$PSQ: Hot inflation to sink stocks further
Greetings, YellowTunnel Community!
In this week’s Power Trading Market newsletter, we’ll be dissecting the latest key inflation data, the tail end of earnings seasons, and a captivating event that unfolded during Lyft's recent earnings announcement – a roller coaster ride fueled by a fascinating phenomenon called a gamma squeeze.
Lyft, the ride-hailing giant, unveils its earnings report. But here's the twist – a typographical error in the press release mistakenly inflates the reported margins by a whopping 450 basis points. Instead of the expected 50 basis points, the figure erroneously reads as 500. The market reacts with lightning speed. Lyft's stock catapults an astonishing 60% in after-hours trading, coming to an abrupt halt at the $20 mark. As the $20 strike price had a very large open interest before the earnings announcement it easy to see why exactly the rally stopped where it did.
Now, let's delve into the intricacies of a gamma squeeze. This phenomenon occurs when heavy trading activity in options contracts, particularly call options, compels market makers to adjust their hedging positions. Essentially, as demand for options surges, market makers must buy or sell the underlying stock to offset their exposure. This process amplifies price movements, leading to what we call a gamma squeeze.
In the case of Lyft, the surge in call buying before earnings created the perfect breeding ground for a gamma squeeze. But why is this significant? Well, let's break it down further. When investors rush to buy call options, open interest – the total number of outstanding options contracts – spikes. This surge in open interest signals heightened bullish sentiment. However, it also puts market makers in a precarious position. Should the stock price move against them, they may be forced to rapidly adjust their positions, exacerbating price swings.
So, what's the key takeaway from all this? It underscores the importance of monitoring options market activity, particularly ahead of major events like earnings releases. By analyzing trends in options trading, investors can gain valuable insights into market sentiment and anticipate potential price movements.
As always, stay tuned for more insightful analysis and updates in the dynamic world of finance. Happy investing!
Recent Trade Review
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CURRENT TRADING LANDSCAPE
At the onset of the trading week, investors found themselves cautiously optimistic as stocks ticked slightly higher, building on the momentum from the previous week's record highs. However, this optimism was tempered by the looming release of critical inflation data, casting a shadow of uncertainty over market sentiment.
Against this backdrop, volatility reared its head once more, underscoring the delicate balance between economic growth and inflationary forces. Amid this turbulence, the SPY faced potential resistance levels around $500-$510, with short-term support noted at 460-470. This pattern of higher highs and higher lows suggested a cautious optimism, albeit tinged with apprehension regarding the sustainability of the rally. For reference, the SPY Seasonal Chart is shown below:
Tuesday marked a pivotal moment with the release of the Consumer Price Index (CPI), revealing a persistent inflation rate of 3.1% year-over-year, slightly lower than December's 3.4%. While this figure represented a slight moderation from the previous month, it exceeded economists' expectations, fueling concerns about the enduring nature of inflationary pressures.
As the week unfolded, attention turned to a flurry of earnings reports from industry behemoths such as Airbnb, Coca-Cola, and Lyft. Cisco Systems (CSCO) reported solid results for the January quarter, with revenue totaling $12.8 billion, a 6% decrease from the previous year but slightly surpassing Wall Street's expectations. However, the company's outlook for the next two quarters fell short of analyst estimates, prompting a cautious response from investors. Cisco also announced plans to reduce its workforce by about 5% as part of a restructuring effort aimed at realigning the organization and investing in key priority areas. This restructuring plan is expected to result in approximately $800 million in charges for severance and other costs, affecting over 4,000 workers.
Lyft (LYFT) experienced a roller coaster ride following its earnings announcement. The company's stock surged more than 60% in after-hours trading, only to give back much of its gains after a typo in its earnings release was corrected during a conference call with analysts. The initial press release mistakenly indicated a 500 basis points expansion in adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) margins for 2024, when it should have been 50 basis points. Despite the correction, Lyft's shares still closed up 21% the morning after the announcement. This episode underscored the impact of accurate financial reporting and the market's reaction to unexpected news.
The latest retail data report provided valuable insights into consumer spending patterns and sentiment, painting a nuanced picture of economic conditions. In January, retail sales unexpectedly plummeted by 0.8% from December, surpassing economists' forecasts and indicating a cautious approach to spending among consumers. This decline was particularly notable in expenditures at gas stations, which saw a 1.7% drop, and home improvement stores, which experienced a 4.1% decrease, likely attributed to adverse weather conditions. Additionally, online sales contracted by 0.8%, reflecting broader trends of subdued consumer activity. These declines in retail sales come amidst various economic headwinds, including elevated interest rates, lingering inflation, and tightening credit conditions, which have collectively constrained household budgets. However, despite these challenges, the job market remains robust, providing some stability and supporting consumer confidence to some extent.
The latest Producer Price Index (PPI) data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics provided valuable insights into the state of inflationary pressures. In January, the PPI rose by 0.3%, surpassing economists' expectations and signaling ongoing inflationary challenges. This increase was particularly driven by upticks in final demand services, which saw a notable 0.6% rise, the largest increase since July. Key sectors contributing to this uptick included healthcare, professional services, financial services, and entertainment. Notably, financial services and healthcare experienced significant price hikes, alongside a sharp rise in hotel rates.
The PPI data serves as a crucial component in the calculation of the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge, the personal consumption expenditures price index, highlighting its importance in shaping monetary policy decisions. With inflationary pressures persisting, market participants remain attentive to future data releases and their potential implications for economic outlook and policy decisions.
At week's end, Nvidia (NVDA), a leading chip maker, saw its stock gaining momentum with additional price-target upgrades from Wall Street analysts. Despite a slight loss of 1.7% the previous day, shares rose 1.5% in early trading to $737.70, hardly denting the impressive 47% rally since the year began. Analysts remain impressed by Nvidia's stellar performance, attributing it to robust demand for its graphics processing units (GPUs), particularly in artificial intelligence applications. This positive sentiment suggests the potential for further stock price growth.
This dichotomy in economic indicators underscored the complex interplay between consumer spending, inflationary pressures, and monetary policy. With the Federal Reserve closely monitoring inflation metrics, the market grappled with uncertainty regarding the central bank's future policy trajectory.
Looking ahead, investors remain vigilant as Treasury yields climb and the dollar strengthens. The correlation between treasuries and equities has reversed course, signaling the potential resurgence of inflationary concerns. While many anticipate the Fed to hold off on rate hikes this year and next, any deviation from this narrative could trigger market volatility and test support levels for the SPY.
SECTOR SPOTLIGHT
This week, we're taking a closer look at an intriguing sector for potential trading opportunities. As market volatility persists amidst ongoing economic uncertainties, investors are seeking strategies to hedge against downside risks. One sector that has garnered attention as a hedge in volatile markets is often overlooked but can provide effective protection: inverse exchange-traded funds.
These ETFs aim to deliver the opposite returns of their underlying index, making them valuable tools for investors looking to mitigate losses during market downturns. With inflationary pressures and market volatility on the rise, now may be an opportune time to consider adding inverse ETFs to your portfolio.
One such inverse ETF worth considering is the ProShares Short QQQ ETF (PSQ). This ETF seeks to provide investors with the inverse daily performance of the Nasdaq-100 Index. In other words, as the Nasdaq-100 Index declines, PSQ aims to deliver positive returns. Given the recent market turbulence and concerns surrounding inflationary pressures, the ProShares Short QQQ ETF presents an attractive opportunity for investors seeking downside protection.
TRADE OF THE WEEK - $PSQ: Hot Inflation to Sink Stocks Further
In light of the current market conditions, the ProShares Short QQQ ETF ($PSQ) emerges as a compelling trade opportunity. As inflationary pressures continue to weigh on investor sentiment and economic outlook, stocks are poised for further declines. The ProShares Short QQQ ETF offers a strategic hedge against these downside risks, providing investors with inverse exposure to the Nasdaq-100 Index.
Amidst concerns about rising interest rates and tightening monetary policy, technology stocks, which dominate the Nasdaq-100 Index, are particularly vulnerable to market corrections. By purchasing $PSQ, investors can capitalize on potential declines in technology stocks, thus safeguarding their portfolios against market downturns. What’s even better is that my A.I. strongly agrees! Just take a look at the 10-day predicted data for PSQ:
Looking ahead, the upcoming week presents an opportune time to initiate positions in $PSQ. With the economic landscape characterized by heightened volatility and inflationary pressures, adding inverse ETFs like $PSQ to your portfolio can provide valuable protection against downside risks. Leveraging the insights from the current market conditions and the latest artificial intelligence (A.I.) data, buying $PSQ in the upcoming week could prove to be a prudent move for investors seeking to navigate turbulent market conditions with confidence.
This week, I’ll be adding ProShares Short QQQ ETF (PSQ) to my portfolio!
Stay tuned for real-time updates and further insights as we navigate this and other exciting trade opportunities.
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Wishing you a week filled with resilience, growth, and prosperous opportunities!