S&P 500: Strong Ichimoku trend

By Colin Twiggs
June 16th, 2014 9:00 pm EDT (11:00 am AEST)

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Today we take a look at long-term trend strength in North American markets using a great trend tool, Ichimoku Cloud, with weekly charts. Ichimoku is only available on the latest beta version of Incredible Charts (Help >> Upgrade To Latest Beta Version), but will soon be released with Incredible Charts 7.0.

Ichimoku offers a number of trend signals:

  • The trend is upward when price is above the Cloud (and downward when price is below).
  • A green cloud indicates an up-trend, while red indicates a down-trend.
  • Long trades are taken when the blue line crosses above the red. In strong trends, blue may hold above red for extended periods.

The S&P 500 encountered resistance and is consolidating below its target of 1950*. The trend above a green cloud is further strengthened by the blue (Tenkan) holding above the red (Kijun) line for an extended period. Continuation of the up-trend is likely and breakout above 1950 would signal an advance to 2000.

S&P 500

* Target calculation: 1850 + ( 1850 - 1750 ) = 1950

Dow Jones Industrial Average displays a similar strong trend with few blue (Tenkan) dips below the red (Kijun) line. Breakout above resistance at 17000 would signal an advance to 17500*. Reversal below 16500 is unlikely, but would warn of another correction.

Dow Jones Industrial Average

* Target calculation: 16500 + ( 16500 - 15500 ) = 17500

The Nasdaq 100 recovery of blue (Tenkan) above the red (Kijun) line offers a fresh entry signal. Resistance at 3800 is unlikely to hold and follow-through would confirm the target of 4000* for the advance. Reversal below 3700 is unlikely, but would warn of another correction.

Nasdaq 100

* Target calculation: 3700 + ( 3700 - 3400 ) = 4000

Another indication of trend strength is the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX), currently trading at levels last seen in 2005/2006, which indicates low risk typical of a bull market.

VIX Index

Canada's TSX 60 again shows a strong trend, trading high above a strong green cloud, with no recent crosses of blue (Tenkan) below the red (Kijun) line. Expect a test of the 2008 high at 900. Reversal below support at 830 is unlikely.

TSX 60

"Well this is a bull market, you know!" He really meant to tell them that the big money was not in individual fluctuations but in the main movements — that is not in reading the tape but in sizing up the entire market and its trend.

~ Jesse Livermore