Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Wednesday Commodity Round-Up



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Notice the following on the weekly chart:

-- Prices are near their lowest level in three years

-- Prices have fallen 54% since their high during the summer

-- Prices are below all the SMAs

-- All the SMAs are moving lower

-- The shorter SMAs are below the longer SMAs

BUT:

-- The MACD is oversold, and

-- The RSI is oversold



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Notice the following on the daily chart:

-- Prices have been dropping for 5 months

-- Prices have continually moved through previously established lows

-- All the SMAs are moving lower

-- The shorter SMAs are below the longer SMAs

-- Prices are below all the SMAs

BUT

-- The MACD is rising, and

-- The RSI is weak

Bottom line: Three indicators -- the daily MACD, the weekly MACD and the weekly RSI have been signaling a possible reversal for some time. Yet, that reversal has not materialized. Why? First, indicators are not fool-proof; they merely give clues to what might happen. Secondly, there is a fundamental change occurring in the commodities market. Traders are contemplating a prolonged slowdown and the impact of that slowdown on commodity prices. Major commodity companies are reporting layoffs (more on that later today). That is having a pronounced effect on prices that is trumping technical considerations.