Alex Filonov's  Instablog

Oil (both WTI and Brent) had a set pattern last couple of weeks. Was going down overnight and then up after US markets open. Today pattern was reversed: oil up overnight and going down since 10 AM EST.

I traded this pattern several time. Today it was a loss. Well, let's wait for another pattern to emerge.

Possible tools to play if you don't have futures account (I qualify but prefer to trade on the safer side with ETFs):

USO (long WTI ETF)

DTO (double short ETN)

SCO (double short ETF).

Disclosure: I have no positions in any stocks mentioned, but may initiate a long position in DTO over the next 72 hours.

Additional disclosure: Positions can change any time.

New trends are settled. I wrote in March that:

Reverse dependency between dollar and asset classes is broken.

Commodities are flat or down.

Stocks are up.

Bonds are up.

The only change since is in bonds: they are down hard. 10 years Treasury yield is well above 2%, again. Don't know if this new trend continues, don't see any reasons for it.

What can we deduce from these trends?

Power definitely shifted to equity. In more broad terms, power shifted to more risk for more return. This is a good trend. Now, I would be glad if that happens, because in the long term, stock market is on the way to the new long-cyclical bull market (average 35 years cycle). The only thing which bothers me, bullish stock market is only supported by valuation expansion, not by fundamentals. Oh well, whatever works. Can't complain when most of my money is in stocks.

Another trend of last couple of months: Europe stock markets are up, a lot. If Europe repeats US path, that means that in about 4 months we are going to see end of recession there. Not sure if it's true, but if it is, great. I'm looking for good investments in Europe. That's beside my position in Banco Santander (SAN), which is OK, but doesn't shine.

Another change from beginning of year: we are back to ETF market. In the beginning of year, it was mostly funds market. It was quite obvious when big funds were buying huge amounts of stocks. Now we see that most of buying starts with big ETF buys. And it's all markets, equities is just one of them. Same picture is obvious in commodities and bonds. Maybe it's because markets are thinner and more trades are done by tradebots? No idea, your guess is as good as mine.

Commodities are still going down. All of them. Something still keeps oil above the water. Gold kinda stabilized around 1400. Everything else is down. Agros, metals, natural gas (after runup in January-March). For me, it means that most traders came to their senses and don't believe in big inflation ahead (never mind hyperinflation).

Every trend above is great for stocks. I'd like to see fundamental support for the stock market, but I'm taking every buck market gives me. With gratitude. The only problem here: you can't expand valuations indefinitely. Economic growth should support stock market, or we are up for another crash.

Disclosure: I am long SAN.

Additional disclosure: Positions can change any time.

Shorted oil yesterday, by buying PowerShares DB Crude Oil Double Short ETN (DTO). CLosed this position today in the morning, when oil was down. I have a temptation to short again, when WTI is above 95, but don't want to hold such volatile trading position over the weekend.

Disclosure: I have no positions in any stocks mentioned, but may initiate a long position in DTO over the next 72 hours.

Additional disclosure: Positions can change any time. I can use different tools than DTO for the same purpose.