RUT Archives | Opportunity Identified

November 12, 2014 | Posted by David Zarling, Head of Investment Research

Headlines Sell [Weight of Evidence, Part 1 of 7]

“This isn’t a stock market. This is a market of stocks.”

The quote above is a common phrase in Wall Street circles and it is absolutely true. You don’t have a stock market without the stocks. However, financial media will never present it that way. How many would read an article that says, “Individual Stocks Refuse to Participate in Broad Index Rally”? It is so much easier to click on headlines that read, “Market Rallies to All Time Highs” and, “S&P 500 at New Historic High”. After all, why let the facts get in the way of a good story? [thick sarcasm]

As curious investors, we need to know that the performance of stocks within an index is just as important as the performance of the index itself. And when the two don’t jive (this is called divergence), it is time to sit up and take notice. Now is one of those times. While the S&P 500 and DOW are making new historic highs (awesome!), the individual stocks within each index are not participating at the same pace (not awesome!). Less and less stocks are making new highs while the indexes themselves are at new highs. This is called a thinning (or stock pickers) market and could be a harbinger of a change in direction for the overall market. This is just a warning sign. Something to be aware of. We don’t need to take action… yet. We just need to be aware that things are not as they seem. This symptom can resolve itself with an increase in stock participation within this rally. If that happens, it means great things for the upward trajectory of the market. However, if this symptom does not resolve itself, any downturn in the market could be significant (a 10 to 30+% correction).

Now, on to the eye candy to show you what’s happening. The chart below is pretty simple. The line above is the percent of S&P 500 stocks that are above their 200 day moving average. Notice that a less and less percentage of stocks are above their 200 DMA. The line below is the S&P 500 itself. Price is at new highs. I’ve annotated (in 360 green) where past divergences have taken place. Notice the eventual reaction of the market. It doesn’t tell us when, but simply, that a resolution must take place. We’re taking notice as we weigh the evidence.

Levels Recaptured. Now What?

Back on October 17th, we found reasons for an immediate bottom (which turned out to be an accurate assessment). And on October 19th, we identified some levels in common indexes that would allow us to hold long positions. Those levels have been recaptured. Now what? Our head is on a swivel, identifying if/then scenarios in an incremental risk environment. There is still overhead resistance at downward trend lines off the highs from September. We’d like to see new highs made, and kept. Anything below the levels identified on the 19th, and we are out of our long positions. Yes, tomorrow is FOMC day. Don’t trade what you think the market should do. FOMC days are notoriously counter intuitive (what ever the market does tomorrow, be ready for the opposite to take place in the following days). Trade what you see. Price holds the final say.

Must stay above 1905 and make new highs.

Must stay above 16600 and make new highs.

Must stay above 1100 and make new highs. Right at downward resistance and Fib 62.8% — Must stay above 1100 and make new highs. Daily close at downward resistance and Fib 61.8%.

October 19, 2014 | Posted by David Zarling, Head of Investment Research

Attention Slow Money (IRAs / 401ks) – Risk Ahead!

Investing is all about risk management. Preventing loss is just as important as realizing gain. There are periods in the market where Return of Capital is the more appropriate approach than Return on Capital. Now is one of those times. Those retirement vehicles (401ks, IRAs, etc.) that have exposure to the US equity markets would be prudent to reduce that exposure at this time. You are an adult. You make your own decisions. You do not make investment decisions based on what you read here. You know the drill.

The last couple weeks have done some structural damage to the market. We identified the need to watch the S&P 500 closely back on October 8th. Those levels broke down and were a sign to look for lower prices. We got lower prices and even broke significant support at 1900 on the S&P (by the way, breaking significant support levels are a hallmark of a directionally shifting market – in this instance, from an up trending market to a down trending market). What did this breakdown mean? Something has changed. Specifically, the likelihood of lower prices ahead has increased. That means risk has increased. We don’t like to lose money if we don’t have to… So when the market tells us something has changed, we listen. You should too.

After a good deal of studying many markets and charts, I’ve identified some levels on three US major markets (Dow, S&P 500, and Russell 2000) that would need to be recaptured in order for any equity exposure to be increased or reestablished. Right now, the risk of loss is too high to consider hanging around to see what happens. If these levels are not recaptured soon, then lower prices are likely. If these levels are not recaptured, the best case scenario is sideways price action for a few weeks. One thing is for sure, the next few weeks have a high likelihood of volatility (large price swings), which is also a hallmark of trend change.

In summary, the current potential for reward it too low compared to the current exposure to downside risk. The body of evidence (including Intermarket behavior, cycles, internal breadth, seasonality) point to a dangerous week ahead. We even noticed that today marks the 27th anniversary of the 1987 stock market crash. Does that mean it will again this week? Absolutely not. But volatility and risk are upon us. Buyers beware. Risk ahead!

Here are our levels as annotated on the charts. Hopefully, we can recapture these levels and evaluate the next move. Be careful, curious investor.

10-19-2014 Important level on SPX — Need to recapture 1905

October 17, 2014 | Posted by David Zarling, Head of Investment Research

Next Week is a Big Week for the Market

The major US markets have been structurally damaged, increasing the likelihood of a large correction beyond what we’ve already seen. That being said, we are keeping an open mind and searching for evidence that we could see a short term bounce in the US market (S&P 500, Dow, Russell 2K). Here are some signs that we’re getting ready for a relief rally:

Russell 2K (See chart below) | Positve candle formation and a daily close above previously broken support (1082). The Russell 2K tends to give early signs compared to the rest of the majors. The basing by this small cap index is a positive development. It is very close to reaching 1100 and closing our Russell 2K short trade. *NOTE: at publication time (close of trading, Friday), the positive candle development turned neutral if not bearish.
50 day Rate of Change (ROC) on the McClellen Summation Index (not shown) | This indicator looks at the 50-day rate of change (ROC) in the Summation Index. It simply compares today’s value to that of 50 trading days ago. Mathematically, it is another way of quantifying the total of the last 50 trading days’ McClellan Oscillator values. When it gets to a deeply negative value, it indicates a longer term oversold condition for the market, one which is difficult to sustain past a certain point. When this indicator turns back up again, the message is that the big oversold condition is waning, and a rebound period is getting started. That is the condition in which we find ourselves now.
The CBOE VIX Index (See chart below) needs a breather | The VIX gets its share of criticism, but in rapidly moving markets it has its place in the toolbox. Research by Nick Colas of Convergex shows that the long term VIX average – back to 1990 – is 20 and the standard deviation around that mean is 6. That means at 26 and 32 you have 2 reasonable levels where the VIX should top out. Now, if you think we are entering a period of real crisis, the numbers shift higher. Typically the VIX averages 28 when things are really bad (think back to the Financial Crisis) and the standard deviation rises to 8. That puts the target at 36 and 44. Bottom line: don’t try to pick a bottom until the VIX gets to at least 26. We reached 26.00 yesterday. *NOTE: at publication time (close of trading, Friday), the VIX closed at 21.99.

The evidence above points to a short term bounce. But as of this writing (close of trading), it appears the bounce may have already taken place intra-day on Friday. To say the least, the market is at a major inflection point. We’ll provide more research, analysis, and if/then game-planning over the weekend. Next week is a big week for the market. Time to do some homework…

RUT trying to recapture previous support now turned into resistance

October 10, 2014 | Posted by David Zarling, Head of Investment Research

Lunch with Russell

The Russell 2000 is an index containing – you guessed it – 2000 Small Cap stocks. It’s also an index that is breaking down sharply through resistance this week. The significance of this move is a higher probability of lower prices in the immediate future (over the next few weeks). Another impact is that most US markets are correlated to the Russell 2K. Capital preservation is a smart move. Cash is a position too.

The chart below may look complicated, but it’s actually very simple if we break it down. The index formed a double top with a negative momentum divergence (black lines). Support has now been broken (shaded area around 1100). The move from the highs through the shaded resistance marks equilibrium and our measured move to the downside (orange dashed lines). The measured move lines up great with a drawn parallel trend line (green dashed line) only touched back in October 2011. The aforementioned has also lined up well with a 50% Fibonacci retracement and the 200 week moving average. This confluence of resistance is a magnet and our downside target (a drop of 11%). The only other viable target I see is at the 38.2% retracement in confluence with the already established solid green trend line (drop of 6%). We’ll continue to evaluate this decline as it moves along.

How do we take advantage? Through an inverse ETF that goes up in value when the Russell 2K drops in value. A few choices:

RWM (1x leverage): in general, every point move in RUT is a one point move in the opposite direction for this ETF
TWM (2x leverage): in general, every point move in RUT is a two point move in the opposite direction for this ETF
SRTY (3x leverage): in general, every point move in RUT is a three point move in the opposite direction for this ETF

All of the above carry risk to varying degrees. Our risk is defined: If RUT recaptures 1100, we’re out. Classic risk management. We have our stop. We have our target. Trade safe, curious investor.