Timing attempts to provide market equivalent returns over the long term, with a substantial reduction in variability of returns. The two components of the Timing program are EZ+Macro and Fear/Greed. This system trades rarely and splits its allocations between ETFs tracking the S&P 500, the intermediate-term U.S. Treasuries, and cash.
Information is as of the close on December 20, 2007.
EZ+Macro
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EZ Trend is up, therefore the EZ+Macro portion of Timing is long stocks.
Macro Trend is bullish for Treasuries. This would come into play only if the EZ Trend was not up.
Fear/Greed
The Fear/Greed model signaled a buy for the U.S. stock market in early November. It has signaled a sell with today's close, as the $VIX relative to actual volatility fell to a historically low level. This is a tough model to follow, as it demands a buy and hold when fear is high and most people would like to sell. Currently the levels of Fear/Greed are very low. In the scale of the chart, 80% of the readings since 1990 have been between the red and green lines.
Model Allocation
Based on beginning with a $100,000 portfolio at inception.
S&P 500 SPDRs (SPY) - 99.9%
iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond Fund (IEF) - 0.0%
Cash - 0.1%
Returns
Based on beginning with a $100,000 portfolio at inception.
Equity: $101,083.92
Gain, Since Last Update (Apprx. 3 Weeks): -1.25%
Gain, Since Inception: +1.08%
Changes To Model Allocation
The new model allocation is:
S&P 500 SPDRs (SPY) - 50.0%
iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond Fund (IEF) - 0.0%
Cash - 50.0%
Tracking
One-half the shares of SPY will be sold by the tracking portfolio, market at open on Friday.