We've asked Michael Seery of SEERYFUTURES.COM to give our INO readers a weekly recap of the Futures market. He has been Senior Analyst for close to 15 years and has extensive knowledge of all of the commodity and option markets.
Michael frequently appears on multiple business networks including Bloomberg news, Fox Business, CNBC Worldwide, CNN Business, and Bloomberg TV. He is also a guest on First Business, which is a national and internationally syndicated business show.
Gold Futures
Gold futures in the December contract settled last Friday in New York at 1,145 an ounce while currently trading at 1,131 down about $14 this week but reacting sharply higher today on a poor monthly unemployment number but continuing its long term down trend while trading below its 20 and 100 day moving average retesting major support at 1,100 near an eight week low as I’m currently sitting on the sidelines as this market remains choppy with poor chart structure. I still see no reason to own gold currently as the risk/reward is not your favor so look at other markets that are starting to trend. Gold prices had a significant rally in the month of August bottoming out around 1,080 then rallying to 1,170 which was impressive in my opinion due to short covering and a flight to quality as the stock market has experienced volatility in recent weeks sending money out of stocks and into gold as a safe haven, but things have settled down putting short-term pressure on gold. As I’ve talked about in many previous blogs I am a trend follower and I do not like to trade choppy markets because they are extremely difficult in my opinion so avoid this market at the current time and wait for better chart structure to develop before entering.
TREND: LOWER
CHART STRUCTURE: POOR
Crude Oil Futures
Crude oil futures in the November contract are trading below their 20 and 100 day moving average telling you that the short-term trend is to the downside as prices have been consolidating in recent weeks settling last Friday in New York at 45.70 a barrel while currently trading at 45.10 down around $.60 for the trading week. Traders reacted to a very bad monthly unemployment number pushing the U.S dollar sharply lower supporting many markets this Friday afternoon as I’m recommending a short position if prices break 44.00 while placing your stop loss above the 10 day high which now stands at 47.15 risking around $1,600 per contract plus slippage and commission, as prices have not broken out at this point so keep a close eye as this as this could happen any minute. Many of the commodity markets are mixed this Friday afternoon as a weak U.S dollar has supported many different markets as the S&P 500 is sharply lower and that’s usually a negative influence towards oil prices, but they are stuck in a consolidation and I don’t like to trade choppy markets so be patient and wait for the breakout to occur. Oil prices have been relatively volatile especially with the fact that Russia is bombing Syria sending prices sharply higher yesterday and then falling out of bed towards the end of the day, so make sure you respect this market placing the proper amount of contracts therefore respecting risk which is high at the current time.
TREND: SIDEWAYS
CHART STRUCTURE: IMPROVING
Silver Futures
Silver futures in the December contract settled last Friday in New York at 15.11 an ounce while currently trading at 15.00 down about $.10 reacting sharply higher due to a poor monthly unemployment number today continuing its remarkable choppy trend over the last several months as prices are right near a four week low. At the current time I’m sitting on the sidelines as I hate trade choppy markets as prices are still trading below their 20 and 100 day moving average telling you that the short-term trend is to the downside and the long-term down trend is still intact in my opinion as this market has been frustrating as prices seem to go nowhere. I’ll keep a close eye and wait for better chart structure to develop as platinum prices hit another contract low and I think that will continue to pressure silver, but I will wait for a breakout to occur as the 10 day high is too far away risking too much money at the current time so be patient as the trend clearly remains bearish. The U.S dollar has remained strong throughout 2015 as that’s put pressure on the precious metals and many other commodities as I think the U.S dollar is about to breakout to the upside and if that does occur look for silver prices to possibly head back down to the $13 level.
TREND: LOWER
CHART STRUCTURE: POOR
If you are looking for a futures broker feel free to contact Michael Seery at 800-615-7649 and he will be more than happy to help you with your trading or visit www.seeryfutures.com
Dollar Index Futures
The dollar index futures in the December contract are trading above their 20 day and right at their 100 day average telling you that the trend has turned to the upside as I’m currently sitting on the sidelines waiting for a breakout above 96.88 to occur before entering a bullish position while then placing your stop loss at the 10 day low which would be 95.57. The dollar settled last Friday at 96.43 while currently trading at 96.45 basically unchanged for the trading week as investors are awaiting the monthly unemployment number which will be released this morning at 7:30 sending high volatility back into this market. I have not traded the dollar index for quite some time but when I do see excellent chart structure coupled with a solid risk/reward situation I will trade the market, but at this point patience is the key waiting for the true breakout to occur before entering as we could be entering a bullish position any day now.
TREND: MIXED
CHART STRUCTURE: IMPROVING
Cocoa Futures
Cocoa futures in the December contract are trading below their 20 and 100 day moving average settling last Friday in New York at 3276 while currently trading at 3116 down about 160 points for the trading week and has traded lower 4 out of the last 5 trading sessions continuing its short-term downtrend. At the current time I am looking to enter into a short position but I need better chart structure to develop therefore lowering monetary risk; however the situation could change in the next couple of days so keep a close eye on cocoa. If you take a look at the daily chart a possible double top may have been created up around the 3350 level so keep a close eye on this market as we might be entering a bearish position once again. The volatility is relatively high at the current time as cocoa is a large contract so make sure you place the proper amount of contracts before entering risking 2% of your account balance on any given trade.
TREND: HIGHER
CHART STRUCTURE: POOR
Coffee Futures
Coffee futures in the December contract are trading above their 20 day but still below their 100 day moving average telling you that the short-term trend is mixed as I was recommending a short position getting stopped out last Friday around the 122 level as I’m now sitting on the sidelines waiting for another trend to develop as I have been stopped out of the last two recommendations. Coffee settled last Friday at 122.70 a pound while currently trading at 121 down slightly for the trading week with very low volatility as prices are still right near a 4 week high waiting for some fresh fundamental news to dictate short-term price action. Generally speaking coffee is one of the most volatile commodities historically speaking, but with low volatility at the current time as prices have been going sideways for the last month or so, but a new trend could be developing as prices look to be bottoming out around this level in my opinion. The Brazilian Real has stabilized against the U.S dollar in the past week and that’s also helped push-up coffee prices here in the short-term, but only time will tell to see if that trend remains, but I expect high volatility to emerge in the coming months.
TREND: HIGHER
CHART STRUCTURE: SOLID
Sugar Futures
Sugar futures in the March contract are trading higher for the 5th consecutive trading session settling last Friday at 12.41 a pound while currently trading at 13.38 up nearly 100 points for the trading week hitting a 10 week high continuing its short-term bullish momentum. I have been sitting on the sidelines in this market as the chart structure is very poor and the risk is too high in my opinion, but I’m certainly not recommending any type of short position as that will be countertrend as prices filled the gap around 13.30 with the next major level of resistance at 14.00 as I’m getting a little nervous about these lofty levels. Sugar prices are trading above their 20 and 100 day moving average rallying about 200 points from their contract low just two weeks ago as this market has caught fire on perceptions of production cuts in 2016 reducing carryover levels which have been very high over the last several years coupled with the fact that the Brazilian Real has stabilized in recent days against the U.S dollar. The problem with sugar at the current time is the fact that prices have gone straight up and I don’t like markets that have poor chart structure as the 10 day low is too far away so I’m going to have to be patient and wait for better chart structure to develop, but I do think the upside is limited in my opinion.
TREND: HIGHER
CHART STRUCTURE: POOR
Trading Theory
This rule is very simple and it states that one must have a game plan and use it consistently even during periods of loses which will happen to you over the course of time. Do not suddenly start to risk 5-10% because you have to catch up and get your loses back quickly, stick with the game plan and over the course of time this will help improve your percentages of success. If you have an unproven system that has not been tested then I would look to paper trade the account until you see success and you are comfortable with loses and daily volatility.
Natural Gas Futures
Natural gas futures in the November contract settled last Friday in New York at 2.63 while currently trading at 2.43 hitting a 3 ½ year low as I’ve been recommending a short position from around the 2.70 level and if you took that trade continue to place your stop loss above the 10 day high which currently stands at 2.72 as the chart structure is poor at the current time due to the fact that prices continue to move lower. Mild temperatures in the Midwestern part of the United States is causing demand problems therefore putting pressure on short-term prices as the next major level of support is around 2.25 and if that is broken we can retest the 2012 lows around 2.00 in my opinion as the trend is your friend and this trend is getting stronger to the downside on a weekly basis. At the time of the recommendation the chart structure was outstanding and was one of the main reasons I took that trade, however if you have missed this trade the chart structure is poor as the risk is too high as you have missed the boat so look at other markets that are beginning to trend. If you take a look at the weekly chart pattern natural gas has broken out of major consolidation as I’m looking to add more positions to this trade once the chart structure tightens up which will take another week or so.
TREND: LOWER
CHART STRUCTURE: POOR
Cotton Futures
Cotton futures in the December contract are trading below their 20 and 100 day moving average trading higher 5 out of the last 6 trading sessions as I’ve been recommending a short position from the 62 level and if you took the original trade place your stop loss above the 10 day high which stands at 61.57 as the chart structure is outstanding at the current time. Prices settled in New York last Friday at 60.64 while currently trading at 60.80 basically unchanged for the trading week as harvest is underway in the southern part of the United States keeping volatility relatively low at the current time. We are just eyelash away from getting stopped out of this market and if that does happen move on and look at other markets that are beginning to trend, but if you did not take the original recommendation I would still recommend this trade even at today’s price level risking around 80 points or $400 plus slippage and commission. Cotton still looks vulnerable in my opinion due to the fact that stock markets around the world look very weak and China holds 50% of the world’s reserves meaning they should not be importing any U.S cotton anytime soon keeping demand very weak as I still think lower prices are ahead as there’s more room to run to the downside in my opinion
TREND: LOWER
CHART STRUCTURE: EXCELLENT
If you are looking for a futures broker feel free to contact Michael Seery at 800-615-7649 and he will be more than happy to help you with your trading or visit www.seeryfutures.com
SEERY FUTURES ACCEPTS CANADIAN COMMODITY ACCOUNTS
There is a substantial risk of loss in futures, futures option and forex trading. Furthermore, Seery Futures is not responsible for the accuracy of the information contained on linked sites. Trading futures and options is Not appropriate for every investor. My opinion in this blog are for general information use only and are not intended as an offer or solicitation with respect to the purchase or sale of any futures or option contracts.
Michael Seery, President
Seery Futures
Facebook.com/seeryfutures
Twitter–@seeryfutures
Phone #: (800) 615-7649
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I don't mean to be pedantic or facetious but Mike is very good as far as I can tell. He understands risk more than most which is 90% of it. His ideas are usually right & if not small losses. As I've told him I wish he had track records but he explained he's not a CTA. I think if he wanted to he could work with the NSA but maybe not.
RE: Gold ...'while trading BELOW its 20 and 100 day moving averages'.
I just displayed gold daily chart as of Friday 10-02 close on ino.com
and gold is ABOVE BOTH its 20 and 100 day moving averages !!!
Y-y-y-y-yup. How's that, Bruce, for some Saturday morning comedy? I see you used 3 exclamation points to close out your comment. Pretty good stuff, isn't it! And to top it off: He usually does his "Weekly Recaps". . BEFORE. . the week is over-- before the market closes. And least for the Grains i know this to be usually true. As any grain trader will tell you, the last 15 minutes-- and the close. . . is critical when coming to any sort of assessment or analysis about what a given market is doing. Can you imagine having to manage your positions before the weekend, AND having to write and post a weekly recap-- and deal with new newsletter subscribers and clients. . . How on earth can you effectively or accurately tune-in to multiple markets and comment what the various indicators are doing for each of them. Having to do all every day, every Friday, would get in the way of my trading. And i have yet to once read him comment on any grain hitting one of the Bollinger Bands and bouncing off in the other direction. I get he doesnt use them on his Monthly Charts-- which i am beginning to think are the only charts he uses ;P
". . . chart structure is very poor. . ."