Simple, Common Sense S&P 500 Update

For almost two years, investors were spoiled with low volatility and high returns, but recent market action has rattled the cage.

Will there be more ‘cage rattling!’ If so, how much?

Sometimes a simple common sense analysis is the best one. KISS.

KISS

The February 11 Profit Radar Report stated that: “For well over a year stocks have almost exclusively gone up, slow but steady. For the past two weeks, stocks have gone down quickly. What’s next? The temptation and trap is to think two dimensional – up or down – since that’s most of what we’ve experienced lately. However, stocks could also go sideways for a period of time.”

On March 27, the S&P 500 was less than 7 points away from its February 9 close. Sideways indeed.

The February 11 Profit Radar Report also provided common sense long-term context via the chart and commentary below:

“1 – 2 – 3 is how we label the rally from the February 2016 low (according to Elliott Wave Theory – EWT). Wave 3 (wave 5 of wave 3 to be exact) extended much higher than normal (blue box).

Based on EWT, wave 3 is followed by wave 4, which is where we are currently at. Waves 4 are generally choppy, range-bound, long-winded, unpredictable corrections that retrace ideally 38.2% of the preceding wave 3. The 38.2% Fibonacci retracement level is at 2,536.

In terms of price, wave 4 has already reached its down side target. In terms of time, wave 4 would be unusually short.”

Barron’s rates iSPYETF as “trader with a good track record” and Investor’s Business Daily says: “When Simon says, the market listens.” Find out why Barron’s and IBD endorse Simon Maierhofer’s Profit Radar Report.

Wave 3 lasted almost 15 month (November 4, 2016 – January 26, 2018). The February ‘mini meltdown’ inflicted an 11.8% loss in only 10 days. Is a 10-day pullback commensurate to a 15-month rally? Not really!

The Conclusion (and Solution)

After looking at dozens of different indicators and patterns, the February 11 Profit Radar Report concluded as follows:

“We’ve been looking to buy the dip. Is this the dip to buy? When boiling down all our indicators to a few sentences, we find that a bounce from Friday’s (February 9) low is probable. The bounce however may turn into a period of range-bound up-and-down market action, not an immediate directional up move. A path similar to 2011 (retest of original panic low). Hopefully volatility in coming days/weeks will provide a better (lower) entry.”

Find out which low-risk sector ETF the Profit Radar Report recommended on February 11.

The chart below compares the 2011 correction with the 2018 pullback (blue box). In 2011, it took 25 days before the S&P tested (and briefly exceeded) the initial panic low. A similar pattern is developing now.

Here are 3 factors to keep in mind:

1. This wave 4 correction does not have to exceed the February low to be complete
2. Due to the duration of the preceding rally, this wave 4 correction could last longer than in 2011
3. In 2011, it took almost 5 months for the S&P to rally from the its low to a new high

The March 24 Profit Radar Report outlined the ideal path going forward along with target levels and an actual price projection.

Naturally we will be alert for curveballs (one of which is over the top bearish), but if the S&P 500 follows our ideal path reasonably close, it should set up a solid buying opportunity.

Continued updates and analysis is available via the Profit Radar Report.

Simon Maierhofer is the founder of iSPYETF and the publisher of the Profit Radar Report. Barron’s rated iSPYETF as a “trader with a good track record” (click here for Barron’s profile 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, 17.59% in 2014, and 24.52% in 2015.

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

 

How to Outsmart a Choppy, Range-bound Market

From January 26 to February 9, the S&P 500 lost as much as 11.84%. This initial freefall was followed by a rollercoaster-like performance.

The large February drop (340 S&P points) expanded the trading range and complicated the search for low-risk S&P 500 entries (see S&P 500 analysis).

Hunt for a Better Risk/Reward Setup

In fact, there was no low-risk setup for any of the major indexes. However, the February 11 Profit Radar Report featured the chart below and identified this low-risk sector trade:

“The Utility Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLU) dropped as much as 17.22% since its November high. As of Thursday, XLU was deeply oversold while testing a long-term support line. On Friday, XLU jumped 2.10%. The only thing missing as a bullish RSI-35 divergence at the low. The risk/reward for XLU looks more appealing. We will leg into XLU is it drops below 48.40.”

Barron’s rates iSPYETF as “trader with a good track record” and Investor’s Business Daily says: “When Simon says, the market listens.” Find out why Barron’s and IBD endorse Simon Maierhofer’s Profit Radar Report.

We anticipated the S&P 500 to rally from the February 9 low, but ultimately relapse. XLU was a lower-risk vehicle to have ‘skin in the game’ just in case stocks continued higher than expected (runaway insurance).

XLU dropped below the 48.40 buy limit on February 12. Although the ride hasn’t been smooth, XLU never dropped below our entry price (allowing us to ‘play with house money’), and is currently up 3.88% (compared to a 1.30% loss for the S&P 500).

Next resistance is above 50.50, support around 49. Failure to move above 50.50 or a relapse below 49 would be a warning signal.

Although the Profit Radar Report’s analysis is centered on the S&P 500, there are times when it makes sense to think outside the box and go where opportunity takes you.

Continued updates are available via the Profit Radar Report.

Simon Maierhofer is the founder of iSPYETF and the publisher of the Profit Radar Report. Barron’s rated iSPYETF as a “trader with a good track record” (click here for Barron’s profile 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, 17.59% in 2014, and 24.52% in 2015.

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

 

US Dollar Chokes Gold, Silver and Oil Movement

Gold, silver and oil haven’t gone anywhere in 2018. Why?

The chart below plots gold, silver and crude oil against the US Dollar Index.

The US dollar has been in a tight trading range for most of 2018. Although asset correlations come and go, commodities are traded in US dollars, and the US dollar inactivity likely contributed to the lack of direction in the commodities market.

I assume a dollar breakout will awaken commodities.

The November 29 US dollar update featured the chart below, which projects a more significant low in early 2018.

The US dollar is right in the down side target range, but the process of carving out a low is taking longer than projected. We are still looking for a significant dollar bottom (perhaps after one more new low).

If the correlation between US dollar (strong dollar = weak commodities) persists, the US dollar should soon begin to put pressure on commodity prices.

The first chart highlights some basic support/resistance levels and patterns to watch:

Gold:

Potential triangle with resistance at 1,365 (Fibonacci resistance at 1,382). Support around 1,310.

Silver:

Two potential triangles. A break of the shorter-term triangle should lead to a test of the longer-term triangle boundaries.

Crude Oil:

The January high could be a significant top. The short-term triangle (if it breaks higher) could cause a re-test of the January top and an excellent opportunity to short crude oil via the United States Oil Fund (USO). A break below triangle support may have 55 (long-term trend channel support) as next target.

We will look at technicals, seasonality and sentiment to assess the direction and scope of the next move. Continuous updates will be available via the Profit Radar Report.

Simon Maierhofer is the founder of iSPYETF and the publisher of the Profit Radar Report. Barron’s rated iSPYETF as a “trader with a good track record” (click here for Barron’s profile 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, 17.59% in 2014, and 24.52% in 2015.

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

 

This is Probably the Most Important Seasonal Pattern of 2018

Seasonality is one of 4 key indicators we analyze (the other 3 are: Money flow, technicals, and investor sentiment). Out of many seasonal patterns, this is probably the most important one for all of 2018.

The 2018 S&P 500 Forecast (part of the Profit Radar Report) highlighted this seasonal pattern (and chart):

“2018 is a mid-term year (based on the 4-year presidential election year cycle. Historically, stocks rally from the mid-year (2018) low to the pre-election year (2019) high (on average 50%). The average S&P 500 gain over the last 5 cycles was 36.8% (see chart for individual cycle gains).

Historically (going back to 1950), stocks fall about 20% into the mid-term (2018) low. The average S&P 500 loss from the preceding high to the mid-term low over the last 5 cycles was 18.41%. However, the 2002 loss was unusually large (34.54%). Excluding 2002, the average loss over the last 4 cycles was 14.38%.”

Barron’s rates iSPYETF as “trader with a good track record” and Investor’s Business Daily says: “When Simon says, the market listens.” Find out why Barron’s and IBD endorse Simon Maierhofer’s Profit Radar Report.

From the January high to the February low, the S&P 500 lost as much as 12.26%.

This is close to the average loss of 14.38% mentioned above.

Based on this seasonal pattern, we should be looking for two developments:

1. A buyable bottom
2. A multi-month rally

Continuous updates will be available via the Profit Radar Report.

Simon Maierhofer is the founder of iSPYETF and the publisher of the Profit Radar Report. Barron’s rated iSPYETF as a “trader with a good track record” (click here for Barron’s profile 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, 17.59% in 2014, and 24.52% in 2015.

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 Update

The February 11 Profit Radar Report featured the chart below and stated that: “Based on Elliott Wave Theory, wave 3 is followed by wave 4, which is where we are currently at. Waves 4 are generally choppy, range-bound, long-winded, unpredictable corrections that retrace ideally 38.2% of the preceding wave 3. The 38.2% Fibonacci retracement level is at 2,536 (reached on Friday). In terms of price, wave 4 has already reached its down side target. In terms of time, wave 4 would be unusually short.”

After hitting 2,536 on February 9, the S&P 500 rallied as projected by this chart shown in the February 8 Profit Radar Report (Tuesday’s high at 2,789 was a bit higher than outlined in the last S&P 500 update).

Barron’s rates iSPYETF as “trader with a good track record” and Investor’s Business Daily says: “When Simon says, the market listens.” Find out why Barron’s and IBD endorse Simon Maierhofer’s Profit Radar Report.

It is possible to count 5 waves up from the February 9 low to the February 27 high.

A 5-wave rally is always followed by a pullback, that’s why the February 25 Profit Radar Report mentioned the possibility of a ‘false breakout.’ The chart below shows the wave labels and common Fibonacci retracement support levels (particularly applicable for scenario #1).

Bigger Picture

The two charts below outline how the rally from the February 9 low and the decline from the February 27 high may fit into the bigger picture.

Scenario #1 assumes that wave 4 completed on February 9. The rally from February 9 – 27 is wave 1 of wave 5. Wave 2 of wave 5 is now underway (see hourly chart for common retracement levels for waves 2).

Scenario #2 projects an ongoing, choppy wave 4 correction and eventual retest of the February panic low.

Both scenarios have a common denominator: New highs once the correction is complete. The shape of the decline should tell us which scenario we’re dealing with.

Summary

Barring a low-odd waterfall decline, the weight of evidence suggests a buy the dip approach.

Continued updates with down side targets are available via the Profit Radar Report.

Simon Maierhofer is the founder of iSPYETF and the publisher of the Profit Radar Report. Barron’s rated iSPYETF as a “trader with a good track record” (click here for Barron’s profile 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, 17.59% in 2014, and 24.52% in 2015.

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