S&P 500 – The Ideal Path

The S&P 500 has been following the yellow projection published in the May 13 Profit Radar Report. The original projection along with updated price is shown below, the original May 13 Profit Radar Report update is available here.

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KISS

Moving forward, here is a very simple approach: Lase week, the S&P 500 broke below long-term black trend channel support. This support is now resistance (around 2,830). Additional resistance is provided by last week’s low (2,801).

While below 2,801 – 2,830 we are looking for more weakness.

A move above resistance could unlock a rally to about 2,900, which would likely be an excellent opportunity to go short.

Longer-term Projection

The projection below was published in the April 28 Profit Radar Report. It shows two different paths:

1. Black labels: Wave B of 4 ended at May 1 high. Wave C of 4 is now underway. Ultimate Wave C target is around the December 2018 low. Once complete, wave 5 will carry the S&P to new highs.

1. Outlined in purple is an expanding triangle formation (this formation looks better in the DJIA, but is projected using the S&P 500), where the May decline is wave E. Completion of wave E will be followed by new highs. It’s important to note that wave E does not have to drop as low as illustrated.

Regardless of the final path, here are two key takeaways:

1. For now the down side risk is potentially significant
2. Price and momentum studies strongly suggest that – once this correction is over – stocks will rally to new all-time highs.

Summary

While below resistance, we are looking for new lows. Once the S&P 500 reaches our next down side target (and inflection point), we’ll gauge how big of a bounce may develop.

Down side targets, bounce potential, and any curveballs 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 evaluation 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, 24.52% in 2015, 52.26% in 2016, and 23.39% in 2017.

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S&P 500 Update

Last week, the Profit Radar Report stated that: “We would be interested to buy if the S&P 500 drops below 2,810 and subsequently rallies back above 2,830. Although we don’t know how much the S&P would rally, we want to have some skin in the game.”

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.

Considering that the S&P closed at 2,891.31 last Friday, a buy limit at 2,810 seemed ridiculous, but Monday saw the S&P drop 90 points.

Here is why 2,810 was an important level to watch:

• Long-term trend channel support (going back to 2009)

• Short-term trend channel support

On Monday (May 13), S&P 500 Futures briefly dipped below and right away snapped back above the lower trend channel line (at 2,810, green arrow). This price pattern along with the bullish RSI-35 divergence suggested some kind of low was struck.

Based on Elliott Wave Theory, this bounce should run into trouble somewhere around 2,900.

Price and momentum studies are not nearly as bearish as Elliott Wave Theory, so stocks could also move higher than expected.

The elevated CBOE Equity Put/Call Ratio (5-day SMA currently at 0.76, see chart above) certainly allows for further up-side (readings above 0.7 are generally seen near lows).

Regardless of the longevity of this bounce, the reversal at the long-and short-term trend channels at 2,810 provided an opportunity to gain some exposure at low prices (our actual buying price ended up being 2,820.21), which is better than being tempted to chase price at higher and riskier levels.

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 evaluation 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, 24.52% in 2015, 52.26% in 2016, and 23.39% in 2017.

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

 

5 Tempting High Reward S&P 500 Sector ETF Setups

If you like team sports, you know that a team may win even though some of its players had a bad day, or vice versa.

Just as a team is made up of individual players, the S&P 500 is comprised of individual sectors. Not all sectors perform at the same level at the same time, in fact, some may boom while others bust.

Here is a look at some sector ETF setups (boom and bust, ripe and stale):

Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV)

The April 17 Profit Radar Report noted that the following about XLV:

“The health care sector represented by XLV has taken a beating, too. XLV dropped to the lowest level since January 4, and sentiment has become extremely bearish. Purely based on sentiment, when there was so much pessimism, XLV has rallied over the next month 90% of the time, with an average gain of 5%. Seasonality is positive for the next month as well.

Aside from the green bar, there’s no ‘must hold’ support level, but RSI-2 is over-sold. We are committing a small amount to buying XLV below 86.”

We bought XLV when it dipped below 86 on April 18, and sold XLV when it became over-bought and reached the 5% average gain threshold at 90.50 and May 6.

XLV is now in neutral territory, and the setup has become stale.

Real Estate Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLRE)

The April 14 Profit Radar Report featured the chart below and stated:

“The Real Estate Select Sector SPDR (XLRE) looks interesting. 3 support and resistance levels meet up to form resistance at 36.80 on Wednesday. Price is wedging higher with a small bearish divergence. Based on the wedge, the down side risk is significant if price fails to hold support. For now, we will go short if XLRE moves above 36.85 and subsequently drops below 36.50.”

Unfortunately XLRE missed my sell limited by 15 cents. After a sizeable drop, XLRE bounced from support, but a break below that support (around 35) is likely to unlock the next down side target. The potential down side risk could be significant, partially because XLRE’s sector ‘cousin’ may be in trouble.

SPDR S&P 500 Homebuilders ETF (XHB)

The May 5 Profit Radar Report pointed out that: “The SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF (XHB) is wedging higher, and close to wedge resistance and general resistance with a bearish RSI-35 divergence. In terms of seasonality, May and June are the worst months for XHB. We will short XHB if it spikes above 41.80 and subsequently moves below 41.70 (stop-loss at day’s high). Considering futures, XHB may open lower tomorrow, and we may consider to go short on a drop below 40.70.”

XHB fell below lower wedge support, which unlocks significant down side potential. RSI-2 is near over-sold, and a bounce is possible. In fact, any bounce that gets close to the broken purple trend line (such a re-test of previously broken support is often a ‘kiss good-bye’) would be another low-risk set up to go short.

Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLU)

March 27 Profit Radar Report:

“The utility sector (represented by XLU) rallied to new all-time highs with more than 80% of its components at a 52-week high..

In addition, XLU was rejected by trend line resistance. Additional trend channel resistance is around 59.50. Support is around 58.20 and 57.20. There was a bearish RSI-35 divergence on the daily chart.

Based on technicals and statistics, shorting XLU has high odds of being profitable. Unfortunately XLU seasonality is very bullish for March/April. 

XLU could move a bit higher, but we will leg into a short position now (and will probably add more if it moves higher). There is no good inverse utility ETF, so we will short XLU above 58.40.”

XLU is making slow down side progress, but it’s not been able to move below support around 57 – 56.75. A move below support could unlock further down side, but immediate down side may be limited due to a near over-sold RSI-2.

PHLX Semiconductor Index (SOX)

The PHLX Semiconductor Index is often the ‘MVP’ that drives the ‘team’ to more gains (or vice versa). SOX is at a convergence of support (black trend channel and green trend line). If bulls are going to make a stand, it would be here. If not, the next stop is around 1,440.

Continued sector and stock market analysis 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 evaluation 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, 24.52% in 2015, 52.26% in 2016, and 23.39% in 2017.

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

Comprehensive S&P 500 Update

Short-term S&P 500 Analysis

In the April 7 Profit Radar Report I introduced a very simple approach to analyzing the S&P 500. See chart and commentary below:

“Red trend line resistance has held thus far, and has not become main stream enough to be negated. Green trend line is near-term support. An immediate break above trend line resistance may lead to closure of the open chart gap (2,921.36).”

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.

Troughout April, the S&P has been clinging to the red trend line like a tourist hooked to a zip line. Chart gaps are not reversal levels, but they are like magnets, and once that gap was filled on April 17, there was one less reason for the S&P to move higher.

The April 14 Profit Radar Report warned that: “Technicals do not indicate an immediate break down, and trade may continue to grind higher. However, any gains are likely to be slow and choppy, and risk of a drop lower – where a one-day drop can erase days or weeks of gains – exists.”

Longer-term S&P Analysis

The first few trading days of May basically almost all of April’s gains. But more importantly, prior to the May drop, the S&P 500 actually reached a new all-time high.

This new high was the minimum requirement outlined in my 2019 S&P 500 Projection (published in the 2019 S&P 500 Forecast, see below).

Why was a new all-time high ‘required?’ As explained in the 2019 S&P 500 Forecast, there were not enough bearish divergences for a major market top at the September 2018 high, and no bullish divergences at the December 2018 low.

New all-time highs – as projected – were the only possible way to reconcile those indicators.

Even though the S&P has reached the minimum requirement before a larger (and quite possibly nasty) pullback, the yellow projection carries the S&P 500 to trend line resistance around 3,000.

My preferred scenario was featured in the May 1 Profit Radar Report (see below). Based on this scenario, the S&P would drop to 2,890 – 2,865 (in wave 4) and rally towards 3,000 (in wave 5).

Why is this my preferred scenario? Because waves 4 (especially when comparatively long-winded) tend to drag down high breadth and momentum readings (seen at wave 3 highs), which creates the bearish divergences usually seen at the wave 5 top (although the upcoming top should be noteworthy, I don’t expect this to be a major market top).

There was a bearish RSI divergence at the April 30 closing high, which could be enough for a sizeable drop, but a more pronounced set of divergences at higher prices would be a clearer signal.

Summary

The expected down side risk became reality, and the S&P may continue lower, but the 2,890 – 2,865 zone is where a rally to about 3,000 may start. How big is the eventual down side risk is one of many questions answered in continuous Profit Radar Report updates. You may take the Profit Radar Report for a ‘test drive’ here.

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 evaluation 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, 24.52% in 2015, 52.26% in 2016, and 23.39% in 2017.

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

New S&P 500 Highs Reduce Long-term Bear Market Risk to Zero

Yes, this is a pretty bold headline, but it’s not just a sensationalistic attention grabber, it’s simply the result of my research.

I published a similar article before in February 2016, when the S&P 500 traded below 1,900. The title then was: 2016 Bear Market Risk is Zero Based on this Rare but Consistent Pattern

In fact, a pattern similar to February 2016 played out in January of this year (discussed here: Is the ‘Bear Market’ Already Over?)

But the reason for this bullish long-term article is the new S&P 500 all-time high, not a breadth thrust from the low (as in February 2016 and January 2019). Here is why this is bullish:

Bullish ‘Round Trip’

Last week’s new S&P closing high completed a tumultuous round trip: A 20% drop sandwiched by two all-time highs in 146 days (see chart below).

Since 1928, something similar (at least a 14% drop sandwiched by all-time highs) has only happened 12 other times, 6 of those occurred since 1980 and are listed in the table below (the table includes the 2018 round trip, although it was only 10.16%).

‘Round Trip’ Implications

The stat is interesting, but does it mean anything? Yes, it does.

As the right column (table above) shows, 1 year after the S&P eclipsed its prior all-time high, it was higher every time, on average 12.66%.

The chart below shows the average performance for the year following the day when the S&P 500 fully recovered its prior losses (based on the data shown in table).

Based on the average trajectory, the first 80 trading days (about 4 month) after the all-time high tended to be choppy, but price action is outright bullish thereafter.

Odds of a deep but temporary S&P 500 pullback in the 3,000 range are high.

Price studies like this are just one of many indicators that go into the Profit Radar Report’s market forecasts. If you have only a few minutes every week to become the best-informed investor you know, you’ll enjoy the Profit Radar Report. Take a test drive now.

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 evaluation 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, 24.52% in 2015, 52.26% in 2016, and 23.39% in 2017.

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