S&P 500 on Schedule into Inflection Zone


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It’s been a while since the last Free Market update, but no updates were required as the market continues to follow my ‘keep it simple’ blueprint (almost like painting by numbers).

The complexity of current world events confuses many analysts and investors. I try to ‘de-confuse’ and simplify this incredibly complex environment … and the market is allowing me to do this (it’s not always this way).

The November 13, Profit Radar Report outlined our most recent ‘keep it simple’ blueprint:

Chart gaps at 4,083.67 and 4,218.70 remain open. The next serious resistance zone is around 4,100. Short-term support is around 3,900. A pullback can happen any moment and price action may well be choppy in coming days/weeks, but odds of further gains following pullbacks are good.”

The blue box pinpoints the price action since November 13. Within a choppy environment, the S&P 500 first tested support around 3,900 and today closed the open chart gap (dashed purple line) at 4,083.67. Resistance around 4,100 is just ahead.

What caused this rally to 4,100? “Seasonality and the weight of evidence favor higher prices, which is our base assumption,” is what I told subscribers weeks ago.

There was also an absolute investor sentiment oddity, which I first pointed out in the November 9, Profit Radar Report: “According to the CBOE, the equity put/call ratio soared to 1.30 yesterday, which is an absolute panic reading that even exceeds the COVID extreme. If this data is correct, it should be a positive for price.”

The fifth graph in the chart below shows the bullish (for stocks) put/call ratio extreme, which means that option traders panicked more in the second half of November than at the 2020 meltdown low. Hard to believe, but that’s the CBOE data. The spike in the CBOE SKEW (blue graph) sent a similar message.

What’s next though?

The weight of evidence and seasonality are still supportive of higher prices, but something changed: The S&P 500 has now reached an important resistance and inflection zone.

This is a price zone where risk management takes on a more important role and prudent investors should consider reducing exposure or setting stop-losses below support.

Inflection zones are like traffic lights, they don’t have to be red, but if a car is going to have to stop, it’s likely at a traffic light.

King dollar … de-crowned?

Since September 28, when the US Dollar Index hit a 20+ year high, the USD dropped from 114.7 to 105. On that day, September 28, I happened to share the following chart and warning via the Profit Radar Report:

The US Dollar Index has been on a tear, rising almost vertically. Normally I would draw ‘bowl’ support (previously used to predict major drops for TSLA and Bitcoin, see January 10, 2021 PRR), but currencies are prone to trend longer than equities. For this reason, the USD should be given a longer leash, but the parabolic rise combined with trend channel resistance suggests that at minimum a temporary pause and/or pullback is getting close and chasing the USD carries a fair amount of risk.”

Price got repelled by one trend channel and is now also trading below the other trend channel (currently at 107.5). This is now resistance and as long as price stays below resistance it can continue to work lower.

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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.

 

Dollar, Euro, Gold Update

Dollar Update

The January 2 Profit Radar Report published this chart and long-term US Dollar Index forecast:

The US Dollar Index could be at or near the end of a 5 ½ year rally. As per Elliott Wave Theory, it is possible to count 5 waves up from the May 2011 low. There are bearish divergences at the December highs, and investor sentiment is in favor of a lower dollar. We are alert for a potential multi-month US dollar decline.”

As it turns out, the US Dollar Index actually peaked on January 3, and spent the next 8 months falling lower.

In August/September we were expecting a bottom, but at the time we were not sure how big of a bounce to expect.

In November it became clear that the rally from the September 8 low to the October 27 high was only 3 waves, a first indication that the dollar bounce was over (a 5-wave move higher would have marked a trend change according to Elliott Wave Theory).

The chart below reflects the most likely Elliott Wave Theory count, which projects a more significant low in early 2018.

Smart money dollar hedgers are near record long the dollar, which could lead to a more sustainable rally even before the dollar reaches new lows (a solid close above 95 prior to a new low would suggest that the wave 5 low is already in).

However, hedgers are often early and may become even more bullish in the coming weeks. The lower the dollar falls, the better the buy signal.

Corresponding long dollar ETF: PowerShares DB US Dollar Bullish Fund (UUP)

EUR/USD (Euro)

The euro (EUR/USD) generally moves in the opposite direction of the dollar.

Since the above dollar analysis provides a multi-month forecast, we’ll use the EUR/USD for a short-term outlook.

On November 14, the EUR/USD broke above the black trend channel, and re-tested that channel on November 21 (blue circle).

The November 20 Profit Radar Report said that: “The EUR/USD is near support around 1.17. This could serve as springboard for new recovery highs.”

We now expect a rally above 1.21. The gray trend channel provides some short-term support/resistance levels. Trade should not drop below 1.17.

RSI appears unlikely to confirm new highs above 1.21, which would harmonize nicely with our expectation of a larger pullback.

Smart money euro hedgers, however, are nearly record short the euro, which will draw the euro down eventually. We’d love an opportunity to short the euro above 1.21 against a bearish RSI divergence.

Corresponding inverse euro ETF: ProShares UltraShort Euro (EUO)

Corresponding euro ETF: CurrencyShares Euro Trust (FXE)

Gold

This September 28 article included a detailed long-term outlook for gold.

The October 4 Profit Radar Report said all there was to know about gold for the weeks to come: “Support for gold is at 1,245 – 1,260. Resistance is at 1,298 – 1,304. For now, gold is likely to trade between support and resistance.”

Gold is pushing the upper boundary of the outlined trading range, but thus far there’s been no breakout. Silver failed to confirm gold’s push higher, which can be a warning signal. On balance volume has been increasing, which is a positive. Nevertheless, we would view a break above 1,307 with suspicion.

Corresponding gold ETFs:
SPDR Gold Trust (GLD)
iShares Gold Trust (IAU)

Corresponding inverse gold ETFs:
ProShares UltraShort Gold (GLL)

Continued forecasts for the US Dollar, EUR/USD, gold and silver 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.

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US Dollar: How Big is the Risk of a Triple Top?

For the third time in 2016, the US Dollar and US Dollar Index Futures are above 100, and the PowerShares DB Bullish US Dollar ETF (UUP) is near 26.

How big is the risk of a triple top?

The latest US Dollar rally is in harmony with the US Dollar projection (chart below) and US Dollar forecast published in the May 15, 2016 Profit Radar Report:

Based on Elliott Wave Theory, the strong rally from May 2014 – March 2015 looks like a wave 3. The trading range since then looks like a wave 4. Upon completion of wave 4, we anticipate a wave 5 rally to new highs. The rally to new highs may well be more choppy (at least initially) than projected.”

The US Dollar has now come within tics of new recovery highs.

There are various resistance levels at 100 – 101 along with a longer-term RSI divergence. Short-term, RSI confirmed the recent price high.

In terms of seasonality, late November/December is one of the most bearish times of the year.

As illustrated by the original projection, this rally is a fifth wave. This means that the end of this rally will be followed by a sizeable correction.

Although the US Dollar may have further up side, risk is rising.

Continuous updates for the US Dollar, EUR/USD, stocks, gold, silver and other asset classes or sectors 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.

 

Could a Strengthening Dollar Sink Stocks?

On a walk down memory lane, we discover bold statements like this one – “Nobody wants toxic US dollar” – made in April 2011. Today the dollar trades 8% higher. In fact, the dollar is right above key support. Will it hold and potentially sink stocks?

According to analysts, the US dollar has been doomed ever since the Federal Reserve started QE back in 2008. Every new round of QE draws the dollar doomsday crowd out of their den. To wit, I’ve included a few headlines below:

April 8, 2011: Toxic Dollar: Why Nobody Wants US Currency – CNBC
June 15, 2011: Dollar Doomed to Drop – UBS Technical Analyst
July 28, 2011: U.S. Dollar Poised for a Plunge – Peter Schiff

But nearly five years later, the greenback is holding its ground.

It may not be the strongest currency of the global currency basket, but the US dollar today – and that may be hard to believe – is trading exactly where it was back in 2004 (dashed purple line).

Albeit choppy, since August 2011 the dollar has consistently climbed from higher lows to higher highs.

Connecting the recent lows creates obvious support (green trend line).

The US Dollar Index came within striking distance of this trend line last week.

Will Support Hold?

A trend line is called a trend line because it delineates a trend. In this case an up trend. The trend remains up as long as price stays above the trend line.

Being aware of such trend line support is important for at least two reasons:

1) The trend line makes it clear that the dollar is at a key inflection point. Key support is like a rung on a ladder. If the rung breaks, you fall. If support fails, the dollar falls. If support holds, the dollar should ‘climb up.’

2) Dollar strength or weakness is not just a currency story; it’s also an equity event. There is a correlation (see below) between movements of the US dollar and stocks. A US dollar rally may lead to falling stocks. Why?

A falling dollar is good for exports and corporate profits and therefore good for broad US indexes like the S&P 500 (SNP: ^GSPC). A rising dollar is generally bad for corporate US profits.

Based on my assessment, the odds of a sustained dollar rally are currently greater than the odds for a decline.

The PowerShares DB US Dollar ETF (NYSEArca: UUP) provides long US dollar exposure. If support fails, it may be time to look at the PowerShares DB US Dollar Bearish ETF (NYSEArca: UDN) or CurrencyShares Euro Trust (NYSEArca: FXE).

Exactly how strong is the correlation between stocks and the S&P 500 (NYSEArca: SPY)? Could a US dollar rally sink stocks?

This article about the US Dollar/Stock Correlation shows exactly what a strengthening dollar would mean for US stocks.

Simon Maierhofer is the publisher of the Profit Radar Report.

Follow Simon on Twitter @ iSPYETF