By Lawrence G. McMillan
Tuesday's market action was extremely negative. A rally attempt stalled out in the afternoon, and that was bad enough considering the amount of oversold conditions that existed. But then the entire rally was erased in late-day trading, and S&P futures have continued on down another 6 points in Globex trading tonight. There is really no way to put lipstick on that pig. It was just plain ugly.
By Lawrence G. McMillan
$VIX spiked up to almost 20 last Friday and then reversed back downward to nearly 17. Currently, it stands at 17.82. A spike peak reversal of that magnitude is at least a short-term buy signal for the stock market. $VIX has probed to or above the 19 level four previous times since mid-April, and a tradable stock market rally has followed each time. Will this be the case again this time, considering that there are other, more negative, indicators at work as well?
By Lawrence G. McMillan
There seems to be a bit of a hangover from Friday’s action. Despite some potentially positive movement in $VIX, the market can’t seem to rally today. $VIX spiked up to nearly 20 on Friday and then fell back to almost 17. A reversal of that size is a positive factor for the stock market. In fact, $VIX was actually down on the day Friday, even though $SPX was off 13 points and the Dow was down nearly 100. That is an unusual and normally positive divergence. The fact that it hasn’t caused a market rally could be a cause for concern.
By Lawrence G. McMillan
Currently, the dominant theme of the $SPX chart is its downtrend. There is now resistance at 1330, and above that, at 1345.
The equity-only put-call ratios have steadfastly remained bearish since rolling over to sell signals in mid-to-late April. As long as they are rising, that is bearish for stocks.
At the current time, breadth indicators are on sell signals.
$VIX is still in the process of rising off of its recent lows. If it closes above 19, that would be negative.
By Lawrence G. McMillan
A number of bearish signals have arisen over the past two weeks, and the market has declined -- albeit only slightly. The bears have not really capitalized on what have been favorable technicals. That doesn't mean they still can't, but the broad market has weathered the storm fairly well. The down trend line in $SPX remains intact, and there is resistance at 1330.
Equity-only put-call ratios turned decisively bearish during the last week also, as they are now rising steadily.
By Lawrence G. McMillan
The stock market was under some pressure entering this week, but a positive intraday reversal on Tuesday has stemmed the bearish tide, and may have turned things bullish once again.
The equity-only put-call ratios are in trading ranges. They gave appropriate sell signals at the end of April and since then they looking like dampening waves with each subsequent high or low.
Market breadth has recovered this week, but the readings on our breadth indicators are neutral.
The stock market is shooting back and forth like a futures contract. In any case, the 1330 level on $SPX remains our bullish demarcation line. A close below there would turn us bearish.
Equity-only put-call ratios had generated sell signals a couple of weeks ago, but those may be fading.
Last week, breadth indicators had generated sell signals. But positive breadth for a few days moved breadth back to a neutral status.
By Lawrence G. McMillan
$SPX has pulled back to the critical support area at 1330-1340. It's one thing to say that an overbought market might have such a correction, but it's quite another to experience one. If $SPX closes below 1330, that would turn the chart negative.
Nearly all the other indicators that we follow have already turned bearish, which makes things much more negative. Breadth indicators registered sell signals.
The equity-only put-call ratios have generated sell signals as well.
By Lawrence G. McMillan
The market broke out to new 2011 highs this week. Some of these indices are actually making new all-time highs, having exceeded their 2007 peaks. The chart of $SPX now has a new bull market trend line, connecting the August and March lows. The breakout over the old highs in the 1340 area could measure targets to nearly 1400 on this move.
Equity-only put-call ratios have remained on buy signals for some time now.
Breadth has been strong of late, and both breadth indicators are in overbought territory.
By Lawrence G. McMillan
After a severe scare on Monday, which I label the "Emperor has no clothes" decline, the market has responded well, due in large part to some positive earnings report. Now the problem -- if there is one -- is the resistance from the February and April tops in the 1340-1345 area. Another failure at this level would be quite bearish.
Equity-only put-call ratios have remained bullish, even with the selling that occurred last week.
