 

 

Centerra Gold Inc.:

 

 

 

 

IAMGold Corp.:

 

 

 

 

Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd.:

 

 

 

 

OceanaGold Corp.:

 

 

 

 

Alio Gold Inc.:

 

 

 

 

Wesdome Gold Mines Ltd.:

 

 

 

 

Franco-Nevada Corp.:

 

 

 

 

AuRico Metals Inc.:

 

 

 

 

Sabina Gold & Silver Corp.:

 

 

 

 

Victoria Gold Corp.:

 

 

U. S. stock markets looking awfully tippy $SPX $RUT $DJIA $INDU

It is high noon to nail down your profits.

Long weekends have the big advantage that people have more time for their families and more time to think about their live and other things like to figure out to make money.

 

We took the occasion to look at daily charts of three U.S. stock indices, the Dow Jones, Standard & Poor 500, and the Russell 200 Index.

 

The Dow Jones Industrial Index and the S&P 500 Index fell last Thursday below the 50-day moving average. The Russell 2000 Small Capitalization Index has already for weeks a tough time to hold the 50-day moving average (attachments 1-4).

 

We still think the U.S stock markets are in a overture stage, talking in Opera terms, of something bigger to come. This is also valuable for European stock markets. On U.S. inauguration day, on January 20, 2017, the lights turned from green to yellow (amber). We all know from traffic lights, the next colour is red.

 

 

#USD Dollar Index - Waiting for the upside breakout

Attachment 1 is the U. S. Dollar Index long term Point&Figure chart. For the last 2 years the index has been forming a Broadening or Megaphone pattern. A breakout of 102 would signal that the index would be departing for a new uptrend.

The U.S. Dollar Index, which reflects a basket of currencies versus the U. S. Dollar, has shown some strength lately. Attachment 2 indicates the components of the U.S. Dollar Index. This is the index the Federal Reserve is watching.

 

The reason is once again the financial condition of Greece. As in the past a lot of talking is taking place among Brussel's politicians (EU), the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Government of Greece.

 

Most likely, nobody in the European Union has an interest to deal with the real financial crisis (haircut on government bonds, let Greece out of the EU in order to devalue the new currency) as the elections in France are just two months away. Some new funds will flow to Greece to calm down the game. In other words the problem will be postponed to an indefinite date.

 

Attachment 3 shows the EURO versus U. S. Dollar

long term Point&Figure chart. It indicates the dramatic decline of the EURO in spring 2014 from 136 to 105 in spring 2015. We are bullish on the U. S. Dollar and wouldn't be surprised to see the next downtrend to be started in the next few months.

 

Key Technical Levels on #Gold, #USD Ahead of #FOMC Rate Decision

From Paradigm Capital:

Chart 1 – Key levels to watch on Gold heading into the FOMC Rate Decision on Wednesday:

o   Support at the 50-day moving average near $1,180, a breakdown would signal the resumption of the downtrend with risk to the December lows;

o   Resistance at the January highs, ability to make a higher high would signal upside back toward the 200-day MA near $1,270.

 

Chart 2 – The key ratio we continue to monitor for a directional signal in gold equities is the GDX versus GLD. Recall that a key a staple of a gold bull market is outperformance of gold stocks relative to gold. Ability for the GDX:GLD ratio to break above 0.21x along the November and January highs would, in our view, provide a signal to build an overweight gold position. Failure at this level, however, would keep the series of lower lows and lower highs intact.

 

Chart 3 – The U.S. Dollar Index has pulled back to support along the December lows. A break below this level would sgnal a deeper correction back toward the 200-day moving average. Resistance on the upside exists at the 50-day moving average at 101.50.

 

 

 

Gold: Key Levels Ahead of Fed

 

 

 

 

GDX vs GLD Ratio: Watch for a  Break Above November and January Highs

 

 

 

 

U.S. Dollar Index: Key Levels