Managing fear and greed in a time of volatility

Mid-week market update: I received a number of questions from readers who were positioned for the monster rally that began on Monday, "What's your upside target?"   The answer is, "It depends." Make no mistake, the market was washed out and oversold when the rally began, but it was sparked by a rebound in bond...

Seven reasons why traders should grit their teeth and buy

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 anatomy of a failed breadth thrust

Many technical analysts turned excited in late August when the percentage of S&P 500 stocks above their 50 dma surged from below 5% to over 90%. Historically, such breadth and momentum thrusts have signaled a fresh bull market with a track record of 100% accuracy.     Since then, the percentage of stocks above their...

The BOE rescues the markets

Mid-week market update: Before going to bed last night, I check the overnight market and saw that S&P 500 futures were down as much as -1% and thought, "Here we go again!" I woke to see that the BOE had committed to buying Gilts "on whatever scale is necessary" which sparked a risk-on stampede. The...

The right and wrong way to throw in the towel

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 flock of hawks circle Wall Street

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 pending major market bottom? It sounds too easy!

Is the universe unfolding as it should? Most technical and sentiment indicators argue for a near-term double bottom in the S&P 500. The June bottom was the initial capitulation bottom. The market rallied and it is poised to weaken and re-test the old lows in the near future. That's when the new bull begins.  ...

How I learned to stop worrying and love the bond market

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...

Assessing “Big Short” Michael Burry’s crash warning

A number of readers asked me to comment on Michael Burry's forecast of a crash, according to a report from Business Insider. Doomsday is finally here, he hinted in a since-deleted tweet this week.   The fund manager of "The Big Short" fame shared a screenshot of a S&P 500 chart, showing the benchmark stock-market...

Saved by Fibonacci

Mid-week market update: I suggested on the weekend that the stock market was oversold and poised for a short-term rally (see How to trade the failed breadth thrust). The rally seems to have arrived.   The weakness in the S&P 500 has been stunning as it sliced through multiple levels of support like a hot...

How to trade the failed breadth thrust

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...

Jackson Hole turbocharges the FOMC market cycle

Mid-week market update: The stock market has mostly followed an FOMC cycle where prices decline into an FOMC meeting and rallied afterward. While the Jackson Hole symposium wasn't an FOMC meeting, it nevertheless seems to have sparked market weakness.      After the S&P 500 stalled and pulled back at its 200 dma, I thought...

Six reasons why this was just a bear market 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...

Short covering rally is over, now waiting for Powell

Mid-week market update: According to Goldman Sachs, systematic hedge fund positioning has reversed from a crowded short to a crowded long. Readings are similar to the levels seen at the market top in late March.      The S&P 500 stalled at 200 dma resistance. In light of this analysis of HF positioning, the bulls...

Just a flesh wound, or a deeper cut?

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...

“Price leads fundamentals”, or “Don’t fight the Fed”?

Wall Street is full of adages. Technical analysts are fond of, "Price leads fundaments" as a way of dismissing macro and fundamental analysis. But traders are also warned, "Don't fight the Fed".    A vast gulf is appearing between bullish technicals and macro concerns. The bulls, who are mainly technicians, point to strong price momentum,...

Overhead resistance test = Possible weakness ahead

Mid-week market update; The S&P 500 has undergone a powerful rally off June's bottom, but it's now approaching technical resistance in the form of a 200 dma and a falling trend line. In addition, the market is overbought as measured by the 5 and 14-day RSIs, much in the manner of early November 2021.  ...

A warning from a market leadership review

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...