CANSLIM SETUPS

Where We Are:

Taking a look at the broader market:

More distribution tells us it’s not safe to be a Bull.

While the Technology sector is showing relative strength, the Nasdaq’s Follow Through Day has a lot going against it.

September is the worst month for the Bulls.

With many sectors facing resistance at their major averages it’s too much to bet against.

As many traders, speculators and pundits squabble over the market’s next move, we feel the safest and wisest thing is to lay low.

From a breakout buyers point of view there simply aren’t the setups to go for anyway.

Now is the time to preserve capital until stronger indications come forward.

Technically speaking:

The Dow Industrial Average

($INDU), -1.8%, rallies to its 50-day moving average before falling back.

The S&P 500

($SPX), -1.4%, also rallies to its 50-day moving average before falling back.

Nasdaq

($COMPQ), -1.2%, also rallies to its 50-day moving average before falling back.

Russell 2000

($RUT), -2.2%, consolidates below its major moving averages.

Volume indications go to the Bears for the week as the S&P and Nasdaq notch two days of distribution a piece.

Key chart action for the week:

Charts courtesy of Stockcharts.com

The U.S. Dolar Index ($DXC) falls after skimming its 50-day average.

The Gold & Silver Miners Index ($XAU) rallies above its major moving average.

The Consumer Index ($CMR) consolidates on its 200-day average.

The Cyclical Index ($CYC) consolidates above its 200-day average and below its 50-day average.

The Technology Index ($DJUSTC) pulls back to its 50-day average.

The Semiconductor ($SOX) falls back below its 50-day average after rallying above.

The Software Index ($GSO) pulls back to its 50-day average.

Telecom Index ($XTC) consolidates under its 50-day average.

The Banking Index ($BKX) struggles under its 50-day average, which is below its 200-day average.

The Broker Dealer Index ($XBD) consolidates below its major moving averages.

The Retail Index ($RLX) falls back from its 50-day average, which is below its 200-day average.

The Healthcare Index ($HCX) consolidates on its major moving averages.

Biotechnology Index ($BKX) rallies and holds above its major moving averages.

Pharmaceutical Index ($DRG) consolidates below its major moving averages.

The REIT Index ($DJR) consolidates on its 50-day average, which is below its 200-day average.

The Transportation Index ($TRAN) consolidates below its major moving averages.

The Airline Index ($XAL) also consolidates below its major moving averages.

The Defense Index ($DFX) consolidates above its major moving averages.

The Energy Index ($IXE) rallies and holds above its 50-day average.

What Was Important About Last Week

STOCKS:

• VeriFone Holdings (PAY) reported Q3 (Jul) earnings of $0.42 per share, ex items, $0.02 better than the Reuters Estimates consensus of $0.40. Revenues rose 57.1% year/year to $231.9 mln vs the $226.7 mln consensus.
  
• J. Crew Group (JCG) reported Q2 (Jul) earnings of $0.32 per share, $0.03 better than the Reuters Estimates consensus of $0.29. Revenues rose 13.2% year/year to $304.7 mln vs the $308.7 mln consensus.
• American Eagle Outfitters (AEO) reported Aug same store sales +9%, vs +6.7% Briefing.com consensus. It also reiterated Q3 EPS guidance of $0.47-0.48 vs $0.48 consensus.
• Guess? (GES) reported Q2 (Jul) earnings of $0.40 per share, $0.07 better than the Reuters Estimates consensus of $0.33. Revenues rose 48.2% year/year to $388.3 mln vs the $345.6 mln consensus.

ECONOMY:

• Non-farm payrolls declined 4,000 in August and revisions to June and July subtracted 81,000. The consensus expected a gain of 100,000.
  
• Government jobs unexpectedly fell 28,000 in August. Excluding government, private sector payrolls increased 24,000, but were revised lower by 36,000 in June and July. Manufacturing payrolls fell 46,000 (the biggest loss since 2003), information fell 7,000, transportation and warehousing jobs declined 4,000. Financial jobs were unchanged. Healthcare added 49,000 to payrolls, while retail trade added 13,000.
  
• The unemployment rate remained at 4.6% (4.642% un-rounded).
  
• Average hourly earnings increased 0.3% and are up 3.9% versus a year ago – a level of wage growth similar to that of the late 1990s.
  
• The ISM non-manufacturing business barometer (a measure of production growth in the services sector) was unchanged at 55.8 in August. The consensus expected a decline to 54.5. Levels above 50 signal expansion and levels below 50 signal contraction in the services sector.
  
• Growth in non-farm productivity (output per hour) was revised to a 2.6% annual rate in the second quarter, up from an originally reported 1.8%. This was above the consensus expected 2.4%. Non-farm productivity is up 0.9% versus a year ago.

What We’re Looking For This Week

Key earnings releases:

• MONDAY: Shuffle Master, Inc. (SHFL)
• TUESDAY: none
• WEDNESDAY: Jos. A. Bank Clothiers (JOSB)
• THURSDAY: none
• FRIDAY: none

On the economic front we have potential market movers with:

• MONDAY: Consumer Credit
• TUESDAY: Trade Balance
• WEDNESDAY: Crude Inventories
• THURSDAY: Initial Claims, Treasury Budget
• FRIDAY: Current Account, Export Prices ex-ag., Import Prices ex-oil, Retail Sales, Capacity Utilization, Industrial Production, Business Inventories, Mich Sentiment-Prel.

The Following Sections Are On Our Home Site:

• The Growth Stock Landscape
• What We Like – What We Have
• This Week’s Scans: • SETUPS • BREAKOUTS • BASE BUILDING • SHORTS

This Week’s Word On Discipline:

“Nothing can be more hurtful to the service, than the neglect of discipline; for that discipline, more than numbers, gives one army the superiority over another. ” – George Washington

CANSLIM SETUPS