Tag Archive for 'Stock Market indices'

The FTSE ‘Dam’ is due to Burst Soon

The rise in the FTSE last week has taken the index to the same level that it was at 10 months ago. Nothing exceptional about that, you may say. But the point is that this is getting towards the end of the historical maximum period before the market ‘blows off’ – one way or the other.

Looking back over the last 9 years of the FTSE 100 index you can see from the chart below (click on it to enlarge it) that each time there has been a lengthy sideways period (of Consolidation or Distribution) it has been followed by a significant move -

It is during such follow-up moves, up or down, that significant profits can be made.

The current period is further enhanced by the extra compression that comes from the coming together of the two moving averages. These two are good trend identifiers but, when ‘mixing’ together they indicate a building compression which will, eventually, be released by a strong move. And, after 10 months of sidling along, such a move is due soon.

All of this tends to support our view that this Autumn will see the FTSE move decisively.

We are ready for it. Are you?

Is the FTSE 100 Going Up or Down?

With the establishment of the Downtrend (which is now ‘in play’ for this index) there will always be occasional rallies but these are likely to be only temporary (generally 3 to 5 weeks); the index is currently suggesting that it is likely to return to the 4800 level area (the level of the July low) and then go lower to the 4630 level and, possibly, to 3500 before any serious support might be forthcoming.

There is now a 60% chance of the index falling to the 4630 area against a 40% chance of a rally to the 6000 area.

For more detail request a copy of ShareHunter’s latest  ‘FTSE Forecast’ report.

The next 2 Weeks on the Stock Market

The Uptrends continue although the FTSE SmCap index is struggling (highlighting the dangers involved in trading smacap stocks in this time of uncertainty).

The FTSE 250 index has continued its recent new found good form and looks to be well on its way up to a test of the 10500 level and it has given us some cracking trades over the last couple of weeks.

The FTSE 100 just fell short of a serious test of the resistance at the 5770 level and will obviously have another go at this level next week. If it can break above 5770 then it should have a good ride up to the 6160 level but, if the 5770 resistance is too strong, a quick fall back to the 5540 is most likely.

As ever, it all comes back to the mighty S&P 500 index. Last week it failed its attempt to break above the 1167 resistance and, for its own sake as well as that of the FTSE indices, it has to get above that level or all markets will put in price corrections.

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

The Potential for Another Stock Market Crash

The UK and US stock markets are on a knife edge of a possible second price collapse as they are following, almost exactly, the same directional path as the Dow Jones did in its 1929-34 series of crashes.

There are so many similarities between the current moves in the FTSE and  Dow Jones with what happened in 1929-30 that is very scary. The stock market could be on the brink of a possible collapse.

ShareHunter correctly identified the end of the 4 year ‘bull’ market in May 2007 and, in June 2008 forecast the potential for a market crash, giving ample warning of the potential for the 50% collapse in the FTSE 100 index.

The FTSE is once again on the edge of a cliff: The 1929 Wall Street crash wiped 50% off share values and the 2008-09 crash has done exactly the same for the FTSE. The post-crash recovery in 1930 took prices back up to the half-way level of the collapse; the 2009-2010 recovery on the FTSE has done exactly the same.

Then in 1930 the market recovery petered out; the market crashed back by 28%. This could happen again now”.

According to the latest ShareHunter research, if the historical pattern continues to be followed by the FTSE then it is likely to crash down to the 4100 level, if not to 3500. The FTSE has turned by 7% in the last 3 weeks and could soon fall by another 20% or so.

Of course, it may not happen and the market may just blip along sideways before it makes another push upwards but it is well to be aware that there are a number of technical signals that are suggesting that UK and US share prices may take another big hit.

More detail and illustrative charts are given below in the longer blog dated 28th January.

Watch this space….

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
  • FTSE SmCap
  • S & P 500
  • DJIA
  • NASDAQ 100

ANALYSIS FOR THE PERIOD  – 6th September 2010 to 12th September 2010

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) -

hisIn: Stage1 Stage2 Stage3 Stage4 Overall Mkt Rating
FTSE 100
22% 20% 33% 25% 43 (43)
S&P 500
25% 15% 26% 34  % 40(40)

The Overall Market Rating for the both FTSE 350 and the S&P 500 have swung away from being definitive indications of Uptrend to below the 50 rating and, as such, they now indicate a Downtrend and the possible start of a longer and steep down turn.

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. We have provided longer term charts this week (up to 13 years) as it helps to illustrate the comaprative performance and absence of long term growth in the markets. Please click on each chart to enlarge.


FTSE 100
-   In a  ‘Stage 3′ Distribution/Topping Trend  – (selling or buying but great care needed) -

With an increase of some 226 points the index benefitted from some good  support last week and it now remains to be seen if this will lead to further rises in the coming weeks or if the support was but temporary.  The key support area remains as 5010 to 5350. If the index can stay above 5350 then the rally will continue and the trend should change back to an Uptrend but, if it falls below 5010 then (considerably) lower prices will follow. The bias of our analysis still suggests that the index is likely to return to the 4750 level area but, after the confirmation of support over the past few weeks the possibilty of a rise to the 6000 level is showing itself.

Chart (3+ year) -

Chart (8+-year) -

FTSE 250 – In a ‘Stage 3′  Distribution trend ( buying or selling but great care needed) -

This index has managed, so far, to stay above the support level at 9610 and last week it showed an impressive bounce up from that level. Importantly, it is staying above the level of its 30wk moving average which, itself, is continuming to slope upwards. This index is continuing to hold its own and, so far, has not succumbed to a swing towards a Downtrend but it is very important that the index stays above the level of its moving average. Should it weaken and fall below it then that could be the start of an eventual slide down to the important support level at 8888. But, in continuing to stay above it the index is showing that a rise to the 10,500 level is more than likely.

Chart(3+ year) -

Chart(8+ year) -

FTSE SmCapIn a  ‘Stage 3′ Distribution trend  (buying or selling  but only very selectively and care is needed) –

The index is still travelling sideways between the  support level at 2700 and the resistance level at 2910 as it has been for almost a year now.  If the 2700 support level should fail then this index is very likely to next visit the 2425 level to look for support there and could fall all the way down to the 2300 area. This index does not look strong; it is currently straddling (and testing)  its 30wk moving average (currently at the 2815 level). To rise above it will show sttrength and potential for further rises; to fall back below it will show weakness and potyential for a fall. Great care is needed as individual stocks may be difficult to trade at a reasonable price if a slide does get going. Even without a slide, this index is suggesting that little is likely to be gained from trading smaller cap stocks at the present time.

Chart(3+ year) -

Chart(8+ year) -

S&P 500 -In a ‘Stage 3′ Distribution?Topping Trend – (buying or selling but great care needed) –

It is a significant warning that the index is now, for the third time inrecent months, testing the strength of the resistance created by the important 1111-1122 area. If it can get above that area then it could resume an Uptrend but to stay below the 1111 level, especially after a third test of it, would be a signal of significant weakness and the propensity for a steep fall. It also continues to remain below the level of its 30wk moving average (which is now at the 1115 level) which signals weakness so the bias is still, at the moment, to the downside.

Chart(3+ year) -

Chart(8+ year) -

DOW JONES INDIn a ‘Stage 3′ Distribution trend – (buying or selling but care needed) -

Five weeks ago this index succeeded in breaking out above the resistance of the 10370 level after 12 weeks of trying but it then failed to find support to sustain the rally and it fell back below it;last week it mounted another attack at the resistance created by this level. It’s problem is that this index is still below the level of its 30 wk moving average as this indicates an underlying weakness.  There is potential for the index to rise above the 10370 level but to sustain that break, should it occur, it has to break above its moving average as well. Otherwise there is  potential for a bigger fall.

Chart (3+ year) -

Chart(8+ year) -

NASDAQ 100 - In a ‘Stage 3′  Distribution trend  ( buying or selling but great care needed) -

The rally up from the support of the 1740 level has taken the index up to meet the level of its 30wk moving average (currently at the 1877 level) to a test of the resistance there. Should it manage to break above it then higher prices would follow as the index should then rise towards the 2040 level but, should this attempt fail, then the price is likely to fall back sharply to the 1740 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

sharehunter@btinternet.com

06/09/2010