Further Signs of Intermediate Term Topping and Probable Downside to Come For Stocks 5-25-17

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Last week I showed stats from past instances where there was a 1.5% decline in SPY the day after a 52 week high.  And the average displayed a notable bearish skew for the next couple months, though about half of the instances rebounded back to near the highs after that initial big sell off day.

This rebound scenario is what we have seen in the current market.

I have run a couple scans over the last few days, and it still appears that similar past markets have had a notable bearish skew looking forward a few months,

The chart above shows the forward MAX gains and losses from a scan including bearish divergences in VIX, total put/call ratio, volume, MACD and stochastics on daily and weekly time frames.  So basically just an across the board price and real money sentiment bearish divergence.  And the bearish skew is notable for the first couple months.

Another scan criteria looked at unique instances when there was both daily and weekly bearish divergence in the MACD when the VIX closed below 11.  The results were similarly bearish.

There are good trading opportunities here based upon my method and the data at this point.
Based upon past SPY data, shorting here and setting a limit order to cover at 5.75% gain while also setting a 5.75% stop loss would provide a roughly 2.25% expected value over the next month.  The trade would be exited after 21 trading days if neither stop nor limit was filled.

Any where in the 4% to 6% paired limit and stop orders basis SPY would be very reasonable plays.  And 4% the ratio of the risk to the expected value is the lowest, and after that there may be higher expected values with wider orders, but the risk rises more than the expected value increase does.

I am electing to purchase SPXU here and use 12% limit and stop orders.  The simplest way to do this is with an OCO, one cancels the other, order where one order is a sell stop and the other order is a sell limit.  Then set a time reminder to exit on June 26th if neither order is filled already.

For the options side of things, a 130% limit gain order from the closing price yesterday on a 241 strike June expiration put option, would provide a very positive expected value with about a 66% win rate based on past similar instances and the calculation of my algorithm.  For this trade, there is no stop on the option.  It could expire worthless, but a limit gain GTC is set immediately after entry.

Pete

1.5% Decline in SPY the Day After a 52 Week High - Bearish Implications for Coming Weeks

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The above table shows instances in the history of SPY going back to 1995 where a 52 week high was followed the next day by a loss of greater than 1.5%, which is what we saw yesterday in SPY.  This filter also look for only times where there was MACD bearish divergence on the weekly chart at the 52 week high.

From the closing value of the day of the 52 week high, every single instance lost at least 4.8% over the next month of trading. 

Even taking out the filter of the bearish divergence on the weekly chart, the results were that 11 out of 12 previous instances declined at least 4.8% over the next month.

So this adds further weight to the outlook I posted earlier today based on the more subjective qualitative price pattern and a general view of conditions.

So given this back test, it is putting us on alert that stocks are likely to fall a few more percent in coming weeks.  And a few of the past instances led to sizable corrections of 10-20%

About half the past instances showed an approximate 1 week rally to back near the highs after the first 1-3 days of decline, before then selling off strongly again.

The other half of instances basically had no substantial bounce after the initial big down day.

If there are questions about how to make a trade with stops and limits here, comment.  But the idea is that after a little further decline over the next 1-2 days, stocks rebound for a few days, and that may be an ideal time to use an inverse ETF to try to capitalize on probable further sell off.


Pete

Stock Market Expectations 5-18-17

Yesterday saw an oversized sell off in stocks compared to the recent low volatility trading.  But as mentioned in the last post a couple days ago, there were indications that a high was to be expected and that stocks were ready to correct.

So the question now is really what the probable future course of action will be.

I have run some backtest scans comparing the current market position to the past trading history of SPY, and I would have to conclude that there is not a clear directional bias based on the past tests.

Obviously the sharp sell off yesterday has a short term bullish perspective when looked at on its own.  But some of the other recent comparisons I've made have shown consistent muted upside for a couple months after the recent really low volatility type readings we've had in the last couple weeks.

Click on Chart to Enlarge

This is an hourly chart of SPY.  And the pattern here, from my perspective would suggest that there is a downside bias through June, with a possible low forming in late June.  And that would fit with a typical correction in stocks.  Historically, a median correction in the SP500 is about 6 weeks and about 11%.  This is for corrections that last greater than 1 month from high to low.

So given that we are in the seasonal "sell" time frame, and the time and structure of the pattern here near the recent high, couple with the technical analysis of weekly time frame divergence on the recent poke to new highs, I will proceed with an outlook that the downside risk still is greater than the upside potential for the next few weeks.

Looking at the MACD in the hourly chart above, we can see that it is "oversold" but with no bullish divergence yet.  I would certainly expect that a divergence will form on this time frame before a nice rally could ensue.  So, it appears that price still have at least some work to do here to the downside before a multi day low could form.


Pete

SPY At Bearish Divergence and Probable Intermediate Topping Point - Gold and Bonds Probably Set to Advance 5-9-17

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I have not posted much the last few months as it was apparent since the last post in mid February that stocks were running pretty hot and were likely to cool a bit, but there was no weekly time frame bearish divergence on the MACD in the indexes and the time duration of the leg up was relatively short for a completed leg up and expected sizable correction.

However the current time frame is a different situation.  The leg up is now 6 months long, which is mature, and at 15% the gain in the SP500, while below historical averages for a completed leg up, is certainly substantial enough to be a completed/completing move.

Currently while the SP500 cash has barely poked above the winter high, the SPY etf is slightly below still as of today.  However since the cash did move to a new high, I am treating this current region as a new high.  And now the MACD on the weekly time frame is in a bearish divergence which is really a more clear warning sign that a correction is more likely to arrive soon.

The chart above shows an hourly chart of SPY and also shows a bearish divergence today.  the daily time frame does not yet have its own bearish divergence since the April low, but I still view the current area as a time that a high could be made.

Seasonally, there is the old sell in May and go away adage, which also is coming into play now after a classic strong November through April in typical season fashion.  So that is another reason here to view the upside as quite limited for the next few months.

In term of market correlation the bonds and gold have been selling off substantially during this last 3 week run up in stocks.  And the inverse correlation in recent weeks (and technical analysis to confirm) suggest that bonds and gold could make a rally for a few weeks.  That would suggest that stocks may begin selling off as of this week.

On a longer term basis, this is a mature bull market, and the 7th year is the classic topping year on a decennial cycle.  And so from an investment standpoint, it seems imperative to have a clear exit strategy or stop trailing technique in place for long trading.

I personally am keeping GDX and gold mining etfs on the radar because the seasonality in the past is for a late spring or early summer bottom.  And the correction in gold stocks looks mature, though could certainly make lower lows into June.