MARKET OBSERVATIONS FOR August 17, 2013: The stock market had a big drop last week as it heads into its August bottom. From this bottom, we should see a new rally which will either form the right shoulder of a “head and shoulders top” or challenge the early August highs. But so far, this decline has been a confusing one to analyze and trade effectively. Time and cycle studies indicate that Monday or Tuesday should see the low for August, but it remains to be seen what kind of strength, if any, awaits investors and traders. And despite last week’s weakness, it is still entirely possible that the decline could resume in earnest. So watch your step out there, play it tight to the vest, and keep your bets (position sizes) small.
Key market indicators show the following:
For now, my advice for traders is to wait for the next oversold condition and then take positions for an upside move into the Fall. But last week’s unusual TRIN readings on this current decline, shows an absence of selling. This makes it anyone’s guess as to how much further the market will drop in the coming week. Perhaps this is one of those times when it’s best to just stand aside and let the market set itself up for a better percentage move.
MARKET OBSERVATIONS FOR August 10, 2013: The stock market made a new closing high 5 trading sessions ago. Since that time, it has been in a slow, choppy decline where there has been an absence of buyers rather than an abundance of sellers. The previous high was largely confirmed by other major indicators and suggests that another “retest” rally will be made in the coming week. But the NYSE Summation Index is making the case for a significant low coming up in a couple of weeks.
Key market indicators show the following:
For now, my advice for traders is to wait for the next oversold condition and then take positions for an upside move into the Fall. But if the market were to rally here into an unconfirmed new high, I’d be wary that the highs for the year have been achieved and to stand aside in a defensive position of cash. Thus far, playing the short side of the market has been difficult to trade and is better off avoided by most people.
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The indicators for Apple (AAPL) read as follows:
- Current price: 454
- Relative Strength Indicator = 61 heading down
- Ultimate Indicator = 59 heading down
- Money Flow Indicator = 50 heading down
- 50-Day Moving Average = 435
The stock of Apple appears to have achieved its upside objective for this cycle in terms of price. I would wait to take new positions in the stock whenever any of the indicators (RSI, Ultimate, Money Flow) reach oversold readings. Of these, the Money Flow Indicator has been the most reliable one for swing trading. I’ve surmised that trying to chart this stock purely from a price standpoint has been an exercise in futility. The best trading results for the past year have been by simply relying on the Money Flow Indicator to identify low-risk buying areas to go long.
“Do you know what happens in a bull market? Prices open up lower and then go up for the rest of the day. In a bear market, they open up higher and go down for the rest of the day. When you get to the end of a bull market, prices start opening up higher. Prices behave that way because in the first half hour it is only the fools that are trading [pause] or people who are very smart.”
Source: Schwager, Jack D. (2012-04-25). Hedge Fund Market Wizards. John Wiley and Sons. Kindle Edition.
Categories: Trading & Investing Quotations Tags: AAPL, investing, QQQ, stock action, stock market, stock tips, stock trading, stock trading tips, trading, trading tips, wall street
“Staring at the screen all day is counterproductive. He believes that watching every tick will lead to both selling good positions prematurely and overtrading. He advises traders to find something else (preferably productive) to occupy part of their time to avoid the pitfalls of watching the market too closely.”
Source: Schwager, Jack D. (2012-04-25). Hedge Fund Market Wizards. John Wiley and Sons. Kindle Edition.
Categories: Trading & Investing Quotations Tags: AAPL, investing, QQQ, stock action, stock market, stock tips, stock trading, stock trading tips, trading, trading tips, wall street
“Virtually all traders experience periods when they are out of sync with the markets. When you are in a losing streak, you can’t turn the situation around by trying harder. When trading is going badly, Clark’s advice is to get out of everything and take a holiday. Liquidating positions will allow you to regain objectivity.”
Source: Schwager, Jack D. (2012-04-25). Hedge Fund Market Wizards. John Wiley and Sons. Kindle Edition.
“T
raders focus almost entirely on where to enter a trade. In reality, the entry size is often more important than the entry price because if the size is too large, a trader will be more likely to exit a good trade on a meaningless adverse price move. The larger the position, the greater the danger that trading decisions will be driven by fear rather than by judgment and experience.”
Source: Schwager, Jack D. (2012-04-25). Hedge Fund Market Wizards. John Wiley and Sons. Kindle Edition.
MARKET OBSERVATIONS FOR July 17, 2013: The stock market has been pushing upwards with an absence of fear. It is now at the top of its trading range in an environment of investor euphoria. While this may not signal the end of the bull move, it should mark the general end of this current cycle. I’m sure that the first correction down from here will be met by dip buyers. But it’s the nature of the next rally that will determine whether the market has the strength to push to new highs or retreat to the lower-to-middle part of the trading range. But don’t be surprised if you look back at this time period and wish that you had sold out.
Key market indicators show the following:
For now, my advice for traders is to buy into any dip that is triggered by obvious bad news for a quick ride to test the recent highs. Active broad-based exchange-traded funds to consider buying would include DIA, SPY, QQQ, SSO. The NYSE Summation Index shows that the market should be strong for several more weeks. But for most investors, this time period represents a period in which to lightened up on existing long positions.
Projected Final High: Tuesday July 23
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The indicators for Apple (AAPL) read as follows:
- Current price: 430.20
- Relative Strength Indicator = 56 neutral
- Ultimate Indicator = 60 and heading higher
- Money Flow Indicator = 61
- 50-Day Bear Market Moving Average = 427
The stock of Apple is finally above its 50-Day Bear Market Moving Average. It is also right in the middle of its price pivot points. But given its Money Flow Indicator pattern of cyclical lows, I’d bet that new lows for the stock are some 3 months away. That also means that it probably has at least one more good month of advance in it. This stock may continue to move independently of the general market.
MARKET OBSERVATIONS FOR May 13, 2013: The stock market reached new highs during this past week which were largely confirmed by other major indicators. But it wasn’t necessarily overwhelming strength across the board. This could be setting up the “head” of a potential “head and shoulders” top. That said, it implies that the topping process has much more time to chew up before getting anywhere near a full-blown declining phase. I’d look instead for the market to correct into another buying opportunity for a ride up into an overbought condition as it forms its right shoulder.
Key market indicators show the following:
For now, my advice is to remain on the sidelines and let the market set itself up for its next big move. It could be an oversold condition on the next decline which would set up a short but profitable ride up into its next overbought condition. If we get a few more closing highs that is not confirmed by strength, we could reach a point of exhaustion to the upside.
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As for Apple (AAPL), it’s the same advice as last week. The stock has finally broken above its Bear Market Optimized 50-Day Moving Average. After hitting its price pivot points in the 417-392 range, the stock of Apple rallied enough to end its Bear Market. But it doesn’t automatically mean that the stock will go into an instant bull market. Instead, the stock of Apple could remain in a neutral position while it “backs and fills” in order to form a stronger base for a more sustainable rally. I’d be looking to gradually accumulate the stock on a retracement into the 423-400 price range.
MARKET OBSERVATIONS FOR May 6, 2013: The stock market reached a new closing high on Friday. This blog anticipated this new high to be full of non-confirmations across the board. But this did not materialize. Instead, this new high was indeed confirmed by strength in the NASDAQ and neutral sentiment readings. Expect the rally to extend another 2-5 weeks at a minimum until a new high is reached in the Dow that is not confirmed by corresponding strength in other key areas.
Key market indicators show the following:
For now, my advice is to remain on the sidelines and let the market set itself up for its next big move. A short term top could materialize in the next or so. The resulting decline could present us with a buying opportunity in the tech sector. But in the meantime, the stock market continues to “climb a wall of worry.”
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As for Apple (AAPL), the stock has finally broken above its Bear Market Optimized 50-Day Moving Average. After hitting its price pivot points in the 417-392 range, the stock of Apple rallied enough to end its Bear Market. But it doesn’t automatically mean that the stock will go into an instant bull market. Instead, the stock of Apple could remain in a neutral position while it “backs and fills” a stronger base for a more sustained rally. I’d be looking to accumulate the stock on a 50% retracement into the 424-403 price range.
MARKET OBSERVATIONS FOR APRIL 15, 2013: The stock market continues to climb the proverbial “wall of worry” and in the process causing short-sellers to throw in the towel. But with a few key oscillators near sell levels, I would expect a short correction in the near term. That would be followed by an upside test of the recent highs. That next rally should probably tells us whether it is the last move in this rally or if there is more to go. I wouldn’t rule out the idea that the current rally could last into June.
Key market indicators show the following:
For now, my advice is to remain on the sidelines and let the market set itself up for its next big move. A short-term top is only a few trading sessions away. That could lead to a short & sharp dip that may be worth buying into. But it appears that the upside is generally limited from this point on.
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As for Apple (AAPL), the stock has drifted back down towards it base around 420. Meanwhile, the Bear Market Optimized Moving Average for Apple stands at 451. The price pivot points looks for a possible move to the 417-392 range. It may take such a move in order to get the last weak hands to give up their stocks to stronger long-term hands. After such a time, the good news will follow about the next dividend boost resulting in a new Apple advance. Be patient and wait for a possible move into this lower price range.