High drama at the 200 dma

Preface: Explaining our market timing models We maintain several market timing models, each with differing time horizons. The “Ultimate Market Timing Model” is a long-term market timing model based on the research outlined in our post, Building the ultimate market timing model. This model tends to generate only a handful of signals each decade.   The Trend...

A guide to market bottoms, and what kind

Mid-week market update: The S&P 500 fell yesterday and briefly kissed its 200 dma while flashing a positive divergence on the 5-day RSI. Was that the bottom?       Here is a lesson on how to spot market bottoms, and a review of bottom spotting indicators.     Condition indicators First of all, RSI...

Trading is hard, my head hurts

Mid-week market update: Is the correction over? The S&P 500 was down -3% on a peak-to-trough basis. The 5-day RSI is severely oversold, which has signaled relief rallies in the past (blue circles). On the other hand, the percentage of stocks above their 20 dma is not oversold, which have been more definitive signals of...

Who’s left to buy?

Mid-week market update: The results of the latest sentiment surveys argue that this is a time for caution. The BoA Global Fund Manager Survey shows cash at a 15-year low.     The institutions are all-in on risk. Who’s left to buy?   A Charles Schwab survey of client accounts show that cash levels are...

Ignore rising tail-risk at your own peril

Mid-week market update:  The latest update of Bloomberg Intelligence Market Pulse Index shows that it’s at manic levels.     The market seems to be ignoring tail-risk, which is an increasingly worrisome development.     Inflation risk Stock prices have held up remarkably well in the face of worries about DeepSeek, Trump tariffs, geopolitics, and...

Can the stock market vigilantes save the bull?

Preface: Explaining our market timing models We maintain several market timing models, each with differing time horizons. The "Ultimate Market Timing Model" is a long-term market timing model based on the research outlined in our post, Building the ultimate market timing model. This model tends to generate only a handful of signals each decade.   The Trend...

Tips on navigating the post-inauguration rally

Preface: Explaining our market timing models We maintain several market timing models, each with differing time horizons. The "Ultimate Market Timing Model" is a long-term market timing model based on the research outlined in our post, Building the ultimate market timing model. This model tends to generate only a handful of signals each decade.   The Trend...

The Trump Put lives!

Mid-week market update: Trump promised a flurry of executive orders to implement his campaign promises on the first day he took office. Amidst the flurry, the market breathed a sigh of relief as there were no major risk-off catalysts. The market is apolitical and it doesn't care about the reversal of DEI policies, or whether...

What a changing of the guard means for stocks

Preface: Explaining our market timing models We maintain several market timing models, each with differing time horizons. The "Ultimate Market Timing Model" is a long-term market timing model based on the research outlined in our post, Building the ultimate market timing model. This model tends to generate only a handful of signals each decade.   The Trend...

A tale of two markets

Mid-week market update: When we last left the stock market on the weekend, the bulls were given a homework assignment (see A failed Santa rally, what now?).   The S&P 500 and Russell 2000 had to stage upside breakout through the falling dotted trend line. While the S&P 500 briefly broke out, it retreated yesterday...

A failed Santa rally, now what?

Preface: Explaining our market timing models We maintain several market timing models, each with differing time horizons. The "Ultimate Market Timing Model" is a long-term market timing model based on the research outlined in our post, Building the ultimate market timing model. This model tends to generate only a handful of signals each decade.   The Trend...

A Hindenburg Omen in an oversold market

Mid-week market update: What happens when an ominously sounding Hindenburg Omen occurs when the market is oversold? David Keller described the three components of the Hindenburg Omen in an article: The market has to be in an established uptrend; Market breadth becomes highly bifurcated, as measured by the expansion of new highs and new lows;...

The public embraces the Trump honeymoon

The latest University of Michigan sentiment survey is out, consumer sentiment surged in the wake of Trump’s victory.     A similar improvement in sentiment can be seen in the New York Fed’s consumer survey.     In the wake of Trump’s win, it was no surprise that the partisan lean in sentiment flipped. Republicans...

Bitcoin 100K: Buy or fade the animal spirits?

Preface: Explaining our market timing models We maintain several market timing models, each with differing time horizons. The "Ultimate Market Timing Model" is a long-term market timing model based on the research outlined in our post, Building the ultimate market timing model. This model tends to generate only a handful of signals each decade.   The Trend...

Seasonal weakness ahead?

Mid-week market update: Jeffrey Hirsch of Almanac Trader recently indicated that the first part of December sees a period of seasonal weakness, followed by small cap leadership into year-end.     I regard seasonality as informing me about the climate, while the weather can vary day-to-day. Here is my assessment of the weather ahead.  ...

All hail the bullish reversal

Preface: Explaining our market timing models We maintain several market timing models, each with differing time horizons. The "Ultimate Market Timing Model" is a long-term market timing model based on the research outlined in our post, Building the ultimate market timing model. This model tends to generate only a handful of signals each decade.   The Trend...

How far can the post-election rally run?

Mid-week market update: The latest BoA Global Manager Survey shows that institutions have stampeded into U.S. equities in the wake of Trump's victory. The apparent crowded long position is concerning from a contrarian viewpoint.     I had suggested on the weekend that it was time for the S&P 500 to pause and take a...

How to trade the Trump euphoria rally

Preface: Explaining our market timing models We maintain several market timing models, each with differing time horizons. The "Ultimate Market Timing Model" is a long-term market timing model based on the research outlined in our post, Building the ultimate market timing model. This model tends to generate only a handful of signals each decade.   The Trend...