Dare to Compare – Could the End of QE Crash Stocks Like in 2010 and 2011?

The S&P 500 dropped 17% right after QE1 ended and 20% right after QE2 ran out? Will stocks crash again now that QE3 and QE4 have been completed? Here is the only visual QE history chart along with an unexpected conclusion.

QE1 ended on March 31, 2010. Shortly thereafter the S&P 500 dropped as much as 17.12%.

QE2 ended on June 20, 2011. Shortly thereafter the S&P 500 dropped as much as 20.76%.

Fed officials are expected to end asset purchases (QE3 and QE4) at the next FOMC meeting on October 28-29. Will stocks crater like they did in 2010 and 2011?

QE History & Comparison

QE1 started in December 2008 with $660 billion, was expanded by $1,050 billion in March 2009, and ended in March 2010.

QE2’s $600 billion asset purchase injection started in November 2010 and lasted until June 2011.

QE3 started in September 2012 at a rate of $40 billion per month.

QE4 started in December 2012 at a rate of $45 billion per month.

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Starting in January 2014, QE3 and QE4 have been reduced gradually by $5 billion per month.

QE3 and QE4 have already been wound down to combined monthly purchases of $15 billion, and Fed officials said they expect to end asset purchases after the October 28-29 meeting.

Will the QE3 and QE4 withdrawal shock the system (aka stock market) as QE1 and QE2 did?

QE After Shock?

I’m a visual person and find that a picture (or chart) really says more than a thousand words.

Here is a simple, visual explanation of the various QE programs. This is the only QE history chart on the web, and was originally published in the October 5 Profit Radar Report. QE1, QE2, QE3 and QE4 are illustrated by various shades of green, because green is the color of money (chart courtesy of the Profit Radar Report).

Illustrated are the monthly dollar purchases. Exact monthly asset purchase data for QE1 and QE2 is not readily available, so the amounts shown are based on total committed funds divided by the number of months the program was in effect.

QE3 and QE4 differ from QE1 and QE2 and two important ways:

1) The asset purchases under QE1 and QE2 were more significant than the asset purchases under QE3 and QE4.

2) QE1 and QE2 stopped cold turkey. The Federal Reserve obviously learned from the almost instant S&P 500 (NYSEArca: SPY) selloffs and equipped QE3 and QE4 with the ‘taper’.

Purely theoretical, the actual end of QE3 and QE4 could be a non-event, and should be much less noticeable than the end of QE1 and QE2.

Why Did the S&P 500 Just Lose 200 Points?

But, if that’s the case, why did the S&P 500 just lose as much as 200 points?

Investors may have simply sold stocks in anticipation of QE ending. Sometimes it’s all about mind of matter. If investors mind (that QE is ending) it matters, at least temporarily. In addition, the Dow Jones reached an important technical resistance level on September 17. The Profit Radar Report predicted that this resistance level would increase the risk of a correction.

It is undeniable that the various QE programs have driven asset prices higher. It would be intuitive to conclude that the absence of QE (at least sterilized QE) will send stocks lower.

But the stock market is not always intuitive and doesn’t conform to investors’ expectations.

Furthermore, despite the end of QE, the stock market has not yet displayed the classic pattern of a major market top, the kind of pattern that foreshadowed the 1987, 2000 and 2007 highs. Here’s what I mean: The Missing Ingredient for a Major Bull Market Top

In summary, I wouldn’t sell stocks just because QE is ending.

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.

4 Iconic U.S. Stocks that Lost 49% While You Were Sleeping

Overnight, four iconic U.S. companies lost 49%. One of them, a reputable blue chip Dow component, wiped out four years worth of gains while investors were sleeping. What does this performance mean and can it be detected/avoided?

The biggest danger is one you are not aware of or can’t predict. For individual stock investors that’s gap down opens. Such overnight losses leave big chart gaps that often by-pass stop-loss orders.

October has been a particularly treacherous month as four iconic U.S. companies lost a combined 49% while shareholders were sleeping. Talk about a financial overnight coronary event.

In the night(s) from October 17 (Friday) to October 20, IBM (NYSE: IBM) lost 8.35% and wiped out four years of gains.

In the night from October 20 to 21, Coca Cola (NYSE: KO) lost 5.75%.

In the night from October 23 to 24, Amazon (Nasdaq: AMZN) lost 9.10%.

In the night from October 15 to 16, Netflix (Nasdaq: NFLX) lost 25.83%.

Is there a common trigger for all those coronary events?

Is it possible to detect and prevent owning stocks before an overnight collapse? 

The chart below shows IBM, KO, AMZN and NFLX side by side.

Trading volume spiked every time on the day of the coronary, but there was no consistent pattern the day before (which was the last day to get out in time).

A look at commonly used technical indicators – such as moving averages, MACD, RSI, percentR – also shows no consistent pattern.

Netflix and Amazon were unable to overcome their 20-day SMAs the days prior to the gap down, but Coca Cola ‘slept’ above the 20-day SMA the night before it fell out of bed.

Amazon triggered an MACD buy signal the day before it tumbled.

The only way to avoid individual meltdowns is to invest in baskets of stocks via ETFs or other index-based vehicles. The link below discusses which type of ETFs are best in this stage of a bull market.

The One Common Denominator

There is, however, one common denominator, indicated by the little telephone icon. All companies reported their earnings just before the big gap down (either after the close or before the bell).

Do Gap Downs Foreshadow a Major Market Top?

Excessive amounts of selling pressure are a reflection of investor psychology.

Gap ups on the way up are a vote of confidence; gap downs show that investors’ confidence is eroding.

Erosion of confidence is one of the tell tale signs of an aging bull market. This doesn’t mean the bull market is over, but it shows that investors are becoming more selective.

The number of outperforming stocks shrinks as more and more individual stocks fall into their very own bear market. In fact, currently 31% of all NYSE stocks are trading 20% or more below their highs.

In other words, a third of all stocks are already in their own individual bear market.

A historic analysis of major market tops puts this deterioration into perspective and shows how close (or far off) we are from a major market top. It also shows which sector is the best to invest in right now.

Here is a detailed look at the 3 stages of a dying bull market.

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.

This Chart Should SCARE Every BEAR

Bears finally got 18 days of hope as the S&P 500 lost as much as 9.8% and expectations of the long-awaited market crash seemed to finally pan out. However, this may be just a cruel déjà vu. Here’s a chart that should scare every bear.

People often look for strength in numbers, but on Wall Street, ‘strength in numbers’ – also known as crowd behavior – tends to backfire.

Here is a look at one interesting chart. The chart plots the S&P 500 against the average exposure to US equity markets reported by members of the National Association of Active Investment Managers (NAAIM).

I’m a chart and numbers guy, but the message of this chart is probably more powerful if we emphasize the emotions behind the numbers, rather than just the numbers.

Last week, active money managers slashed their US equity exposure to 9.97%, the lowest reading since September 28, 2011.

In 2011, the S&P 500 fell as much as 21%. Last week money managers bailed before the S&P even lost 10%. They flat out panicked.

Why did money managers panic?

Were they right to panic?

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There may be a myriad of reasons why money managers decided to heavy-handedly hit the sell button, … but here is my interpretation (valued at 2 cents or more):

Obviously money managers were scared. Scared of what? The ‘big one!’

Tucked away in their memory banks were sell in May headlines such as:

• CNBC: “This chart shows the market is a ticking time bomb” – June 11
• Yahoo Finance: “Beware: 2014 is looking a lot like 2007” – May 22
• CNBC: “I’m worried about a crisis bigger than 2008: Dr Doom” – May 8

The S&P 500 rallied as much as 200 points following those doom and gloom headlines. The normal reaction would be to dismiss crash calls as wrong, but money managers simply must have labeled them as ‘premature.’

The level of panic seen at the October 15 low was enough to propel the S&P as much as 140 points.

Was their panic justified? In other words, despite this bounce, did the ‘big bad bear market’ start at the September highs?

Has the “Big Bad Bear Market’ Started?

The easy and straight-forward conclusion based on the fact that money managers appear to have expected this ‘bear market’ is this:

Sure, there are plenty of reasons why stocks should roll over, but a watched pot doesn’t boil. Bear markets are rarely anticipated by the masses.

There are also persuasive reasons why this bull market has more time left. We just discussed one. Another is bullish seasonality and the absence of the most reliable bear market trigger I’m aware of.

After extensive research, I found an indicator that correctly warned of the 1987, 2000 and 2007 tops, and at the same time projected new highs in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013. More details here.

It is possible that the October panic lows will be tested once more, but the weight of evidence suggests that the bull market is not yet over. Short-term, the S&P 500 and Dow Jones are bumping against important resistance levels. A move above those levels is needed to unlock higher targets.

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.

The Biggest Theory Shattered by Dow Theory

Ouch, that hurt! Dow Theory expert considered the bull market in tact right before the Dow Jones and Dow Jones Transportation average shed 10%. Here is one theory that Dow Theory just shattered.

The other day I stumbled upon this interesting piece of Dow Theory research by Bespoke Investment Group titled “Dow Theory Still Bullish.”

The bullish Dow Theory message was summarized as follows: “Many investors look for the Transports to lead the way, and the fact that it has done so well is a bullish sign for the major indices like the Dow and S&P 500, in our view.”

The analysis and the Dow Theory interpretation was not wrong per say, but the timing was terrible. The article was published on September 17, and followed by an 11% drop in the Dow Jones Transportation Average.

No indicator is perfect, but an outright bullish assessment or signal prior to a double-digit selloff is worth examining.

The chart below enhances the Dow Jones Industrial Average and Dow Jones Transportation average with a few simple trend lines.

The bold red Dow Jones trend line resistance was my personal up side target (shared with subscribers to the Profit Radar Report) since late July. In fact, the September 17 Profit Radar Report warned that:

“The Dow and S&P are moving towards our targets and risk is rising.”

The ensuing selloff drew the Dow Jones Transportation Average well below a strong 2-year trend channel.

Although bearish, it wasn’t time to panic, because both averages confirmed the September 19 high. There was no bearish Dow Theory divergence at the top.

Dow Theory is the Grand Daddy of market trend analysis and I’m not about to discredit it, however, no indicator should ever be viewed in isolation.

Dow Theory still suggests the bull market is in tact – which harmonizes with my research – but that doesn’t mean investors need to accept a 10% drawdown.

The bounce from the October low brought the Dow Jones back up to key resistance (not shown on chart, resistance available to subscribers of the Profit Radar Report). A move above this resistance is needed to confirm this bounce.

As with any long-term indicator, additional indicators can be used to prune long-term portfolios via better-timed sells and buys.

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.

Selling Climaxes Spike to 4-year High

Last week saw the highest amount of selling climaxes since October 2011. Happy bulls and frustrated bears remember that October 2011 marked a major low. What does last week’s record number of selling climaxes mean?

Selling climaxes are considered a sign of accumulation as ‘strong hands’ happily buy the stocks offered for sale by ‘weak hands.’

A selling climax happens when a stock/index or ETF drops to a 12-month low, but bounces back and closes the week with a gain.

There were 605 selling climaxes last week; the Russell 2000 was one of them (more details here: Will Bullish Russell 2000 Signals Last?).

As the chart above shows, the last time there were more than 500 selling climaxes was the week ending October 7, 2011, when over 1,350 stocks saw a bullish reversal from a 52-week low.

Many happy bulls and frustrated bears will likely remember that the S&P 500 hit a major bottom on October 4, 2011.

I remember the October 4, 2011 low at 1,074 like it was yesterday, probably because it was one of my best calls. My October 2, 2011 note to subscribers said the following:

“The ideal market bottom would see the S&P 500 dip below 1,088 intraday followed by a strong recovery and a close above 1,088, but technically any new low below 1,102 could mark the end of this bear market leg.”

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The problem with weekly climax data is the time delay. By the time Investors Intelligence reported last week’s climaxes, the S&P 500 was already 70 points above its low.

A closer look at the Russell 2000 chart shows that, although the spike in buying climaxes is net bullish, stocks are not out of the woods yet.

Here’s a look at the Russell 2000: Bullish Russell 2000 Signals – Will They Last?

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.

Bullish Russell 2000 Signals – Will They Last?

The Russell 2000 has weighted down the broad stock market since March. Now, for the first time in a while, the Russell 2000 is actually outperforming large cap stocks. Does that mean that small caps will lead the market higher?

The Russell 2000 is showing signs of life, after months of underperformance relative to the S&P 500.

The Russell 2000 is one of the only indexes (along with the MidCap 400) that painted a green reversal candle (see chart insert).

Prior to erasing last week’s losses, the Russell 2000 also dipped to a 52-week low. A weekly reversal after a 52-week low is also considered a selling climax.

605 stocks recorded selling climaxes last week. This is the highest count of selling climaxes since October 2011, which marked a major bottom (more details here: Selling Climaxes Soar to 4-year High).

From a technical perspective, here are a few Russell 2000 developments to keep in mind:

• Bullish: Last week’s green reversal candle pushed the Russell 2000 back above support at 1,080.
• Almost Confirmed: The chart below shows one indicator I like to monitor when it comes to spotting trend changes. On the short-term daily chart, this indicator requires a close above Friday’s high. The same is true for the weekly chart.
• Confirmation Needed: The IWM:IWB ratio shows the performance of small caps (IWM Russell 2000 ETF) relative to large caps (IWB Russell 1000 ETF). The IWM:IWB ratio is about to test prior support, now resistance.

Unless the ratio can move above 1.05, small caps are likely to continue underperforming their large cap cousins.

In short, the Russell 2000 is showing strength, and odds of continued up side are increasing.

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.

Stocks in Freefall! Is this the Beginning of the End?

An avalanche of analysts and market ‘pros’ predicted a stock market crash in May and June. Here we are, almost half a year later. Is this the crash predicted by so many, or is it just another temporary correction?

Pardon the sensationalistic touch of this headline, but ‘is this the beginning of the end?’ is a perfectly legitimate question. Not because I’m a fear monger, but because others are.

Several months ago – in May, June and July – many analysts predicted a market crash. Here are a few headlines from that time:

• CNBC: “I’m worried about a crisis bigger than 2008: Dr Doom” – May 8
• Yahoo: “Beware: 2014 looking a lot like 2007” – May 23
• CNBC: “This chart shows the market is a ticking time bomb” – June 12
• Yahoo: “Common Sense says look out for a market top” – June 30
• Forbes: “These 23 charts prove that stocks are heading for a devastating crash” – July 1

Although the S&P 500 gained as much as 200 points since those crash prophecies first surfaced, investors now wonder if this is the ‘big one.’ Is this the time when crash prophesies turn into reality?

A Market Top or THE Market Top?

Obviously, the September 19 highs carry some importance, after all the S&P 500 and Dow Jones lost about 8% since.

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Perhaps looking at what caused this spirited selloff may help determine if September 19 is ‘A’ market top or ‘THE’ market top.

On August 24, the Profit Radar Report published this chart and stated that: “The Dow Jones sports a possible wedge formation with resistance starting at 17,250 next week (17,400 by the end of September).”

On September 19, the wedge resistance line was at 17,350, which marked the exact top of the Dow Jones.

Consequently, the September 21 Profit Radar Report warned that: “The Dow Jones reached our up side target. This means risk is rising. The probabilities of a short-term pullback are elevated.”

Dow Jones Down Side Target

Based on the Dow’s performance, the wedge pattern is valid. The textbook down side target for a bearish wedge is its origin, which is around 15,000. One near-term down side target, identified by the October 10 Profit Radar Report, is 1,850. The S&P hit 1,850 this morning, and every time a target is met a bounce becomes likely. Nevertheless, today’s low doesn’t display the marks of a sustainable low yet.

Here is a look at a few other indicators:

Sentiment

Stocks are oversold, but sentiment is not extremely bearish. Throughout 2013 and 2014 the S&P 500 rallied as soon as it hit an oversold condition.

The October 1 Profit Radar Report warned that this time might be different, as some of the biggest declines happen when stocks don’t bounce from oversold conditions.

Seasonality

VIX seasonality is approaching a significant seasonal high. S&P 500 seasonality is turning positive in the near future (detailed VIX and S&P 500 seasonality charts are available to subscribers of the Profit Radar Report).

Seasonality doesn’t preclude further losses, but appears strong enough to eventually erase all or most of the losses accrued recently.

Conclusion

Based on the Dow’s wedge formation/target, a 13% decline is possible. However, seasonality may cushion the down side risk.

This decline appears similar to the 2010 and 2011 corrections. I personally will be looking for a specific bottoming pattern (displayed at the 2010 and 2011 lows). The actual down side price target is somewhat fluid (the specific bottoming pattern is discussed in the Profit Radar Report). Once the bottoming pattern starts developing, we should be able to identify a key support level.

No doubt, the above-mentioned crash prophets are getting to enjoy their 15 minutes of fame, but the only indicator that actually predicted the 1987, 2000 and 2007 crash suggests that bulls will stage a comeback once this selloff is exhausted. Here is a close look at this impressive indicator.

The Missing Ingredient for a Major Bull Market Top

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.

Crude Oil and Energy SPDR ETF Gushing to Major Support

Crude oil prices have been gushing lower since their June high, down 20%. The same is true for the Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF. Those two charts show that the odds for a tradeable bottom are now above average.

Crude oil has plummeted from $107 to $84.

Are falling oil prices good for the economy or are they a reflection of a weak economy?

It’s a chicken or egg kind of question.

The media is certainly at a loss, as those actual headlines from 2011 and 2012 illustrate:

• AP: “Higher oil prices threaten global economy” – March 10, 2011
• Reuters: “Oil prices rise on economic optimism” – January 10, 2012
• AP: “Higher oil prices offset worries about global economic recovery” – May 25, 2011

A simple look at a comparison chart (S&P 500 vs XLE) shows that oil and stock prices can, and often will move independently from each other.

Regardless on how oil prices affect the overall stock market, oil prices are at important support.

Crude Oil Support

The crude oil chart shows trade being repelled by red trend line resistance in August 2013 and June 2014.

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After a 21% drop from high to low, oil is sitting right above important support around 84.

Energy Select Sector SPDR Support

The Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (NYSEArca: XLE) matched crude oils gush lower, down 20% from its high.

The 81 level offered important support in December 2007, March/April 2011 and February 2014 (blue dots).

Considering the steepness of the recent selloff and proximity to important support, there’s a good chance oil and XLE will find a tradable bottom somewhere around current trade.

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.

Risk Off Gauge That Correctly Signaled 2000 and 2007 Top is In Freefall, But …

Twice in 2014 we looked at the XLY:XLP risk on/risk off ratio for clues about the market’s next move. Twice the XLY:XLP ratio pointed us in the right direction. Now it’s pointing lower, which contradicts an even more powerful indicator.

The ratio of two diametrically opposed asset classes often provides insightful clues about what investors are doing.

The XLY:XLP ratio is one such example.

Unlike many hypothetical indicators, the XLY:XLP ratio is an actual money flow indicator, based on what investors are doing, not saying or thinking.

XLY represents the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF. XLP represents the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF.

The XLY:XLP has offered some excellent signals and tell tale signs both long-term and short-term.

Long-term:

A breakdown of the XLY:XLP ratio correctly signaled the 2000 and 2007 market tops.

Short-term:

We looked at the XLY:XLP ratio twice this year.

The first time was on May 20, when it was at the verge of breaking down.

The conclusion back then was that there were simply to many bears to drive the S&P 500 down.

The second time was on August 7, when the XLY:XLP ratio rose despite an S&P 500 selloff (see chart below for dates).

The conclusion was that the XLY:XLP ratio rally actually reduced the risk of an immediate stock market decline. The S&P 500 rose steadily for the next 90 days or so.

This time around the picture looks different, as the ratio has broken below long-term trend line support. This suggests that the time of shallow, V-shaped corrections – so prevalent throughout 2013 and 2014 – is over.

Another 2000 or 2007-like Top?

Does this breakdown also foreshadow another bear market, like it did in 2000 and 2007.

Context may be key here. The 2000 and 2007 market tops were also preceded by an even more important sell signal (more about this signal in a moment). This signal hasn’t triggered yet convincingly.

Furthermore, a close-up look at the XLY:XLP ratio since 2008 shows two prior trend line breaks (2012 and 2013, red circles) that turn out to be false signals. Unlike the 2001 – 2007 move, the post 2009 rally has been quite choppy, testing and breaking support more frequently.

The XLY:XLP ratio by itself is telling us that there is potential for further losses, but as the 2012 and 2013 breakdown reversals show, any correction may hit rock bottom without notice.

Looking at the ‘Big Guns”

As mentioned above, another indicator that not only foreshadowed the 2000 and 2007 market tops, but also predicted that every correction since 2009 would lead to new highs, has not yet given a convincing sell signal.

The indicator is probably the most valuable gauge for any investor at this moment.

It is discussed in detail here: 3 Strike Wall Street Law – QE Bull Market Only One Strike away From Knock Out

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.

The Missing Ingredient for A Major Bull Market Top

This article reveals the single most powerful stock market indicator in recent history. It not only protected investors from many past bear markets, it also predicted higher stock market prices throughout this bull market.

I am in a predicament. I want you to know about the one indicator that will be more useful in the year ahead than any other stock market related indicator (you’ll see why this indicator is essential for any investor in a moment).

But (and that’s a big but), I want to be fair to my subscribers. Since it wouldn’t be right to share research reserved for paying subscribers, I came up with this solution:

You will see the indicator in its full power and glory, but I won’t disclose the name of the indicator. It will simply be dubbed ‘secret sauce.’

I’ve been following secret sauce for many years. What makes this indicator unique is that it has protected those ‘listening’ from many bear markets, while keeping investors on the right side of the trade (long and strong) throughout this bull market.

Although I wasn’t aware of it when I first learned about secret sauce, my research shows that secret sauce correctly telegraphed the 1987, 2000 and 2007 market tops.

How it Works

Secret sauce reveals a terminal condition often hidden by price action: Internal stock market deterioration (for a detailed description go here).

The charts below show how the market lost steam internally (black line) even though the S&P 500 (blue line) continued higher … right until it hit the ceiling in 1987 and 2000.

The same thing happened prior to the 2007 top. Secret sauce stopped confirming the S&P 500 highs on June 4 (dashed red line). The market topped on October 11 and rolled over.

The dashed green lines in the above chart show that secret sauce confirmed every new S&P 500 high since the bull market took off in 2009, telegraphing that every correction was eventually to be succeeded by new highs.

Obviously, secret sauce isn’t necessarily a short-term indicator, but the advance notice of the market’s intention is invaluable to almost every type of investor.

Knowing whether short-term draw downs will eventually be recovered is incredible insight not offered by any other indicator.

Secret sauce is the main reason why the Profit Radar Report has continually looked for new highs, even in April/May 2014 when the media strongly advertised a market crash.

At some point secret sauce will not confirm new S&P 500 highs and send a warning signal. In fact, there is a fledgling bearish non-confirmation right now.

The Profit Radar Report continuously monitors and updates secret sauce. Sunday’s special Profit Radar Report includes a detailed analysis of this fledgling bearish divergence and how it should affect the S&P 500 for the remainder of 2014.

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.