Tag Archive for 'Hindenburg Omen'

Should I Buy Shares Now?

We are just not happy at promoting new trades for three main reasons –

Firstly, we are well committed to the Long side just now and to add more could, in view of our current analysis, tempt fate just a tad too much. We say this because the market is giving signs that it has stalled (under the weight of the 5900 level resistance) and, with the probability of lower volumes in the run up to the Christmas and New Year period, there is a reducing liklihood of further strong gains being made.

Secondly, our Momentum Indicator is looking quite horrible. It is suggesting that a top has formed – although what it doesn’t tell us is if and when a sell off may follow. We will comment on this in greater depth in our ‘FTSE Forecast’ report over the coming weekend but, for the moment we think it prudent to hold back from adding any more fuel – just in case there is a fire due shortly!

Thirdly, when, as happened this week, there are full page press articles extolling the virtues of buying and holding equities (in view of the absence of suitable returns from savings accounts) the danger bells ring loud. So often in the past such siren calls pull in the investors which helps to drive up share prices which, in turn, gives the ‘professionals’ a good profit and volumes to sell into before the stock market retracts and, often collapses – leaving the ordinary investor nursing losses as well as a headache!

Synical, yes perhaps. But it has happened before and there is no reason to think that it won’t happen again.

So, for the moment, the message is not to be lulled into thinking that the stock market’s troubles are over and that share prices will continue to rise; stay out just now or, if like us, you are in the market holding shares that are showing you a profit then set a stop-loss for each holding so that you may exit the market if there is a sharp downturn.

The Hindenburg Omen – What is it, What does it mean?

In a nutshell The Hindenburg Omen is a piece of technical analysis that is said to predict a forthcoming stock market crash.

Last week we were advised that The Hindenburg Omen had appeared on the NYSE so it is now, as we have been saying for some weeks now, a case of buyers (of shares) beware, there is a hidden reef ahead which could cause your ship to sink.

The Hindenburg Omen is a combination of technical signals appearing on the NYSE. The signals include a trigger which is the proportion of stocks reaching new one-year highs and lows both exceed 2.2% of the NYSE listed stocks. Further the number of rising stocks must not be more than twice the number making new lows and the Omen must be repeated within 36 days.

The main point being that there is considerable historical validity to the occurrence of the Omen so it is well worth paying attention to it when it appears.

In fact the Omen is not much different from our own ‘Momentum Indicator’ (although it does not have such a headline catching title). Our Momentum Indicator (‘MI’) is also based on NYSE stock data and charts the differences between the numbers of advancing and declining stocks.

It is our MI that has been one of the indicators that has been at the basis of our assertion that if the stock market trends do not change soon they are due for a significant correction (crash) in September or October. And we now have the Hindenburg Omen that has come in to support that analysis.

As you can see from our chart of the FTSE there is no sign of any significant rise in the MI that might support a new stock market rally.

Nothing is written in stone so a crash may not happen but when there are several, historically valid, signals that suggest that a crash may be on its way, it is best to pay attention and be prepared.

Alan Saunders

Chief Technical Analyst

Stock Markets Review


The current technical analysis of the-

  • FTSE 100, the FTSE 250
  • S & P 500
  • DJIA
  • NASDAQ 100

ANALYSIS FOR THE PERIOD  – 17th January to  23rd January 2011 –

PLEASE NOTE: THIS REPORT IS NO LONGER UPDATED. IT HAS BEEN REPLACED BY ‘THE FTSE FORECAST’ – PRODUCED WEEKLY AND AVAILABLE ON REQUEST TO ADMIN@SHAREHUNTER.COM

The Overall Market Rating (OMR) , below, represents the percentage of stocks in each index in Stages 1 and 2 (a potential or an actual Uptrend);

An OMR below 50 indicates a ‘bear’ market and above 50 is an indication of a ‘bull’ market. (The figures in brackets show the OMR for the previous week) -

Index: Stage1 Stage2 Stage3 Stage4 Overall Mkt Rating (‘OMR’)
FTSE 100
10% 68% 12% 10% 78 (78)
S&P 500
13% 70% 13% 4% 83 (83)

The Overall Market Ratings for the both FTSE 100 and the S&P 500 are now well above the 50 median so the dominant trends of these indices are Uptrends. This means that, although there will be short-term reversals, higher values should follow. The move to above 70 is a strong confirmatory assurance that an Uptrend is confirmed as ’secure’. Below this level there will be a continuing risk of a change into a ‘Stage 3′ Distribution trend but, with the OMR over the 70 level for both the FTSE and the S&P suggests that higher values yet are to follow although as the ‘OMR’ approaches the 90 level the degree of maturity of the Uptrend will be such that the risk of a move into a ‘Stage 3′ Distribution trend increases.


Identifying the Trend -diagram

Stage 1 - Accumulation/Stock Basing                           Stage 3 – Distribution/Topping out

Stage 2 – Uptrend/Rising Prices                                     Stage 4 – Downtrend/Declining Prices

Below, we provide two charts for each of the five market indices analysed. The shorter term (3+ year) chart allows easier recognition of some of the more recent features that we may comment on and then a longer term (8+ year) chart which shows the important highs and lows of previous years.  Please click on each chart to enlarge.



FTSE 100
-   Swung back into  a ‘Stage 2′  Uptrend (buying only but care needed) -

With the index having swung into a ‘Stage 2′  Uptrend the implication is of a continuing move up the scale. However, the index has now reached the 6050 resistance level which is likely to hold the index at or slightly below 6050 for a while. What happens after that i.e whether it can push upwards and so move towards an eventual test of the important high at 6740 or if it is going to reverse back down the scale will lergely rest with what happens on Wall Street. The real problem on the horizon is an underlying weakness shown by our ‘Momentum Indicator’. This could presage a sharp reversal although it could be a month or two before this might happen. More information on this is available from ‘The FTSE Forecast’ report.

Chart (3+ year) -

Chart (8+-year) -

FTSE 250 – In a ‘Stage 2′  Uptrend ( buying only) -

This index is moving upward towards a test of the resistance which will be found at the all-time-high value at 12280 (set in May 2007). There is a strong chance that once that has happened the index will fall back to test for support around the 11000 level again. There is a possibilty of this happening as the weakness displayed by our ‘Momentum Indicator’ is a worrying factor although it may take a month or two to filter through.

Chart(3+ year) -

Chart(8+ year) -

S&P 500 - Swung back into a ‘Stage 2′ Uptrend (buying only but care needed) –

With all 9 of our trend indicators showing as positive there is good cause for optimism for a continued run up towards the 1334/50 level area. As with the UK indices the only worry is the weakness being indicated by our ‘Momentum Indicator’; this does give cause for worry about the potential for a price reversal sometime during the next few weeks.

Chart(3+ year) -

Chart(8+ year) -

DOW JONES INDSwung back into a ‘Stage 2′ Uptrend – (buying only but care needed) -

The index has managed to get above the resistance of the 11320 level. This is is a good sign and shows that the Uptrend should carry the index up to a test of reaiatance likely to be found at the 12236 level.  Otherwise a pullback towards the 10370 level support becomes likely. As with the other indices, the main worry now is the potential for weakness suggested by our ‘Momentum Indicator’.

Chart (3+ year) -

Chart(8+ year) -

NASDAQ 100 - In a ‘Stage 2′  Uptrend  ( buying only) -

This index’s uptrend continues to gather strength and it has now broken out above the important 2240 level. 2240 is a very significant level because it is the highest level reached (in Nov 2007) by the index after its disastrous collapse from the 4816 high in Mar.2000 to the low of 810 in Oct. 2002.  Last week saw the index move above 2240 for the first time and this signals the potential for higher prices yet – and perhaps to be quickly achieved. However, the index is now testing the strength of resistance of the 2324 level which is the 37.5% retracement of the steep 2000-02 crash. if the breakout should fail at this level then this could start a pullback which could take the price back down to the 2040 level support; otherwise, a break above 2324 could see the rise towards the 2824 level.

Chart (3+ year) -

Chart (8+ year) -

If you have any questions or would like more information or would like to discuss market trends then do please email us at

admin@sharehunter.com

16/01/2011