6/17/2011 9:48:08 AM
This expiration week has been extremely volatile. Here's what it means.
There have been some wild swings this week - and volatility has continued to grow. That's set the stage for a potential bottom and the sharp rally I've been looking for, but remember, quadrouple expiration will rule the day today and there'll be a little hangover on Monday with the Euro situation. Traders may make a move later in the day, cover shorts incase this gets resolved. But they'll tend to wait as long as they can, monitoring the situation closely and calculating a likely outcome and market responst and position accordingly.
If a sharp rally proceeds, with the energy in the market, it could be what's referred to as a 3 gap play. But I'm getting way ahead of myself. End result, it would be bullish.
Let's look at the global markets.
On the economic front, here is the schedule for this week.
On to the charts:
Stock Barometer Analysis
We remain in Buy Mode. Thursday's action put in a hammer. Today's action has given us a potential initiating gap higher - which could form part of a more aggressive move higher as Europe resolves.
The Stock Barometer is my proprietary market timing system. The direction, slope and level of the Stock Barometer determine our outlook. For example, if the barometer line is moving down, we are in Sell Mode. A Buy or Sell Signal is triggered when the indicator clearly changes direction. Trend and support can override the barometer signals.
Money Management & Stops
To trade this system, there are a few things you need to know and address to control your risk:
- This system targets intermediate term moves, of which even in the best years, there are usually only up to 7 profitable intermediate term moves. The rest of the year will be consolidating moves where this system will experience small losses and gains that offset each other.
- This system will usually result in losing trades more than 50% of the time, even in our best years. The key is being positioned properly for longer term moves when they come.
- Therefore it is vitally important that you apply some form of money management to protect your capital.
- Trading a leveraged index fund will result in more risk, since you cannot set stops and you cannot get out intraday.
Accordingly;
- Make sure you set your stops so that you can lose no more than 2% per trade (based on the QQQQ if you're trading leveraged funds and options with our trading service).
Potential Cycle Reversal Dates
2011 Potential Reversal Dates: 1/15, 1/29, 2/16, 3/10, 3/18, 4/6, 5/21, 5/31, 6/13, 6/24, 7/16, 8/1, 8/19. We publish dates up to 2 months in advance.
I added a couple more dates here. I think 7/16 to 8/1 could mark the next top, and 8/1 appears to be more significant of a date than 7/16.
My Additional timing work is based on numerous cycles and has resulted in the above potential reversal dates. These are not to be confused with the barometer signals or cycle times. However, due to their past accuracy I post the dates here.
2010 Potential Reversal Dates: 1/19, 1/28, 3/2, 3/23, 4/7, 5/30, 6/10, 6/28, 7/10, 8/13, 9/7, 10/2, 10/27, 11/21, 12/19. We publish dates up to 2 months in advance. 2009 Published Reversal Dates: 1/20, 2/11, 3/7, 3/15, 4/8, 4/16, 4/27, 5/7, 6/8, 7/2, 7/17, 9/14, 10/10, 10/24, 11/12, 11/30, 12/9, 12/21, 12/29. 2008 Potential Reversal Dates: 12/31, 1/11, 2/1, 2/13, 3/6, 4/5, 4/22, 5/23, 6/6, 6/27, 7/13, 9/2, 10/3, 10/22, 11/10, 12/11. 2007 Potential Reversal Dates: 1/10, 1/14, 1/27, 1/31, 2/3, 2/17, 3/10, 3/24, 4/21, 5/6, 6/15, 8/29, 10/19, 11/29, 12/13, 12/23, 12/31, 1/11/08. 2006 potential reversal dates: 1/16, 1/30, 2/25, 3/19, 4/8, 5/8, 5/19, 6/6(20), 7/24, 8/20, 8/29, 9/15, 10/11, 11/28. 2005 Potential reversal dates: 12/27, 1/25, 2/16, 3/4, 3/14, 3/29, 4/5, 4/19, 5/2, 6/3, 6/10, 7/13, 7/28, 8/12, 8/30-31, 9/22, 10/4, 11/15, 11/20, 12/16.
Timing Indicators
Use the following Timing/momentum indicators to assist in your trading of the QQQQ, GLD, USD, USO and TLT. They are tuned to deliver signals in line with the Stock Barometer and we use them only in determining our overall outlook for the market and for pinpointing market reversals. The level, direction, and position to the zero line are keys in these indicators. For example, direction determines mode and a buy signal 'above zero' is more bullish than a buy signal 'below zero'.
QQQQ Timing Indicator (NASDAQ:QQQQ)
The QQQQ Spread Indicator will yield its own buy and sell signals that may be different from the Stock Barometer. It's meant to give us an idea of the next turn in the market.
Gold Timing Indicator (AMEX:GLD)
Want to trade Gold? Use our signals with the Gold ETF AMEX:GLD. Gold gives us a general gage to the overall health of the US Economy and the markets.
US Dollar Index Timing Indicator (INDEX:DXY)
Want to trade the US Dollar? Use our signals with the Power Shares AMEX:UUP: US Dollar Index Bullish Fund and AMEX:UDN: US Dollar Index Bearish Fund.
Bonds Timing Indicator (AMEX:TLT)
Want to trade Bonds? Use our signals with Lehman?s 20 year ETF AMEX:TLT. The direction of bonds has an impact on the stock market. Normally, as bonds go down, stocks will go up and as bonds go up, stocks will go down.
OIL Timing Indicator (AMEX:USO)
Want to trade OIL? Use our signals with AMEX:USO, the OIL ETF. We look at the price of oil as its level and direction has an impact on the stock market.
Secondary Stock Market Timing Indicator
We daily monitor hundreds of popular and proprietary technical indicators that break down market internals, sentiment and money flow to give us unique insight into the market. We feature at least one here each day in support of our current outlook. As an annual subscriber to any of our services, you will get access to all our charts and research.
Daily Stock Market Outlook
We remain in Buy Mode - continuing to look for a bounce into the end of July. This volatility, backing and filling is part of a bottoming process. The equity put call ratio above suggests the crowd is positioned for more downside. The crowd is seldom correct.
Here's a simple way of looking at price action:
The markets can get oversold, sometimes to an extreme. But when that reverses, there is usually a sharp move higher.
Regards,
Just wanted to remind you of the 3 sites we've put together to help educate traders - here re those links again:
Here's Bill West's ETF Trading Site. Bill is a commodity trader and focuses on commodity, currency and market ETFs. Click here to check it out. I'll post his latest commentary up there later today.
Here's another site from my stock and options trader, Jeff Neal (and no, he's not the drummer for Boston!) He's an excellent trader and has put together some useful information on trading stocks and options.
Here is Mark McMillan's McMillan Portfolio site. It comes with access to his chat room where a group of traders discuss the markets and give their insight every day - McMillan ETF Portfolio.
If you're looking for more information, please visit our blog - I'll have updates and publish other articles there. http://investmentresearchgroup.com/Blog/ I've been laying out an oil short trade for a while now. Oil should bounce in the short term but longer term, I see it setting up to head lower.