Moby Dick Guns for Sister Semiconductor Mermaid

March 13, 2018

Mish's Daily

By Mish Schneider


I shot this photo using my iPhone, while on a whale watching boat.

The boat took us on the Pacific Ocean about an hour north of Puerto Vallarta.

Last week, I compared Semiconductors (SMH), not only to Wonder Woman, as I have done many times before, but also to a mermaid.

After all, she flies and she swims.

The market’s last rally is because of her super powers.

However, I also queried about how long SMH would hold up.

Furthermore, if SMH faltered I wondered, what would be the ramifications for the rest of the market.

In my allegorical way, I wrote, “Wonder Woman might have the power to transform into an amphibian and navigate the deep ocean, but what happens if she runs into Moby Dick?

Today, Semiconductors spotted the whale.

Before we speculate if like Captain Ahab, the whale turns out as her demise, let’s review the potential topping pattern.

A reversal pattern, in its most classic sense, begins with a new multi-month or longer high.

SMH made a new all-time high.

Then, it must close within 25% of the intraday low.

SMH closed within that range.

Lastly, it needs a second day confirmation with a close beneath the prior day low.

That is the unknown factor until tomorrow’s close.

On the chart, you see today’s high 114.55 and the low 111.03. The price settled at 111.49.

Typically, should reversal tops confirm, they are stronger if the volume is better than the average daily volume. With over 5.5 million shares traded a day, today’s volume ws nearly 7 million shares.

Secondly, a confirmed reversal pattern can yield a 5-10% decline from the highest price. Sometimes, the high price before the reversal, yields the ultimate top.

That measures to a move down to anwhere from 106-103.

The blue line is the 50-DMA. That means we could stop there (right around the measured move), break below it, or find support at around 105.74 or the low from March 5th.

Regardless, SMH is important to the near-term move in the overall market.

And more important, is how the dollar responds (down today-see last night’s Daily on FXE-Euro Fund) along with the Fed’s next move (March 21) and the trajectory of commodities.

“I know not all that may be coming, but be it what it will, I'll go to it laughing.” ― Herman MelvilleMoby-Dick or, The Whale

S&P 500 (SPY) 275 important to hold. As I suspected, the 3% move it needs to get to the old highs feels like a mountain to climb.

Russell 2000 (IWM) 160.63 the all-time highs. But whats even more important, is if it holds 156.

Dow (DIA) Confirmed warning phase. 253 resistance and 250 pivotal support

Nasdaq (QQQ) 170 big support. Wrote yesterday, “Uncharted territory so hard to predict resistance until we see some sort of reversal pattern.” Possible it got one today, especially with the bearish engulfing pattern.

Improve Your Returns With 'Mish's Daily'

Michele 'Mish' Schneider

Every day you'll be prepared to trade with:

  • Unique insight into the health and future trends in markets
  • Key trading levels for major ETFs
  • The 'Modern Family' advantage
  • Actionable trading ideas in stocks and ETFs across all asset classes
Subscribe Now!