Balanced Approach:
As the major benchmarks have screamed higher off recent lows, perhaps investors could slightly hedge their portfolios if they think they have run too far. Maybe a small position in the SDS for example (I prefer to stay smaller in size). What market participants can do is remain long names that are working. Below is a good example in the chart of AKAM. Breakouts are the lifeblood of a bull market, and to be frank they need to be better from where they currently are, but if one looks they shall find as the number gets better each day. This stock is still comfortably above both its 50 and 200 day SMAs, still somewhat of a rare find presently. It was a name that for the most part shrugged off the recent downdraft in the overall markets. As there were some slightly concerning facts this week, technology was the “worst” major S&P sector performing Friday, albeit the XLK still was higher by 1.3%, and former leaders like a LITE and SYNA acted weak Friday. I still believe one can generate nice alpha, by being exposed to best of breed. Always has and always will. MSFT and CIEN could fit that bill, and we discuss much more later in this note.