S&P 500 Index Archives - Page 3 of 12

July 1, 2013

S&P500 falters while TSX rises

The S&P 500 rally appears to be faltering. Reversal below 1600 would suggest another decline, with a target of 1500*. Breach of support at 1560 would confirm, while reversal of 21-day Twiggs Money Flow below zero would strengthen the signal.

S&P 500 Index

The June quarter ended with the S&P 500 above its new support level at 1550. Respect of the zero line by 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicates a healthy up-trend, but the tall shadow (or wick as some call it) on the latest candle suggests otherwise. Reversal below 1500 would warn of a correction to the rising trendline, around 1400.

S&P 500 Index
Breakout of VIX above 25 would signal increased market risk.

S&P 500 Index

A false break below primary support on the TSX Composite index was followed by a rally above 12000. Follow-through above the descending trendline would suggest that the correction is over, but a 21-day Twiggs Money Flow peak below zero would warn of selling pressure — and reversal below 11900 would confirm the primary down-trend.

Nikkei 225 Index

June 25, 2013

S&P500 holds strong while Canada and Europe weaken

10-Year Treasury yields broke resistance at 2.50% as bond-holders offload their positions. Expect weak retracement to test the new support level at 2.00%, but recovery above 2.50% is likely and would signal a long-term advance to test resistance at 4.00%. Breakout above 4.00% would end the 31-year secular bear-trend. Rising yields reflect market expectations that the economy will recover, enabling the Fed to curtail further quantitative easing.

10-Year Treasury Yields

The S&P 500 broke support at 1600 and is undergoing a correction to test the long-term rising trendline at 1500. Twiggs Money Flow reflects moderate selling and the primary up-trend looks secure.

S&P 500 Index
My concern is: can the US withstand negative sentiment from global markets? The rising VIX is not yet cause for alarm, with the market shrugging off the last foray above 20, but a spike above 25 would warn of elevated risk.

VIX Index

The TSX Composite broke support at 11900/12000 to signal a primary down-trend. Falling 13-week Twiggs Money Flow continues to warn of selling pressure. Expect a test of the 2012 low at 11250.

TSX Composite Index

The FTSE 100 is testing the rising trendline and support at 6000. Bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow warns of a reversal. Failure of support at 6000 would strengthen the signal.

FTSE 100

Germany’s DAX is headed for a test of the long-term trendline and primary support at 7400/7500. Bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow continues to warn of selling pressure. Breach of 7400 would signal reversal to a primary down-trend.

DAX

June 17, 2013

ASX: Following China into a down-trend

The S&P 500 is testing resistance at 1650, but declining 21-day Twiggs Money Flow warns of continued selling pressure. Breakout would signal an advance to the upper trend channel, around 1700. Reversal below 1600, however, remains likely and would indicate a correction to 1500.
S&P 500 Index

China’s Shanghai Composite Index broke primary support at 2170 on Thursday. Follow-through below 2150 would signal a decline to the 2012 low of 1950*.

* Target calculation: 2150 – ( 2350 – 2150 ) = 1950

The ASX 200 is retracing to test its new resistance level at 4900. Respect would confirm the primary down-trend — as would a peak below zero on 21-day Twiggs Money Flow.

ASX 200 Index

The ASX Small Ordinaries Index, reflecting retail investor interest in the market, continues its primary down-trend. Breach of the 2012 low at 2040 warns of a decline to 1700*.

ASX Small Ords Index

* Target calculation: 2050 – ( 2400 – 2050 ) = 1700

June 16, 2013

S&P500 up-trend despite test of support at 1600

A monthly chart shows 10-year Treasury yields continue to respect support at 2.00%, confirming the primary up-trend. Expect resistance at 2.50%, but the long-term (multi-year) target is 4.00%, where the 2009 high coincides with a descending trendline from the 31-year secular bear-trend. Rising yields reflect market expectations that the economy is recovering and the Fed will curtail further quantitative easing.

10-Year Treasury Yields

The S&P 500 is headed for a re-test of support at 1600, but recovery above 1650 would signal another advance — testing the upper channel around 1700. Declining 21-day Twiggs Money Flow continues to signal selling pressure.

S&P 500 Index
Breach of support at 1600 would warn of a correction to test the long-term rising trendline at 1500, but that would not alter the healthy primary up-trend.

The VIX is rising, but remains in the green zone, below 20, suggesting a healthy up-trend.

S&P 500 Index

June 11, 2013

S&P500 recovers as bond yields rise, but TSX weakens

10-Year Treasury yields respected support at 2.00%, confirming the primary up-trend. Only breakout above 4.00% would end the 31-year secular bear-trend, but a rise to there would result in an almost 50% loss for bondholders. Rising yields reflect market expectations that the economy will recover and the Fed will curtail further quantitative easing.

10-Year Treasury Yields

The S&P 500 respected support at 1600 and is headed for a test of the upper channel around 1700. Reversal below support at 1600 is now unlikely, but would warn of a correction.

S&P 500 Index
The VIX is rising, but remains in the green zone, below 20.

S&P 500 Index

The TSX Composite reversed below support at 12500, indicating weakness. Follow-through below last week’s low would suggest a test of primary support at 11900/12000. Bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow warns of selling pressure.

Nikkei 225 Index

June 3, 2013

Bearish signs for stocks

10-Year Treasury yields respected support at 2.05/2.10% with a key reversal (or outside reversal) on Friday, signaling a primary up-trend and possible test of 4.00% in the next few years. The tall shadow on Friday’s candle, however, warns of another test of the new support level before the trend gets under way. Only breakout above 4.00% would end the 31-year secular bear-trend.

10-Year Treasury Yields

The S&P 500 is headed for a test of the lower trend channel at 1600, declining 21-day Twiggs Money Flow indicating medium-term selling pressure. Breach of support at 1600 would warn of a correction.

S&P 500 Index
The VIX is rising, but only breakout above 20 would indicate something is amiss.

S&P 500 Index

Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index ran into huge selling pressure, falling to 13400 by midday Monday. Expect a test of support at 11500, but the primary trend remains upward. Rising industrial production indicates that Abenomics is starting to take effect.

Nikkei 225 Index

The UK’s FTSE 100 also ran into selling pressure — at its 2007 high of 6750 — with bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow. Expect a correction to test 6000, but the primary trend remains upward.
FTSE 100 Index

Bearish divergence on the Shanghai Composite Index (21-day Twiggs Money Flow) indicates medium-term selling pressure. Expect another test of primary support at 2170. Penetration of the rising trendline would confirm. Breakout above 2460 would complete an inverted head and shoulders reversal (as indicated by orange + green arrows), signaling a primary up-trend, but that appears some way off.

Shanghai Composite Index

May 22, 2013

China hints at bottom while S&P 500 reverses

10-Year Treasury yields are testing resistance at 2.05/2.10%. Breakout above 2.10% would signal a primary up-trend and possible test of 4.00% in the next few years. Only breakout above 4.00%, however, would end the 31-year secular bear-trend.

10-Year Treasury Yields

The S&P 500 completed a key reversal (or outside reversal), indicating selling pressure. Expect a test of the lower trend channel at 1600.

S&P 500 Index
There is no great movement in the VIX and this so far looks like a normal retracement. A June quarter-end below 1500 looks unlikely, but would present a long-term bear signal.

S&P 500 Index

The UK’s FTSE 100 Index is headed for a test of its year 2000 high at 7000. Expect a correction or consolidation below this level. Breakout remains doubtful but would signal a long-term primary advance.

Penetration of its descending trendline indicates correction on the Shanghai Composite Index has ended and we can expect another test of resistance at 2500. Breakout above 2500 would complete an inverted head and shoulders reversal (as indicated by orange + green arrows), signaling a primary up-trend. That would be good news for Australia’s beleaguered resources stocks.

Shanghai Composite Index

As traders we follow the trend, but in times like this it is important to remain vigilant.

May 20, 2013

VIX low S&P 500 high

The VIX CBOE Volatility Index is below 15%, indicating investor confidence.
VIX
But the risk premium on Baa-grade bonds (Moody’s lowest investment grade, compared to the 10-year Treasury yield) remains elevated. Corporate bond investors are still wary.
Baa Risk Premium
10-Year Treasury yields are headed for a test of resistance at 2.00%/2.10%. There is no sign of inflationary pressure, so outflow from Treasuries is more likely indicative of their extremely overbought position — with yields near record lows — and suggestions from FOMC minutes that quantitative easing may be scaled back later in the year. Breakout above 2.10% would signal a primary up-trend with an initial target of 2.40%.
10-Year Treasury Yields
The S&P 500 is advancing strongly. 6-Monthly Twiggs Money Flow rising strongly indicates a healthy primary up-trend. The index is overdue for a correction, but this is likely to be mild.

S&P 500 Index

* Target calculation: 1475 + ( 1475 – 1350 ) = 1600

Nasdaq 100 also signals a healthy up-trend, advancing towards a target of 3400*.
Nasdaq 100 Index

* Target calculation: 2900 + ( 2900 – 2500 ) = 3400

Bellwether transport stock Fedex respected support at $90. Recovery above $100 would confirm the primary up-trend is intact. A bullish sign for the economy.
Fedex

Follow the trend but keep an eye on risk measures like the VIX and Baa risk premium. These are uncertain times.

May 5, 2013

S&P 500 and Treasury yields surge

10-Year Treasury yields rallied sharply on Friday, breaking the new resistance level at 1.70%. Follow-through above 1.80% would confirm the decline is over, signaling another test of resistance at 2.00%/2.10%.

On the monthly chart we can see that breakout above resistance at 2.00%/2.10% would signal a primary up-trend and possible test of 4.00% in the next few years. Only a breakout above 4.00%, however, would end the secular bear-trend of the last three decades.
10-Year Treasury Yields

Last week Treasury yields were falling while stocks were rising. That changed on Friday, with the S&P 500 breaking through resistance at 1600, suggesting an advance to 1650. The index has exceeded its target of 1600* and seems overdue for a correction, but bullish sentiment is rising and the market can stay irrational longer than you can stay solvent (attributed to John Maynard Keynes). Oscillation above zero on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow indicates a healthy primary up-trend. A June quarter-end below 1500 now looks unlikely, but would present a long-term bear signal.

S&P 500 Index

* Target calculation: 1475 + ( 1475 – 1350 ) = 1600

Bellwether transport stock Fedex is testing support at $90. Respect of the rising trendline would signal the primary up-trend is intact. Recovery above $100 would confirm.
Fedex

Structural flaws in the US economy have not been addressed and uncertainty remains high, despite low values on the VIX. House prices are rising, largely due to institutional buying, but the overhang of shadow inventory is expected to delay recovery of housing construction. Mamta Badkar at Business Insider reports:

Shadow inventory fell 18 per cent year-over-year in January to 2.2 million units, according to CoreLogic’s latest report. This represents nine months’ supply.
…..down 28 per cent from its 2010 peak of 3 million units.

As traders we have to follow the trend, but in times like this it is important to remain vigilant.

April 29, 2013

S&P 500 at key resistance while Treasury yields fall

10-Year Treasury yields broke through support at 1.70%. Prior to 2012, the 1945 low of 1.70% was the lowest level in the 200 year history of the US Treasury. Expect a test of primary support at 1.40%.

Falling Treasury yields generally indicate a flight from stocks to the safety of bonds. The S&P 500, however, is consolidating below resistance at 1600. Breakout would suggest an advance to 1650, while reversal below 1540 would indicate a correction to the rising trendline at 1475. Recent weakness on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow favors a correction, but oscillation above zero indicates a healthy primary up-trend. A June quarter-end below 1500 would present a strong long-term bear signal.

S&P 500 Index

* Target calculation: 1475 + ( 1475 – 1350 ) = 1600

The Nasdaq 100 index is testing resistance at 2900. Breakout would offer a target of 3400*, but bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow favors a break of 2800 and test of the rising trendline at 2700.

* Target calculation: 2900 + ( 2900 – 2500 ) = 3400

Gold rallied to test resistance at $1500/ounce. Breakout would suggest a bear trap and a rally to $1600, but respect of resistance is likely and would signal another test of support at $1330/1350. A gold bear market indicates falling inflation expectations, but that could also translate into lower growth in earnings and higher Price Earnings ratios.
Gold

Structural flaws in the US economy have not been addressed and uncertainty remains high, despite low values reflected on the VIX.