Tag Archive for 'stock market sectors'

Page 2 of 2

The FTSE’s Next Move

The only good thing that we can find to say about last week is that the FTSE did not close on its low for the week. This does show that there is some support for the index and that it is still far from being a basket case.

Click on chart to enlarge.

The 5770/5970 area resistance is proving a problem and is preventing the FTSE from jumping ahead. If next week’s trading doesn’t show a positive result (i.e. a close that is a good bit higher than its open) then there can be little doubt that the index is likely to fall further, probably down to the 5400 level area.

Interestingly its sister, and more UK reflective index, the FTSE 250, is still showing a more positive outlook. However it must stay above 10580 during the coming week if it is to be able to pull upwards again rather than fall back towards the 10150 level area.

The current trend indicators show as follows -

Positive                Neutral                  Negative

The FTSE 100                4                           4                            1

The FTSE 250                8                           1                            0

The S&P 500                 3                           6                             0

The DJIA                        6                           3                             0

The NASQ 100             9                           0                             0

You may draw your own conclusions but it says to us that nothing can be taken for granted; there are no strong signals to suggest that there is a crash in the offing but then there are not sufficient positive indicators to suggest that higher prices are a given certainty.

We conclude with the same observation as last week – the US markets (with the notable exception of a strong Nasd. 100) and the FTSE could go either way although with the current trends being slightly positive, even if a bit weak, the jury does look likely to vote 7:12 in favour of an upmove next week.

The FTSE 100 – Where to Next?

Last week the FTSE managed to close above 5770 (at 5875) after quite a strong performance over the week. So what is now needed is for the index to close this coming week at or above 5875.

If it can do that then there is no doubt that it is on its way up to the 5970/6050 area (where it is likely to meet more resistance).

The fact that the FTSE will have re-entered a ‘Stage2’ Uptrend with a strong close at the end of this week means that the 5970/6050 resistance area may not cause anything more serious than a short term sideways move before the index continues to rise up the scale. And that means that the FTSE could be on its way up towards an eventual test of the resistance created by the all-time-high of 6750 created in June, July and October 2007.

But, there is a deal of resistance to overcome before we can look forward to that. And we continue with our worry that the current rally is not receiving sufficient ‘pit-prop’ support to sustain it.

Both the FTSE and the S&P 500 indices are failing to achieve much apparent support from the Momentum Indicator and this is a worrying feature. Note how the recent rises on both indices is not matched by anything like the same rise on the MI. The MI is a longer term indicator and it can take some months before its signals have an effect – so you might understand our concern that not everything in the stock market’s garden is pointing to the sunny uplands -

and that there is a risk of a sharp, and possibly severe, correction building, unseen in the background. So don’t get carried away with the upside potential of this stock market. Not yet anyway.

THE FTSE 100 INDEX

It is the 5770 level area that is the main arbiter of the FTSE’s future direction.

The resistance that the FTSE is experiencing at this level (for the last 4 weeks) is holding it back from an upward march and could, if it is really strong, push the index back down hard – just as it did in April and May this year.

It could cause the index to fall back to the 5400 area. But, even then, provided that the FTSE can stay above 5400 the Uptrend will remain in force as the dominant trend and this would allow it to return and attack 5770 for a third time.

The FTSE 100 -

There remains a very good chance though that the 5770 area resistance will not be strong enough to cause a fast collapse and only be capable of causing a lengthy pause. This could mean that it might soon be overcome and, in which case, the FTSE is likely to rise quite quickly towards the 6060 area and then perhaps on further towards a test of the likely resistance to be found at the 6370 area.

The only way to ‘read’ which is the more likely is to watch the weekly priced chart and see how the FTSE reacts to the 5770 area. If it cannot close above it then the risk of more downside becomes greater; if it succeeds in closing above 5770 for two consecutive weeks then it is on its way higher.

Is the FTSE heading to 6000?

The FTSE 100’s 226 point rise last week was a show of strength and we continue to be impressed by the support provided by the 5010-5350 block area which has, over the last year, prevented the index from plummeting.

This area of 5010 to 5350 remains key to the FTSE’s future. If the index can stay, above 5350 then the rally will continue and the trend should change to an uptrend with 6000 then becoming a real possibility.

A large and decisive move is likely to get underweigh this Autumn and, on our current analysis of the technical signals and despite the positive signals of last week’s rise, that move is likely to be down; and sharply down at that. Probably to 4800 and then lower. At best we would put the current ‘odds’ at 60:40 on a down move.

Reasons why and the detailed forecast for the FTSE’s next move are given in our latest ‘FTSE Forecast’ which is available on request to Admin@ShareHunter.com

The Hidden Dangers of Unitised Funds

When you look at the chart of the FTSE 100 index you have to question the wisdom of the ‘Buy and Hold’ philosophy espoused by the banks and insurance companies.

There really is no advantage to having bought shares or invested into insurance company equity funds or unit trusts and watch their value go up and down like the big dipper only to end up, when you need the money, at the same or lower value than when you went in.

Oh yes, we know all about the supposed virtues of pound cost averaging and of dividend income but they tend to be put about by those organisations which stand to benefit from you being persuaded to keep your money invested in their funds.

In our view – and in our experience – there is NO alternative to active management. Identifying the dominant trend in the stock market and of an individual share and buying or selling in sympathy with it is a far superior way to accumulate wealth than simply paying an insurance or unit trust company to hold your money for you.

And, using the ShareHunter Alerts service, to build increasing wealth only requires 15 to 20 minutes a day (and, even then, not even every day) and, importantly, it puts you in full control of your own money.

Listed below are three common practices that, in our view, are specifically loaded in favour of the supplier and against the best interests of you, the investor. They are best avoided -

1 – ASSET ALLOCATION - This is practised by virtually the whole of the investment community. In reality it is poor advice because, when severe bear markets are experienced, virtually all areas collapse. There are very few exceptions to this so simply spreading risk across different sectors is a futile exercise. A decision to exit from a severe bear stock market is vital in order to protect capital. So why do so many investment managements and advisors recommend asset allocation claiming that it reduces risk? The fact is they have little or no choice as the size of their funds excludes the ditching of assets to any significant degree so it doesn’t work.

2 – LARGE PENSION, INSURANCE and UNIT TRUST FUNDS – As soon as an investor arranges to put money into one of these funds it is, to all intents and purposes, ensnared and trapped in whatever investment cycle then follows. It therefore falls to the investor to personally extract himself from such holdings if he can. Most investors need assistance to make such difficult decisions. This will not be available from the investment managers themselves whose aim is to grow the funds under their management and not to give advice which would prejudice their lucrative management fees.

3 – MORATORIUMS - It is far from unusual for fund managers to hold back funds for fairly lengthy periods when there is a run, or even just a danger of a run, on their fund. This is always at the time when it is best to exit that particular market. By the time the moratorium expires the damage to the value of the holding will have been done. And, of course, the investor has been refused his request for the return of his money

As evidence increases of a growing weakness materializing in the stock market the best action has always been to withdraw from funds being managed by institutions (banks, insurance companies, unit trusts etc) in large funds. With the current growing evidence of a stock markets’ crash in the offing the likelihood of an extreme reaction grows bigger with every day as does the danger of moratoriums being placed on withdrawal of one’s money.

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