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Dow Futures Target Record Highs, Raising Fears of Stock Market FOMO

Last Updated March 4, 2021 2:40 PM
Ben Brown
Last Updated March 4, 2021 2:40 PM
  • Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) futures climbed cautiously higher, pointing to a record open.
  • Trader sentiment was boosted by news that a phase one trade agreement is “imminent”.
  • But Canaccord Genuity warned investors not to “FOMO” into an overheated market.

Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) futures point to another record open on the stock market on Wednesday. Traders are hitting the ‘buy’ button hard as Trump proclaimed that US-China trade negotiations had reached the “final throes.”

Does that mean traders should jump on the bandwagon and buy stocks?

“The short answer is no” – Canaccord Genuity analysts.

The investment firm, with $31 billion assets under management (AUM) cautioned investors not to get carried away and ‘fomo’ into the latest rally . Despite record highs, the firm’s indicators are flashing oversold signals.

“While anything can happen, our indicators simply favor not chasing the market higher on fear of missing out (FOMO).”

Dow futures point to all-time highs at open

Dow futures contracts  rose 14 points in overnight trading, extending yesterday’s all-time highs.

S&P 500 futures  and Nasdaq Composite futures  were up 0.12% and 0.24% respectively. Bitcoin clung to $7,082 after a high-profile crypto exchange hack.

Long-term bullish, short-term cautious

Canaccord was quick to point out the firm’s long-term investment thesis hasn’t changed. They see the stock market extending all-time highs into 2020, but now isn’t the right time to enter the market.

The perfect moment to buy was six weeks ago, when sentiment was negative and stocks took a deep tumble. Buy when there’s blood in the streets, as the old saying goes. But now?

“The opposite appears true today. The markets are printing records, the bears are waffling, the bulls are competing over who has the higher target, and the VIX has dropped to under 12” – Tony Dwyer, analyst at Canaccord Genuity

Dow boosted by Trump-China consensus

The stock market is carving out new highs as a conclusion to the phase one trade deal grows closer. Chief economist of the ICBC Standard Bank Jinny Yan said a deal is imminent . China’s annual Economic Work Conference is scheduled to convene within two weeks – a strong sign that both sides are ready to sign an initial agreement.

Trump and Xi Jinping both need a win , according to Steve Okun of McLarty Associates. With both leaders facing pressure at home, it’s in their interests to come to a resolution.

“China has politics the same as US has politics. Trump has to play to his base, Xi has to worry about his internal politics, he has to worry about his standing within the party.”

The only question is: is it all just vacuous hype?