Saturday 21 May 2016

Weekend update - US weekly indexes

It was a somewhat mixed week for US equity indexes, with net weekly changes ranging from -0.2% (Dow), +0.3% (sp'500), to +2.2% (Transports). Near term outlook offers further weakness to at least sp'2000/1990, if not a very valid H/S target of the 1970/60s.


Lets take our regular look at six of the main US indexes

sp'500


A minor net weekly gain of 5pts (0.3%), settling at 2052. Most notable, another lower high.. with a lower low, as the key lows of 2040/39, and 33 were decisively broken.

2025 is recognised by a fair few as 'market critical'... although that could be endlessly argued over. What should be clear... the market has been quietly cooling from the April 20th high of 2111. Price action remains very choppy.

Underlying MACD (blue bar histogram) cycle ticked lower for a fourth week. At the current rate, there will be a bearish cross in the last week of May... or first week of June. By definition, that will be the first realistic opportunity for a powerful move lower.

Best guess: near term downside to the 1990/1960 zone... before another bounce of 3-4%.... and then the first big move lower. 

Unless equity bulls can break back into the 2100s, they have little reason to be confident, and should instead be concerned about a down wave that should (at minimum) be equivalent in scale to Jan'2016 and Aug'2015.
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Nasdaq comp'


The tech' saw a net gain of 51pts (1.1%), settling at 4769. The giant psy' level of 5K remains extremely powerful resistance, and unless the equity bulls can break above it, they should be concerned of an eventual break lower. First big target is the 4400/4200 zone.


Dow


The mighty Dow settled lower for the fourth consecutive week, with a notable lower high.. and lower low. The opex close of 17500 was somewhat natural. Equity bulls should be desperate to re-take the 18K threshold, whilst bears should be seeking an eventual break of 17K. First downside target is 16K, and then the Aug' 2015 low of 15370.


NYSE comp'


The master index saw a minor net weekly gain of 0.2%, settling at 10250. First support remains the big 10K threshold. If that fails to hold - as seems probable, an eventual capitulation low around 8K seems viable.


R2K


The second market leader - R2K, settled net higher by 9pts (0.9%) at 1112. Like other indexes, despite the gain, there was a notable lower high.. and lower low. First big target in June is the 1K threshold. Best case downside is the 875/850 zone, a price level not seen since late 2012.


Trans


The 'old leader' - Trans, saw the strongest gains this week, +164pts (2.2%) at 7671. The 8K threshold is very strong resistance, and equity bulls are going to struggle to break any higher into end month/early June. First downside target is 7K. If that fails to hold, the lower bollinger offers fast downside to the 6600s.. which is currently around 13% lower.
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Summary

So... net weekly gains for 5 of 6 indexes, with only the Dow seeing a minor decline.

Most notable, most indexes saw a lower high.. and lower low... and that is pretty bearish.

Price structure, and also style of price action, is very similar to that seen across Nov/Dec' 2015.

An eventual sig' break lower looks due, with the lower weekly bollinger currently offering the sp'1840s... and that is a clear 10% lower.


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Looking ahead

M -
T - PMI manu', New home sales, Richmond Fed'
W - Intl' trade, EIA report
T - weekly jobs, Durable Goods Orders, PMI serv, Pending home sales
F - GDP (rev'1), consumer sent', corp' profits

*there is a light sprinkling of fed officials on the loose, notably Bullard - who is touring Asia. Yellen is due at Harvard on Friday... but the appearance is to receive an award (for service to the printing industry?), and I don't expect any policy remarks to be made.

**Monday May'30th is Memorial day - where the US market will be CLOSED. So.. the Friday before will be increasingly subdued.
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.... back on Monday.... but as noted in the previous post, things will be different.

Permabear Space

US equities ended the week on a moderately positive note, sp +12pts @ 2052, which made for a minor net weekly gain of 5pts (0.3%). Despite the gain, the market remains highly vulnerable to a significant move lower, the third since the May 20'th 2015 high of 2134.72.


sp'weekly1b



sp'monthly1b



Summary

re: weekly1b: a minor net weekly gain of 5pts (0.3), settling at 2052. Most notable, a lower high... and lower low. First resistance is the 10MA... around 2060. A break back into the 2100s looks out of range, not least as the market is (mistakenly) now under the belief the Fed might raise rates in June (or July)... and there is the looming BREXIT vote of course.

re: monthly1b: a May close under the 10MA - currently 2014, should be a target for those equity bears seeking major market upset in June.. and perhaps across many months ahead. It not absolutely essential.. but it sure would help instill some confidence!
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Permabear Space

Four years ago I started this blog, having originated from the ERX board on Yahoo! finance. The only intention was to post once a week. Naturally, being the obsessive person that I am, it soon spiralled to eleven posts a day.

As of this post, I'm at 11,020, which is a pretty bizarre thought.

I have endeavoured to strike a balance between the 'end of the world' crowd at Zerohedge, and the cheerleaders of clown finance TV. Despite being self-titled 'Permabear Doomster, I think I've managed to achieve something more balanced than either of them.





Like the lead character in the movie Office Space, I don't want to have any bosses ever again. Nor do I want to do the daily commute ever again.

The point is... I want to do this for the long term.... a writer... and a trader.

I simply don't want, and can't imagine doing anything else. If I'm to continue though for many years to come, I need to derive at least some income to justify it.

If you think I'm worth around $1 a day... then subscribe to me. See HERE for details


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Posts from next Monday

Subscribers @ http://subscriber.permabeardoomster.com

Will have access to everything normally posted here from 8.30am into the late evening.

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For those that don't wish to subscribe...

I will post after each trading @ http://permabeardoomster.blogspot.com, with a 'Daily wrap' - compromising of a few indexes, the VIX, and probably some other miscell' bits and pieces.

The weekend post will also remain here.
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For me, this is a major change, and a personal risk (although arguably less risky than being margin long the US equity market this summer/autumn). I sincerely hope some of you choose to subscribe in the days ahead.

Goodnight from London
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*the weekend post will appear at 5pm EST, and will detail the US weekly indexes

Daily Index Cycle update

US equities closed broadly higher, sp +12pts @ 2052 (intra high 2058). The two leaders - Trans/R2K, settled higher by 1.1% and 1.1% respectively. Near term outlook offers another rollover, with the recent low of 2025 set to be tested. If that fails to hold... open air to 2000/1990s.. if not the H/S target of 1970/60s.


sp'daily5b



Trans



Summary

sp'500: the fourth consecutive day under the 50dma, with a failed attempt to break/hold the key 10MA. A renewed push lower looks due.. first soft target - the Thurs' low of 2025, and then 2000/1990s. The bigger H/S scenario is highly suggestive of the 1970/60s.

Trans: it is highly notable that the 'old leader', remains sustainably below the 50/200 day MAs. Next support is the 7200/7000 zone.

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a little more later