Tag Archive for 'share trading'

Review of the FTSE, S&P, DJIA and Nasdaq Market Indices

The major indices have moved sideways for several weeks now. This is making life a little difficult as it does tend to have an attrition effect on our trading. This is simply because of the up and down whipsawing nature of a sideways moving market which creates an higher incidence losing trades as protective stops are hit.

So we ask ourselves, should we be in this market at all? Would it not be more sensible just to sit this period out on the sidelines and wait for a more positive directional trend to set in?And we answer ourselves by again analysing the trending signals being given by each market index and, again, coming to the conclusion that we should stay in and keep trading.

The main point being that although the risk of a downside move is increasing slightly by the week as the indices fail to make upward progress the fact is that the indices are holding their own, moving sideways, within the overall dominant Uptrend. The very fact that it is an Uptrend indicates that higher prices should continue – even though there will be price consolidations and corrections from time to time.

So, we worry and fret that the next bit of bad news could cause a tumble in share prices but we remain true to the faith that the dominant trend will assert itself and, whilst it is an Uptrend, take share prices higher at some point. Any tumble could be relatively short lived anyway as all of the major indices have potential support levels not far below current prices.

It is an important part of the decision to stay invested and investing that, after such a relatively long time going sideways, the markets are much more likely to pole-vault upwards once they do start to move. The crucial level is, as we have repeated for several weeks now, the 1122 level on the S&P 500. If that is broken to the upside then just watch (and, if invested, enjoy) the resulting rush upwards in share prices in London as well as on Wall Street.

To shorthand the individual stock market reviews here is our view of the potential prices that the markets could move up to, together with the first levels of potential support in the event of a ‘bad news’ reaction –

Market                   last week                                             potential level                                 support level

when Uptrend reasserts                   if market falls

—————       ———————                                    ——————————-                  ———————

FTSE 100         Weak. No progress for 8 wks                         5770                                          5108 (then 4670)

FTSE 250         Weak. No progress for 12 wks                      10600                                          8888 (then 7980)

FTSE SmCap   Weak. Becoming endemic                               2910 (then 3230)                        2425

S&P 500           Stalled at resistance level (1111/1122)            1290                                           1000 (then 940)

DJIA                 Pushing upwards                                           10785 (then 11800)                      9705 (if 10333 fails)

NASD 100        Stalled. 5 wks sideways                                   1827 (then 2040)                         1740 ( then 1629)

Individual market commentary and illustrative charts are available at http://www.sharehunter.com/news/market-review/

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