Early stages of denial

By Colin Twiggs
August 15th, 2011 7:00 a.m. ET (9:00 p.m. AET)

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US dead cat bounce

We have a clear bear market signal across a wide range of indexes and current behavior is typical of the early "Denial" stage. If we look at 2008, the Dow broke primary support at 12800 in January, falling sharply before encountering strong buying support at 12000, signaled by weekly volume over 1.5 billion [1]. The rally failed, but buyers again snapped up bargains, with weekly volumes [2] above 1.5 billion. A third rally even penetrated resistance, but buyers soon lost interest and the next down-swing [3] led to a strong bear market over the next year.

Current buying support, with weekly volume close to 2 billion [4] is typical of the first stage of a bear market . Expect a rally to test 12000 followed by another test of support between 10600 and 10800.

* Target calculation: 10800 - (11800 - 10800 ) = 9800

Japan, Korea hesitate

The Dow Jones Japan Index ($JPDOW) formed a small pennant consolidation, favoring continuation of the down-trend. Follow-through below 50.50 would confirm, whereas recovery above 52.00 would indicate retracement to test 53.30. 21-Day Twiggs Money Flow deep below zero warns of strong selling pressure.

* Target calculation: 54 - ( 58 - 54 ) = 50

DJ South Korea encountered resistance below 400, indicated by a red candle and up-tick in volume. Reversal below 360 would warn of another down-swing.

* Target calculation: 370 - ( 430 - 370 ) = 310

China bucks the trend

Despite the global bear market, Dow Jones Shanghai Index rallied above resistance at 330, with bullish divergence on 21-day Twiggs Money Flow indicating buying pressure. Expect a test of 360. In the long term, breakout above 360 would signal reversal to an up-trend.

* Target calculation: 330 - ( 360 - 330 ) = 300

ASX Trampled

The ASX 200 is headed for a test of 4500. Declining volume is typical of such a rally; a surge would indicate increased selling pressure — especially when accompanied by a narrow range or red candle. Expect resistance at 4500 to hold, followed by another test of support at 4000.

* Target calculation: 4000 - ( 4500 - 4000 ) = 3500

I came to learn that even when one is properly bearish at the very beginning of a bear market it is not well to begin selling in bulk until there is no danger of the engine back-firing.

~ Jesse Livermore in Reminiscences of a Stock Operator by Edwin Lefevre.