Play Volatility Now - History Shows the Next 3 Months Could be Choppy

When ordering your market pie now, expect to get some extra volatility on that. In periods around a first Fed rate hike the market tends to exhibit higher volatility than normal. During the particular period in play today, I think you can expect even more than that for various reasons discussed herein. As a result, sophisticated investors might make more use of volatility instruments now like the iPath S&P 500 VIX Short-Term Futures ETN (NYSE: VXX). Please note that the VXX is for sophisticated investors who understand its inherent risk. The VXX may be useful as a short-term hedging instrument, but its historical performance shows its inherent tendency to shed value over the long-term. See more of this report on how to play volatility now.

DISCLOSURE: Kaminis is currently short VXX, but may go long over the next 72 hours. Please see our disclosures at the Wall Street Greek website and author bio pages found there. This article and website in no way offers or represents financial or investment advice. Information is provided for entertainment purposes only. Editor's Note: Article should interest investors in Bank of America (NYSE: BAC), Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC.OB), Fannie Mae (OTC: FNMA.OB), Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS), Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS), Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC), Toronto Dominion (NYSE: TD), BB&T (NYSE: BBT), CIT (NYSE: CIT), Bank United (NYSE: BKU), First Citizens (OTC: FCNCA.PK), Synovus (NYSE: SNV), United Bankshares (Nasdaq: UBSI), Hampton Roads Bankshares (Nasdaq: HMPR), WesBanco (Nasdaq: WSBC), City Holding (Nasdaq: CHCO), Sandy Spring (Nasdaq: SASR), First Citizens (OTC: FCBN.OB), SCBT Financial (Nasdaq: SCBT), Wilmington Trust (NYSE: WL), WSFS Financial (Nasdaq: WSFS), Southside Bancshares (Nasdaq: SBSI), Stellar One (Nasdaq: STEL), Union First Market (Nasdaq: UBSH), Eagle Bancorp (Nasdaq: EGBN), First Bancorp (Nasdaq: FBNC), Ameris (Nasdaq: ABCB), The Bancorp (Nasdaq: TBBK), First Community (Nasdaq: FCBC), Capital City (Nasdaq: CCBG), Financial Institutions (Nasdaq: FISI), National Bankshares (Nasdaq: NKSH), Citizens & Northern (Nasdaq: CZNC), Charter Financial (Nasdaq: CHFN), Seacoast Banking (Nasdaq: SBCF), TIB Financial (Nasdaq: TIBB), American National (Nasdaq: AMNB), United Community (Nasdaq: UCBI), Middleburg Financial (Nasdaq: MBRG), Heritage Financial (Nasdaq: HBOS), Zions Bancorp (Nasdaq: ZION), East West Bancorp (Nasdaq: EWBC), City National (NYSE: CYN), Bank of Hawaii (NYSE: BOH), SVB Financial (Nasdaq: SIVB), Westamerica (Nasdaq: WABC), Cathay General (Nasdaq: CATY), Umpqua (Nasdaq: UMPQ), Glacier Bancorp (Nasdaq: GBCI), Pacific Capital (Nasdaq: PCBC), PacWest (Nasdaq: PACW), Western Alliance (NYSE: WAL), First National Alaska (OTC: FBAK.OB), First Interstate Bancsystem (Nasdaq: FIBK), Nara (Nasdaq: NARA), West Coast (Nasdaq: WCBO), TriCo (Nasdaq: TCBK), Territorial (Nasdaq: TBNK), Washington Banking (Nasdaq: WCBO), Bank of Marin (Nasdaq: BMRC), Hanmi (Nasdaq: HAFC), PNC Bank (NYSE: PNC), J.P. Morgan Chase (NYSE: JPM), United Bankshares (Nasdaq: UBSI), Bank of New York Mellon (NYSE: BK), MB Financial (Nasdaq: MBFI), Astoria Financial (NYSE: AF), New York Community (NYSE: NYB), Hudson City (Nasdaq: HCBK), People’s United (Nasdaq: PBCT), First Niagra (Nasdaq: FNFG), Capitol Federal (Nasdaq: CFFN), Washington Federal (Nasdaq: WFSL), Investor’s Bancorp (Nasdaq: ISBC), Northwest Bankshares (Nasdaq: NWBI), Sterling Financial (Nasdaq: STSA), Ocwen (NYSE: OCN), Flagstar (NYSE: FBC), Provident (NYSE: PFS), Colombia Banking (Nasdaq: COLB), Kearny (Nasdaq: KRNY), Brookline (Nasdaq: BRKL), Dime Community (Nasdaq: DCOM), Flushing Financial (Nasdaq: FFIC), Danvers (Nasdaq: DNBK).

BUY QQQ: Nasdaq Pressured for All the Wrong Reasons

Fear has spread across the market. Major business media has raised the specter of a Fed rate hike that could stir trouble for emerging markets and high-yield debt. While it’s true that higher interest rates pressure borrowers on the margins, they shouldn’t immediately bankrupt them all. That is unless panic is pushed to the populace and investors immediately demand even greater yield for the debt that helps to sustain those fringe borrowers. Nevertheless, I see an opportunity here as the PowerShares QQQ (Nasdaq: QQQ) is being pressured for all the wrong reasons. The Nasdaq-100 has already been discounted by this issue and concern about lower energy prices, despite a lack of direct exposure to either. And there is a chance the Nasdaq-100 could sink further on these concerns this week. I would see any further decline as a very special opportunity, which I expect smart money would pounce upon, driving the QQQ to bounce higher not long thereafter. Indeed, the move higher may already be underway. Thus, I suggest using this wrongfully placed weakness as an opportunity to acquire the top Nasdaq stocks at discount by using the PowerShares QQQ. See the full report on the QQQ here.

PowerShares QQQ Top 10 Holdings	% of Assets as of October 30
Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL)	12.83%
Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT)	7.92
Amazon.com (Nasdaq: AMZN)	5.51
Alphabet (Nasdaq: GOOG)	4.60
Facebook (Nasdaq: FB)	4.34
Alphabet (Nasdaq: GOOGL)	4.02
Intel (Nasdaq: INTC)	3.03
Gilead Sciences (Nasdaq: GILD)	2.99
Cisco Systems (Nasdaq: CSCO)	2.76
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA)	2.49

Please see our disclosures at the Wall Street Greek website and author bio pages found there. This article and website in no way offers or represents financial or investment advice. Information is provided for entertainment purposes only. This article should interest investors in Cisco Systems (Nasdaq: CSCO), Juniper Networks (Nasdaq: JNPR), Riverbed Technology (Nasdaq: RVBD), Aruba Networks (Nasdaq: ARUN), Finisar (Nasdaq: FNSR), Super Micro Computer (Nasdaq: SMCI), Black Box (Nasdaq: BBOX), Digi International (Nasdaq: DGII), Echelon (Nasdaq: ELON), Extreme Networks (Nasdaq: EXTR), Globecomm (Nasdaq: GCOM), Hughes Telematics (OTC: HUTC.OB), Lantronix (Nasdaq: LTRX), Lattice (OTC: LTTC.OB), Network Equipment Technology (Nasdaq: NWK), Performance Technologies (Nasdaq: PTIX), Sierra Wireless (Nasdaq: SWIR), Silicom (Nasdaq: SILC), Sycamore Networks (Nasdaq: SCMR), Valpey-Fisher (Nasdaq: VPF), Google (Nasdaq: GOOG), Baidu (Nasdaq: BIDU), Yandex (Nasdaq: YNDX), LinkedIn (Nasdaq: LNKD), Akamai (Nasdaq: AKAM), Ancestry.com (Nasdaq: ACOM), AOL (NYSE: AOL), Atrinsic (Nasdaq: ATRN), Autobytel (Nasdaq: ABTL), Banks.com (AMEX: BNX), Bitauto (Nasdaq: BITA), China Finance Online (Nasdaq: JRJC), ChinaCache International (Nasdaq: CCIH), Clicker Inc. (OTC: CLKZ.PK), EDGAR Online (Nasdaq: EDGR), eDiets.com (Nasdaq: DIETD), Global Sources (Nasdaq: GSOL), HealthStream (Nasdaq: HSTM), HSW Int’l (Nasdaq: HSWI), InfoSpace (Nasdaq: INSP), InterXion (Nasdaq: INXN), Jiayuan.com (Nasdaq: DATE), Knobias (OTC: KBAS.PK), Local.com (Nasdaq: LOCM), LookSmart (Nasdaq: LOOK), Market Leader (Nasdaq: LEDR), MMR Information (OTC: MMRF.OB), Prime Companies (OTC: PCIR.PK), Quepasa (OTC: QPSA.PK), Rediff.com (Nasdaq: REDF), Renren (Nasdaq: RENN), Salon Media (OTC: SLNM.PK), Sohu.com (Nasdaq: SOHU), SouFun Holdings (Nasdaq: SFUN), Subaye (Nasdaq: SBAY), TechTarget (Nasdaq: TTGT), The Knot (Nasdaq: KNOT), TheStreet.com (NYSE: TST), Travelzoo (Nasdaq: TZOO), Tucows (AMEX: TCX), Vertro (Nasdaq: VTRO), Web.com (Nasdaq: WWWW), WebMD (Nasdaq: WBMD), Yahoo (Nasdaq: YHOO), Youku.com (Nasdaq: YOKU).

Gold Haunted by Black Shadows & Green Specters

The movement of gold prices may have confounded some investors recently. Normally, gold (NYSE: GLD) would rise sharply on a disruptive geopolitical concern like the one we saw in Paris. Indeed, the black shadow of terrorism presents gold as a viable asset for wealth protection. However, the dollar also appreciates in flights to quality when a scare strikes at Europe or elsewhere around the world, especially when the European Central Bank (ECB) comes into play. So gold has had the weight of a strong dollar working against it at the same time. This balance of influences has kept gold about unchanged since last month, despite bouts of volatility. See the full report on gold here.

Please see our disclosures at the Wall Street Greek website and author bio pages found there. This article and website in no way offers or represents financial or investment advice. Information is provided for entertainment purposes only. Article should interest investors in precious metals stocks: Goldcorp (NYSE: GG), Agnico-Eagle Mines (NYSE: AEM), Allied Nevada Gold (AMEX: ANV), AngloGold Ashanti (NYSE: AU), AuRico Gold (NYSE: AUQ), Aurizon Mines (AMEX: AZK), Barrick Gold (NYSE: ABX), Brigus Gold (AMEX: BRD), Charles & Covard (Nasdaq: CTHR), Claude Resources (AMEX: CGR), Commerce Group (OTC: CGCO.PK), Compania Mina Buenaventura S.A. (NYSE: BVN), DRDGOLD (Nasdaq: DROOY), Eldorado Gold (NYSE: EGO), Entrée Gold (AMEX: EGI), Exeter Resource (AMEX: XRA), Gold Fields (NYSE: GFI), Gold Reserve (AMEX: GRZ), Gold Resource (Nasdaq: GORO), Golden Eagle Int’l (OTC: MYNG.PK), Golden Star Resources (AMEX: GSS), Great Basin Gold (AMEX: GBG), Harmony Gold (NYSE: HMY), IAMGOLD (NYSE: IAG), International Tower Hill Mines (AMEX: THM), Jaguar Mining (NYSE: JAG), Keegan Resources (AMEX: KGN), Kimber Resources (AMEX: KBX), Kingold Jewelry (Nasdaq: KGJI), Kinross Gold (NYSE: KGC), Midway Gold (AMEX: MDW), Minco Gold (AMEX: MGH), Nevsun Resources (AMEX: NSU), New Jersey Mining (OTC: NJMC.PK), Newmont Mining (NYSE: NEM), North Bay Resources (OTC: NBRI.OB), Northgate Minerals (AMEX: NXG), NovaGold Resources (AMEX: NG), Richmont Mines (AMEX: RIC), Royal Gold (Nasdaq: RGLD), Rubicon Minerals (AMEX: RBY), Seabridge Gold (AMEX: SA), Solitario Exploration and Royalty (AMEX: XPL), Tanzanian Royalty Exploration (AMEX: TRE), Thunder Mountain Gold (OTC: THMG.OB), U.S. Gold (NYSE: UXG), Vista Gold (AMEX: VGZ), Wits Basin Precious Metals (OTC: WITM.PK), Yamana Gold (NYSE: AUY), Coeur d’Alene Mines (NYSE: CDE), Endeavour Silver (NYSE: EXK), Hecla Mining (NYSE: HL), Mag Silver (AMEX: MVG), Mines Management (AMEX: MGN), Silver Standard Resources (Nasdaq: SSRI), Silver Wheaton (NYSE: SLW), SPDR Gold Trust (NYSEArca: GLD), Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF (NYSEArca: GDX), iShares Silver Trust (NYSEArca: SLV), ProShares Ultra Silver (NYSEArca: AGQ), ProShares Ultra Short Silver (NYSEArca: ZSL), Great Panther Silver (AMEX: GPL), Silvercorp Metals (NYSE: SVM), Paramount Gold and Silver (AMEX: PZG), Pan American Silver (Nasdaq: PAAS) and First Majestic Silver (NYSE: AG).

Buy United States Oil Here – Discovery of Support

United States Oil (NYSE: USO) had an important discovery Monday; it found support. Some are pointing to technical analysis for reasoning, but there are fundamental factors to point to. Energy prices have stabilized for now thanks largely to supportive economic data out of Europe and China. Still, given recent supply stubbornness, energy could require a geopolitical catalyst to really get going to the upside over the near-term. Because I give weight to that possibility, I can recommend immediate purchase for aggressive investors and a buy and hold strategy for all others on a positive change in demand dynamics. See the full report on United States Oil (USO) here.

DISCLOSURE: Kaminis is long USO. Article interests energy investors including Exxon Mobil (NYSE: XOM), BP (NYSE: BP), PetroChina (NYSE: PTR), Petrobras (NYSE: PZE), Royal Dutch Shell (OTC: RYDAF.PK), Total (NYSE: TOT), Chevron (NYSE: CVX), Repsol (OTC: REPYY.PK), ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP), Eni SpA (NYSE: E), Sasol (NYSE: SSL), Encana (NYSE: ECA), Suncor (NYSE: SU), Imperial Oil (AMEX: IMO), Statoil (NYSE: STO), Cenovus (NYSE: CVE), Transocean (NYSE: RIG), Penn West Petroleum (NYSE: PWE), Continental Resources (NYSE: CLR), Noble (NYSE: NE), Concho (NYSE: CXO), Diamond Offshore (NYSE: DO), Ensco (NYSE: ESV), Whiting Petroleum (NYSE: WLL), Nabors (NYSE: NBR), Pride International (NYSE: PDE), Helmerich & Payne (NYSE: HP), QEP Resources (NYSE: QEP), Enerplus (NYSE: ERF), Rowan (NYSE: RDC), Cobalt (NYSE: CIE), Patterson UTI (Nasdaq: PTEN), SandRidge (NYSE: SD), Schlumberger (NYSE: SLB), Halliburton (NYSE: HAL), National Oilwell Varco (NYSE: NOV), Baker Hughes (NYSE: BHI), Weatherford International (NYSE: WFT), Cameron (NYSE: CAM), FMC Tech (NYSE: FTI), Oil States International (NYSE: OIS), Superior Energy (NYSE: SPN), Carbo Ceramics (NYSE: CRR), Helix Energy (NYSE: HLX), Pioneer (NYSE: PXD), CNOOC (NYSE: CEO), China Petroleum and Chemical (NYSE: SNP), Ecopetrol (NYSE: EC), Canadian Natural Resources (NYSE: CNQ), Apache (NYSE: APA), Anadarko (NYSE: APC), Devon (NYSE: DVN), EOG (NYSE: EOG), Chesapeake (NYSE: CHK). Please see our disclosures at the Wall Street Greek website and author bio pages found there. This article and website in no way offers or represents financial or investment advice. Information is provided for entertainment purposes only.

Deflategate Part II – Discussions with Draghi

By now just about everyone in America is aware of Deflategate, or the alleged air pressure manipulation of footballs in NFL games played in the Boston area. Well, if I were writing a sequel today, it would have nothing to do with Tom Brady and the Patriots, but instead feature the play in the euro driven by the discussions of an influential central bank quarterback, Mario Draghi. Recently, hot air has had some serious implications for the euro/dollar trade and commodities as well, whether it has come from the ECB or the U.S. Fed. I would go so far as to say it has inappropriately inflated the dollar versus a deflated euro. As a result, I see long positions in the dollar using the PowerShares DB US Dollar Bullish (NYSE: UUP) extended and recommend their disposal. See Deflategate The Sequel here. Article interests PowerShares DB US Dollar Bullish (NYSE: UUP), PowerShares DB US Dollar Bearish (NYSE: UNP), CurrencyShares Euro (NYSE: FXE), SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE: GLD), iShares Silver Trust (NYSE: SLV), Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT), United States Oil (NYSE: USO).

Kaminis is long USO. Please see our disclosures at the Wall Street Greek website and author bio pages found there. This article and website in no way offers or represents financial or investment advice. Information is provided for entertainment purposes only.

Stocks Should Recover Now - Buy the SPY ETF

When I authored my warnings about market correction in early to mid-August, I also indicated what the cure for stocks would eventually be. One of those factors appears to be about ready to help out, and that is clarification from the Fed. No matter what happens Thursday afternoon, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) will provide some clarity to investors. Stocks should benefit from the removal of some uncertainty, and I see immediate upside of 2.5% to 5.0% probable for the SPDR S&P 500 (NYSE: SPY) post the Fed meeting. But any gains and the length of duration of upward direction will depend on the specifics of what the Fed does and says. The longer term for stocks and the SPY will continue to depend on the U.S. economy, energy sector issues, emerging market implications, seasonal capital flow factors and the Fed path and accuracy moving forward. See the full report on the stock market and the SPY ETF here. This article may also interest SPDR Dow Jones (NYSE: DIA), PowerShares QQQ (Nasdaq: QQQ), iShares Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM), Vanguard Total Stock Market (NYSE: VTI).

Kaminis is Long SPY. Please see our disclosures at the Wall Street Greek website and author bio pages found there. This article and website in no way offers or represents financial or investment advice. Information is provided for entertainment purposes only.

We Recommended VXX at $16 Pre-Correction & it Rose 97% in 2 Weeks

In the first half of August before the market correction I vehemently warned investors to: raise cash levels; avoid the temptation to purchase dips in the market; and to buy the iPath S&P 500 ST Futures ETN (NYSE: VXX) at approximately $16. The stock market corrected shortly after my recommendation, with the investors in the VXX having a best case gain measuring 97% if sold at $31.48 intraday on September 1st. I closed my initial VXX long position (call options) during the correction in August at a significant profit. As I produced this report, the VXX security traded at approximately $24 and still offered a 50% profit to early stakeholders who might still be holding the security. Given the greater likelihood of Fed inaction versus the probability of action this week, and as I anticipate a higher likelihood of a market rise on such news than the possibility of decline, I’m suggesting investors still holding the VXX sell the security and take profits now if they have not already done so. The VXX should fall swiftly in the event of a change in market sentiment to the positive. If you would like to keep some hedge in place due to an expectation for a Fed surprise, I suggest doing so with a much smaller stake and still recommend taking your cost and a good deal of your profits out of the VXX now if you have not already done so. See the full report on the VXX security here. In case you missed it, I predicted the market correction. 

Article also interests investors in ProShares Ultra VIX ST Futures (NYSE: UVXY), VelocityShares Daily 2X VIX (NYSE: TVIX), VelocityShares Daily Inverse VIX ST (NYSE: XIV), VelocityShares Daily Inverse VIX MT (NYSE: ZIV), PowerShares QQQ (Nasdaq: QQQ) and SPDR S&P 500 (NYSE: SPY).

Please see our disclosures at the Wall Street Greek website and author bio pages found there. This article and website in no way offers or represents financial or investment advice. Information is provided for entertainment purposes only.

One Security to Save us All - iPath S&P 500 VIX ST Futures (NYSE: VXX)

In anticipation of market turmoil and volatility, I sought a security to survive the storm. The iPath S&P 500 VIX ST Futures (NYSE: VXX) is just what the doctor ordered to hedge portfolios against a downturn now. On occasion, it can also serve the most morbid of investors to enjoy capital appreciation while most investments are being slaughtered. This appears to be just such an occasion, as I see risk of a 10% or greater market correction heightened from here through October. See the full report on the one security to save us all. 

Sector Security	Wednesday Midday 8-12-15
iPath S&P 500 VIX ST Futures (NYSE: VXX)	+5.4%
SPDR S&P 500 (NYSE: SPY)	-0.9%
SPDR Dow Jones (NYSE: DIA)	-1.1%
PowerShares QQQ (Nasdaq: QQQ)	-1.1%
iShares Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM)	-1.3%
Vanguard Total Stock Market (NYSE: VTI)	-1.0%
PowerShares DB US Dollar Bullish (NYSE: UUP)	-1.2%
SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE: GLD)	+1.3%
iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (NYSE: TLT)	+0.4%

Please see our disclosures at the Wall Street Greek website and author bio pages found there. This article and website in no way offers or represents financial or investment advice. Information is provided for entertainment purposes only.

Sell Spain - The Leftists are Coming!

Some pundits believe that any sort of closure for the Greece issue is a plus for Europe, whether the place and people from which Europe got its name stays in the eurozone or leaves it. But there is one European market sector that I do not see a positive outlook for either way. Spain looks to be the next Greece because of a political circumstance similar to what occurred in Greece before the current crisis heated up. I suggest investors sell the iShares MSCI Spain Capped ETF (NYSE: EWP) and Spanish stocks generally, because of a succession of political victories that too closely resembles what happened in Greece. I believe it will lead to division between Spain (perhaps emboldened now by Greece’s display of strength) and more progressive economies to the North. See more on investing in Spain. This article also interests iShares Europe (NYSE: IEV), Vanguard FTSE Europe (NYSE: VGK), WisdomTree Hedged Europe (NYSE: HEDJ).

Please see our disclosures at the Wall Street Greek website and author bio pages found there. This article and website in no way offers or represents financial or investment advice. Information is provided for entertainment purposes only.

Troubling Outlook for GLD

Investors in the SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE: GLD), which tracks the price of gold, closed out a tough week last week as gold prices fell against the rise of the dollar. Most of the GLD’s declines were born on Monday last week, when most of the dollar’s gains were captured. The remainder of the week mostly saw gold and the GLD meander against a similar trading pattern for the dollar. The catalyst for each was surprisingly not so much Greece, but rather it was driven by a renewed focus on the diverging paths of the U.S., European and Japanese central banks. Still, I believe there is an underlying and credible shadow of a Grexit hanging over gold now. This week presents more concern for SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE: GLD) holders as a result, but long-term interests willing to bear near-term volatility should hold on.

Our founder earned clients a 23% average annual return over five years as a stock analyst on Wall Street. "The Greek" has written for institutional newsletters, Businessweek, Real Money, Seeking Alpha and others, while also appearing across TV and radio. While writing for Wall Street Greek, Mr. Kaminis presciently warned of the financial crisis.

5-Day Chart of GLD at Seeking Alpha

The five-day chart of the SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE: GLD) shows most of the week’s 2.2% loss came at the start of the period. However, a soft new level for the gold tracking ETF held through the remainder of the week as issues that weighed on gold persisted. The GLD even climbed into the close of trading for the week, on hope for a late Friday or weekend restoration for Greece. That appears unlikely now.

The catalyst for the decline in the SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE: GLD) this week was clear. The start of the week produced some very hawkish comments from Federal Reserve Governor Powell. His comments piled on to the tone of the close of the week before, when San Francisco Fed President Williams spoke of a September Fed rate hike. Governor Powell suggested two rate hikes would be appropriate this year, with the first coming in September. This set currency trading into motion, and refocused investors on the longer term issue for currencies, which also impacted the price of gold. The SPDR Gold Trust (GLD) dropped as a result.

The divergence of the U.S. Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank (ECB) and Bank of Japan (BOJ) monetary policies has been the key driver for dollar appreciation against rival currencies over the past year or so. The Fed, of course, ended quantitative easing last year and is apparently planning for liftoff of the Fed Funds Rate sometime this year. Meanwhile, the ECB and BOJ have only just begun extraordinary easing measures. Furthermore, the ECB may have to go the extra mile soon should Greece drive severe disruption in Europe by defaulting on its debt payments and possibly dropping out of the eurozone. As a result, it was exactly the worst time for a Fed member to be speaking hawkishly and Powell excelled at just that last week.

1-Month Chart of the Dollar Index at Bloomberg

This chart of the dollar index shows the nascent gains of the dollar as it recovered some of its recently lost ground last week. The dollar looks poised to climb higher this week as Greece’s Prime Minister has set plans in motion for a referendum vote, to allow the people of Greece to decide if they will accept austerity in its latest form (best last offer from Eurogroup) or drop out of the eurozone and go back to the drachma. Given that leftists are rising to power in Spain and France, there is good reason to worry about which way Greece will go, as it may serve as a guide for the future of the euro.

As a result, we should see strong dollar strength this week, which weighs against gold and the SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE: GLD). It’s difficult to assess an intrinsic value to gold, and thus the GLD, given that I believe it has important currency characteristics and is mankind’s default currency in my view. As a result, I believe it trades like currencies to some degree, and also like a commodity priced in dollars. So as the dollar appreciates in value, the price of gold should decline, just as the euro and oil should. Supports for the GLD look to be at the $110 level, and then to $105, which I believe would be reached if Greece does exit the eurozone. So the outlook for the GLD is not good near-term because of the issues discussed here. My long-term perspective for gold and the GLD remains the same though - hold gold and the GLD, as eventually I believe the dollar must give way to a developing world. Also, political and geopolitical instability and the perhaps someday regressing world call for the holding of mankind’s default currency long-term.

Please see our disclosures at the Wall Street Greek website and author bio pages found there. This article and website in no way offers or represents financial or investment advice. Information is provided for entertainment purposes only.

The Four Horseman of Stock Market Apocalypse

While a doomsday like stock market crash is unlikely in my opinion, the market is ripe for volatility now. Four main issues trouble me today that I believe are worthy of concern. Ironically, volatility is cheap to buy now, so I suggest investors hedge market volatility risk today via the iPath S&P 500 VIX (NYSE: VXX) and instruments like it. See my full report on the 4 Horsemen of the Stock Market Apocalypse here.

Investment Sector Security	04-08-15 1:40 PM ET
SPDR S&P 500 (NYSE: SPY)	+0.3%
SPDR Dow Jones (NYSE: DIA)	+0.1%
PowerShares QQQ (Nasdaq: QQQ)	+0.6%
iShares Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM)	+0.7%
Vanguard Total Stock Market (NYSE: VTI)	+0.3%

Please see our disclosures at the Wall Street Greek website and author bio pages found there. This article and website in no way offers or represents financial or investment advice. Information is provided for entertainment purposes only.

GLD - Expect a $5 Move!

SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE: GLD) investors should expect the gold price tracking security to mark at least a $5 move this week. The question is will it be higher or lower? Whatever the GLD does this week, the long-term should be golden. See my full report on the GLD here.

Please see our disclosures at the Wall Street Greek website and author bio pages found there. This article and website in no way offers or represents financial or investment advice. Information is provided for entertainment purposes only.

Close VIX (VXX) Short Bets – 15% Gain Captured in 1 Month but Volatility is Back Now

About a month ago, I suggested investors short the iPath S&P VIX ST Futures ETN (NYSE: VXX). Volatility is back now, and the path of the VXX is more difficult to determine over the near-term. The VXX is no longer excessively over-valued in my opinion, and so I suggest investors take the approximate 15% 1-month gain here and close out positions. Some may consider going long volatility now into the Fed’s March meeting and thereafter if the Fed removes important language from its policy statement. See our full report on the VXX ETF here. Also interests (NYSE: UVXY), (NYSE: TVIX), (NYSE: XIV). 

Please see our disclosures at the Wall Street Greek website and author bio pages found there. This article and website in no way offers or represents financial or investment advice. Information is provided for entertainment purposes only.

Sell Stocks Now – There's Trouble Ahead on this Fed Path

That market rally I was enthused about last month was short-lived. I would take long bets off the SPDR S&P 500 (NYSE: SPY) now, as volatility is back and a market correction is possible. Investors are now troubled about a rougher road ahead being laid by Fed steps toward tighter monetary policy. The adjusting market perspective is due to the shocking monthly jobs report just released last Friday. It surprised economists with frosty memories of winters past and expectations for slower economic activity. The all too good news has investors today focused on a perceived higher likelihood of Fed rate hikes sooner rather than later. This is a concern that makes for a rocky road ahead. Stocks should be volatile through the rest of the year and should experience a correction or two. The likelihood of a clear trend-line higher this year is limited by the Fed’s plans. See the full report on the SPY market ETF here. This article will also interest SPDR Dow Jones (NYSE: DIA), PowerShares QQQ (Nasdaq: QQQ), iShares Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM), Vanguard Total Market (NYSE: VTI) and SPDR S&P 500 VIX (NYSE: VXX) investors.

Please see our disclosures at the Wall Street Greek website and author bio pages found there. This article and website in no way offers or represents financial or investment advice. Information is provided for entertainment purposes only.

Stock Market – Why it’s Rally Time

The SPDR S&P 500 (NYSE: SPY) faced some volatility to start the year, but it would appear the way ahead is all clear for a rally. Issues that had presented challenges to higher stock prices have been cleared away and capital kept on the sidelines could be put to use now. Evidence is there that this is already underway. See my full report on the stock market rally here.

Market Sector	February 2015	YTD	TTM
SPDR S&P 500 (NYSE: SPY)	+6.2%	+3.1%	+16.8%
SPDR Dow Jones (NYSE: DIA)	+6.4%	+2.6%	+15.1%
PowerShares QQQ (Nasdaq: QQQ)	+7.4%	+5.5%	+22.1%
iShares Russell 2000 (NYSE: IWM)	+6.0%	+3.1%	+6.5%
Vanguard Total Stock Market (NYSE: VTI)	+6.2%	+3.4%	+15.5%

Please see our disclosures at the Wall Street Greek website and author bio pages found there. This article and website in no way offers or represents financial or investment advice. Information is provided for entertainment purposes only.

GLD – Why Buy the Gold ETF Here

On Christmas Day 2014, I ended my short opinion on gold and gold relative securities with the publication of this report, Gold Outlook for 2015 – Buy & Hold Here. I also suggested the best way to play a reversal in gold was through the Market Vectors Gold Miners (NYSE: GDX). But I never got on the record with my SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE: GLD) followers, some of whom may not be aware of my positive turn. At this point, after a pull-back from a high price point of above $125 in January, and currently trading at roughly $115, I see current value marking a near-term bottom in the SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE: GLD), and can suggest purchase of the gold security again. I believe gold prices should stabilize and rise from here as the value of the dollar gives way against major foreign currencies. Though I see some risk that capital could flow heavily into U.S. equities, and potentially draw from gold investments over the short-term, I see gold and the GLD security good to go long-term. Even as the Fed raises interest rates this year, I still anticipate the dollar will give way and allow gold to go higher long-term, as Fed transparency has greatly priced this fact into the dollar already. See my full report on the GLD here.

Please see our disclosures at the Wall Street Greek website and author bio pages found there. This article and website in no way offers or represents financial or investment advice. Information is provided for entertainment purposes only.

EUO ETF - I Made You 20% in 3 Months, Now Sell It

In mid-November, I suggested investors buy the ProShares UltraShort Euro (NYSE: EUO). Today I’m suggesting investors close the position and take the 20% profit earned over the 3 month period. I see the factors that have worked against the euro about to reverse, so sell the EUO ETF and take your gain. See my full report on the EUO ETF here.

Please see our disclosures at the Wall Street Greek website and author bio pages found there. This article and website in no way offers or represents financial or investment advice. Information is provided for entertainment purposes only.

Short the Dollar – Sell the UUP

Traders with long bets on the PowerShares DB US Dollar Bullish (NYSE: UUP) have enjoyed a great run this year. However, I believe longs should now close the trade and consider shorting the security, as I have, or take a long interest in the security’s inverse pairing, the PowerShares DB US Dollar Bearish (NYSE: UDN). The dollar index was giving way again in overnight trading after dropping in Thursday’s trade. It’s a move I’ve been waiting on for a short while now. My reasoning has been that the Greece euro-zone concern has been overblown, and that as that became apparent to the market, the euro would recover some ground against the dollar. Peace in Ukraine, however fragile, is just a bonus I had not planned on but supports the play. Go short UUP here; I have done so using March at-the-money and June out-of-the money puts. See our report on short the dollar here.

DISCLOSURE: Kaminis is short the UUP ETF. Please see our disclosures at the Wall Street Greek website and author bio pages found there. This article and website in no way offers or represents financial or investment advice. Information is provided for entertainment purposes only.

Get Him to the GREK

Investors interested in leveraging the prospect of a favorable Greece resolution, but hoping to limit risk to any one individual Greek security, can look to the Global X FTSE Greece 20 ETF (NYSE: GREK). The security has come off its highs on fear that Greece could leave the euro-zone. Though it has also come off its lows on the prospect of a favorable resolution, it still has a way to go higher because of the ongoing absence of that event. I think investors can buy it here for immediate upside to $15 on a quick fix and longer term gain to $17 to $20 this year. See our report Get Him to the GREK here.

DISCLOSURE: Kaminis is long the GREK ETF. Please see our disclosures at the Wall Street Greek website and author bio pages found there. This article and website in no way offers or represents financial or investment advice. Information is provided for entertainment purposes only.

OIL – Buy it Here

Over the last two weeks I have noted a trend in oil prices that can be exploited by investors and traders alike. Oil prices have slipped each of the last two weeks heading into the EIA’s Petroleum Status Report, on fear that the inventory data might show large inventory builds. However, once the report is released, despite it’s showing of inventory build, oil prices have found some support likely from long-term investment interests looking for forward developments. As a result, there’s an opportunity for entry in the iPath S&P GSCI Crude Oil ETN (NYSE: OIL) here. See the OIL Report here. Article also interests United States Oil (NYSE: USO), Energy Select Sector SPDR (NYSE: XLE), SPDR S&P Oil & Gas (NYSE: XOP).

Please see our disclosures at the Wall Street Greek website and author bio pages found there. This article and website in no way offers or represents financial or investment advice. Information is provided for entertainment purposes only.