MARKET OBSERVATIONS FOR FEBRUARY 25, 2013: The stock market hit a new high last Tuesday before embarking on a sharp decline. Friday’s advance recovered most of the previous two-day decline. The market is in the unique position to either test last Tuesday high or test last Thursday low. Don’t be surprised if the market follows a common pattern of heading down towards the end of the month (and rallying in the beginning).
Key market indicators show the following:
With many key breadth indicators near buy signal levels, I would welcome a return to last Thursday’s low with a chance to go long towards an intermediate top in March.
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THE APPLE BEAR MARKET OPTIMIZED MOVING AVERAGE UPDATE FEBRUARY 19, 2013: I have devised a new indicator for Apple which I call the “Apple Bear Market Optimized Moving Average“. It is a 50-day exponential moving average of the price of Apple. It currently has 3 points that served as the top of small rallies since early October 2012. This will help those who want to buy the stock low but want to get out before it turns down again. As of today, the moving average is at 498 and dropping rapidly.
With today’s AAPL price of 460, the spread between the Optimal Moving Average and current price is 38 points. Until the price of AAPL breaks convincingly above the Optimal Moving Average with increased volume, expect the bear market in AAPL to continue….much to the chagrin of those who purchased the stock during the height of its popularity last year.
Until the weaker hands give up on the stock, the bear market in AAPL should continue. The first clue would be a clear oversold buy signal in the “Money Flow Indicator” which has called each of the last three rally in AAPL.
Key Apple indicators show the following:
- Relative Strength Indicator: “42” reading & is more than a week from a buy signal
- Ultimate Indicator: “42” reading and is also more than a week away from a buy signal
- Money Flow Indicator: “55” reading which is far from being a buy signal under 20
Until the “Apple Bear Market Optimized Moving Average” is broken to the upside, the trend is down for this popular stock. And until the Money Flow Indicator gets near 20, it still hasn’t gone enough to an extreme in this most accurate forecasting timer for buying Apple.
Special Note: It looks like a retest of the lows is about to happen. I would look to accumulate AAPL on this retest as it has a good chance of being successful. I would expect a negative “cover story” to cause the weak hands to capitulate on this retest. It may pay to be a day early on your buying of these pilot positions. AAPL has a habit of making huge jumps to the upside when bottoms are reached. Being a day or two late may cost you 30-50 points!
MARKET OBSERVATIONS FOR FEBRUARY 17, 2013: The stock market tested its February 1st during this part week. I would expect one or two more tests of these highs (Dow 14018) in the coming 10 trading days. If we should get a short and sharp decline, it could be an opportune time to go long for a quick trip back up to the old highs. The internal breadth indicators are largely neutral and show that the market has been under a mild correction from within.
Just because the market isn’t going up, don’t assume that it has to go down. It is entirely possible that the market is simply chewing up time before continuing its march higher. And speaking of March, that is the most likely month to expect a more sustained drop in the market. Right now, there are just too many bears predicting the end to this rally. When the bears get quiet, it will probably mean that the final top of this rally is in. We may be close to that time, but I don’t think we are there quite yet.
Key market indicators show the following:
Last week, I mentioned the Long-Term Treasury Bond Fund (TLT), Gold Miners (GDX), Silver Trust (SLV), and the China ETF (FXI) as possible speculations. But based on last Friday’s action, I will resist the temptation to “catch the falling knife” and avoid these stocks until things settle down. As I stated in my book, Wall Street Craps: How to Play Today’s Hot & Cold Stock Market For Fast Money With Less Risk, “buying in a panic is just plain risky.” Most high-percentage bottom are not at points of maximum fear, but instead at points of maximum apathy.
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MARKET OBSERVATIONS FOR FEBRUARY 11, 2013: The stock market looks like it is about the test its February 1st highs. It is only 17 points away the old highs in the Dow. You can expect one to three consecutive closing new highs in this index before it’s ready to turn down for a more extensive correction. If these new highs are not confirmed by equal or greater strength in the Dow Transports, S&P 500, and Nasdaq indices, it would signal that the general market has lost momentum to the upside. But since the internal breadth indicators are largely neutral, the market may simply consolidate at this higher level instead of crashing down. That would confuse and frustrate a lot of traders by doing so.
Key market indicators show the following:
The market is about to test the February 1st highs. The risk-reward ratio is not good for a more extended move to the upside. And because of neutral readings in the breadth indicators, I would not expect the market to drop much either. This is a time to step aside from the market and keep your powder dry for special situations that may appear in either the Long-Term Treasury Bond Fund (TLT), Gold Miners (GDX), Silver Trust (SLV), or the China ETF (FXI).
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MARKET OBSERVATIONS FOR FEBRUARY 5, 2013: The stock market’s advance may be nearing its end sometime this coming week. If we can get another token new high in the Dow that is not confirmed by corresponding strength in the Dow Transportation and Nasdaq Index, it could signify the end of rally and the beginning of a sustainable correction. Smart traders and investors would be wise to sell into any strength during this coming week especially if it comes with “obvious good economic news.” That news will be the signal for all the latecomers who missed the rally to come into the market at precisely the wrong time.
Key market indicators show the following:
This coming week may mark the end of the current rally that started last November. Traders and investors should use any strength to lighten up on any remaining positions. The risk-reward ratio just doesn’t support adding or even holding too many long positions in the stock market at this time. While some issues may continue to rally, the time for the general market has probably come to get out.
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THE APPLE BEAR MARKET OPTIMIZED MOVING AVERAGE UPDATE FEBRUARY 4, 2013:I have devised a new indicator for Apple which I call the “Apple Bear Market Optimized Moving Average“. It is a 50-day exponential moving average of the price of Apple. It currently has 3 points that served as the top of small rallies since early October 2012. This will help those who want to buy the stock low but want to get out before it turns down again. As of today, the moving average is at 517 and dropping rapidly.
With so many traders, investors, and institutions having paper losses in this popular stock, it appears that the one thing that people don’t expect is a bear market in this issue. Almost all of the fundamental projections for the stock are in the 700-800 price range. Until these weak hands get scared out of the stock, my technical and behavioral indicators point to lower prices.
Some key Apple indicators show the following:
- Relative Strength Indicator: “34” reading and not far from a buy signal under 30
- Ultimate Indicator: “31” reading and close to a buy signal under 30
- Money Flow Indicator: “43” reading which is far from being a buy signal under 20 (Note: This indicator has been the most timely and reliable of the three mentioned above!)
Until the “Apple Bear Market Optimized Moving Average” is broken to the upside, the trend is down for this popular stock. And until the Money Flow Indicator gets near 20, it still hasn’t gone enough to an extreme in this most accurate forecasting timer for buying Apple. For now, my crystal ball says that a turn to the upside in Apple will have to wait until mid-to-late February (approximately Feb. 18-23).