A slowing economy, a quiet hurricane season (so far) in the Gulf of Mexico, luck on the geopolitical front and the unwinding of speculative positions have burst the energy bubble -- Nymex crude oil has declined more than 22% since hitting a high of $78.40 in July. My price target for crude remains my annual support of $51.87, which appears achievable by the end of 2007, if not sooner. This will likely line up with the 200-week simple moving average, which was rising at $47.60 this week. It was last tested in October 2003, when the average was $29.95. Keep in mind that
former ExxonMobil Chairman Lee Raymond testified before Congress last October that he felt crude oil was probably $20 a barrel too high because of speculation.
My major concern is the regional banks and their overexposure to residential construction and development loans, which totals $514 billion among the 8,788 FDIC-insured institutions. This exposure was up 31.8% year over year at the end of the second quarter.
The banks' exposure 15 years ago was only $160 billion, and back then 13% to 14% of these loans became noncurrent. Putting this exposure in perspective, the GDP of the U.S. is $13 trillion, with the total assets held by FDIC-insured institutions at $11.5 trillion.
Residential construction loans thus make up roughly 4% of GDP and 4.4% of the exposure of the banking system. In my judgment, this is a ticking time bomb. The America's Community Bankers Index (ACBQ), which tracks over 500 publicly traded regional banks, reached a new high Thursday morning on the theory that the Fed will orchestrate a soft landing. This is deemed positive for financial stocks. I disagree --
I believe investors should reduce exposure to regional banks and consider booking profits on positions that are trading near their 52-week highs.
How Now Dow?
The Dow Is poised to test its January 2000 high at 11,750. If not now, when? In May, with the Russell 2000 testing 787.75 and the Dow Jones Transportation Average testing 5013, the Dow should have hurdled above 11,750 -- but it didn't. Now the first two averages are at 733.50 and 4347, which is a drag. In addition, the Nasdaq peaked at 2375 in April and is stuck about 100 points lower.
Semiconductors should be leading, but instead the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) failed shy of its 200-day simple moving average of 480.50. Finally, the Dow Utility Average reached a high of 443.49 on Sept. 1 and is down 4% this month.
If stocks fail now, the focus could shift to the uncertainties of the upcoming elections. If the Democrats take the House and/or the Senate, the uncertainties could persist until after the 2008 presidential election.
Consider Booking Profits on These
On Tuesday, I suggested that investors reduce positions on stocks when they achieve new 52-week highs if they are fundamentally overvalued, technically overbought and trading near a risky level from my model. Here are my takes on stocks readers emailed me about.
International Game Technology (IGT) is rated a hold by ValuEngine and is trading 11.7% over its fair value of $35.18. The weekly chart profile shows rising momentum, so even though it achieved a new 52-week high at $40.42 on Sept.15, it isn't yet overbought. I'd consider taking profits if it rises to my semiannual risky level of $41.65.
Capital Trust (CT) is rated a buy by ValuEngine, but it's trading 10.4% over its fair value of $38.92. The weekly chart profile is overbought, and it set a 52-week high of $43.50 on Monday. The stock is trading between my semiannual pivot of $40.34 and my semiannual risky level of $47.66. Given the buy rating, I'd protect gains with a sell-stop below $40.34.
InterDigital (IDCC) is rated a buy by ValuEngine and is trading 4.3% under its fair value of $35.16. The weekly chart profile shows rising momentum. My semiannual pivots are $32.57 and $36.53. I'd protect profits with a sell-stop below $32.57.
American Eagle Outfitters (AEOS) is rated a hold by ValuEngine and is 30.2% over its fair value of $33.48. The weekly chart profile is overbought. With it trading above my monthly pivot of $41.79 near its 52-week high of $43.74 set last week, I'd consider booking some gains now.
Humana (HUM) is rated a hold by ValuEngine and is trading 36.9% above its fair value of $49.10. The weekly chart profile is overbought. After hitting a 52-week high of $68.24 Thursday, just shy of my quarterly risky level of $68.34, I'd consider booking some gains now.
Bank of America (BAC) is rated a hold by ValuEngine and is 7.2% over its fair value of $48.54. The weekly chart profile is overbought; its 52-week high of $52.75 was set on Aug. 4. My monthly pivot is $50.85 and my semiannual risky level is $54.87. Consider booking some gains now.
Altria (MO) is rated a hold by ValuEngine and is 24.6% above its fair value of $66.22. The weekly chart profile is overbought and its $3 below its 52-week high of $85 set on Aug. 28. This high was just above my quarterly pivot at $84.25. Consider booking some gains now.
JPMorgan (JPM) is rated a buy by ValuEngine and is 2.4% over its fair value of $45.72. The weekly chart profile is overbought with the 52-week high of $47.49 set on Sept. 20. My monthly and annual risky levels are $47.96 and $49.50. Consider booking some gains now.
GigaMedia (GIGM) isn't rated by ValuEngine. It has rising weekly momentum and reached a new 52-week high today at $12.55 vs. my monthly risky level of $12.34. Consider booking some gains now.
Mothers Work (MWRK) is rated a hold by ValuEngine and is soaring 101.8% over its fair value of $23.71. The weekly chart profile is overbought and it set a 52-week high of $49.00 on Monday. It is too overbought, so I'd reduce holdings.
Walgreen (WAG) is rated a hold by ValuEngine. It is trading a few dimes below its fair value of $46.56, it has an overbought weekly chart profile and its Sept. 11 52-week high of $51.60 was just above my quarterly risky level at $50.71. It looks like we are a day late with this one.
Kohl's (KSS) is rated a hold by ValuEngine and is 16.2% over its fair value of $58.15. The weekly chart profile is overbought and its 52-week high of $67.95 was set on Sept. 15. I do not show a risky level for this one, but booking profits makes sense.
T. Rowe Price (TROW) is rated a hold by ValuEngine and is 19.4% over its fair value of $39.04. The weekly chart profile is overbought, and it is just under its 52-week high of $47.75, set on Sept. 15. I don't have a risky level, but taking some money off the table makes sense.
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At the time of publication, Suttmeier had no positions in the stocks mentioned.