The rally that began in mid-October was a fairly strong one that was backed by massive oversold conditions that existed at the time. By the time it got to 3900 (400 points off the lows), it was a bit vulnerable, and when Fed Chairman Powell made some very negative comments, the market quickly gave back 200 points. After that FOMC meeting, the market remained rather leery of the CPI data that was to be released early in the morning of November 10th. So, it traded in that 3700-3900 range while it waited. The CPI data was modestly encouraging (although it remains to be seen what the Fed thinks of it), and the market exploded to the upside as many traders and investors think that interest rates have peaked.
The oversold rally that began in early October was proceeding at a good pace, and was strengthened by a breakout over 3900. However, the comments by Fed Chairman Powell after the FOMC meeting knocked the market down significantly. We have often referred to the fact that the current market bears great similarity to the bear market of 1973-1974, and this is yet another example. Back then, Fed Chairman Arthur Burns would speak, and the market would tumble.
The bulls are attempting to extend the rally that began in mid- October. Whether this fits in the broad category of October being a "bear killer" or not remains to be seen, but the breakout over 3800 on the $SPX chart this week was a positive development. As long as the Index holds that level, it is significant.
Deeply oversold conditions have spurred another rally attempt over the past week. $SPX made a trading low near 3490 on Wednesday, October 13th, and then early this week a strong rally took place. This rally generated some buy signals from our oversold indicators, but there has been no follow-through. The rally peaked at 3760 and has fallen back. There is fairly heavy resistance in the 3750-3800 area, which is where the most recent "island reversal" (circles on the chart in Figure 1) took place. Furthermore, the rally exceeded the declining 20-day Moving Average by a small amount, and then began to struggle. That is the classic action of an oversold rally.
The market closed out September at new lows for the year to date. Those new lows were accompanied by some massive oversold conditions. Seemingly, the turn of the calendar from September to October emboldened buyers, and they bought the market heavily on the first two trading days of October. In any case, this appears to be just another oversold rally, and those usually die out at about the declining 20-day Moving Average of $SPX (currently near 3800), or perhaps just a bit higher. This rally was accompanied by some confirmed buy signals, which we will review shortly. Thus, it might have a better prognosis, but the market has been unable to post any further gains since those two strong days.
The latest bearish phase of this market began in mid-August and has now carried $SPX to new yearly lows, both closing and intraday. This is a major negative development and reinforces the fact that this is still a bear market. The blue trend lines in Figure 1 echo that sentiment.
The bulls seemed to think they were in charge up until the latest CPI data was released. Then, in an abrupt change of face big money began to sell on Sep 13th and just kept driving the market lower all day. That selling has continued, at a slower pace, and the support area at 3900 has been violated. That is important support, and now traders are looking to 3800 as the next support level, and then the yearly lows at 3673 below that.
