Exactly a week ago, on February 9th, $SPX broke out over 2300, establishing new all-time highs, accompanied by almost all of the major averages, including finally the small-cap Russell 2000 ($RUT). The chart of $SPX remains bullish as long as $SPX is above 2300.
Both equity-only put-call ratios have turned sharply lower in the past week, as the upside breakout has been accompanied by heavy call buying. Thus they remain on buy signals.
The stock market, as measured by most of the major indices, made a breakout move to the upside yesterday and is now trading at new all-time highs once again. $SPX is clearly in an uptrend and holding above all support areas, which is bullish.
Equity-only put-call ratios continue to crawl along the bottom of their charts, moving mostly sideways rather than up or down. This is another overbought indicator, but it won't really become bearish until these ratios begin to trend higher.
The broad stock market has gone into a very tight range over the last four trading days. After what had appeared to be a promising upside breakout on a gap a week ago Wednesday, there was no follow-through on the upside. Meanwhile, there has been no follow-through on the downside either. The $SPX chart remains bullish from a trending viewpoint.
The broad stock market, as measured by several indices, but particularly by the S&P 500 Index ($SPX) has broken out to new all-time highs. Other indices that have done the same include the Dow ($DJX), NASDAQ Composite, NASDAQ 100 ($NDX), Midcap 400 ($MID), and the NYSE Index.
The broad stock market, as measured by $SPX, has traded in a very narrow range since early December (with one very brief excursion below the range in late December). That range is essentially 2250 to 2280, an amazingly small range for a 5-week period of time. As a result, realized volatility has declined to very low levels.
The stock market has split into two parts recently. Most of the major averages are moving sideways, but staying within easy range of new all-time highs. The NASDAQ Composite, however, and its smaller companion the NASDAQ-100 ($NDX) have been making new all-time highs frequently. This should be a good thing.
The $SPX chart remains bullish in that its trend lines are sloping upwards and support has held. There is support at 2233, and then at 2210 and 2190 below that.
The media confuses the various seasonal trading patterns that occur in January, but the January Barometer states that “As goes January, so goes the year.” This adage is about to be tested again this year.
Overall, the $SPX chart -- which is, by definition, the most important indicator -- remains positive. $SPX did have a pullback at year's end. The subsequent rally off of the 20-day moving average leaves support at 2233 (last Friday's lows). Below that, there is support at 2210 and 2190 (all marked on the chart in Figure 1).
The equity-only put-call ratios have pushed lower as the rally has continued. That means they remain on buy signals.
The final analysis on the $SPX chart is that it is still rising, with rising trend lines, and that means that it is still bullish. In the more traditional sense, there is support on the $SPX chart at 2210 and 2090.
