Thursday 1 October 2009

Time to Step Back -- Quarterly Chart Review

On the quarterly chart of the cash S&P500 we had a very strong up trending bar …. That makes two in a row from the recent low of 666 set in March 2009. Notice how we were able to keep contact with the Long (green) moving average at the low. Since the low the up move continues to look like a bear market rally.

The only positive signal at the low (in the technical indicators I follow) was the TDPOQ on an 8 period TD REI which turned positive when price went above 956.23 in July. Without confirmation I consider that as indicating an oversold counter-trend rally. The REI now indicates that the oversold condition has been relieved and at this point the market is still in the process of determining what the demand level is for stocks is after the huge decline of 2008.

There is a broad area of overhead resistance from 1120-1170 (50% Fibonacci retracement level, previous TDST Support and the Medium (blue) moving average). Above that is 1225-1240.

Bottom Line: The quarterly chart indicates that the bear market rally from March is maturing and that long-term investors should not yet be worried about “missing the bottom”. At the same time it certainly is not inviting anyone to go short. The battle for the rest of the year may very well be the 903 level. If we close above that value at the end of the year the odds of a significant new low become quite low and a double bottom around 666 becomes more likely.

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