Sellers evaporated as the S&P 500 followed-through above 1860, closing at 1875 on normal volume. Expect an advance to 1950*. The long-term trend is bullish, with repeated 21-day Twiggs Money Flow troughs above the zero line.
* Target calculation: 1850 + ( 1850 – 1750 ) = 1950
CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) retreated below 15, typical of a bull market.
E-mini jumps on Putin order for troops to return to bases (Reuters).
Breakout above 1850 is a bullish sign. S&P 500 follow-through above 1860 would signal an advance to 1950.
The S&P 500 broke out above 1850, but the tall shadow/wick reflects persistent selling. The E-mini (Mar 2014) is currently sitting just above 1840. Index breakout below this level would warn of another correction. Follow-through above 1860 is now unlikely, but would signal an advance to 1950*. The long-term trend remains bullish, with repeated 21-day Twiggs Money Flow troughs above the zero line.
* Target calculation: 1850 + ( 1850 – 1750 ) = 1950
CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) is likely to rise because of developments in the Ukraine, but below 20 reflects a bull market.
Nasdaq 100 reversal below 3600 would warn of a test of primary support at 3400. Decline of 13-week Twiggs Money Flow below its recent low would strengthen the signal. Breakout above 3700 seems less likely, but would offer a target of 3800*.
* Target calculation: 3600 + ( 3600 – 3400 ) = 3800
The S&P 500 continues to encounter stout resistance at 1850. The narrow range, however, reflects buyers commitment. Follow-through above 1860 would signal an advance to 1950*. Reversal below 1825 is less likely, but would warn of another correction. The long-term trend remains bullish, with repeated 21-day Twiggs Money Flow troughs above the zero line.
* Target calculation: 1850 + ( 1850 – 1750 ) = 1950
CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) below 20 continues to indicate low risk typical of a bull market.
The S&P 500 encountered stout resistance at 1850, highlighted by today’s false breakout. Follow-through above 1860 would indicate that buyers out-number sellers, signaling an advance to 1950*. Reversal below 1825 is unlikely, but would warn of another correction. The long-term trend remains bullish, with repeated 21-day Twiggs Money Flow troughs above the zero line.
* Target calculation: 1850 + ( 1850 – 1750 ) = 1950
CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) below 20 reflects low risk typical of a bull market.
Dow Jones Industrial Average is weaker. Large bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow warns of selling pressure. Reversal below 16000 would warn of a correction to test primary support at 15400.
* Target calculation: 16500 + ( 16500 – 15500 ) = 17500
The Nasdaq 100, on the other hand, remains bullish. Reversal below 3600, especially after last week’s doji star candlestick formation, would warn of a test of primary support at 3400. Decline of 13-week Twiggs Money Flow below its recent low would strengthen the signal. Breakout above 3700, however, would offer a target of 3800*.
* Target calculation: 3600 + ( 3600 – 3400 ) = 3800
The Nasdaq 100 broke through its January high, signaling an advance to 3800*. Retreat below the (secondary) rising trendline is unlikely, but would test primary support at 3400. Another 13-week Twiggs Money Flow trough high above zero indicates strong buying pressure.
* Target calculation: 3600 + ( 3600 – 3400 ) = 3800
The S&P 500 is testing similar resistance at 1850. Breakout would signal an advance to 1950*. Respect is unlikely, given the Nasdaq breakout, but would warn of another correction. Completion of a 13-week Twiggs Money Flow trough above zero would be a bullish sign.
* Target calculation: 1850 + ( 1850 – 1750 ) = 1950
CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) below 20 suggests low risk typical of a bull market.
The S&P 500 hammer candlestick on the weekly chart indicates support at 1750 and the secondary trendline. Follow-through above 1800 would strengthen the signal, suggesting an advance to 2000*. Breakout above 1850 would confirm. Recovery of 13-week Twiggs Money Flow above 40% (the most recent high) would indicate that the correction is over. Breach of 1750 seems unlikely, but would warn of a test of the primary trendline, around 1700.
* Target calculation: 1850 + ( 1850 – 1700 ) = 2000
CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) retreated below 20, suggesting low risk typical of a bull market.
The S&P 500 broke support at 1770, confirming a secondary correction. At times like this it pays to look at monthly charts to gain a long-term perspective. The first line of support is at 1700. Respect of the secondary trendline would flag a weak correction indicative of a strong up-trend. Breach of that level, however, would suggest a strong correction to 1550 and the primary trendline. The scale of the bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow, when compared to the divergence in 2007, suggests medium-term selling pressure — typical of a secondary correction rather than a (primary) reversal.
CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) crossed to above 20, suggesting moderate risk, but not yet cause for concern.
The Nasdaq 100 retreated below 3500, warning of a correction. Again, the bearish divergence on 13-week Twiggs Money Flow appears secondary and no threat to the primary up-trend.
US markets were overdue for a correction and continuation of the advance for much longer would have resulted in instability, from an imbalance between buyers and sellers.
At Research & Investment we do not attempt to time entries and exits on secondary corrections. Our research shows that this is expensive and erodes performance. What we do pay a lot of attention to, on the other hand, are macro-economic and volatility indicators of market risk, exiting to cash when risks become elevated.
With a long-term view of the market, secondary fluctuations are relatively insignificant, but they do present opportunities to increase investment in the market.
The S&P 500 broke support at 1810, signaling a correction. Bearish divergence on 21-day Twiggs Money Flow strengthens the signal. Expect support at the Setember 2013 high of 1730.
A monthly chart places the latest breakdown in perspective. Respect of support at 1700 — and the secondary trendline — would confirm a healthy primary up-trend. A 13-week Twiggs Money Flow trough above zero would again strengthen the signal.
* Target calculation: 1800 + ( 1800 – 1700 ) = 1900
The VIX is rising steeply, but continues to indicate low risk and a bull market.
Both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 have exceeded their targets. Absence of a significant correction for several months indicates extreme bullishness, but makes the advance more precarious as buyer/seller imbalances grow.
The S&P 500 is testing medium-term resistance at 1850. Breakout would confirm a target of 1900*. Respect is less likely, but would warn of a correction if followed by reversal below 1810. Rising 21-day Twiggs Money Flow suggests (short-term) buying pressure, but reversal below the rising trendline would warn of medium-term bearishness.
* Target calculation: 1850 + ( 1850 – 1800 ) = 1900
Declining CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) readings for the S&P 500 continue to indicate a bull market.
The Nasdaq 100 is similarly testing resistance at 3600. Twiggs Money Flow troughs high above the zero line indicate strong buying pressure. Absence of a significant correction makes the advance more precarious, but the imbalance can endure for several months.
* Target calculation: 3600 + ( 3600 – 3500 ) = 3700
