The Little Bullish Indicator Nobody is Reporting On

Tunnel vision is a luxury investors can’t afford. Yet, bullish signals from a well-known investor survey have been ignored for too long. Angry messages on comment boards also confirm a bullish message that shouldn’t be ignored.

Allow me to point out a bullish indicator that’s being flat out ignored by the media and investors: Investor sentiment.

Civil Surveys

The chart below plots the percentage of bullish investors surveyed by the American Association for Individual Investors (AAII) against the S&P 500.

The percentage of bullish investors dropped to 29.60, one of the lowest readings of the year.

This isn’t a historical extreme, but it’s noteworthy considering that the S&P 500 is yet at another all-time high.

The dashed lines show what happened the last several times investors felt as gloomy as this week. Eight out of nine times the S&P 500 rallied.

The Profit Radar Report has been monitoring the AAII poll and observed back on May 14 that: “The percentage of AAII bears is down to 28.34% and various media outlets have boldly gone on record predicting a crash or severe correction. Today the put/call ratio is at 0.72, a level that’s indicative of a low more than a top.”

What makes the AAII crowd pessimism unique is how it contradicts other, more bullish sentiment polls.

The bottom graph on the chart shows the difference between AAII bulls and bullish advisors surveyed by Investors Intelligence (II). 56.5% of advisors are currently bullish.

The spread between AAII and II bulls is one of the largest and most persistent in the history of the two surveys.

Angry Response

In yesterday’s article “The Long-Awaited S&P 500 Correction Already Happened” I dared to suggest that the expected S&P 500 correction already happened.

The passionate responses on Yahoo’s comment board confirmed the AAII poll. Here are a few:

“The big one hasn’t hit yet”

“Wow they baked a correction hidden in an up turn and we are suppose to buy it. Soon you will see what the real thing is and then look at this article.”

“What a load of nonsense”

Conclusion

Every investor should always look at all the facts. Fact is, bearish sentiment is too pronounced to ignore.

A correction, which is overdue and would be healthy, may come any day, but data points like this caution that it may not happen yet.

Bottom line, as long as support holds, the trend is up. The July 8 Profit Radar Report identified key support, which has been tested five times since (and held everytime).

This key support, and why it is important, is revealed here:

S&P 500 Forecast: Key Support

Simon Maierhofer is the publisher of the Profit Radar Report. The Profit Radar Report presents complex market analysis (S&P 500, Dow Jones, gold, silver, euro and bonds) in an easy format. Technical analysis, sentiment indicators, seasonal patterns and common sense are all wrapped up into two or more easy-to-read weekly updates. All Profit Radar Report recommendations resulted in a 59.51% net gain in 2013.

Follow Simon on Twitter @ iSPYETF or sign up for the FREE iSPYETF Newsletter to get actionable ETF trade ideas delivered for free.

Obvious Yet Hidden – The Long-Awaited S&P 500 Correction Already Happened

A lot can happen when you’re not looking, but a lot can happen even when you are looking. While everyone’s been waiting for the illusive correction, the S&P 500 ‘Richter scale’ actually shows the correction has come and gone.

If you define correction as a 10% drop, the S&P 500 hasn’t had one in well over 1,000 days.

This is the longest correction-free streak since the 1,127-day run from July 1984 to August 1987.

But, corrections are not like annual holidays, they are more like earthquakes. Corrections don’t appear on schedule and they are not always felt the same way.

Although the Richter scale may register a magnitude 3.5 earthquake, it may not be felt by all residents.

The same is true with market corrections. Not all corrections are created equal, and the ‘S&P 500 Richter scale’ may have registered a correction that wasn’t felt by every investor.

In fact, the chart below shows a perfectly legitimate correction period. How so?

Via the May 14 Profit Radar Report, I explained the ‘covert’ correction as follows:

“I’d like to take a moment to talk about the potential for an extended rally. For many months analysts have emphasized (and continue to emphasize) the need for a 10% correction. There are two ways stocks can correct: 1) Price 2) Time.

A price correction is straight-forward and easy to spot as stocks simply shed value. Time corrections are often overlooked by the investing masses as prolonged sideways trading covertly digests oversold readings and excessive sentiment.

What we’ve seen since February delivers both. The S&P 500 and Dow Jones have treaded water while the Nasdaq-100 and Russell 2000 already lost as much as 8.67% and 8.71%, the biggest correction in well over a year.

As pointed out in a number of prior Profit Radar Reports, investor sentiment has dropped quite a bit. The percentage of AAII bears is down to 28.34% and various media outlets have boldly gone on record predicting a crash or severe correction.

The chart below plots the S&P 500 against the CBOE Equity Put/Call Ratio. Prior corrections were preceded by a put/call ratio around 0.5 or below (= option traders buy two calls for every put). Today the put/call ratio is at 0.72, a level that’s indicative of a low more than a top.”

Below is the chart referenced in the May 14 Profit Radar Report. It shows that the S&P 500 corrected internally. 3 ½ months of sideways trading created enough of an oversold condition (based on option trader sentiment) to serve as a foundation for the next rally.

In addition, the Russell 2000 lost as much as 10.75% from March 4 to May 15.

In short, there was a correction. For the S&P 500 it was a correction by virtue of time, not price.

From April to July the S&P 500 tagged on 160 points. Now we ask if the market is due for another correction or if it will keep grinding higher?

To help discern, we look at the same indicator that projected a rally without price correction months ago. This is probably one of the most unique (und recently accurate) indicators you’ll ever see:

The Only Indicator that Foresaw a Persistent S&P 500 Rally Without Correction

Simon Maierhofer is the publisher of the Profit Radar Report. The Profit Radar Report presents complex market analysis (S&P 500, Dow Jones, gold, silver, euro and bonds) in an easy format. Technical analysis, sentiment indicators, seasonal patterns and common sense are all wrapped up into two or more easy-to-read weekly updates. All Profit Radar Report recommendations resulted in a 59.51% net gain in 2013.

Follow Simon on Twitter @ iSPYETF or sign up for the FREE iSPYETF Newsletter to get actionable ETF trade ideas delivered for free.

S&P 500 is Suffering From Most Unique Conundrum Ever! 3 Charts Why

The S&P 500 is not only stuck in a trading range. It’s also stuck in a conundrum of historical proportions. Analysis paralysis suffered by a variety of investors has rarely widespread. Why and what does it mean?

The S&P 500 is incapacitated by a sentiment tug of war.

Every trading day awakens to doomsday prophets, spreading their bearish gospel.

Ironically, doomsday prophets are right. Many trustworthy indicators have indeed pointed to a sizeable correction … and yet they’ve been so wrong.

When Will This ‘Broken Clock’ Be Right?

Even a broken clock is right twice a day, but the S&P 500 headline chart below shows that the media at large has been wrong, very wrong, for very long.

Fear the Fear Mongers, Not the VIX

One of the reasons many have been expecting a market crash is because of the VIX, which was recently at an 88-month low. The ‘original VIX’ even dropped to an all-time low. The chart below plots VXO against the S&P 500 (NYSEArca: SPY).

The original VIX – VXO – is now known as the CBOE S&P 100 Volatility Index. In 2003, the original VIX was renamed VXO and replaced by the VIX as we know it today. VXO is essentially the VIX for the biggest large cap stocks.

By now every novice investor and their grandma ‘knows’ that a low VIX leads to major market tops. But that reasoning couldn’t be more flawed.

On June 16, the Profit Radar Report ousted this false line of reasoning with three powerful charts in a controversial report: “The VIX is too LOW for a major market top”.

Regardless of the VIX implications for the S&P 500, it reflects a level of complacency that contradicts the financial press’ pessimism.

Sentiment Divergence

Investor sentiment is a powerful contrarian indicator, but current sentiment gauges are all over the map.

The image below quantifies the level of analysis paralysis among investors better than any other chart.

It plots the S&P 500 against the spread between two different sentiment polls. The Investors Intelligence (II) survey of investment advisors and the American Association for Individual Investors (AAII) survey of retail investors.

Advisors are predominantly bullish, investors neutral to bearish. The divergence between both opinions has rarely been more visible and is more persistent than at any other time in recent history.

Who should we trust? The media? Investment advisors? Retail investors?

Conclusion

No doubt, hindsight will bring the answer. Based on the current fragmentation, both bulls and bears will likely have a tough time to stage a sustainable move.

It will probably take a ‘tiebreaker’ to unlodge the trading range. A break of support should give bears the upper hand in this struggle (otherwise expect a grind higher).

The Profit Radar Report used an unconventional indicator to identify key support more than two weeks ago. Since then it’s been tested (and proven correct) five times.

Here’s a free look at key support and the analysis usually reserved for subscribers of the Profit Radar Report.

S&P 500 Outlook: S&P Bounces from Support

Simon Maierhofer is the publisher of the Profit Radar Report. The Profit Radar Report presents complex market analysis (S&P 500, Dow Jones, gold, silver, euro and bonds) in an easy format. Technical analysis, sentiment indicators, seasonal patterns and common sense are all wrapped up into two or more easy-to-read weekly updates. All Profit Radar Report recommendations resulted in a 59.51% net gain in 2013.

Follow Simon on Twitter @ iSPYETF or sign up for the FREE iSPYETF Newsletter to get actionable ETF trade ideas delivered for free.

Short-Term S&P 500 Forecast: S&P 500 Bounces from Key Support

On Thursday, the S&P 500 saw the first loss of more than 1% since April 10, 2014. This sell-off stoked the talks about a major correction, but bottom line is that the S&P 500 remains around important short-term support.

On July 8 we used a little known indicator to spot key support for the S&P 500.

This little known indicator (which got some flak on the Yahoo comment board, but proved yet again correct) is a good tool when it comes to identifying the end of a momentum rally.

The indicator is called percentR (don’t shoot the messanger, I didn’t name it).

Never heard of it? That’s because you won’t read about this indicator on CNBC, MarketWatch or Bloomberg. That’s is a good thing. Just recall how many charts and indicators the media has used in recent months to warn of a major crash (too much media coverage spoils any good indicator).

The July 8 Profit Radar Report wrote this about percentR: “The S&P 500 fell to test support at 1,955 and triggered a bullish percentR low-risk entry. This may cause a bounce (perhaps even another stab at all-time highs), but a close below today’s low (1,959) and support at 1,955 would be a small victory for bears.”

The July 13 Profit Radar Report put it this way: “As discussed last week, important short-term support is at 1,959 – 1,955. A close below 1,955 will increase the odds for a deeper correction.”

Here is an updated look at percentR, plotted against the S&P 500, and how it works:

An initial percentR dip below 80 is called a ‘bullish low-risk entry’.

The arrows mark all bullish low-risk entries since May. All seven of them were followed by bounces.

The black circles illustrat failed low-risk entries.

What is a failed low-risk entry? When the S&P 500 (NYSEArca: SPY) closes below the level (daily low) that triggered the low-risk entry (dashed red box).

Here is where it gets interesting: percentR has triggered three low-risk entries since July 8 with daily lows ranging from 1,953 – 1,959. This shows a) that the rally is getting choppy and b) that the 1950 – 1960 level seems significant.

A close below 1,953 would be a failed low-risk entry and an indication that the rally may be over.

The summary section of the July 6 Profit Radar Report still remains valid. It stated:

“Forward looking indicators, such as the SKEW and VIX seasonality, suggest that stocks should soon run into trouble. However, the charts don’t show any weakness yet. S&P 1,980 – 1,985 and psychological resistance at 2,000 should cap any up side, but it will take a move below 1,955 and 1,925 to boost the notion of a correction.”

In the spirit of disclosure, I want to mention that there is one scenario that sees a brief dip below 1,950 followed by a rally to new highs. It would be wicked and fool most of Wall Street (which is exactly how the market likes it).

VIX seasonality is fascinating right now, because the VIX seasonality chart projected a major low on July 9. So Thursday’s 32% one-day VIX spike is no real surprise.

Here’s a detailed look at the VIX seasonality chart and it’s possible implications for the S&P 500.

VIX Seasonality Triggers Major Buy Signal on July 9

Simon Maierhofer is the publisher of the Profit Radar Report. The Profit Radar Report presents complex market analysis (S&P 500, Dow Jones, gold, silver, euro and bonds) in an easy format. Technical analysis, sentiment indicators, seasonal patterns and common sense are all wrapped up into two or more easy-to-read weekly updates. All Profit Radar Report recommendations resulted in a 59.51% net gain in 2013.

Follow Simon on Twitter @ iSPYETF or sign up for the FREE iSPYETF Newsletter to get actionable ETF trade ideas delivered for free.

XLY Consumer Discretionary ETF Suffers Bullish Cup-and Handle Relapse

The consumer discretionary sector has been one of the driving factors behind the massive S&P 500 rally from the 2009 low. In the beginning of June, XLY sported a unique technical pattern that may provide clues for the S&P 500.

Contrary to popular belief, the U.S. consumer has done their fair share to lift stocks.

From its 2009 low to its July all-time high, the S&P 500 (NYSEArca: SPY) has gained 197.78%.

From its 2009 low to its July all-time high, the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (NYSEArca: XLY) has gained 329.84%.

Because of its economically sensitive nature, the consumer discretionary sector can provide early clues for the S&P 500.

On July 2, the Profit Radar Report examined a potentially bullish XLY cup-and handle formation and wrote the following:

“XLY already broke above the dashed trend line and the short solid red line marking the handle high. This is the beginning stage of a break out.

However, trade has yet to overcome the March high, which was a red candle high and should be meaningful resistance. It is also said that cup and handle breakouts after a long-term rally are less powerful than ones at the beginning.

Regardless, the initial breakout is according to technical analysis guidelines and sustained trade above the March 7 high at 67.85 will further extend the XLY (and probably overall stock market) rally.”

Although the beginning stages looked promising, XLY wasn’t able to overcome ‘cup rim’ resistance at 67.85 and the cup-and handle has basically been a non-event (like pretty much everything else lately on Wall Street).

The pattern for other consumer discretionary ETFs like the Vanguard Consumer Discretionary ETF (NYSEArca: VCR) looks similar.

Another little nugget the XLY chart offers is that there is short-term support around 66.80.

Similar to XLY, the S&P 500 is also trading right above meaningful short-term support.

Here’s a closer look at S&P 500 support: S&P 500 Short-Term Forecast: S&P Bounces at Key Support

Simon Maierhofer is the publisher of the Profit Radar Report. The Profit Radar Report presents complex market analysis (S&P 500, Dow Jones, gold, silver, euro and bonds) in an easy format. Technical analysis, sentiment indicators, seasonal patterns and common sense are all wrapped up into two or more easy-to-read weekly updates. All Profit Radar Report recommendations resulted in a 59.51% net gain in 2013.

Follow Simon on Twitter @ iSPYETF or sign up for the FREE iSPYETF Newsletter to get actionable ETF trade ideas delivered for free.

VIX Seasonality Triggered Major Buy Signal on July 9

The VIX has been trending lower for weeks on end. Many investors got burned trying to be ahead of an elusive VIX rally … until yesterday. The 32% one-day spike came right on queue, according to the VIX seasonality low.

You might as well call me a broken record. For the last few months, I’ve continually advised to postpone VIX buying until after July 9. Why July 9?

Allow me to explain by quoting the June 18 Profit Radar Report: “VIX seasonality doesn’t bottom until July 9, so it seems too early for a sustainable VIX rally.”

The June 6 Profit Radar Report featured the VIX seasonality chart along with this comment: “The VIX seasonality low arrives around July. Forward looking indicators, such as the SKEW and VIX seasonality, suggest that the S&P 500 should soon run into trouble.”

The VIX seasonality chart plots this year’s VIX performance against the ‘average’ VIX performance based on daily closing prices from 1990 to 2013. VIX ETPs like the iPath S&P 500 VIX ETN (NYSEArca: VXX) and ProShares Ultra VIX Short-term ETF (NYSEArca: UVXY) lost between 28 – 78% in 2014.

However, the VIX spiked 32% on Thursday. This is a massive overreaction, considering that the S&P 500 (NYSEArca: SPY) declined only 1.18%.

We’ve seen similar VIX kneejerk reactions in the past, and they were soon followed by a lower VIX and higher S&P. Will this time be different?

Will the VIX continue to rally and the S&P finally embark on the much advertised correction?

Only if the S&P 500 drops below key support. Thus far the S&P bounced three times from this support, and VIX downside is limited as long as it holds.

Here’s a detailed look at this S&P 500 key support level:

Short-term S&P 500 Forecast: S&P Bounces at Support

Simon Maierhofer is the publisher of the Profit Radar Report. The Profit Radar Report presents complex market analysis (S&P 500, Dow Jones, gold, silver, euro and bonds) in an easy format. Technical analysis, sentiment indicators, seasonal patterns and common sense are all wrapped up into two or more easy-to-read weekly updates. All Profit Radar Report recommendations resulted in a 59.51% net gain in 2013.

Follow Simon on Twitter @ iSPYETF or sign up for the FREE iSPYETF Newsletter to get actionable ETF trade ideas delivered for free.

 

S&P 500 Suffers First 1%+ Drop Since April 10 – Is this Bad News?

Today the S&P 500 lost more than 1% for the first time since April 10, 2014. This sell off comes amidst many predictions for a bull market end or market crash. In reality, how significant is today’s loss?

Streaks exist to be broken. The S&P 500 just broke a 66-day streak of not losing more than 1%. April 10 (blue box) was the last time the S&P 500 lost more than 1%.

Is today’s loss a bad omen?

Nowadays everything seems to be a bad omen, otherwise we wouldn’t read headlines such as:

• “Two signs a market crash is coming”
• “Bubble paranoia setting in as S&P 500 surge stirs angst”
• “The indicator that proves the bull market is ending”

The S&P 500 is still within 1.5% of its all-time highs, so calls for a bull market end or crash are no doubt premature (we all know the odds of catching a falling knife).

Could today’s sell off lead to a deeper correction?

Here are a few facts to consider:

• Today’s loss happened on elevated trading volume. The S&P 500 ETF (NYSEArca: SPY) chart shows other recent high volume declines (dashed red lines). Some of them were followed by additional selling, but most of them were not.
• The July 8 Profit Radar Report pointed out that 1,955 is important short-term support (on a closing basis) for the S&P 500. This support has yet to be broken.
• The July 13 Profit Radar Report highlighted key resistance at 1,980 – 1,985. So far the S&P wasn’t able to break above resistance.

In other words, despite today’s sell off, the S&P 500 remains range bound between support and resistance.

So could today’s decline be the beginning of a larger correction? Yes, but it could just as well be a minor buying opportunity.

Trusted indicators certainly have a better track record distinguishing one from another than attention-grabbing headlines.

In fact, one of those trusted indicators has predicted 6 of the last 8 buying opportunities correctly. If this indicator fails (and it’s at a ‘do or die’ point right now), it will foreshadow lower prices.

Here’s a look at this underrated and underappreciated, but accurate indicator:

S&P 500 Short-Term Forecast

Simon Maierhofer is the publisher of the Profit Radar Report. The Profit Radar Report presents complex market analysis (S&P 500, Dow Jones, gold, silver, euro and bonds) in an easy format. Technical analysis, sentiment indicators, seasonal patterns and common sense are all wrapped up into two or more easy-to-read weekly updates. All Profit Radar Report recommendations resulted in a 59.51% net gain in 2013.

Follow Simon on Twitter @ iSPYETF or sign up for the FREE iSPYETF Newsletter to get actionable ETF trade ideas delivered for free.

Smart Money is Leaving Gold Just as the ‘Herd’ is Jumping in

From June 2 to July 10 gold prices surged 8.7%. Commercial traders were the first to get in on this rally and the first to get out. While commercials pulled out, the ‘herd’ (or dumb money) piled in. Could this be a significant gold high?

The greater fool theory may just be playing out in the gold market.

Commercial traders (often considered the ‘smart money’) have been pulling money out of gold while investors and speculators (often considered the ‘dumb money) are piling into gold and gold ETFs.

The most popular gold ETFs are the SPDR Gold Shares (NYSEArca: GLD) and iShares Gold Trust (NYSEArca: IAU).

The chart below plots the SPDR Gold Shares against the futures positions of commercial traders (Commitment of Traders report).

Commercials’ exposure to gold futures just dropped to the lower level since October 2012. This marked the onset of a nasty decline that accelerated in March 2013, the only other time commercials really scaled down their exposure (red lines).

Partially based on investor sentiment, the June 13 Profit Radar Report recommended to short gold (unfortunately, our sell stop was not quite triggered).

Various media outlets linked this week’s gold (and GLD, IAU) selloff with Yellen’s comments about inflation.

Those comments may have contributed to gold’s $50 drop, but it can’t be the only reason. If it were, it would imply that commercial gold traders (which started selling gold weeks ago) could actually read Yellen’s mind.

Is there another reason why gold prices sold off? Yes there is.

In fact, based on a combination of factors, the June 1 Profit Radar Report projected a gold rally to around 1,350 followed by a steep reversal.

The actual price projections, the reasons for the projection, and what’s next is discussed here:

Gold Chart at the Cusp of Breaking Down

Simon Maierhofer is the publisher of the Profit Radar Report. The Profit Radar Report presents complex market analysis (S&P 500, Dow Jones, gold, silver, euro and bonds) in an easy format. Technical analysis, sentiment indicators, seasonal patterns and common sense are all wrapped up into two or more easy-to-read weekly updates. All Profit Radar Report recommendations resulted in a 59.51% net gain in 2013.

Follow Simon on Twitter @ iSPYETF or sign up for the FREE iSPYETF Newsletter to get actionable ETF trade ideas delivered for free.

Despite Selloff – Gold is Holding Support … For Now

Various media outlets listed many ‘convincing’ reasons to buy gold (a few examples of recent media blunders are listed in the article), but the gold market did exactly the opposite. Why did gold drop and where will it find support?

On June 8, Barron’s reported that the gold speculators are back and the Financial Times observed that gold bulls feel no need to hedge their gold position.

On June 11, MarketWatch ran an article titled: “Why mining stocks point to gains for gold prices”.

On June 14, gold prices (and gold ETFs) fell 45 points or 3.5%.

What happened?

Gold ran into a triple barrier.

That triple barrier is made up of:

1. Technical resistance
2. A seasonal weak spot
3. Bullish sentiment extremes

The July 13 Profit Radar Report pointed out that: “Gold is making progress towards our up side target. We are considering a small short position.”

What was the up side target and how was it determined?

The up side target was 1,350, determined by combining technical analysis, seasonality and sentiment.

The June 1 Profit Radar Report published this price projection (chart below, yellow lines) and stated:

“On Friday gold slipped into our support zone at 1,255 – 1,230. Gold sentiment is quite bearish, so the immediate down side may be limited. The yellow projection shows one possible route to get to 1,350+/-.”

In terms of time, the projection was off by a couple of weeks, but gold reversed rather violently when it neared the outlined cluster of technical resistance levels around 1,350. Since prices did not completely touch the resistance cluster, there is still a chance of another bounce to ‘complete unfinished business.’

The SPDR Gold Shares ETF (NYSEArca: GLD) chart below offers an updated look at the gold market, with some interesting technical nuggets (chart published on July 15 by iSPYETF.com).

• GLD found support right at the June 19 gap up open. I’m showing the GLD chart, because this gap is not visible on the futures chart. Support held and gold (and GLD) should bounce as long as this support holds.
• GLD is trading heavy, as trading volume during the selloff was elevated. This cautions of further weakness eventually. A close below 124.30 would likely trigger another step down.

Based on the actions of commerical traders, which includes actual gold miners and other insiders, gold may see more selling.

Here is what commercial traders are doing and why this may be concerning:

Smart Money is Leaving Gold Just as the ‘Herd’ is Jumping in

Simon Maierhofer is the publisher of the Profit Radar Report. The Profit Radar Report presents complex market analysis (S&P 500, Dow Jones, gold, silver, euro and bonds) in an easy format. Technical analysis, sentiment indicators, seasonal patterns and common sense are all wrapped up into two or more easy-to-read weekly updates. All Profit Radar Report recommendations resulted in a 59.51% net gain in 2013.

Follow Simon on Twitter @ iSPYETF or sign up for the FREE iSPYETF Newsletter to get actionable ETF trade ideas delivered for free.

 

Even Central Banks are Forced to Buy Stocks

Talk about a classic catch-22. Central banks around the world are haunted by the very monster they created – low interest rates. This forces them to buy stocks. But, this is not the only reason for relentless stock market highs.

The low-interest rate environment is not only putting the squeeze on savers and retiree’s, it’s also forcing central banks to look for greener interest pastures.

Central banks are caught in a classic catch-22 scenario. To spark their economies, central banks have lowered rates.

This has cost central banks around the globe $200 – $250 billion in interest income. Some of those losses have been offset by reduced payments of interest on the liabilities side of the balance sheet, but nevertheless, bankers are haunted by the monster they created.

What can central banks do to boost their bottom line?

According to a study by the Official Monetary and Financial Institutions Forum (OMFIF), “a cluster of central banking investors has become major players on world equity markets.”

The OMFIF report identifies $29.1 trillion in market investments. This includes investments in stocks, like the S&P 500 (SNP: ^GSPC), and precious metals.

Based on research from 2013, central banks held $10.9 trillion of currency reserves, that’s about 20% of the $55 trillion market value of global stocks.

A survey of central banks, taken in 2013, revealed that 23% of polled central banks own stocks or ETFs – like the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (NYSEArca: SPY) – or intend to buy stocks or ETFs.

For example, the Swiss National Bank has an equity quota of 15% and is investing in large, mid-and small-cap stocks in developed markets worldwide.

China’s State Administration of Foreign Exchange, part of the People’s Bank of China (PBoC), manages about $3.9 trillion and has become the world’s largest public sector holder of equities.

Here is where the ‘rising tide lifts all boats’ analogy comes in.

The Profit Radar Report has persistently maintained that buying power behind stocks (a proprietary gauge of demand chasing stocks) remains strong.

The Profit Radar Report uses this proprietary buying power index to gauge the odds of major market tops and stated in March, April, May, June and July that the buying power is too high for a major top (continous buying power updates are available via the Profit Radar Report).

But central bank liquidity is not the only reason for continuous S&P 500 highs. There is another reason, one that is much easier to monitor and gauge than covert central bank buying.

The reason why the S&P 500 continues to rally without a major correction (1,000 days and counting) is discussed here:

The Only Indicator that Foresaw a Persistent S&P 500 Rally with no Correction

Simon Maierhofer is the publisher of the Profit Radar Report. The Profit Radar Report presents complex market analysis (S&P 500, Dow Jones, gold, silver, euro and bonds) in an easy format. Technical analysis, sentiment indicators, seasonal patterns and common sense are all wrapped up into two or more easy-to-read weekly updates. All Profit Radar Report recommendations resulted in a 59.51% net gain in 2013.

Follow Simon on Twitter @ iSPYETF or sign up for the FREE iSPYETF Newsletter to get actionable ETF trade ideas delivered for free.