Tag Archive for 'stock market recovery'

Don’t get suckered in to this market – the FTSE could be about to change direction

Let’s begin by admitting that no analytical system of the Stock Market is perfect and always 100% right. But there are some technical signals that do tend to ‘work’ more often than not and it is, therefore, worth taking note of them as and when they occur and adjusting one’s trading accordingly.

One such technical signal is when the index (or stock price) meets the level of its 30 week moving average (‘MA’); when it does the index, or share price, will often change direction at, or near, the meeting point. If the price has fallen to the MA level then, often, it will turn back upwards; if it has risen to the MA level then, often, it will reverse and fall back.

As you can see from this chart over the last few years the FTSE has changed direction each time it has met with or come close to the level of its 30 wk  moving average and it is at that level again now -

So, it would be wise to take notice of this and to hold fire on any new share purchases or long trades of the FTSE until the picture becomes clearer.

Another point to bear in mind (no pun intended) is that the FTSE is currently in a technical downtrend and within any downtrend there will often be ‘bear’ trend rallies that last for between 3 and 5 weeks. This week is the 4th week of the current rally!

Has The FTSE Bottomed Out?

Our latest analysis of the FTSE shows that this rally may continue for a while but that the FTSE has NOT bottomed out. There is a lot of risk buying into this market at the present time. Ask for a copy of the latest analysis of the FTSE’s direction

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/

Is the Current Market Downturn About to Get Worse – Much Worse??

History suggests that it might!

We are becoming increasingly concerned that the 2009-2010 recovery in the FTSE might be ending. There are several signs that suggest this could be starting to happen although, we must add at this point, so far the current correction has to be viewed as nothing more than an overdue reaction to the extent and pace of the 2009-2010 recovery after the 2008-2009 collapse.

We were right when, back in June 2008, we warned of an impending stock market collapse (although we did suggest a 70% fall was on the cards but it actually fell by only (!!) 49% and we are now growing increasingly aware of the possible fragility of the recent recovery and of the potential for another, major, stock market crash.

Please do not think that we are forecasting another crash, we are not, but we are suggesting that it is well to be aware of the potential and so be able to avoid getting caught on the wrong side, should it happen.

Our present concern centres on two aspects; the first we have written about several times and that is the important support/resistance level for the S&P 500 Index which is at 1122. Having pushed its nose above this level the S&P 500 has fallen back to it and is struggling. If it cannot regain the upper ground above 1122 then it is likely to run out of support and fall off, possibly rapidly.

And, as the S&P 500 is the main driver for the London as well as for Wall Street a fall would quickly be replicated on the FTSE (as well as others).

The second centre of concern is the distinct similarities that exist between our current markets and what happened during and after the 1929 Wall Street Crash. This concern is growing and should not be dismissed as fanciful as significant historical trends do repeat from time to time. The similarities that exist look more substantial than the comparisons made over recent months by various economists as to the Great Depression and the West’s current financial tribulations.

We base our analysis purely on technical features of the price actions of the markets and we pay no regard to macro economics.

The chart below shows the S&P 500 Index over the last 2 years (we will come to the FTSE 100 shortly) -

S&P Simple

(Click on any chart to enlarge it)

Note how the index fell by over 50% and then started recovered by 50% of the collapse and then just poked its head above the 1122 and immediately fell back.

Now let’s look at the Dow Jones Industrial Index for the same period. Note how it has done the exactly the same; big rise, big collapse and a recovery of 50% of the collapse and then poking its head above the 10345 resistance level and now has fallen back below it.

Dow - Simple

And the FTSE -

FTSE Simple

Now, we have seen this same pattern – a long rise (over years) followed by a price collapse and then a 50% recovery of the collapse…and that happened with dramatic and long lasting effect in 1929-30. Here is the chart of the Dow for that period.

1929 Wall Street Crash

And you can immediately see what is starting to worry us a little now – that the recovery only just poked its head above the half-way level of the collapse before it crashed back down again. And then it just kept on going down eventually taking out 90% of the value from the 1929 top.

Now, we are not suggesting that there is likely to be anything of that proportion involved in the coming possible correction of the market but we are suggesting that it is entirely possible for the market to follow a similar pattern at least as far as a retest of the March 2009 lows.

The 3 charts below show the potential danger to the S&P 500, the Dow and to the FTSE 100 index if they do continue to follow the same pattern:

S&P - 2010 Collapse

Dow - 2010 pos collapse

FTSE 2010 Collapse

Note in the case of the FTSE, it is still a little above the half-way support/resistance level. This could stand it in good stead, particularly as the current dominant trend is still the Uptrend, but it is a cause of concern that the current correction is gaining impetus and is likely to be greater than any previous correction made during the recovery uptrend since March 2009.

Conclusion:

No definitive change from Uptrend yet but the number of warning signs is slowly increasing. The worry is that, with the markets having thus far followed a very similar path to that established in the 1929-30 period, any continuation of that path will be the cause of major price falls in the coming months.

There is, of course, always the possibility that the markets will break with the historical pattern and make further progress after the current correction has run a short course but it would be wise to do two things -

  1. Be prepared for another crash
  2. Brush up on your Shorting skills

Just in case!

Alan Saunders

Chief Analyst

@ ShareHunter

29th January 2010

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