S&P 500 pregnant pause
By Colin Twiggs
July 19th, 2014 8:30 a.m. AEST (6:30 p:m EDT)
Advice herein is provided for the general information of readers and does not have regard to any particular person's investment objectives, financial situation or needs. Accordingly, no reader should act on the basis of any information contained herein without first having consulted a suitably qualified financial advisor.
Research & Investment: Performance update
ASX200 Prime Momentum strategy returned +27.60%* for the 12 months ended 30th June 2014, outperforming the benchmark ASX200 Accumulation Index by +10.17%.
The S&P 500 Prime Momentum strategy has been running eight months, since November 2013, and returned 13.41%* for the period, compared to 13.06% for the S&P 500 Total Return Index. A sell-off of momentum stocks affected performance in April, but macroeconomic and volatility filters indicate low risk typical of a bull market and we maintain full exposure to equities.
* Results are unaudited and subject to revision.
Pregnant pause
Summary:
- S&P 500 advance to 2000 likely.
- VIX continues to indicate a bull market.
- ASX 200 finds support.
A Harami candlestick formation on the S&P 500 suggests continuation of the up-trend. Harami means 'pregnant' in Japanese. Expect a test of the psychological barrier at 2000. 21-Day Twiggs Money Flow recovery above the descending trendline would confirm that short-term selling pressure has ended. Further resistance is likely at the 2000 level — and at 4000 on the Nasdaq 100. Short retracement or narrow consolidation would suggest another advance. Reversal below 1950 is unlikely, but would warn of a correction to 1900 and the rising trendline.
* Target calculation: 1900 + ( 1900 - 1800 ) = 2000
CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) spiked to 15 on news of the Israeli incursion into Gaza and the downing of Malaysian airlines flight MH17 over Eastern Ukraine, but soon retreated to 12 and remains indicative of a bull market.
The ASX 200 retreated below support at 5525/5530 on the hourly chart, but long tails at 5500 indicate buying pressure and another attempt at 5550 is likely. An open above 5530 would confirm. Breakout above 5550 would suggest a long-term advance to 5800*. Reversal below 5450 is unlikely, but would signal another test of 5350.
* Target calculation: 5400 + ( 5400 - 5000 ) = 5800
To sell or not to sell?
Recent acquisition Northern Star Resources [NST] in the ASX 200 portfolio is a great example of the conundrum faced by long-term investors when a new stock leaps out of the starting blocks. Profit-taking is evident from the tall shadows/wicks early in the week and the decline of 21-day Twiggs Money Flow. Medium-term selling pressure suggests the stock is likely to retrace and give back some of the gains of the last two weeks. The temptation must be great to sell the stock and lock in profits of close to 30 percent.
It is important, however, to stick to the plan. We are investing for a longer time frame in anticipation of much larger gains. There is no guarantee that any individual stock, including NST, will deliver. But I can guarantee you that they will not deliver long-term gains if you sell within the first few weeks.
Investors in S&P 500 stock Micron Technology [MU] faced a similar conundrum in July 2013. The stock had put in a good run from $9.00 before encountering profit-taking as it approached $15.00. 21-Day Twiggs Money Flow retreated below zero and the stock fell back to $12.50. Many investors would have taken this as a sign to get out.
With hindsight, the decision to stay the course looks easy: support held at $12.50 and MU is now trading at $33.00. But I am sure that there were many investors who forgot their original plan and took profits at $12.50 ....They just aren't bragging about it.
That's all for today. Take care.
Disregarding the big swing and trying to jump in and out was fatal to me. Nobody can catch all the fluctuations. In a bull market the game is to buy and hold until you believe the bull market is near its end.
~ Jesse Livermore
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