Last April, I wrote about the SVB (SVIB) banking crisis, using the KBW Regional Banking Index ($KRX) as a proxy, and suggested the price action in the right hand part of Chart 1 had the potential to be a double bottom formation. Double bottoms are characterized by heavy activity on... READ MORE
Last week, I pointed out that several indicators were close to triggering a bull market for commodities. Some of those benchmarks have since been met, but none have yet moved decisively in that direction. Now, it's time to take a deep dive into the copper price, as this... READ MORE
I have been bearish on the primary trend of commodities for some time whilst still maintaining a bullish stance on their secular or very long-term trend. In other words, negative over a 9-month-to-2-year outlook, but constructive on a 10-to-20-year one. The secular aspect is important, because history shows primary bear... READ MORE
There has been a notable shift in expectations concerning rate hikes going forward, as several Fed spokesmen have floated the idea of additional hikes later in the year. Rising interest rates are generally seen as a negative factor for stocks, as they increase borrowing costs for companies, lowering their profitability... READ MORE
The ellipses in Chart 1 reflect economic events that have adversely affected the stock market since the 1950s. The pink ones reflect recessions, and those colored in blue indicate setbacks that anticipated economic slowdowns. Slowdowns develop when some economic sectors slip into recession, but that weakness is insufficient to push... READ MORE
When the direction of the primary trend changes, it's usually because the business cycle is transitioning from a slowdown or recession to a recovery. That process usually results in a change in sector rotation, as defensive ones, such as utilities and consumer staples, come to the fore and... READ MORE
There used to be a rule of thumb on Wall Street that, whenever brokers upgraded to a new office after years of making do with smaller premises, it was the sign of market peak. Such behavior typically followed years of a bull market in which the investment houses had grown... READ MORE
The price of gold was recently trading at an all-time monthly closing high. Since then, it has backed off, raising the question of whether that was "the" top or whether the subsequent short-term price decline represents a healthy digestion of previous price gains, which will serve as a... READ MORE
The recent strong performance by a few tech stocks has gained widespread attention, as has the disappointing market breadth. The result has been a soaring NASDAQ and a lagging NYSE Composite and Dow. Small cap stocks have also left a lot to be desired. The question is whether this divergence,... READ MORE
In the last couple of months, we have seen a number of analysts and commentators point out that the current rally has been led by a handful of large-cap tech stocks and is therefore suspect. That observation suggests this week's extension to the advance is doomed. It'... READ MORE
There has been a lot of talk recently about diversifying away from the dollar and it potentially losing its reserve status. The primary trend of the Dollar Index may be bearish, but the longer-term charts do not agree; they suggest that the dollar's death is greatly exaggerated. Let&... READ MORE
The other day, I was looking at the charts of stocks, bonds, and gold and remembered that the lows of 1982 were preceded by a similar setup to what we see today. History rarely repeats exactly, and there are many differences between now and then. Still, I think it'... READ MORE
Most of the time, when looking at equity markets outside of the US, I focus on the various country ETFs, which are denominated in dollars rather than local currencies. In some ways, this limits my perspective, since currency fluctuations can change some of the outcomes--especially in countries experiencing a high... READ MORE
Charts have always fascinated me, so I plow through a lot of them in the course of a typical week. To me, breakouts hold a similar buzz as a striker scoring a great goal from the edge of the penalty box in soccer. To boot, I do not see any... READ MORE
Chart 1 below shows that, on a monthly close basis, gold broke out from a large consolidation formation in March. It has built on that move in the first part of April by moving slightly higher. The implication is obviously for higher gold prices, once the overbought condition laid out... READ MORE
These are not my words, but those of Mr. Market, who is doing his best to let the central bank know that rates are too high. Chart 1, for instance, compares the market-driven 5-year yield to that of the Effective Federal Funds. The dashed green arrows indicate that, in 2021,... READ MORE
Global equities have risen for the last three weeks and now are at or just below key chart points. Chart 1, for instance, shows that the S&P 500 index ($SPX) is close to breaking above resistance in the form of its 2022–23 down trendline. In reality, that... READ MORE
Remember the wall-to-wall coverage concerning the FTX crypto collapse? It's a great example of why conventional wisdom and groupthink are usually wrong. The prevailing hysteria had most traders brainwashed into expecting further crypto collapses and price drops. The simple fact is that, the market had been anticipating trouble... READ MORE
In early February, I pointed out that five consistently correct long-term indicators had triggered primary bull trend buy signals. The article certainly did not represent good timing from a short-term point of view, as the market has been selling off ever since. Nevertheless, these indicators remain in the bullish camp.... READ MORE
There is a well-known saying going around Wall Street that, when the Fed hits the brakes, someone inevitably crashes through the windscreen. That obviously applies to shareholders and directors of Silicon Valley Bank (SIVB), though depositors, following a nail-biting weekend, are apparently off the hook. It also warns the central... READ MORE
Last May, I wrote an article entitled "Bitcoin Bubble Finally Bursts", where I laid out the technical case for substantially lower prices. It was partially based on the fact that the 18-month ROC had peaked from a level in excess of 200%. My research, featuring 26 case studies... READ MORE
Commodity prices are an imperfect but useful forecaster of consumer price inflation. A key secular trend indicator that I use for industrial commodity prices went bullish last year. Since then, prices have corrected. However, it makes sense to take the pulse of the commodity markets from time to time, in... READ MORE
We are all aware of the investment principle that it's time to buy when the news is blackest. Even knowing this, it's always difficult to step up and click on that buy button, because the problems seem unsolvable. Moreover, how do we know for sure that... READ MORE
The US Dollar Index ($USD) has taken a hit in the last few months, causing many commentators to cry "bear market." However, an examination of the long-term indicators doesn't indicate a consensus pointing in a southerly direction. Neither is there unanimity that the recent setback represents... READ MORE
Every business cycle has an inflationary and deflationary part to it. And if you know the prevailing phase, it can be enormously helpful. For example, when inflation is dominating, it's usually a favorable environment for commodities and commodity defensive sectors, such as mining and energy. At such times,... READ MORE
I have been negative on the market for some time. I believe that it's a wiser policy to wait for the long-term indicators to turn bullish, rather than trying to capture every twist and turn of those bear market rallies, pregnant as they are, with false breakouts and... READ MORE
From the financial crisis in 2008 until October of last year, the U.S. stock market handsomely outperformed the Dow Jones Global Index ($DJW). However, recent price action suggests that this relationship may be about to change. Stated more accurately, U.S. relative performance may have peaked last October, just... READ MORE
In the last couple of weeks, I've had a couple of conversations with clients asking how I go about selecting promising sectors, even when not much excites me at the moment. To start with, I'm a believer in the principle that the character of short-term moves—... READ MORE
Most of the time, the major indexes move in tandem. Occasionally, they'll throw up positive and negative divergences that technical analysts can use to better identify important trend reversals. Today, we will look at two market averages whose 2022 price action has resulted in completely different potential chart... READ MORE
I don't usually get into individual stocks, but, back in August, I found Tesla's price action to be quite interesting. That's because I felt the stock, along with its fearless leader Elon Musk, were important icons of the 2020–2022 phase of the post-financial... READ MORE
Statistically speaking, the last half of December is the best seasonal period of the year, part of which serves as what is popularly known as the Santa Claus rally. The first half of the month also has a slight edge to the upside, though that has not worked out so... READ MORE
One of my favorite chart lists is one called Interasset Ratios. As the name implies, it contains a library of charts that plot various long-term relationships between asset classes, such as the stock/bond ratio, bond/commodity relationship, and so forth. It's not something you want to focus... READ MORE
The price of gold has been on a tear recently, bouncing sharply from its October low. It could be a good time to see whether this is the start of a new bull market or just a flash in the pan. Let's begin with the big picture and... READ MORE
To many, October represents the low for the 2022 bear market and what we are seeing today is the first leg of a new bull trend. After all, interest rates have probably peaked, inflation is dying, supply chain problems are over and so is the pandemic. Looking Closely at the... READ MORE
Last May, I wrote an article entitled "Bitcoin Bubble Finally Bursts", where I laid out the technical case for substantially lower prices. It was partially based on the fact that the 18-month ROC had peaked from a level in excess of 200%. My research, featuring 26 case studies... READ MORE
Last week, I wrote that the dollar and commodities were poised at inflection pointsand we should be on the lookout for an important move in both. The U.S. Dollar Index ($USD) obliged with the completion of a head-and-shoulders top, as shown in chart 1. It's clearly overstretched... READ MORE
The Dollar Index has had a good run to the upside, but is starting to show some possible signs of fatigue. That potential weakness could take the form of an actual reversal in its primary uptrend, or an intermediate counter-correction. At the same time, commodities, which often (but certainly not... READ MORE
Last time I reviewed the stock market, many of the Indexes had just experienced a bullish outside bar (see chart for the DIA). Since several of the oscillators had reached oversold readings, the idea of a rally seemed appropriate. By the same token, its important to remember that there is... READ MORE
When I am looking at a downtrend of a specific market that has been in existence for a while, I often ask myself which components might be on the verge of an upside breakout and could therefore lead it higher. Conversely, I have to ask if there are any downside... READ MORE
Last week, I suggested that some unusually bullish outside bars, in conjunction with positive short-term momentum and a favorable seasonal going into year-end, could trigger a worthwhile rally. That does not make me wildly bullish, because I still think we are in a bear market. When my long-term indicators turn,... READ MORE