Cepheid (NASDAQ: CPHD)

Cepheid, a molecular diagnostics company, develops, manufactures, and markets integrated systems for testing in the clinical market and non-clinical markets. Its systems enable molecular testing for organisms and genetic-based diseases by automating manual laboratory procedures. The company primarily offers GeneXpert system that integrates sample preparation in addition to DNA amplification and detection. The GeneXpert system is designed for reference laboratories, hospital central laboratories, and satellite testing locations, such as emergency departments and intensive care units within hospitals, as well as physician offices and other alternate site laboratories.
Take a look at the 1-year chart of Cepheid (Nasdaq: CPHD) below with the added notations:

CPHD has had a rough go of it over the past 5 to 6 months. However, since the low in October, the stock appears to have formed a double bottom (green) price pattern. The pattern is as simple as it sounds: Bottoming, rallying up to a point, selling back off to a similar bottom, and then rallying back up again.
As with any price pattern, a confirmation of the pattern is needed. CPHD would confirm the pattern by breaking up through the $38 resistance (red) that has been created by the double bottom pattern.

The Tale of the Tape: CPHD may be forming a double bottom price pattern. A long trade could be entered on a break above the $38 resistance with a stop placed under that level. Traders that are bearish on the stock could short the stock at $38.

WTW: Weight Watchers, Getting Ready ???

Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN)

Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) broke out to new 52-week highs today. I'm expecting to see the stock continue this move on Wednesday. As long as the stock stays above the rising 50EMA, the bullish scenario is still intact. Daily technical chart shows bullish sign with %K line on top of %D line and MACD on top of signal line.

The Dire 2016 Predictions Of One Of The Top Economists In The World

Michael Pento’s 2016 Predictions
The S&P 500 falls more than 20% as it finally succumbs to the incipient global recession.
Janet Yellen states in the 1st half of 2016 that the Fed will not be willing to increase the Fed Funds Rate any further and subsequently hints at another round of QE before the end of 2016.
As a consequence of this tacit admission of failure by the Fed to save the economy from the Great Recession, the US Dollar crashes below 90 on the DXY.  (more)

Stocks To Watch: AMAG, UTF, CXW

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT)

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. operates retail stores in various formats worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Walmart U.S., Walmart International, and Sam’s Club. It operates discount stores, supermarkets, supercenters, hypermarkets, warehouse clubs, cash and carry stores, home improvement stores, specialty electronics stores, restaurants, apparel stores, drug stores, and convenience stores, as well as retail Websites, such as walmart.com and samsclub.com.
Take a look at the 1-year chart of Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) below with my added notations:

WMT has been trending lower for all of 2015. Over that time, the stock has formed an important trend line of resistance (red). Any (2) points can start a trend line, but it’s the 3rd test and beyond that confirm its importance. WMT seems to have an important trendline of resistance, which currently sits right around $62. A break above that line should mean higher prices, overall, for the stock.

The Tale of the Tape: WMT is currently stuck under a down trending resistance. A break above that resistance should mean higher prices for the stock, thus a long trade could be made. Short traders might look to enter a trade at the resistance.

GDXJ: Reason For Optimism In The Junior Gold Miners ETF Chart

• The Market Vectors Junior Gold Miners ETF GDXJ  is down 87.0 percent in the past five years.
• The ETF may have finally bottomed and has not made a new low since July.
• The recent breakout above the 50-day SMA is encouraging, but major resistance remains.

There’s no question that 2015 was yet another tough year for gold miners, and the Market Vectors Junior Gold Miners ETF is down another 17.8 percent this year. In the past five years, the GDXJ has lost 87.0 percent of its value while the S&P 500 has surged higher.
However, shareholders may finally have reason for optimism headed into 2016. Here’s a look at several reasons why the technicals of the ETF are looking up in the short-term.

Finally Finding Support

After years of steady declines, the GDXJ finally seems to have found some support at the $18 level. In fact the ETF hasn’t made a new low since July of 2015.
The $18 level held during a November re-test, giving shareholders even more reason for optimism.

Moving Average Breakout

In addition to the new support level, the GDXJ closed out the shortened Christmas trading week with a breakout above its 50-day simple moving average (SMA).
Although it opened Monday’s session down about 1.7 percent, this move represented the first time the GDXJ had closed above its 50-day SMA since late October.

Tough Resistance Ahead

Although the breakout was certainly welcome news for frustrated investors, the short-term move has done little to change the longer term bearish technicals of the ETF.
For now, bulls will be watching for a breakout above the downward-sloping multi-year resistance line that is currently at around $21.25 and a subsequent breakout above the 200-day SMA at $21.83.
If those major resistance levels are broken, investors can begin to realistically hope that 2016 will be a much better year for the GDXJ.