Trader’s Narrative

You’ve probably already noticed this since the pattern completed in late July and early August. In case you haven’t, the Philadelphia Banking index (BKX) has carved out a fairly decent reverse head and shoulder formation:

Of course, the technical pattern in the above chart mirrors the one visible in other sectors as well as the general S&P 500 index itself. No surprise there since most stocks take their cue from the major index, rising and falling like the tide.

The one fly in the ointment is the left shoulder (see red exclamation mark on chart). Although the left shoulder is fully formed, I’d prefer to see a more symmetrical one to the right shoulder. That would have only been possible if the year end rally would have taken the Banking index a bit higher to reach the neckline. So it isn’t a picture perfect inverse head and shoulder pattern.

Back in June I mentioned that the financial sector was losing relative strength and the baton had been passed to the Semiconductor Index (SOX). Since then the banks have continued to lag the S&P 500 and the tech sector has been the engine of the stock market.

We’ve got considerable resistance ahead at the 50 level (on the BKX). But the measured move target is 74 - which takes us to the next significant support/resistance level. Needless to say, the reverse head and shoulder formation is the quintessential reversal pattern in technical analysis.

The market is full of cycles. Some are fast and others like the inter-relationship between the small capitalization and the large capitalization subset play out at a glacial pace:

The stock market seems to go through these slow, vast cycles between large caps and small caps and they usually last about 5 years. Most surprisingly, they resemble a sine wave - with some noise thrown in - which is surprisingly orderly and predictable.

But we seem to be in a rare exception right now when the market can’t make up its mind who is winning and who is losing. Since 2005 we’ve been in a holding pattern with the ratio of small caps relative to large caps around the same level as 1994.

This is around the area where small caps have given up the fight and large caps taken over. Going back 30+ years the ratio topped out higher than this level (approximately 0.80) in 1984. So based on historical precedent, we should see large caps take the stage for the next few years.

The real question though is what does it mean? I’ve turned it over but I can’t detect any edge from this slow back and forth cycle. Especially for timing the market.

Having an idea of where we are in the over all scheme of things may be helpful if you’re going to go long one and short the other but it doesn’t seem to be all that helpful when you’re simply asking if it is a good time to short or go long either market by itself.

For example, while 1991 was a trough, it corresponded to the start of a period of years where the S&P 500 did quite well. But in 1994 where the ratio topped, that was arguably also a good time to buy. And then finally, in 1999 and 2000 when the ratio was pushed down again, that was not a good time to be invested in the market going forward.

Here’s a short video from Adam Hewison going over the intra-day 15 minute chart of the S&P 500 Index (SPX). Watch it, then read my comments below:

As Adam mentions this is a very common pattern. The way I would trade it would be to go short as price comes back up from below to the resistance level (the level which used to be support but was broken to the downside).

The all important stop loss - never forget it! - would be placed in the middle of the two extremes, say around 835. And the target, as mentioned in the video would be 812.

My logic is that a breakdown rarely happens without a retracement. So I’m trying to enter into this shallow retracement, which may even take price above the new resistance line. But if the double top is valid, then price will break down anew. As well, I would be short because of all the myriad reasons I’ve outlined in the past few days on where the market is right now. I’m assuming you’ve kept up with the required reading

How would you play this? where would you enter, long or short? and where would your stop loss and targets be?

If you’re interested in patterns, then check out “The Great New Pattern“. And GNP with another specific example (VNT).

Trading is basically about finding and exploiting patterns which don’t change. Why don’t they change? Because we humans, as participants and creators of the market, don’t change.

While the general market, tracked by large indices like the S&P 500 (SPX), fell to lower levels than late last year, there are pockets of strength in some sectors. One sector that is showing surprising strength is the seminconductors:

Not only has it put in a higher low, it is close to breaking out in its relative strength chart (compared to the S&P 500) - not to be confused with RSI. As well, the 50 day moving average is flat, with prices well above it. The only downside is that the longer term, 200 day moving average, is still barreling down at a good clip and about to smack it around the 255-260 price level. Also, according to the internal measures of the sector, it is just too extended.

Here’s a closer look at the breadth within the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX):

Notice the cluster of data points where 90% of stocks in the sector have closed above their 10 day moving average. Not only is this very rare, it is unsustainable. Especially as the general market is similarly over extended and catching its breath. While things look much better here, as prices levitate out of the abyss and extend up and away, it isn’t a good idea from a risk/reward view to start buying here. This is where the smart money starts to unload the positions they built during the darkest hours.

There are a few other sectors in a similar technical position. For example, take a look at the AMEX Broker Dealer Index (XBD). From an optimists perspective, all of this points to a gradual rebuilding of the market - not a new bull market! But when the generals that lead the charge are tired, it is time for a pause. From a pessimists perspective, the bear market rally has exhausted itself and the brutal reality of a continuing bear market is about to reassert itself.

Final chance to get in on the book giveaway: Hedge Fund Operational Due Diligence
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At the beginning of the year, fueled by a cocktail of optimism and the famed Santa Claus rally, the market reached for the sky. I pointed out the decade high in the McClellan Oscillator and suggeted that the extremes in this breadth indicator meant that the gravity defying rally was about to lose momentum.

Vin referred to this post recently and requested an update, along with a chart of the S&P 500 index for comparison. Here is the most recent chart of the McClellan Oscillator (ratio adjusted) for the Nasdaq:

And a comparison of the chart with the S&P 500 index (SPX):

I’ve marked the few times in recent history when the McClellan Oscillator has reached an extreme high and how that corresponded with a swing high in the S&P 500 index. Along with the hint that we are again at a peak, is an indication from the McClellan Oscillator of the increased volatility we’re going through in today’s stock market. Exciting to live through and lucrative to trade but leaves your teeth rattled.

In the end, whether this is just another bear market rally or the end of the bear market remains to be seen. But even if it is the latter, don’t expect the market to just rocket higher from here. A realistic scenario would have the market embark on a slow, healing process where we take two steps forward and one step back.