Systematic Trading Strategies and Next Level Trading Setups
Even with the big rebound last week, the vast majority of stocks are below their 200 and 150 day SMAs. Only 23% of S&P 1500 stocks are above their 200-day SMAs (77% below), and only 20% are above their 150-day SMAs (80% below). New lows expanded last week with over 30% of S&P 1500 stocks hitting 52-week lows.
The weight of the evidence remains bearish for stocks and the bounce over the last four days is considered an oversold bounce. Our short-term breadth thrust indicators have yet to trigger. Until these indicators trigger, I will consider this a bear market bounce. This means negative outcomes are still more likely than positive outcomes. Resistance zones are more likely to hold and support levels are more likely to be broken. In short, risk in stocks remains above average. See this report for an update on the thrust indicators..
Panic selling and oversold extremes gave way to a rip higher last week. Stocks are poised to open strong on Monday as the market reacts positively to tariff news. Last week’s bounce is considered an oversold bounce within a bear market. Thrust signals are setting up, but strong follow through is needed to trigger actual signals. This report will first review the panic indicators and the short-term oversold condition, and then show what it would take to move from a bear market bounce to a bullish breadth thrust.
With fast-moving markets, this report is vulnerable to self-destruction within 5 days. The bond vigilantes sent a message as long-term yields surged and bonds plunged. Unless reversed, these developments are negative for stocks, especially rate sensitive stocks.
The analysis mode remains macro because the weight of the evidence is still bearish for stocks. Moreover, the markets are unhinged with stocks, commodities, currencies and Treasury bonds fluctuating wildly. Chaos makes chart analysis exceptionally difficult. Perhaps there is opportunity in the chaos, but the current market environment is for nimble traders with quick trigger fingers.
This market regime report weighs the evidence to determine the state of the stock market. Are we in a bull market or bear market? We start with the long-term trends for three major index ETFs (SPY,QQQ,RSP). Attention then turns to breadth indicators to measure the percentage of stocks in uptrends/downtrends and the percentage hitting
Everything, well, almost everything, fell the last four trading days. This includes the gold and US Treasury Bonds. The Dollar was hit hard, which means other currencies gained. Stocks, industrial metals, oil, crypto and foreign stocks were all down the last four days. Within the US stock market, all sector ETFs and all but two
Before looking at the current extremes, keep in mind that the weight of the evidence on the Market Regime page is bearish. We are in a bear market, and bear market rules apply. Support levels are less likely to hold and Bullish Setups are less likely to work. Stocks are extremely oversold right now: long-term and short-term. These oversold conditions could lead to a bounce, but this will be considered a bear market bounce as long as the evidence remains bearish. With volatility higher in bear markets, we can expect some sharp counter-trend bounces and erratic price action.
With stocks in a bear market, I am looking for alternatives that are less correlated. Bitcoin is an alternative to stocks, but it shows a strong positive correlation to the S&P 500. The chart below shows SPY in blue and Bitcoin
Stocks are in a freefall with selling pressure spreading into industrial metals and other economically sensitive commodities. There are few places to hide in bear markets, and the list of alternatives continues to shrink. Bitcoin, an alternative, is holding up relatively well since March, but
Today’s report covers the commodity, bond and Bitcoin ETFs. Gold continues to lead, but looks increasingly extended. Industrial metals are under pressure as copper turns down after a parabolic move. Agriculture is holding its breakout, while bonds are poised to break out as money moves into relative safe-havens.
Charles Dow identified three market trends. First, the primary trend is the major trend at work. This is the long-term trend. As noted in the Market Regime report, the weight of the evidence is bearish and this applies to the primary trend. The primary trend cannot be manipulated. Second
Short-term, the stock market became oversold in mid March and ripe for a bounce. Longer term, however, the weight of the evidence is bearish and the major index ETFs are in downtrends (SPY, QQQ, RSP). This means we are looking at the possibility of a counter-trend bounce within a bigger downtrend, which is not an ideal situation.
The performance profile for 2025 says a lot about the state of the market. Commodity-related ETFs are leading, non-cyclical equity ETFs are holding up the best and cyclical names are performing the worst. Clearly, this is not a positive picture for the stock market. This report will show how to interpret the performance profile and separate the leaders from the laggards using a ChartList.
Today’s report covers the commodity, bond and Bitcoin ETFs. Gold continues to lead the markets as it trades near all time highs. Copper is next in line as it goes parabolic and nears overbought levels. Bonds are confused with the TLT breaking down as IEF holds within a bullish consolidation. Bitcoin got an oversold bounce within a bigger downtrend and a bearish pattern is taking shape.
The major index ETFs broke down in March, became oversold and got oversold bounces. Long-term trend reversals remain for SPY, QQQ and XLK. This means the recent bounces are counter-trend moves within bigger downtrends. ETFs related to housing, retail and semiconductors continue to lag and support a risk-off environment. Defensive names are holding up the best (Utilities, Insurance, MLP, Telecom). Most tech-related ETFs are in long-term downtrends, but two are holding up relatively well with short-term breakouts recently.
This is an update for the Zweig Breadth Thrust (ZBT) indicators, which were featured on March 21st. The S&P 500 and S&P 1500 Zweig Breadth Thrust indicators became oversold with moves below -20% on March 13th. The black arrows on the SPY chart (bottom window) show the oversold setups
Stocks broke down with deep declines into mid March (11-13). These deep declines led to short-term oversold conditions, which primed the pump for the current bounce. At this point, I consider this an oversold bounce, as opposed to a bullish thrust that turns the evidence bullish. We need to see strong follow through to go from oversold bounce to bullish thrust.
The Zweig Breadth Thrust is best known for its bullish reversal signals, which capture a material increase in upside participation. There is, however, more to the indicator because traders can also use the “setup” period to identify oversold conditions. This report will explain the original Zweig Breadth Thrust and show how these signals work.
Today’s report covers the commodity, bond and Bitcoin ETFs. Gold continues to lead the markets with strength transferring to the Gold Miners. The only concern is the overbought condition, which is fast approaching. Copper surged to a new high and Coppers Miners broke out. Bonds remain in an uptrend as TLT bids for a short-term breakout. Bitcoin bounces within downtrend.
Stocks are in the midst of an oversold bounce, but the weight of the evidence remains bearish for the stock market. This means the pickings are slim when it comes to equity ETFs. Today’s report focuses on equity ETFs that are still in long-term uptrends and showing relative strength. My short list is based on ETFs with year-to-date gains because they show absolute and relative strength this year. Note that SPY is down 4.3% year-to-date.
This market regime report weighs the evidence to determine the state of the stock market. Are we in a bull market or bear market? We start with the long-term trends for three major index ETFs (SPY,QQQ,RSP). Attention then turns to breadth indicators to measure the percentage of stocks in uptrends/downtrends and the percentage hitting new highs/lows. These indicators measure participation within the S&P 500, Nasdaq 100 and S&P 1500. Finally, we analyze yield spreads to see if the credit market show confidence or stress.
Stocks are in the midst of an oversold bounce, but the weight of the evidence remains bearish for the stock market. This means the pickings are slim when it comes to equity ETFs. Today’s report focuses on equity ETFs that are still in long-term uptrends and showing relative strength. My short list is based on ETFs with year-to-date gains. SPY is down 3.23% this year. 23 of the 60 equity ETFs in
The weight of the evidence shifted to the bears over the last few weeks. First, the major index ETFs reversed their long-term uptrends with Bollinger Band signals, our breadth models turned net negative and yield spreads widened. This report will focus on the breakdown in the