Energy. The energy sector is set up for a major move during the next few months. The period of seasonal strength is from the 3rd week in January right through until May of each year. We are already seeing technical signs that the Canadian energy sector is in gear already. Forming a nice little base pattern and about to take another move on the upside.
The period of seasonal strength on base metals is from the 3rd week of January right through until around the middle of April. On a technical basis, the sector has finally started showing signs of bottoming during the last 3 weeks. It recently broke above a short-term trading range, and is outperforming the market. Buy on weakness. He would put this trade on through to May.
The seasonality is positive right around the 3rd week of January through until May of each year. On a technical basis, the US industrial sector has already bottomed and is starting to outperform the market. If you think about it, a good part of the industrials consists of transportation companies, and transportation companies are going to benefit significantly from lower fuel costs which will boost their earnings going forward. That whole sector is really starting to come on stream.
The platinum was a bit of a surprise this year. Seasonal strength is from the middle of December right through until around the end of April. This year we didn’t get the actual move until around the end of January. The reason for the strength is the way platinum is used. It is used in the auto industry for catalytic converters. More autos are being sold this year than last year. We are expecting to have a record crowd at the auto sales tradeshows this week. A very interesting trade technically, fundamentally and seasonally.
Because it tends to be a consumer staples stock it tends to do well in the summer. The stock is currently doing something that it normally does not do. It is actually very strong in the winter time, which is encouraging. Technically it is testing the high that it made in 2015. It is getting lined up for a possible move in the summer again.