This is just a short update for SPY and a decision on the preferred moving average combo for the S&P 500. After a plunge on Thursday, stocks firmed on Friday and forged an intraday reversal on Monday. This firmness is occurring near short-term support for many ETFs and the major index ETFs held their intermediate uptrends, which have been in place since late March. Small-caps, housing, biotech, gold miners and corporate bonds led the advance.

I will post the fourth installment of the StochClose strategy later today. We will test signals with and without a bull market filter.

Corporate Bonds Pop

The Fed announced that it will start buying corporate bonds directly. This triggered a sharp advance in the Corporate Bond ETF (LQD) and a flag breakout in the Aggregate Bond ETF (AGG). The High-Yield Bond ETF (HYG) also bounced and these bounces mean bond spreads narrowed, which is positive for stocks and the banking industry.

SPY Bounces off Support Zone

The chart below shows the S&P 500 SPDR plunging on Thursday, firming on Friday and forming a long white candlestick at the 200-day SMA on Monday. The ETF firmed in the support zone marked last week and RSI bounced off the 40-50 zone. The 200-day SMA is a classic battle ground for the S&P 500 and SPY. Thus, we could see a short-term bounce off this level. Monday was a reversal day of sorts and this affirms support here. A close below 295 would break support.

20-day High-Low Percent Stays Bullish

The next chart shows SPY with 20-day High-Low Percent. 20-day lows expanded with the early dip on Monday, but High-Low Percent did not exceed -10%. Thus, the indicator remains on a bullish signal right now. Keep in mind that this is a short to intermediate term indicator. Long-term, the S&P 500 breadth model turned bearish on Thursday. Sometimes the short-term indicators do not jibe with the longer term indicators.

The middle window shows StochClose (125,5) moving above 60 in late May and holding above 60 the last few weeks. This is technically an uptrend that would be reversed with a move below 40. On the price chart, I used a custom retracement setting to show the 40% level of the current high-low range based on closing prices. A rough estimate suggests that a close below 270 would push StochClose to the 40 area. The lower window shows the percentage difference between the 5-day SMA and 200-day SMA.

The Preferred Moving Average Combo

A subscriber asked which moving average pair I prefer. As with all things in technical analysis, the answer is not as clear-cut as one might think. Using just SPY or the S&P 500 with one moving average cross, my preference is for the 5-day SMA and 200-day SMA. As the table below shows, the 5/200 cross has a much lower Maximum Drawdown and a higher Profit Factor. The 20/200 cross has a higher Compound Annual Return and a higher Win%. It is a personal choice, I prefer the lower drawdown and higher Profit Factor.  

I presented a 5-indicator breadth model for the S&P 500 on Friday and performance improved when adding a trend filter for SPY. This trend filter is based on the 5/200 cross or the 20/200 cross. Buy when breadth and the trend filter are bullish. Sell when breadth OR the trend filter turn bearish. As the table below shows, the Compound Annual Return, Win% and Profit Factor were higher when using the 20/200 filter. However, the Maximum Drawdowns were the same when using the 20/200 and 5/200 trend filters.

So what is it going to be?

To remain consistent, I am going to go with the 5/200 cross as the preferred combo for timing the S&P 500 and SPY, and as the trend filter for the breadth model. The main drawback is that this combo will no doubt produce more whipsaws than a combo using the 20/200 cross for the filter. Again, it is a personal preference, but I prefer the quicker signals and the lower drawdowns.

As the chart above illustrates, using the close and the 200-day SMA generated too many whipsaws. The 5/200 cross reduces whipsaws and provides quicker signals. The 20/200 cross reduces whipsaws even more, but the signal in March produced a bigger drawdown (loss). Furthermore, the 5-day crossed the 200-day on May 29th and the 20-day cross the 200-day on June 9th.

Thanks for tuning in and have a great day!

Weekend Video – Breadth Model Indicators, the SPY/TLT Reversals and the ChartBook

Today’s weekend video starts with the indicators that make up the breadth model and their individual signals. We then add some basic market timing and show the model signals over the last 20 years. I will also provide a preview of a short-term breadth model. Attention then turns to potential reversals in SPY and TLT, the rising wedges in RSP and IWM, the StochClose rankings and the ChartBook

Weekend Video – Breadth Model Indicators, the SPY/TLT Reversals and the ChartBook Read More »

Timing Models – Here we Go Again – Models Flip as Outsized Declines Hit Key Areas

Stocks took it on the chin Thursday with the biggest weekly decline since declines began (March). Once again, small-caps and mid-caps led the way lower with outsized declines. Even more disconcerting, we saw outsized declines in some key large-cap sectors as the Consumer Discretionary SPDR fell over 5%, the Industrials SPDR fell over 8% and the Finance SPDR fell 7%.

Timing Models – Here we Go Again – Models Flip as Outsized Declines Hit Key Areas Read More »

ETF Ranking and Grouping – Volatility and Risk Remain High as Bonds and Gold Perk Up

The broader environment for stocks is technically bullish, but risk remains well above average. The S&P 500 moved above its 200-day SMA and the 5-day SMA moved above the 200-day SMA. The %Above 50-day SMA indicators surged above 80% to trigger bullish and the Index Breadth Model based on StockCharts data triggered bullish on June 5th with five of nine indicators on bullish signals. That’s the bullish part.

ETF Ranking and Grouping – Volatility and Risk Remain High as Bonds and Gold Perk Up Read More »

Models and Weekend Video – Breadth Model Flips as Participation Widens and Yields Spreads Plunge

It was a big week on Wall Street as stocks surged with the biggest weekly gains since the initial lift off started (late March and early April). Small-caps and mid-caps led the way with gains exceeding 8%. Large-caps lagged as SPY gained a measly 5% and QQQ advanced a paltry 2.71%. These moves triggered

Models and Weekend Video – Breadth Model Flips as Participation Widens and Yields Spreads Plunge Read More »

Testing a Medium-term Breadth Thrust Strategy and Adding a Timing Mechanism to Soften the Blow

The market is a forward looking beast and we are seeing some pretty strong signals from short-term and medium-term breadth indicators. The long-term breadth indicators, however, are still lagging and have yet to trigger. Today I will put a medium-term breadth model to the test and show how to improve results with a simple timing mechanism.

Testing a Medium-term Breadth Thrust Strategy and Adding a Timing Mechanism to Soften the Blow Read More »

Weekend Video – Short-term Breadth Indicators to Watch, ChartBook and Yield Spreads

Today’s video will start with a 16+ year backtest of a slightly modified version of the Index Breadth Model. These results will be compared to buy-and-hold and a 5/200 cross for the S&P 500 SPDR. I will then review the current signals in the StockCharts breadth indicators. The upswing since late March dominates right now so

Weekend Video – Short-term Breadth Indicators to Watch, ChartBook and Yield Spreads Read More »

Market Timing Models – Backtesting Breadth Signals and Focusing on the Big Swings

Today we will dive into breadth indicators and test a modified version of the Index Breadth Model here at TrendInvestorPro. First, however, I will review the S&P 500 SPDR as it toys with its 200-day SMA here at month end. In particular, I am monitoring upswings in four key major index ETFs. After the breadth dissertation

Market Timing Models – Backtesting Breadth Signals and Focusing on the Big Swings Read More »

ETF Ranking and Grouping – Rotation Takes Hold as Flag Breakouts Extend

We are seeing some rotation in the market as the leaders stall and the laggards get in gear. The leaders from mid March to mid May lagged over the last two weeks, while the laggards from this period led. ETFs related to bonds, gold, healthcare and technology led the market during the rebound period and were the first to move back above their 200-day SMAs

ETF Ranking and Grouping – Rotation Takes Hold as Flag Breakouts Extend Read More »

Weekend Video – Breadth, Flags, Narrow Ranges, the QQQ Effect and the ChartBook

The S&P 500 is at a moment of truth and the direction it takes will have ramifications throughout the stock market. Today we will review the indicators in the Index Breadth Model, show that the large-cap Bullish Percent Indexes are holding up better and cover the rising High-Low Lines. I will then turn to the QQQ effect on SPY and look at recent signals in SPY

Weekend Video – Breadth, Flags, Narrow Ranges, the QQQ Effect and the ChartBook Read More »

What Drives SPY?
Hint: It has 3 Letters and Begins with Q

Stocks surged on Monday with QQQ closing at its highest level since February 21st, SPY closing at its highest level since March 6th and IWM closing at its highest level since April 29th. And there you have the pecking order. QQQ is back to late February levels, SPY is back to early March levels and IWM has yet to exceed its April high. To record a 52-week high

What Drives SPY?
Hint: It has 3 Letters and Begins with Q
Read More »

Weekend Video – Short-term Breadth Indicators Weaken, Gold Leads, Small-caps and Banks Lag

Topics covers in today’s video: top ranked ETF by StochClose, short-term signals in two breadth indicators, small-caps and banks lead lower, Fed balance sheets expands as junk bond spreads widen, short-term support levels to watch going forward, gold breaks out, junk bonds remain weak and TLT bounces off support.

Weekend Video – Short-term Breadth Indicators Weaken, Gold Leads, Small-caps and Banks Lag Read More »

Market Timing Models – The Big Three Sectors versus the Three Next Biggest Sectors

Today’s report will start with the everywhere and nowhere chart for the S&P 500. We will then weigh the broad market evidence by looking at the weekly RSI range, the S&P 500 Bullish Percent Index and the breadth models. Short-term, the 20-day High-Low Percent indicator triggered a signal on Wednesday’s close and we are seeing short-term breaks in three key equal-weight sectors.

Market Timing Models – The Big Three Sectors versus the Three Next Biggest Sectors Read More »

ETF Ranking and Grouping – Weakest ETFs Already Breaking Down

Tech and Healthcare led the market higher over the last eight weeks and these two groups are still holding up, as are their related ETFs. Despite leading, note they fell short of their February highs and could still be vulnerable to broad market weakness. Correlations tend to rise in bear market downturns. Some of the lagging groups are already breaking down, such as industrials and finance, and the SPY is also breaking down.

ETF Ranking and Grouping – Weakest ETFs Already Breaking Down Read More »

Weekend Video – Seasonality, Breadth, Short-term Uptrend and ChartBook

Today’s video starts with an overview of monthly seasonality and the equity curves for each month over the last 30 years. We then dive into the Index Breadth Model charts and show how the average stock in the S&P 500 is still struggling. I then look at SPX 20-day High-Low% and show the key levels to watch for SPY going forward. We finish with a ChartBook overview and StochClose rankings.

Weekend Video – Seasonality, Breadth, Short-term Uptrend and ChartBook Read More »

Market Timing Models – Three Big Sectors are Dragging – Could Tech Be Next?

Today’s report shows that the S&P 500 equal-weight index has underperformed the S&P 500 since 2017 and the performance differential surged over the past year. Moreover, the average stock in the S&P 500 is still struggling. We also have an important bearish signal in the Sector Breadth Model and continued weakness in three key sectors.

Market Timing Models – Three Big Sectors are Dragging – Could Tech Be Next? Read More »

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