Oversold intermediate cycle gains upward momentum

Market Snapshot for session ending 10-10-11:

 

Last

Day Change

%Change

S&P 500 Index

1194.89

+39.43

+3.41%

Dow Jones Industrials

11433.18

+330.08

+2.97%

NASDAQ Composite

2566.05

+86.69

+3.50%

Value Line Arithmetic Index

2537.69

+94.11

+3.85%

Minor Cycle
(Short-term trend lasting days to a few weeks)
Positive

Intermediate Cycle
(Medium trend lasting weeks to several months)
Neutral / Positive

Major Cycle
(Long-term trend lasting several months to years)
Negative / Neutral

Market Overview – What We Know:

  • Intermediate Cycle gained further credibility Monday when all of major indexes extended short-term rally with strong gains.
  • But trading volume shrank due to lighter than normal holiday activity. Volume in S&P 500 diminished by nearly 21%.
  • Cumulative Volume was higher in both S&P 500 and S&P Emini futures contract, but was somewhat weaker on a cumulative percentage basis than prices due to same holiday activity.
  • Short-term Momentum moved into positive territory Monday along with our two proprietary Trading Oscillators. All three could soon develop "Overbought" readings on Minor Cycle, however.
  • Intermediate Cycle remains "Oversold" and in zone of opportunity.
  • Major Cycle Momentum remains marginally negative in all of major indexes.
  • Daily MAAD was higher Monday with plots breaking up through small downtrend connecting August 31 and September 15 plot highs. Indicator on daily cycle would have to add nearly 75 positive issues to overcome intermediate downtrend stretching back to February 2011 plot highs.
  • CPFL was positive Monday, but indicator remains in defined downtrend stretching back to late February plot highs.

Market Overview – What We Think:

  • Odds have substantially increased that Intermediate Cycle decline initiated after May highs (1370.58—S&P 500) is over and that further net buying could erase deeply "Oversold" intermediate-term conditions.
  • With gains above 10-day Price Channel high (1167.62—S&P 500) Monday, and defined downtrend line (1178—S&P), little resistance remains between current levels and August 31 resistance high (1230.71—S&P).
  • Until Upside Volume kicks in to confirm price strength, our Cumulative Volume series could remain anemic while suggesting doubt as to ongoing viability of rally.
  • There is also issue of substantial "Overhead" resistance stretching up to May highs that begins at breakdown level of Head and Shoulders Top formed between February and late July with a "Neckline" breakdown point, now major resistance, toward 1255.
  • In a nutshell, progress of Intermediate Cycle will depend on market’s ability to overcome and absorb resistance in weeks just ahead as "Oversold" conditions are eliminated. If market ultimately proves unable to get past major resistance as new "Overbought" conditions on Intermediate Cycle develop, market’s Major Cycle bearish flavor could persist.

Click charts to enlarge

Next page: Indicator review

We are also updating the daily chart of both the Call/Put Dollar Value Flow Line (CPFL) and Most Actives Advance/Decline Line (MAAD) indicators every day and providing the most recent raw data so you can begin to plot the indicators on your own (see below). The weekly equity index indicator summary provides longer-term commentary based on these indicators.

The definitions of the indicators along with links to the original stories provide helpful background. Also, Robert describes these indicators in a recent I-Trade show presentation available online.

Click charts to enlarge

MAAD data for past 30 days*               CPFL data for past 30 Days

Date

NYSE Adv

NYSE Dec

Date

OEX Call $Volume

OEX Put $Volume

8-29-11

20

0

8-29-11

75779

81438

8-30-11

9

9

8-30-11

46659

65396

8-31-11

13

6

8-31-11

32768

84508

9-1-11

4

16

9-1-11

22993

85196

9-2-11

0

20

9-2-11

40576

99268

9-6-11

3

16

9-6-11

52088

82703

9-7-11

18

2

9-7-11

59474

60854

9-8-11

3

17

9-8-11

22064

52542

9-9-11

1

18

9-9-11

40071

124636

9-12-11

11

9

9-12-11

55845

77322

9-13-11

14

5

9-13-11

52584

63492

9-14-11

17

3

9-14-11

80682

68721

9-15-11

18

2

9-15-11

105735

29793

9-16-11

10

10

9-16-11

201966

76148

9-19-11

4

16

9-19-11

41680

45169

9-20-11

5

15

9-20-11

28947

52027

9-21-11

1

19

9-21-11

16580

56439

9-22-11

1

19

9-22-11

43737

189046

9-23-11

15

5

9-23-11

36209

75962

9-26-11

16

4

9-26-11

38003

64487

9-27-11

16

4

9-27-11

61643

101582

9-28-11

0

20

9-28-11

17255

67111

9-29-11

15

5

9-29-11

40247

64690

9-30-11

0

20

9-30-11

29615

157176

10-3-11

1

19

10-3-11

31140

119159

10-4-11

17

3

10-4-11

135619

162696

10-5-11

18

1

10-5-11

62550

58171

10-6-11

19

1

10-6-11

51849

35141

10-7-11

5

15

10-7-11

41682

84455

10-10-11

18

2

10-10-11

74206

70175

*Note: Unchanged issues are not counted.

Robert McCurtain is a technical analyst/market timer, private investor and financial markets consultant based in New York City. He is a member of the Market Technicians Association and can be reached at traderbob@nyc.rr.com.

If you would like to read more about how the CPFL is constructed, read a Futures article on the concept. This link will take you to the MAAD article.

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