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Category: Chainlink

Market Report: October 11th, 2020

Posted on October 10, 2020June 30, 2026 by io-fund

In this report we analyze: Twilio, Chainlink, Roku, Qualcomm, Slack

Please note the glossary of terms and techniques here and herehere and here

You can access our portfolio here. You can also track in real time our Buyshere. You can also track in real time our Buys/SellsSells/Portfolio Activity in the forum.Portfolio Activity in the forum.

If you want to track us in real time, we recommend that you set up alerts to these 3 topics “Portfolio Activity”, “Buys,” and “Sells” which can be done by clicking on their icon/image, or search for their name in the search bar. Then, click the follow button and it will turn red like the image below.

Stocks we Bought Last Week

Twilio (TWLO)Twilio (TWLO)

Summary

  • Our decision to focus on Twilio was a fundamental decision based on recent announcements. It has now become a high conviction play.
  • Twilio bottomed at the upper region that we outlined in prior Market Updates, around $212, completing a symmetrical correction as well as its 4th wave drawdown.
  • It then opened the trading day up 6%, and closed the day at new highs, signaling that the correction in Twilio is likely over.
  • This puts us in the 5th wave, which we added to in the breakout. However, because it’s the 5th wave, we will be patient in adding new positions for now.

So far, our analysis in Twilio has held up quite well, which you can view here. Twilio went on to make a new high after we published this outlook, which pushed the 4th wave targets up about 5%. Twilio then went on to tag the upper target range we most commonly see in 4th waves, for Twilio that was the $212 price region. This was further confirmed by volume spikes as well as the CMF implying that smart money is starting to buy again.

Also, what this means is that we are likely in the 5th wave of this uptrend. Fifth waves can extend, which is why we decided to buy with a portion of our targeted allocation. However, because of where we are in the count, we will be patient in adding the remaining positions.

Chainlink (LINK)Chainlink (LINK)

Summary

  • Link has shown signs of bottoming in the $7.3 region.
  • We bought on the retest at $8.5.
  • However, there are signs that the correction may not be over. A decisive break above $11 will be strong evidence that the bottom is in, at which price we will look to add.
  • A break below $8.5 is evidence that we will likely be retesting the $7.3 low.

After a 65% drawdown, Chainlink still has not tested the 200-day SMA (in black on the chart). It’s rare to see a drawdown so deep to not at least test the 200-day. Prior to the recent move down, LINK has seen, in less than three years, 21 drawdowns greater than 30%. Of those 21, eight are greater than 45%, five have been greater than 70%, and one was an 89% drawdown.

Interestingly, the correction, so far, has unfolded in a complex, yet 3 wave, symmetrical pattern. This is what we look for in corrections when creating targets – symmetry as well as a confluence of important prices coming together to create support. For example, the length of Wave C (red), which bottomed at $7.3, is exactly twice the length of wave A (red). This area also lined up perfectly with the trend channel that Link has been tracking for years (in gray).

If that was the bottom, then grabbing shares at the $8.5 region was the retest and hold of the lows. However, I’m not convinced that the correction is over for the following reasons:

  • Note the importance of the 55-day EMA (in red). It has been resistance for every attempt Link has made to bottom and breakout. This is exactly where Link is right now – being held down by the 55-day EMA.
  • The volume is not increasing that much with the price’s recent attempt to bottom and start a new uptrend.
  • There is a noticeable RSI reversal pattern present. This is when the RSI makes a higher high while price makes a lower high, signaling that the buying pressure is getting exhausted before breaking out. We usually see this in downtrends and it has a good track record of signaling more downside ahead.
  • Regardless, if price can make a sustained break above $11, we will look to add to our position.

Regardless, if Link breaks above the $11 region with force, it will help support that the $7.3 region is the end of this correction. This will be my signal to add more. Also, the fact that LINK broke out of the trend channel, and simply bounced off of it in this drawdown is quite bullish, which should be factored in. Right now, we are in between $8.50 – $11. How price moves through one of these levels will help us better game plan for what’s coming next.

Stocks that we are Targeting/Updating

Roku (ROKU)

Summary

  • Roku recently broke out of the $168-$170 region, which has kept price bottled up for over a year.
  • The long-term price structure has recently become quite clear and helped us better understand where Roku is heading. We have raised our price targets for Roku based on the information we have.
  • A break back below the $168 region will be a warning to the uptrend. If this happens, we will re-evaluate our current targets. However, Roku’s relative performance over the last 3 weeks has given me no indication that this is a high probability outcome.

Anyone that has been with us for a while should be aware of the larger trend in Roku, which can be seen in the weekly charts. Also, the price action over the last couple weeks has set us on a course that makes mapping Roku much easier to manage, which we will dive into.

But first, some background about the pattern that Roku is on. The above chart is looking at the weekly trend in Roku since its IPO. The first thing that should jump out at you is how perfectly Roku has respected the trend channel in gray. I circled 3 instances where the price either bottomed or topped at the exact border of the channel. Knowing the importance of this trend channel is valuable information to have so that we can maximize our gains with Roku in the intermediate term.

Furthermore, the long-term price structure resembles a leading diagonal pattern. In other words, this is a series of 5 waves (in blue), and the internal makeup of these 5 waves usually unfolds in a 3 wave pattern. For the sake of neatness, I only outlined these internal patterns in the most recent 4th wave (A,B,C in red), which completed at the March lows. I also outlined what I believe to be this pattern in the current 5th wave (A,B,C in green)

This would put us in the middle of the C wave, which are powerful trends, driven by emotion and always move in a 5 wave pattern. This simplifies Roku’s path going forward. Based on the information we have, the current projections for Roku put it between the $325 – $395 region, which is the ideal targets as well as the upper region of the trend channel. Of course, anything can change, and if it does we will update you.

Because of the recent breakout as well as the strong relative strength in light of market weakness, I believe Roku will continue to be a market leader. We recently bought on the breakout and retest at $178; however, we will look for new entries as well going forward. This move to our new target will not be in a straight line, and there is a chance we could be wrong. If Roku breaks back below the $170-$168 region, it will be a warning to this thesis. But for now, Roku is becoming a clear market leader (again).

Qualcomm (QCOM)

Summary

  • After breaking out of a 20 year base, Qualcomm’s response has been lackluster, which is concerning.
  • Its price structure appears to be at the end of a sloppy and complex 5 wave uptrend that began in 2016.
  • The internal signals are flashing a warning as QCOM is at major resistance between $122-$123.
  • We are putting a stop on QCOM to protect our gains.
  • If we break below $108 on heavy volume, the first downside target will come into play and are listed in yellow ($100-$93).

Qulacomm’s price history, like every semiconductor company that has been trading for at least 20 years, is a complex and overlapping structure. I believe QCOM’s began a new long-term uptrend in 2016. Unfortunately, this uptrend has been very overlapping. There is a clear 5 waves (highlighted in red), and like Roku, I believe this structure can be defined only as a leading diagonal pattern.

What concerns me is that QCOM is close to completing this 5 wave pattern, which usually gives way to a correction. Also, the red region on the chart is a cluster of really important prices, which historically acts as strong resistance. Qulacomm is struggling here and its internal indicators aren’t suggesting a breakout.

If we look at the internals, smart money is not confirming a move higher to new highs. Also, one of my proprietary overbought/oversold signals in flashing overbought conditions while the CCI has given us 3 consecutive divergences (lower highs while price makes higher highs), which has always been one of my warning signals.

With all the evidence piling up, caution is warranted. If this count is correct, the first target in this 2nd wave pullback is outlined on the chart. The yellow region will be a shallow 2nd wave ($100-$93).

I want to be very clear. What follows the 2nd wave drawdown is the 3rd wave, which is the most powerful trend within the 5 wave pattern. The first wave, so far, has taken about 4 years to complete and went up ~200%. This 3rd wave thesis lines up with the fundamental thesis we are seeing within 5G. We may be early, which also lines up with the warnings we are seeing, but if we stop out, QCOM will be high on our list to get back into when the uptrend begins again.

Also, I want to be clear, we are not selling. Instead we are putting a stop on the price, just in case the above analysis is correct. If price does break through the $122-$123 region, this will be a bullish scenario that we will happily be a part of. In other words, 5th waves can extend so far that it makes the 2nd drawdown wave a non-issue if the cost basis is low enough and time horizon is long enough.

Slack (WORK)Slack (WORK)

Summary

  • Sentiment is at a rock bottom with Slack and most investors will want to likely skip any analysis on Slack.
  • However, there are very encouraging signs that we have made a low in Slack, which is confirmed by smart money buying into this stock at depressed levels.
  • A break above $35 will signal that the bottom is in, and we will likely see all new highs soon after.

Since its IPO, Slack has not fully participated in the cloud rally we’ve been enjoying for over 2 years. With great product-market fit, stellar growth metrics as well as a net retention rate that tops most cloud products, its price movement has been frustrating to investors. Furthermore, they recently lowered their guidance, further beating down sentiment.

The interesting thing about sentiment is when it feels the worst to buy a stock, that is usually the time in which the sellers have dried up, leaving only one direction for the stock to go. You don’t have to look far to see Slack naysayers on social media and on various sites. However, when I start seeing an overwhelming amount of negative sentiment in a stock that we believe will one day begin an uptrend worthy of being called a cloud play, I start to look for entries.

Interestingly, the Accumulation/Distribution (A/D) line is suggesting that smart money is doing the same. Notice how it is making new highs before price. This is a solid leading indicator, and a great way top track smart money.

Furthermore, the correction that started at the June high, has completed a symmetrical move. In other words, the length of the a wave is the exact length of the c wave, which also lines up with the 50% retrace of the first wave off the March lows – i.e., the most common spot that a 2nd wave hits bottom. This is solid evidence that we have likely bottomed.

Many investors in Slack will be skeptical of this analysis, and I can’t blame them. So, to keep it simple, a break above $35 will help confirm that we are about to see all new highs. The first target in this new uptrend will be between $50-$62.

Posted in Chainlink, Market Updates, Stock Updates (Blogs)Leave a Comment on Market Report: October 11th, 2020

Market Report: August 23rd, 2020

Posted on August 22, 2020June 30, 2026 by io-fund

In this report we analyze: Zoom, Slack, Marvell, Teladoc, Bitcoin and Chainlink

Please note the glossary of terms and techniques here and herehere and here

You can access our portfolio here. You can also track in real time our buys/sells/position updates in the forum. If you want to track us in real time, we recommend that you set up alerts to these 3 chat rooms, which can be done by clicking the link in the top corner of each chat room called, “subscribe for new topics.”  here. You can also track in real time our buys/sells/position updates in the forum. If you want to track us in real time, we recommend that you set up alerts to these 3 chat rooms, which can be done by clicking the link in the top corner of each chat room called, “subscribe for new topics.”  

In this week’s report, we look at the number of buys we’ve made over the recent correction. Almost all of the positions we bought corrected in a symmetrical, 3-wave pattern, which we used to our advantage.

We also take a look at our two cryptocurrency plays – Bitcoin and Chainlink. From a long term perspective, both are setting up for extended uptrends. However, in the short to intermediate-term basis, there could be some volatility ahead. We outline the path we are taking with both.

Zoom (ZM)

On August 10th, as it appeared to be setting up for a pullback, we laid out two potential paths that Zoom could take. The red path assumed that the large degree 3rd wave had topped. This was setting up for a relatively deep pullback. The green path assumed that we were only going to see a minor pullback and that the large degree 3rd wave had more room to run.

Based on where Zoom bottomed, and how it broke out to new highs, it appears that the probabilities have shifted towards the green path. The below chart outlines this path.

We will want to see Zoom’s recent breakout zone between $280-$285 hold. So far, it has closed 2 days above this zone and it did so on heavy volume, which is an encouraging sign. The Accumulation/Distribution line (A/D line) is also encouraging. It’s suggesting that smart money was buying into the correction as it continues to make new highs with the price.

By focusing on the green count in the above chart, we can get an idea of why it is likely this will be the path Zoom will take going forward.

Since bottoming in April, ZM appears to be tracing an ending diagonal pattern. This is a series of 5 waves that tracks a trend channel (in gray). That would make the recent downtrend the 4th wave, and setting us up for the final 5th wave in this move. The evidence that the 4th wave in this pattern is over is:

  • Note how correction unfolded in three legs (blue a,b,c). The length of the first leg (blue a), fell 15.6%. The length of the 3rd leg (blue c), fell 16.2%. We commonly see corrections unfold in a symmetrical fashion, where the length of the 3rd leg down (C) is within a few percentages away from the length of the first leg down (A).
  • The correction tagged a common retrace level for 4th wave corrections, which for Zoom is around $235.
  • The correction found support on the outer regions of the trend channel.
  • The price has made new highs.

This would put us in the final 5th wave, which is targeting the upper region of the trend channel. There is still a chance that Zoom could fail this breakout and make a lower low; however, the probabilities are not in favor of this scenario as of now. We have guided five successful entries with Zoom so far. We believe that when this move completes, we will have an opportunity for the 6th.

Slack (WORK)

Slack is a position we recently added to, as well. Like Zoom, note the three leg correction (blue A,B,C). Though it’s not perfect symmetry, the length of the C wave came within 2% of the length of the A wave.

The price found strong support on the 38.2% retrace level of the 1st wave from the March low. This was confirmed by the positive divergence we saw in the CCI.

Because of these signs, we added to our WORK position.

The confirmation we have received so far is in the MACD crossing over, for one. The second confirmation comes from classic technical analysis in the image below.

Slack has traced a classic continuation pattern known as a pennant. The price has zig-zagged within this pattern on decreasing volume, then broke out, followed by a retest of the breakout zone.

The only concern here is the lack of volume confirming the breakout. This isn’t as crucial as some might think. It’s always a great confirmation, but price can increase simply by sellers drying up. We will want to see the price hold above the breakout zone, and move higher, or else the correction may not be over.

Marvell (MRVL)

So far, Marvell has played out exactly as we planned from last week’s analysis. It appears to be in a 4th wave correction, which we typically see bottom at or between 2 specific regions. For MRVL, these regions are $34 and $31 regions.

Within this region, you’ll notice symmetry at work again. The length of the first leg down (blue a) is -13%. Then, the length of the 3rd leg down (blue b) is -14%. This, coupled with two buy signals that formed in the internals, had us add to our current position in MRVL.

We are expecting a bounce from current levels. We will want to see this bounce unfold in a 5 wave pattern on a smaller timeframe chart, like the 30 minute or hourly chart. If this does not happen, and instead gives way to another leg lower, we will happily add again to this position as long-term investors.

Teladoc (TDOC)

Teladoc had a sharp drawdown after announcing the acquisition of LVGO. Based on the information given to us in the structure of the drawdown, we identified two support regions in prior reports, the first of which is around the $174-$173 region. It seemed probable that we would see the price hit this level. However, in technical analysis, you have to be prepared to change your thesis in real time if evidence begins to suggest otherwise.

This, we believe, is what happened with Teladoc last week. If Teladoc was to hit the $174 region, it would have to do so in a C-wave. That would make the current uptrend the B wave. What we know about B waves is that they unfold into 3 wave patterns, symmetrical fashions. This, as of now, is not what we are seeing.

Instead, what we have in blue is a 5 wave pattern pointing up. If this is the case, we have just completed the first wave of 5 to new highs. As long as the 2nd wave holds the $197 region, I will look to add as TDOC begins a new leg higher.

If $197 breaks, the probabilities shift that we may have another leg lower before finding a bottom. This is why I always start small when building a position. If this is the case, we will continue to add in tranches as we approach below support levels.

Bitcoin (BTCUSD)

In June, we announced that we are shifting our strategy with Bitcoin from a more active approach to buy and hold. The reasons for this shift was, for one, Bitcoin trades 24/7, which makes executing on identified setups quite challenging. We also believe in the long-term story to an extent that we are OK with the volatility.

Furthermore, from the perspective of technical analysis, the below chart is a rare gem that also bolsters our decision to buy and hold the asset.

This chart is the percentage growth of Bitcoin from its inception. Using classic technical analysis, there are two continuation patterns highlighted in blue. These are periods of consolidation that follow strong uptrends, and precede the next leg in the trend. The bigger the pattern, the more meaningful it is, and both of these patterns took years to play out.

Where we are today is in the breakout of the second, multi-year continuation pattern, also known as a pennant. The weekly MACD supports this move with a classic coiling pattern following by a steep uptrend. This is the kind of long-term pattern that I search for.

In short, the technicals are aligned with the fundamentals. We will continue to seek out entries with stops for our members who are looking for a position and may not already have one.

Chainlink (LINKUSD)

Chainlink recently became the 5th largest crypto currency in terms of market cap, taking over Bitcoin Cash. Since we covered the coin in August, editorially, LINK is up over 500%. After navigating 2 entries below $1.80, we stopped out of both trades for greater than 40% gains each time. On this last entry, we began a buy and hold position at $4.

Chainlink is not just another alt coin. Instead, it fulfills a unique and needed role within the blockchain stack regarding smart contracts. We encourage you to read Beth’s analysis on it here.

Technically, Chainlink’s price structure is quite complex. It is trending up; however, with numerous drawdowns, the overlapping structure appears to be in a large degree leading diagonal pattern. The below chart outlines the count that LINK appears to be following.

The only question to answer is the end of the 3rd wave. We typically see the MACD hit peak levels on the 3rd wave. The fact that it has rolled over hard supports that the 3rd wave may be over and we are in the early stages of a deeper pullback.

However, Link is finding support on the 20-day EMA in blue and holding (look at the chart below). If Link can hold, then break above $20, it supports that the 3rd wave can extend further, which we will want to be part of.

So, we have created a basic plan of action, outlined below.

  • If LINK cannot hold the 20-day EMA in blue, the final level the 3rd wave must hold is the $12.50-$11.80 support. If these levels hold, and we then break above $20, the 3rd wave has more room to run.
  • However, if the $12.50-$11.80 region breaks, we are in the 4th wave correction and should expect a deeper pullback. The first area of support in this scenario is the $9.80

For those that may think a drawdown of this magnitude is extreme, I encourage you to look at LINK’s relatively short history. In less than three years, there have been 21 drawdowns greater than 30%. Of those 21, eight are greater than 45%, five have been greater than 70%, and one was an 89% drawdown.

Chainlink is a volatile asset. Furthermore, it’s contribution to the blockchain microtrend is necessary, but still early. We consider this a long-term hold and expect a choppy ride. We do not believe that anyone has missed the uptrend, and that there will be many opportunities for entry. We will continue to add to this position when we see the setups forming.

Posted in Bitcoin, Chainlink, Market Updates, Stock Updates (Blogs)Leave a Comment on Market Report: August 23rd, 2020

Market Update: April 12th

Posted on April 12, 2020June 30, 2026 by io-fund

Last week was eventful. Unemployment rose by another 6 million claims on Friday bringing the estimated unemployment rate anywhere between 10-14%. The Federal Reserve announced an unprecedented program, which included shoring up the high yield bond market. Standard & Poor’s is projecting a default rate in this cycle to be around 10% by year end, with some estimates approaching 13%. This is higher than what we saw in 2008. The SPX also broke the 2750 level, an important level we have been tracking since the expected bounce off the March lows.

We have been tracking a 5-wave pattern down, where the current bounce was the 4th wave bounce. This would eventually lead the final 5th wave to new lows. This was the game plan, as long as the market stayed below the 2750 mark, which failed on Friday.

Please note, we have been discussing more on this topic in the forum under predicting bottoms. predicting bottoms. 

The 4th wave scenario topping out from current levels, and thus taking us down to the 2100 region in a quick fashion is still technically valid below the next resistance price of 2855; however, the probability of this has become much lower than the other potential scenarios at this point, one of which is now the possibility of a renewed bull market.

I find this scenario has low probability as long as we stay below 3150 on SPX. And if we do confirm this pattern, it will not be a straight shot, so there will be plenty of time and room to adjust. However, any responsible technician has to acknowledge this potential.

For one, it can’t be understated the amount of stimulus thrown at this market. Both the treasury and the Fed have and will continue to unload as much stimulus into this event. This event will be the ultimate test for the popular phrase, “don’t fight the FED.”

Considering the record breaking outflows from equities, the large short interest in the market, coupled with the elevated put/call ratio being tilted towards purchasing more puts right now, the “pain trade” for the larger market would be a continued move upward.

We will monitor the market this week and release an update on the technicals once we have more information. However, the scenario I am now tracking has us in a more complex bear market and I personally believe there will be a re-test of the lows. Of course, feel free to invest as you see fit and what matches your investment thesis for this market.

A few things Beth has been watching and wants to make you aware of:

  • She wrote an article for Forbes on weakening ad demand that has similar information that she had published prior on the premium site. Recently, there was a report by Gupta Media that she did not include in the editorial. The report states, “As of data available Tuesday, Facebook’s worldwide CPM fell an all-time low of $1.95, according to data analyzed by Boston-based agency Gupta Media.data analyzed by Boston-based agency Gupta Media.The article comes from MediaPost, a reliable source. Keep in mind, Facebook usage is up so this should help some. However, her concern is for the smaller players in ad-tech, notably TTD, RUBI, PINS, SNAP and perhaps Roku although Roku has licensing fees/commissions from content apps.
  • May is going to be a pivotal month for the tech industry. As of now, we saw startup layoffs increase 4X from 4,000 to 16,000. Per RBC Capital, “We view May as a critical month – if the majority of the workforce is not back to business as usual, we believe significant cuts (of people, not just numbers) are increasingly likely in software.”
  • If the shelter in place continues into May, net bookings for Q2 and Q3 could be cut between 20-50% on average.

As of now, these are the major points to acknowledge:

  • Now that we have closed above 2750, The next major resistance level will be the 2855.
  • If we clear this zone, look for a topping pattern between 2950 -3100. The 2950 resistance will be the price region that I will look to build up my short positions (if we reach it), with a stop at the 3130 area.
  • If we close above 3130, the probability that we are in a new bull market shifts.
  • If the market closes below 2500, the bear market will continue.
  • The bear market targets are still the same as of now.
  • A final leg in this bear market is still the higher probability outcome.

Stock Updates

Dynatrace (DT)

Dynatrace is a position we recently started to build out along with our hedge in a Lyft short. The structure still suggests that the target box we outlined will likely be hit. We are witnessing weakening internals as outlined by the MFI and RSI, which are both making higher highs while price makes a lower high. We like this company and are raising the price range.

Datadog (DDOG)

We recently went long on Datadog, as posted on the forum. Per reader feedback, we are working on a system that differentiates between trades and buy and holds. Our targets on the spreadsheet are our buy and hold targets.

Like DT, we like this stock for the long haul. The structure of the stock is suggesting that we will retest the lows, after likely failing to close the gap above around $40. We are raising our target entry for DDOG to $30.

Chainlink (LINK)

Chainlink has had another impressive run recently. I offered my recent chart in terms of Elliott Wave analysis, which is still expecting the opportunity to pick up shares sub-$2 once the corrective move we are in completes. However, I wanted to show you what my Gann analysis is suggesting, as well.

Notice how the price reacts to the Gann ratios. We have several tops at various ratios as well as supports. We bottomed on the 8/1 in red, and pushed through the 4/1 in purple. I believe we will test the 3/1 in gold, which will likely mark a top to this move. If we can close above the 3/1 in gold, I will likely look to go long with tight stops.

Snap – short position

On weakening momentum and volume, Snap keeps pushing higher in a clear corrective pattern. It has found resistance at the 61.8% retrace level from the entire drawdown. This level also coincides with the 50% extension of the A wave within the corrective move off the March lows. Another Fibonacci confluence zone is the 100% extension of the C-wave equaling the length of the A-wave, which will also coincide with the 85.4% retrace level around $17.25.

We believe that Snap will find a top within this range, and give way to the final C-wave down. The first target for this drawdown will be $11. Below $11, and the $8 region comes into play. I will look to hold a stop at $17.50. If we close above this level, I will close my position the next day.

With shorts, I target between 20% – 40% as the target gain. Shorts gains can turn into losses in a matter of days while the VIX is this elevated.

Lyft – short position

The setup with Lyft is very similar to Snap. We are in an even more clearly recognized corrective structure, which I believe could push as high as $45 before finally giving way to a new downtrend.

The internals are supporting a weakening uptrend, with less participation as noted by the volume. Like with Snap, once we hit the $23 range, I will look to cover some of the position. If we break below $22, expect the recent lows to come back into play. If we close above $45, the next day I’ll close my position.

Posted in Chainlink, Market Updates, Stock Updates (Blogs)Leave a Comment on Market Update: April 12th

Market Update: March 15

Posted on March 15, 2020June 30, 2026 by io-fund

Throughout last week, we laid out ranges in the S&P 500 where we will be potential buyers again. The update on March 10th discussed the sudden move and why we are viewing any bounce as an opportunity to build hedges and raise cash in positions where we seek a lower cost basis.

There were two scenarios provided given the sudden market drop last week:

(1) we’d have a deep correction or shallow bear market that would find a bottom between 2645 – 2520 with a potential spillover to 2500.

(2) or, we’re in for a bigger bear market that can find a bottom between 2340 – 2100.

I want to note that the market cut through the 2600 region with little hesitation and closed sub-2500 last Thursday. The overnight action in the futures market found a bottom in the 2400s before a much-needed corrective bounce that happened on Friday.

With realized volatility approaching record highs, many back-to-back ~9% days, and price unable to find support at key levels, this helps put into focus the scope of the bear market we are likely in. Within three weeks, the has market erased the gains that it took us 1.3 years to build. In short, we haven’t seen drops and rebounds of this magnitude since 2008.

With that said, this will be our last market update until next week as we now turn towards updating our conviction list with target entries. We followed our stops on many positions and are now working towards re-entry using the broader market as our guide. The story did not change on the stocks we’ve covered on the Top Stocks list. The conviction levels have also not changed, with the exception of Zoom – we are raising conviction from 8 to 9, even in light of its current valuation.

How I designed my risk management strategy

I personally got licensed in late 2007 and began my carrier in finance just in time for the great recession. In late 2008, I took over the Bay Area territory for my company and began developing relationships with countless financial advisors, RIAs and various CIOs regarding portfolio analysis as well as the implementation of passive ETF strategies within a portfolio.

Back then, ETFs were new and passive investing was not well utilized in portfolio management. This helped me get in front of many professional investment portfolios and strategies. Buy and hold is the ultimate goal. However, in rare cases where there are +50% drawdowns, like in 2008, I have found risk management to be crucial for the portfolios I personally handled during those years. 

With this came my use of creating plans based on the broader market, back up plans, using stops, hedges and position sizing and other tools. I’ve regularly and openly discussed these to navigate volatility while investing with a long-term time frame.

As we have been doing from the day we launched, we will also cover targets for stocks where we have a low-cost basis already. We believe we are one of the only sites that continually covers pricing. We do not simply publish “buy recommendations” or a buy list. We hope this extra effort is worth its weight during this bear market. 

Daily Chart

For any readers who are interested in how I came up with the 2100-2340 scenario, I’ve included some charts below. They use a combination of Elliott Wave counts going back nearly a century, with Fibonacci ratios and standard technical analysis.

I believe we are in a C-wave down. The C-wave is a 5-wave pattern pointing down. It is characterized as a powerful move that shifts sentiment to an extreme, which is exactly what we are seeing. Towards the end of a C-wave, sentiment typically hits a hopeless state, and without a game plan, investors tend to make the wrong decision at the worst time. Investors collectively feel panic in unison, watching the same situation unfold, and it leads to moments of capitulation, usually right before the market reverses. We want to do the opposite and use technical analysis to remove the emotion. If you followed our stops and hedges, you should be sitting on a nice pile of cash as well as having some long volatility plays to counter the losses on the long side.

From what we know about 5-wave structures, I estimate that we are in the final stages of the 3rd wave, and are likely in the corrective move of the 4th wave, which means we have the final 5th wave down to go.

One of the technical analysts who I respect and uses similar tools thinks we could see a termination as low as 1800 over the next few months. My count is calling for 2100 as the deeper bear market bottom. I’m not sure I will push it this far for target re-entries. Either way, we will spell out our targets for each stock around this time next week.

Hourly Chart

The above chart is meant to show 2 basic things: (1) how the downtrend, so far, is following the expected 5-wave pattern down; (2) the amount of resistance overhead, which makes a standard V-shape recovery unlikely.

If you feel like you have missed out on the bottom, please note the level of resistance above the current price. There are numerous unfilled gaps, two bear market trend lines, multiple simple moving averages and the 3140 peak – all while facing unchartered territory of a virus pandemic.

Where We Go from Here

The major risk to the coronavirus, as it pertains to the markets, is a lack of consumer spending. Will the extreme measures of canceled schools, postponed professional sports, Disneyland closures, etcetera last for three weeks or eight weeks or something completely unpredictable. The spiral effect of consumer spending matters here.

The second risk is quantifying the exposure the financial sector has right now to the buildup of risky debts in the system, which is why the financial sector ETF (XLF) is leading the charge down at 25%, and the regional bank ETF (KRE) is down around 37%. If and when this scenario plays out is anyone’s guess.

To put a stop to this bear market, we will need to see the market close first above 2950 and then 3150 to note a new uptrend in place. However, the bear market cannot fully be squashed until we make new highs at 3400. I find this less likely than my bigger bear thesis, at this time.  

 

Position Updates

If you look at the Top Stocks List we published about ten days ago, you’ll see a column with stops. We followed those stops and logged gains on Chainlink at +44%, Shopify at +35%, Trade Desk at +32%, Telaria at +26%, BOINGO +9%, ALTERYX +9%, ELASTIC +5%, WORK +2%. We took losses on DATADOG -2%, BITCOIN -4%, Dynatrace at -9%, Inseego at -16% and a second position on Roku at -23%.

We do have some longer-term buy and hold positions that are unshakeable no matter how deep a selloff. These are Nvidia, Alibaba, Roku and Microsoft (we also provided stops for anyone looking to establish positions in these stocks within the last 6 months. We have been building positions for years in these positions, which is why we are willing to weather the drawdown with them). Subsequently, these are the stocks that Beth first covered prior to launching the site on Seeking Alpha. We were able to get a low-cost basis because of the Q4 2018 pullback.

Also, we are still holding Zoom (ZM). With the widespread use of Zoom into the global community through this outbreak, we have decided to both: 1) raise our conviction level on Zoom from 8 to 9, and hold our current position without stops. We are prepared to weather any drawdown that may come from panic selling due to our hedges, and will add to this position on any potential weakness. If you are uncomfortable holding without stops, please continue to use our recommended stops on the spreadsheet.

Zoom now joins a few other stocks that we hold without stops and have high conviction on: Nvidia, Roku, Microsoft and Alibaba. We fully expect many stocks on our list to join the “no stops, buy and hold” club in our portfolio after this bear market offers stellar long-term valuations.

We view this bear market/steep correction as a gift and will be re-entering any positions we stopped out of. As I mentioned above, our task over the next week is to evaluate each stock and publish a target re-entry for our readers. We expect that the broader market analysis we’ve diligently worked and laid out for you during this tumultuous market to be a good base for creating re-entry points. Without having done this work, re-entry would be complete guesswork rather than based on probabilities.

 

Lyft (LYFT)

So far, we are around 30% up on our Lyft short since discussing the hedge. We discussed waiting for a bounce to add. On that bounce, we initiated a short around $34 and so far, it’s been a remarkable hedge. We added more on Friday’s corrective bounce, which we disclosed on the form under Hedges, and we expect a bounce in the coming days/weeks as the price works off oversold conditions.

If Lyft crosses the 8-EMA, we will exit the short. We will look for re-entry when the market tops out, or breaks back below the 8-day EMA, which is currently sitting around the $30.

For all hedges we have a predefined exit such as using an EMA crossover, 25% trailing stop, a notable candlestick pattern, etc.

For these hedges, we will use the 8-day EMA as our stop going forward or a 25% trailing stop, whichever comes first.

 

Uber (UBER)

Our Uber short is up about 24% since our entry. We added more in the Friday rally, and will look to add more as the market tops out. You’ve heard me talk about symmetry on corrections. The symmetry on Uber is remarkable so far. The length of the first wave down (A), so far, is the exact length of the 3rd wave down (C).

Notice how the price closes right at the 100% extension of the A wave for 2 days in a row. If this level breaks, expect the 1.272 extension to come into play around $19-$19.50. We will use the 8-day EMA as our stop going forward or a 25% trailing stop, whichever comes first.

 

Slack (WORK)

We stopped out of Slack when it broke the $24.25 stop out price. We logged a fractional gain and are looking for re-entry. Considering that the structure now suggests that we are in an A,B,C  corrective pattern, the C-wave should target around $14. This is the 100% extension of the A wave.

The strong hammer pattern coupled with the fact that smart money is buying and the RSI is oversold, suggests a retest of the $24-$25 region. For any longs on today’s low, I’d watch for these levels. A fail there would suggest a potential retest of Friday’s low, at which point, I will look to re-enter.

The $16 price target will be the area I will look to build a new position.

 

Roku (ROKU)

Roku is a buy and hold position that we own with a cost basis of $29.88. This portion of our portfolio is being held without any stops.

However, we are always looking to add more in weakness. We like Roku and we like that it gets beaten up because it provides for new entries. Beth strongly believes once this company turns profitable, it will enter a new stage from volatile/speculative (market’s opinion) to a market darling. She’s laid out why she likes Roku in great detail across PDFs, blogs, etc – mainly hinging on Roku’s ownership of the operating system, device and ad exchange plus the mega trend of Connected TV ads.

The above chart outlines our recent plan for adding to Roku. This new position we held with a stop around $86. We layered in at $125, $115, and again at $100 with a stop just under $86. The stop was triggered and we sold this new position on Roku for a loss.

We are looking for re-entries, and suspect that we will be range bound in the coming week. Notice the shooting star pattern as well as the hammer pattern. This suggests strong volume at $86 and $74. I wouldn’t be shocked if Roku struggles to break out of this range.

Next week will be telling. One thing is certain, on the daily chart, the MACD is making new lows and the histogram has not moved up. Buying Roku in the $70 range is a phenomenal value; the broader market is likely not done yet with its sell-off per our TA above, hence we are back on the sidelines for our new position.

 

Datadog (DDOG)

Datadog blew through our stop at $39.60 on a large gap at the open of the market. We sold just under the stop due to the heavy volume, and ended up logging a 2% loss. The reason we chose this stop is because it was the absolute lowest level DDOG could drop while still maintain an impulsive 5-wave structure. Below this level and it sets up an entirely new structure, which we believe puts us in a C-wave down.

It’s worth noting that DDOG is very oversold and the MACD, at new lows, is straying to turn up. For anyone attempting to speculate on a bottom, this would be a good level to try. We are believers in this company and will look for a re-entry.

In fact, when the market broke down into the 2500 region, we announced that we are putting money to work. This is one of the positions we bought around $32. This was a speculative play to attempt to catch the shallow bear scenario we outlined. We will look to add more and will update you on target entry next week.

 

Pinterest (PINS)

We recently attempted to buy Pinterest above its all-time lows, with a stop just below that level. We stopped out with a 2% loss, once PINS made an all-time low below $17.39, and missed out on a large amount of the current downside. The question is – how much lower can PINS go?

The RSI is confirming a bear market, and is also suggesting a continued bounce for now. However, the Accumulation/Distribution indicator does not show that the Smart Money is buying PINS at this level. If Pins breaks below $13, then we can expect the selling to resume. However, if PINS can break back above the $19 region, it will invalidate my current expectation, and be strong evidence that the bottom is in.

 

Bitcoin (BTC)

 The above chart shows the long-term path we are tracking in Bitcoin. When looked at from a logarithmic scale, and not a price scale, it really puts into perspective the pattern as well as the bubble that caught the popular attention. The long-term trend is something we want to catch, and though the weekly risk management may be frustrating, it’s necessary when dealing with such a new and volatile asset like Bitcoin.

The micro chart is where this will play out for now. In short, we have 5-waves up, which is now building another 5-waves up on a slightly larger scale. Remember, when 5-waves builds into larger 5-wave patterns, the more bullish the structure becomes. If the price can break back above $5800 and hold, then break back above $6100, this will support the green count. If we break back down below $4300, it supports the red count.

The problem with these counts is that they both stretch the rules of Elliott Wave theory. They are both valid, but also both rare structures. Trading this 4th wave has been frustrating, to say the least. However, once we get a confirmed bottom and a renewed uptrend, any losses incurred can give way to gains. Until the price makes a decision, I will stay on then sidelines. Please keep in mind that below $4300 puts $1600 in play.

 

Chainlink (LINKUSD)

Please note: Chainlink is a crypto not listed on the public markets.

LINK broke through our stop and also the floor underneath the impulse we have been tracking. In breaking below the peak of wave-1, it broke a fundamental rule in Elliot Wave and completely invalidates 5-wave structure we have been tracking since the last bottom around $1.65.

This changes the structure into a likely leading diagonal, which suggests that Link has farther to go in order to complete the 4th pattern. We will look for a re-entry when the pattern gets close to completion.

Chainlink requires strict risk management, so opening and closing positions with strict adherence to stops. If you’re not comfortable with this, it’s not the right choice. We have opened and closed our position about four times since August with reasonable gains between 30-50% gains. I am active on the forum with this but it does require more active management.

Posted in Bitcoin, Chainlink, Market Updates, Stock Updates (Blogs)Leave a Comment on Market Update: March 15

Market Update: Feb 22nd

Posted on February 22, 2020June 30, 2026 by io-fund

The average inflation-adjusted returns we are taught to expect in the equity market per year is around 7%. However, if you remove the period from 1984-2007, that return comes in just under 5%. According to, Christopher Cole of ArtemisCapital Management, the period between 1984-2007 was the result of anomalies converging that will likely not occur over the next decade.

During that period, baby boomers supported the economy at peak spending, which carried over into the 90s. We also saw the rise of globalization, which boosted inflation. Furthermore, the Fed Fund Rate was at a record 20%, which gave the Federal Reserve an extraordinary amount of room to support asset prices. All of these factors created an economic environment that led to strong markets.

Today, the Fed Fund Rate is under 2% during an expansion, baby boomers (who make up a large portion of the population) are hitting retirement. These factors, coupled with an over-levered population and a global trend that’s moving away from globalization are concerning for future growth. Cole argues that we should expect the next decade to trend closer to the 5% average than what has been considered “the norm.”  

Regardless of what you believe the average annual return will be over the next decade, one thing is undeniable – the S&P 500 is acting significantly outside of the norm, returning an anomalous 29% in 2019, and this year, assuming the current trajectory, we are on pace to return an annualized 38%.

There are many forces coming together to support a strong year in equities, which are happening with many alarm bells, as well. In fact, Paul Tudor Jones, who famously shorted the 1987 top because he noticed similarities in that market’s structure compared to the 1929 run-up, recently claimed that this market feels a lot like 1999.  The structure of the current market and the final part of 1998 are similar, which if holds, would lead to a sideways consolidation before we see the next leg higher.

  

In fact, we are beginning to see a decoupling of high beta tech stocks from the rest of the market just like we did in the late 90s. One of my favorite risk-on metrics just broke out of a multi-year trading pattern.

The USD/JPY measures the value of the dollar compared to the Japanese Yen. These are two of the biggest currencies in the world, and are both held in global portfolios. The coronavirus scare, as well as abysmal economic numbers in Japan, likely led to this breakout.

Regardless, when we see a rise in the dollar vs the Yen, it historically correlates to a rise in equities. More money is flowing into the U.S., which is good for stocks and bonds. If the breakout holds, it should be a tailwind for stock prices, and a further support for growing asset prices in 2020.

 

Additional Themes for 2020

Two of my favorite places to invest for 2020, on top of Cloud and Connected TV ads, are semiconductors and small caps. Semiconductors had a strong 2019, and the structure supports a strong 2020.

Semiconductors

It’s worth noting that in the late 90’s environment, semiconductors showed spectacular returns, and we are seeing the same today. The structure of the semiconductor index is supporting this theme, as well.

The above chart shows two large first wave setups, commonly known as a 1-2, i-ii setup, which also shows up as a cup & handle pattern. They imply that we are at a large 3rdwave, which is exactly what we are seeing.  

Regarding where we are in the structure, the internals are showing divergences, which we are starting to see in our semiconductor picks – NVDA, AMD, MU (report to come), QCOM (as we get closer to 5G), etc. We are likely in the early stages of the smaller degree wave 4, which should take us lower. However, as long as SMH, the broad market semiconductor ETF, holds the major support around $123, I’ll look to add to these positions in the coming days/weeks.

Small Caps

In December, we provided a more extensive report on the small cap setup. We then followed this up with many TA reports on our small cap choices. These price movements are still in play today.

In brief, small caps historically outperform in bull markets, and they underperform in drawdowns.

As you can see, each leg-up in the current bull market showed noticeable outperformance between small caps and large cap stocks. Today, Small caps are underperforming, which we typically do not see in a bull market. If we avoid a recession in 2020, then small caps will have a lot of room to run in order to take back their leadership role.

So far, our small cap positions have performed very well in 2020. Telaria is up about 55% YTD (exceeding Shopify), WIFI is up about 32% YTD, and INSG is up 25% YTD. Not only are these companies positioned to take advantage of current tech trends, but they should benefit from the small cap thesis, as discussed.

In conclusion, the trend is up, and as long as it is up, I plan to stay invested. As exciting as this market has been, it’s important to realize that what typically follows a great party is an even bigger hangover. It’s important to understand the type of volatility commonly known as reversion to the mean, which is why I brought up the debate around the average annual return being 5% or 7%. Neither of these numbers come close to what we are seeing today, which implies a sharp mean reversion in our future.

So, stay invested, and remember to have stops in place and/or be long volatility in some form as a hedge. The time to buy insurance is before a flood, not during, which is why a portion of our holdings are in gold/silver and some long-dated puts on companies that are most likely to be affected by a pullback.

 

Nvidia (NVDA)

There is simply nothing bearish about the above chart. Nvidia’s price is making all-time highs, while both the MACD and MACD Histogram are making new highs. Also, the Accumulation/Distribution indicator is making new highs, suggesting that this move is supported by healthy volume, and smart money is buying it.

For those that have followed our analysis on Nvidia, we suggested two excellent buying zones – one was in November of 2018and the other was based on the breakout scenario we outlined in our recent analysis in Septemberof 2019.  

As of now, Nvidia’s trend is parabolic before stalling out at all time highs. This is a company we want to own for the long haul, and it also fits with what we are seeing in Semis this year. Any correction should be bought and we plan to investigate if Friday is a correction or not.

The RSI is very overbought and will need to reset for the next leg higher. Also, the 3rdwave up is a textbook Elliott Wave move – the 3rdwave topped out at the 168.2% extension and the 5thwave topped out at the 200% extension. Nvidia’s price has turned and closed just above the prior high from October of 2018, which is around $292.

If it closes below $292, expect a Nvidia to first close the gap and find support around the $270-$272 region. If that level doesn’t hold, I placed some likely supports within the yellow target box on the chart.

However, it’s worth noting the 55-day EMA around $250 right now, which will move directly into the target region. The current uptrend has pulled back to this zone four times and held. It has been very strong support for the uptrend. If Nvidia breaks down to this level, it should be considered a buying opportunity as well. I will update you as we progress.

On positions that I expect to own for many years, if my cost basis is a level that we will likely never see again, I tend to hold that position as long as the fundamental story stays the same. We currently have a cost basis around $150 in Nvidia consisting of many shares we bought in the $140 region, and then added again when we broke $200.

I find it doubtful that we will see $140 again with Nvidia; however, $200 is not out of the question, especially if we encounter a recession. Thus, the portion I’m holding at $200 is being held with a stop just under $220, while the $140 cost basis is held without stops.

 

Zoom (ZM)

For those that have been following us on ZM, you should have a nice position in the current uptrend. The thesis that I outlined around the first bottom in the low $60s seems to be playing out, which is that we could be in the early stages of a strong wave 3 that will take us to new highs.

For those that are wondering what a 3rdwave feels like, this is it. A powerful move that is met with strong momentum and heavy volume. This is exactly what we are seeing with Zoom. Both the MACD and the Accumulation/Distribution indicator are making new highs with price, which is exactly what we want to see.

Today, Zoom broke out to new highs before getting sold below the heavy resistance region that I outlined in red on the chart. The MACD Histogram, which is measurement of internal momentum is diverging from price, suggesting a pullback is underway, which would be healthy for setting up the next leg up. Zoom is due for a pullback, which would be the 4thwave correction within the larger degree 3rdwave we have been riding.

Based on the exuberance in the market and in ZM, I’m not expecting a deep pullback. But, as long as the $75.75 region holds, the current count on the chart is valid, and I’m targeting the $155 region for the completion of the larger degree wave-3. Keep in mind, there are 5 waves in total, so it should be a good a year for Zoom.

Zoom is a buy, and should be bought on any breakout or dip while above $75.75.

 

Dynatrace (DT)

Dynatrace (DT) is a position we think will have good returns in 2020, and the current valuations are attractive when compared to its better-known counterpart, DataDog (DDOG).

Dynatrace is due for a larger degree wave 2 pullback, which is outlined by the red numbers on the chart. Now that the 23.6% retrace level is broken, which is the red price zone between $34.50-$34.15 on the chart, I’m considering the larger degree wave-2 to be in effect.

Also, notice how price has reacted to the 55-day EMA (blue) throughout the uptrend. This level has been strong support, and with a close below this level today, suggests that more downside is ahead.

So far, we up a little over 14%. I will look to add as DT approaches the upper level of my target box, or if DT can take back the red zone above $34.50. My current stop is just under $27.

 

Shopify (SHOP)

Shopify (SHOP) is one of our favorite cloud stocks for 2020. It’s a stock you want to own for the remainder of the bull market and should be bought on any dip. However, the strength of the uptrend has me looking to shallow dips around key moving averages, until price breaks through key supports. Right now, that support is $395. As long as this price holds, expect the uptrend to be intact.

It’s worth noting, since late 2019, SHOP has held the 20-day EMA (green), which is impressive. Below this level, the 55-day EMA has been additional support for Shopify historically as it makes new legs up. I’ll look to these levels for entries on any pullbacks.

The internals are strong, but suggesting weakening momentum. The volume is increasing with price; however, we saw a lot of volume fade the highs, suggesting institutional money is taking profits. Also, the RSI is overbought and needs to reset for a new leg up, suggesting a pullback, or at minimum a sideways consolidation is in order.

The MACD and MACD Histogram are supporting the uptrend. However, they are starting to roll over, suggesting temporary weakness. Shopify is a buy on any weakness. My current stop is just under the $395 region to protect our gains.

 

Alteryx (AYX)

Alteryx (AYX), like Zoom, had a deep wave-2 retrace, and is well within its wave 3 to new highs. Volume is increasing with price while the MACD supports a healthy uptrend. The Accumulation/Distribution index is increasing with price, suggesting smart money is buying into the move up. However, it’s worth noting that this index has not made it to new highs with price, suggesting that we could see a temporary pullback before breaking out.

Like Shopify, the 20-day EMA and 55-day EMA are key levels. Notice the reaction to the breakout. It couldn’t hold, and now the pressure has pushed AYX below the 20-day EMA. The next level of support will be the 55-day EMA, which is where I’ll look to add to my position. As long as the $122 region holds, I’ll stay long and buy the dip. Below $122 and I’ll stop out, protecting my gains.

 

Chainlink (LINK)

I’ve posted quite a bit on Chainlink in the forum as well as on several market update blogs. The little-known blockchain play has been on a tear recently. We began covering LINK at $2, initiated our first position around $1.77, stopped out around $2.45, and then re-initiated again at $1.80. The position is currently up 140% – more than Tesla YTD.

As Beth has pointed out in the PDF, this is not your typical alt-coin or crypto. Rather it is an investment in an important trend called smart contracts. You’ll want to pay attention to this and set any prejudices against crypto aside as we are not a site that covers crypto. We cover tech trends and this one will be parabolic. As Beth pointed out in the PDF, there are reports that Google and Oracle are both invested in Chainlink (page 8). We are in the early days for LINK and it’s something we plan to follow closely with technical analysis to navigate the volatility.

 

Bitcoin (BTC)

Since our last update, Bitcoin (BTC) has retraced into its lower degree wave-2 pullback. As we write this, BTC is within the upper target region. The $8600-$8500 region will be strong support to watch, and a good target zone to add to any existing position, if we get there.

This region coincides with the 38.2% retrace level and also the Volume Weighted Moving Average, anchored at the all-time high. As long as BTC holds the $7,000 region the current count will remain intact, and I will be looking past all-time highs in the coming months. Keep in mind, the $7,000 region is around 25% below current levels. The risk/reward setup at current levels, with proper position sizing, is an attractive trade.

I wouldn’t get too greedy with Bitcoin, considering the uptrend we see in front of us. If you like this asset, then consider layering in now.

For anyone on the fence about bitcoin, read Beth’s write-ups of why it’s important to the technological advancement of both centralized and decentralized blockchain. She has these write-ups on the free blog here, hereand hereand also on the premium site.

 

Telaria (TLRA)

In keeping with our small cap theme, we’ve been covering Boingo (WIFI) extensively over the last month. It’s currently confirming a breakout and is considered a buy along with our other small cap play, Inseego (INSG). Telaria (TLRA), our third small cap position, since we first recommended it, is up nearly 100%.

The uptrend is healthy in that the volume is confirming the price increase, and the internal momentum is strengthening with the price increase. Telaria has recently broken out of a strong resistance zone around $13, which we outlined in prior reports. It is considered a buy at current prices.

We are raising our stops to $9.50 to protect our gains. If we do get stopped out, we will look for re-entry due to our desire to hold TLRA for the long haul.

 

Qualcomm (QCOM)

If we look closer at the structure, QCOM is due for a pullback, and in fact the internals are suggesting this to be the case.

We can see the MACD and the MACD Histogram showing a negative divergencepattern. In other words, as the price increases the internal momentum is decreasing. We typically see this pattern before a pullback and should act as a warning.

Furthermore, the Accumulation/Distribution indicator is decreasing as the price in is increasing. This indicator measures two things: is volume supporting the price and what is the smart money doing. The assumption is that “smart” money buys at the final hours, while “dumb” money buys on news at the open. There is some credence to this sentiment indicator and it’s been an effective leading indicator. What it’s showing us here is 2 things: (1) volume is making lower lows while price is making higher highs; (2) the volume in the final hours is fading these prices, suggesting that smart money – i.e., institutional money is selling at current prices.

A pullback is reasonable; however, in this market, I wouldn’t expect too deep of a pullback. I added shares around $87 and will look to add more in the low $80s or when QCOM breaks out of its multi-decade cup & handle pattern above $100.

Regarding the cup and handle, Qulacomm (QCOM) is currently just under an important price zone: $98-$100 region. A close above this region would confirm a twenty-year cup & handle pattern, which we pointed out both on the forum and on Twitter. For those that may have missed this, the chart below says it all. A close above the $98-$100 price resistance in this pattern would be a bullish confirmation, and one that I would buy into.

Posted in Bitcoin, Chainlink, Market Updates, Stock Updates (Blogs)Leave a Comment on Market Update: Feb 22nd

Market Update Feb 13th

Posted on February 13, 2020June 30, 2026 by io-fund

Boingo (WIFI)

For the last several weeks, we pointed out the setup in Boingo (WIFI). A cup & handle pattern was forming, and last week we spotted the bounce and trend reversal exactly at the 127.2% extension, which is a common place to spot short term trend reversals.

So far, the uptrend has been a healthy one – buying pressure increasing with price and volume increasing. This signals that more buyers are showing up just before the resistance.

Today, WIFI broke through our targeted breakout region, closing on the high at $13.98 with double the average trading volume. The internals are confirming what we are seeing – buying pressure is increasing with price and volume.

If WIFI can hold above this level tomorrow (Friday, Feb 14th), that will be a strong confirmation of a breakout, and the move from here could be swift. We have provided good setups in the past leading up to this moment; if you do not have a position in WIFI and have been waiting for a breakout, this is what we have been waiting for. 

We are raising our stop to just under $10.70 to protect our gains.

Slack (WORK)

Last week we noted that Slack was appearing to stall-out again within the range it has been stuck in for several months between $25-$20.

With decreasing momentum and a reversal at the 20% symmetrical tops we outlined in Slack’s prior attempts to breakout, we were planning on price, once again, retesting the $20 support. However, an announcement surrounding IBM as a listed client of Slack changed this setup. On heavy volume, Slack broke right through the strong resistance that has halted all attempts prior.

This move did so with the MACD supporting a healthy trend as well as the MACD-Histogram showing an increase with each attempt by buyers to push prices up. Both the MACD and the Histogram are making new highs, while price is breaking through its range on strong volume. This is the type of breakout we want to see and one that you should pay attention to.

Furthermore, the resistance zone that kept Slack bottled up is now support – So, $25-$23 is now the primary support zone for any continued uptrend. After breaking out, Slack attempted to retest the now support zone between $25-$23. This move was quickly rejected, which is also a bullish sign.

As of now, it appears as though Slack is in a well-defined bull flag pattern that has been confirmed by today’s close. All of these signs point to a healthy breakout. We went long on the breakout and have a tight stop at $24.25.

Chainlink (LINK)

Since bottoming just above our stop at $1.60, Chainlink (LINK) revealed a micro 5-waves up, which is a sign of a potential turnaround. On December 12th, we announced on the forum the setup, which was that we are going long at $1.80 with a stop at $1.60. Since then, we’ve added to the breakout above $2.

My current count on Chainlink has us in a strong uptrend with plenty of room to run. Chainlink recently broke out again at $3.40, making a new higher high within the range it was trading in. The next stop will be all time highs at $4.80.

The internals are all confirming a healthy uptrend, and LINK is a buy on pullbacks or breakouts. The 34-day EMA (the red line) has been the support since the renewed uptrend off the December 2019 lows. Any break of this trendline will signal a correction is underway, and should be monitored closely. We are raising our stop to just under $2.6 to protect our gains, in the event the current uptrend fails.

I posted my long-term targets in red on the chart. As long as LINK does not break down below $2, this target remains my long-term plan for now. Alt coins, like Bitcoin, are notorious for false breakouts and failed impulses. So far, the structure we are seeing is promising and is the type of trend we want to be invested in. With a asset this volatile, stops and position sizing are crucial. Even if do get a failed breakout, we will lock in a nice profit at $2.60, and wait for the next uptrend.

Please note that LINK is not a typical crypto as it’s tied to smart contracts which will be first in play for blockchain with smart contracts gaining a lot of interest from the finance industry. Reference the Chainlink PDF for more information.

Bitcoin (BTC)

In our first report on Bitcoin in August of 2019, we outlined that both the fundamental story is aligned with the technical story. We may be in the early stages of a larger degree third wave, which we have been following and covering closely. When confirmed, this will take us to all-new highs.

The above chart shows this long-term pattern, starting from the bottom of Bitcoin’s all-time top and roughly 85% drawdown. On the forum we spotted the most recent bottom and initiated a buy around $7100.

It’s worth noting that a close above $10,000 is a big deal for Bitcoin. Historically, it has been a psychological region of importance. The chart above outlines my general game plan for Bitcoin, and as long as we hold the $7,000, this will be my primary count and remain my game plan.

Another scenario is that Bitcoin pulls back, which will take us to the low $9000-low $7650 region.

MongoDB (MDB)

The internals are suggesting that MDB is stalling out as it approaches new highs. We have divergences across the MCD Histograms and the RSI. The MACD signal is on the verge of crossing over to the downside as well. All of this is happening while the price is making higher highs. This is not what we want to see from a stock poised to breakout to new highs.

For any current longs, the 34-day EMA has been solid support for the current uptrend, which is currently at $155. If this support is broken, I’d be looking to the 200-day SMA for the final support, currently at $142.

Roku

Roku has been trading within a descending wedge pattern since December of last year. We had a false breakdown in late January where the price tested the 200-day SMA (red). The next day the price went back into the range.

Prior to beating earnings, the price broke out of the wedge pattern to the upside, closing for 3 days above this breakout. The internals confirmed the move with an increase in buying pressure and volume.

Tomorrow, we will likely see a gap-up at the open. As of now, the price is set to open within the green resistance zone around $147. We will want to see Roku clear the $153 price target as the first hurdle, and then new highs before we can say the bullish trend is renewed. Long term, Roku has been and remains one of our highest conviction plays due to size of addressable market.

Posted in Bitcoin, Chainlink, Market Updates, Stock Updates (Blogs)Leave a Comment on Market Update Feb 13th

General Market Update: October 3rd

Posted on October 3, 2019June 30, 2026 by io-fund

It’s my prediction, that no matter what the broader market does, that tech will no longer be seen as a cyclical high-growth play – and rather, as more secular. The market is not ready to accept this yet but I believe they will be proven wrong as tech no longer needs a strong economy to push forward. Some tech companies will continue to report strong earnings, even when safe value stocks do not. I am not sure how the market will react exactly to positive tech earnings, as liquidity tends to trump earnings. But, in the last two major pullbacks, of the dot-com bust and the 2008 loan crisis, technology was not in a position of strength. Many of the internet companies were superfluous. They did not solve a pain, and global economies were not built on them. By 2008, the tech hype cycle had not begun, and in fact, mobile had its start six months prior with the iPhone launch.

You can basically say, at this point, that the most technologically advanced country is the most powerful country. That became more of a reality with cloud computing.

With tech, I’ve stated in previous market updates, that I follow trailing stops. This is a personal decision as the losses on tech growth (even great companies) can happen swiftly. I used Nvidia as an example of why a trailing stop is a great idea – you can always get back in once the stock stabilizes.

Today, nothing happened to the stocks we’ve covered in the PDFs that would be cause for alarm. If you’re new to Roku, then the pullback was alarming, but we had stated many times to not buy at its peak because this stock has a predictable pattern of dropping 50% off competitor announcements (these announcements are immaterial – Comcast -are you kidding me? And Apple is not a competitor as Roku is free ad-supported; not a subscription service. I’ll write some thoughts in the forum on this). 

Of the industry verticals across tech, I want to emphasize that connected TV advertising will be a safe haven in the short-term. Brands are allocating budgets to CTV ads and that’s not going to change anytime soon. Roku, Trade Desk and a small cap Telaria was discussed on the forum. My goal is to dig up a few more options here for you to consider. As you know, Roku is my favorite and it’s due to product-market fit – but by all means, choose the CTV ad products/companies that you think fits your portfolio the best. I don’t think you can go wrong.

Cloud stocks will continue to report growth, as well. If I were to rank them, I continue to believe Zoom is the most insulated from a global slowdown. They solve a real problem and they do it cheaper and easier than the competitors. With that said, Workday, Slack and MongoDB should also remain insulated.

I do hedge and have short positions and puts. I do well with these and so do many of my readers. I hear from subscribers frequently on the Uber and Lyft analysis as I’ve always had high conviction here.

I have medium to high conviction on semis being in a similar place. I’m personally a fan of making money on the way down, and if this market is going to be volatile, I don’t see the semiconductors being an exception. We already saw that with Micron dropping 11% in one day. We had covered this via technical analysis, as well.

Snap should have had another announcement on Audience Network by now.  I am confident institutions were expecting this announcement, as well. This one needs to be looked again, as it’s been six months and no further word on this.

Below, we have a technical update for you to help guide entries and exits. There was some good discussion on the forum about technical analysis being especially helpful on knowing when to exit to protect gains. We may not control the market, but we can at least use probabilities to manage risk and formulate a game plan.

Technical Analysis

by Knox Ridley

Aerial View

What we are looking at is the weekly chart in the S&P 500 going back to 2012. As some of you know, the RSI measures the internal momentum/strength of the price trend.

When the RSI oscillates above 50 and into oversold levels around 70, this is a healthy uptrend. An example of this is the RSI uptrend from 2014 to 2015, which is highlighted in green arrows.

On the flip side, when the momentum and strength is failing, it can warn us of a trend change. You can see this between 2015-2016. This is a similar pattern to what we are seeing today. The RSI is failing to break through the downtrend resistance. I’ve marked this with red arrows where it is making lower lows while the price is making higher highs and is now approaching the 50-day moving average, which is highlighted in orange.

Close Up View

The market has been trading in an expanding wedge for the last couple of years, which is outlined in the expanding black trend lines. The price has tested the upper trend channel multiple times, and each time has failed to break out.

The important levels that I am watching are the 2725 region. If we break that region, marking a lower low in the 2019 corrections, that will be a major warning.  We have one last level to test, which will be 2600. If we break 2600, then we will likely test new December lows. By this level, my stops would have been hit and I’ll wait for things to stabilize.

Past Expanding Wedge Pattern (1990)

The last time we saw an expanding wedge pattern play out on a similar time frame was in late 1990. The yellow section highlighted indicates a 20% drawdown in less than 3 months.  So, these moves can be swift once the pressure builds. 

Conclusion

When you factor in that the Manufacturing Index reported its first contraction since 2009, coupled with weakening global production, it’s obvious why sentiment is at heightened fear levels. Pundits will claim that manufacturing doesn’t matter in America; that the consumer is all that matters. However, manufacturing mattered in 2008 as it did in 2011 and it matters today.

The reverse side of the argument is that bull markets don’t usually end in a whimper. There have been some theories that October will be painful with the year ending with new highs. For me, the 2725 level and 2600 level are the levels when we will be heading towards a bear market. As of now, I am leaning into caution while holding high conviction tech names with tight stops.

Tech Sector

Like the S&P 500, the tech sector has broken the uptrend started from the 2018 December lows. Tech led the charge up, so will likely lead any charge down. The next support level will be the 50-day moving average, which is highlighted in orange.  This is not a good sign and an indication that more downside is likely ahead. 

Rotation is underway

The Fifty index tracks and rebalances for the stocks with the most momentum in the market.  Technology and Consumer Discretionary takes up over 50% of the total allocation.  Notice the rotation out of momentum and into the safe, defensive staples names. 

As many of you know, we’ve been discussing the shift in cloud stocks. According to SentimenTrader.com, September 9th marked the biggest one-day shift in momentum since 2009. On this day, value outperformed the best performing stocks YTD – mainly tech momentum stocks. You can read our blogs here and here on similar topics.

Workday – If we break $163.75, we will likely find support around the $141-140 region. This region coincides with the 38.2% retrace and the 168% extension. These are significant Fibonacci levels that will act as strong support. I will look to be a buyer around this region regardless of broad market sentiment.  If we break this level, the 50% retrace around $123 will be the next support region.

Roku – We’ve updated you recently on Roku in a separate technical analysis.  

Snap – Suggested stop at $14.

Work –A safe stop is at $20.  If we close at or below $20, something else is playing out.

Zoom – ZM held support around $80-$78, which was the ideal target for a base.  However, it has broken this support and currently broke through the 61.8% retrace level around $74.80. Below the 78.6% retrace and we are dealing with something other than a pause in a major uptrend. Stop at $67.75

Chainlink – So far, Link has followed our game plan perfectly. It broke down below the $2 line, and traded down to the $1.70 and $1.50 range, which was dead center in the middle of our target box. Hopefully you layered in some buys at this range. We are currently back above $2.  Link below $2 is a buy.

Bitcoin – Bitcoin has been trading within my target range for the last week – between the low $8,000s and high $7,000s.  So far, the price action hasn’t confirmed a bottom. Bitcoin below $8,500 is a buy.

Posted in Bitcoin, Chainlink, Market Updates, Stock Updates (Blogs)Leave a Comment on General Market Update: October 3rd

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