Fragile market sinks as indicator hits low for move

Market Snapshot for session ending 10-17-11:

 

Last

Day Change

%Change

S&P 500 Index

1200.86

-23.72

-1.94%

Dow Jones Industrials

11397.00

-247.49

-2.13%

NASDAQ Composite

2614.92

-52.93

-1.98%

Value Line Arithmetic Index

2553.52

-76.66

-2.91%

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

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:

  • In face of extremely “Overbought” short-term statistics, major indexes sold sharply lower Monday.
  • Trading volume in S&P 500 rose 6.2% on market weakness.
  • Upside failure in S&P 500 came in vicinity of upper edge of 10-Week Price Channel resistance at 1232.07, level that is good for the rest of this week.
  • CPFL sold down to a new low for the move and its worst level since March 3 to highlight ongoing net selling by options investors on Dollar Value basis, despite net market strength for past two weeks.
  • MAAD moved lower on Daily Cycle Monday with 4 issues up and 16 negative. Daily MAAD Ratio remains in extremely “Overbought” territory while MAAD Weekly Ratio remains “Oversold.”
  • Cumulative Volume in both S&P 500 and S&P Emini futures contract remains weaker than S&P pricing.
  • Major Cycle Momentum remains marginally negative in all of major indexes.

Market Overview – What We Think:

  • While Intermediate Cycle continues to hold toward “Oversold” territory while underscoring upside potential, “Overbought” short-term statistics could result in corrective action within context of developing Intermediate Cycle positive.
  • But weakness back toward August lows (1074.77—S&P 500) would simply underscore fact that strength over past two weeks could prove to be yet another failed short-term rally, the 6th to date since the early August lows.
  • Strength above Intermediate Cycle 10-Week Price Channel at 1232.07 would be a good sign, but ongoing upside failures toward that level would suggest sellers remain in control and that Intermediate “Oversold” readings could easily be erased with only slightly positive to neutral readings over the next several weeks.
  • In defined downtrends “Neutral” readings can equate with “Overbought in a bull trend.
  • Significant overhead looms from 1255 in S&P 500 up to May high (1370.58).
  • Fact that Cumulative Volume remains weaker than prices (S&P 500 and S&P Emini futures contract) is indicative of still unfavorable market internals.
  • Fact that CPFL sold down to another new low could be an indication that recent strength on Intermediate Cycle was premature, given fact that broad market needs positive encouragement from options indicator.

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

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

10-11-11

14

4

10-11-11

38343

54933

10-12-11

18

2

10-12-11

93491

99714

10-13-11

9

11

10-13-11

60516

60107

10-14-11

19

1

10-14-11

46075

28543

10-17-11

4

16

10-17-11

36424

91068



*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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