Stock indexes inch higher near measured targets

Market Snapshot for session ending 2-28-12:

Market Overview – What We Know:

• S&P 500 and NASDAQ Composite rallied to new short to intermediate-term highs Tuesday. Despite small gains, Dow Jones Industrials and Value Line Composite did not.
• Trading volume shrank by nearly 3% in S&P 500 Tuesday.
• All indexes remain within range of upside measured move targets as calculated from October 2011 lows and via potential “Ascending Wedge” price patterns possibly initiated after October lows.
• Most Actives Advance Decline Line (MAAD) was positive Tuesday by 15 to 4 and hit new short to intermediate-term high at best levels since early 2008.
• Daily MAAD Ratio was last moving upward from “Neutral.” MAAD Weekly Ratio remains toward “Overbought” territory.
• Weakness below lower edge of 10-Day Price Channel (1348.89 / S&P 500 --Wednesday) would suggest beginning of end of Minor Cycle trend in effect since December low (1202.37 / S&P 500).
• Cumulative Volume (CV) in both S&P 500 and S&P Emini hit new short-term high Tuesday. But on longer-term, CV in S&P 500 remains about 35% below 2011 highs while CV in S&P Emini is nearly 50% below similar level.
• Daily CPFL made a new short-term high Tuesday.

Note: Stop levels, a function of the extant trend, are based on the trailing moving average price channels for the Highs or the Lows of an index. Whether or not a specific index is suggesting a “Buy” or Sell” is determined by whether or not index prices are above or below the current channel Stop levels. Stop levels should only be used as an entry or exit guide and in conjunction with other market entry and exit strategies.

Market Overview – What We Think:

• So long as short-term trend remains positive, we can only continue to make calculated “guesses” as to there that trend will end. If price pattern developing since October proves to be Ascending Wedge, then index prices are within range of peaking. If not, longer-term trend comes into play and we will have to recalibrate.
• If short-term trend ends sooner than later, extent to which smaller cycle fades will determine staying power of larger Intermediate Cycle and by extension, Major Cycle.
• Fact that Daily MAAD continues to work higher is indication Smart Money has been playing recent rally. Fact that larger Weekly MAAD has not mimicked Daily MAAD is a concern, however, since both cycles must be in synch ultimately to confirm positive longer-term move.
• Short-term pullback must soon develop or our suggestion market has been tracing out a-b-c rally via a bearish “ascending wedge” chart pattern since October lows could become problematic.

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