How to Protect Gains After Surviving A Stock Market Sell-Off

The stock market crash in March was stomach-churning and generated a lot of panic. At its lowest point, the S&P 500 (SPY) was down 33.9% from its all-time high set just the previous month. The rebound from that stock market sell-off has been heroic with a 32.1% gain taking the index within another 14.6% rally … Read more

Stock Market Holds Tenuous Breakout from Oversold Conditions – Above the 40 (April 15, 2020)

AT40 = 21.5% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) (2nd day outside oversold conditions)AT200 = 10.1% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAsVIX = 40.8Short-term Trading Call: cautiously bullish Stock Market Commentary “Swift and sweeping fiscal and monetary policy responses from U.S. officials will ultimately support stock prices from … Read more

Green Shoots Begin Breaking Through Key Stock Downtrends – Above the 40 (March 24, 2020)

AT40 = 2.5% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) (20th oversold day)AT200 = 3.7% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs (new low for the oversold period)VIX = 61.7Short-term Trading Call: bullish Stock Market Commentary The week did not start as I feared with a 5th circuit breaker shut-down … Read more

Green Shoots for A Grinding and Historic Oversold Period – Above the 40 (March 20, 2020)

AT40 = 2.0% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) (18th oversold day)AT200 = 2.6% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs (new low for the oversold period)VIX = 66.0Short-term Trading Call: bullish Stock Market Commentary The bear market grinds on. At the time of writing, U.S. stock market futures … Read more

An Oversold Stock Market Stakes A Claim On A Bottom – Above the 40 (March 2, 2020)

The S&P 500 (SPY) jumped 4.6% and sliced right through 200DMA resistance.

AT40 = 11.4% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs)AT200 = 29.7% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAsVIX = 33.4Short-term Trading Call: bullish Stock Market Commentary On a day of incredible moves, I was most surprised that the stock market gave traders a chance to get in on the … Read more

A Book-Ends Kind of Week for Stocks (Above the 40) – December 6, 2019

AT40 = 59.3% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs)AT200 = 56.0% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAsVIX = 13.6Short-term Trading Call: neutral Stock Market Commentary Looking for buying opportunities paid off. A week that started with selling into trade troubles ended with the celebration of an exceptionally strong … Read more

A Growing Bearish Divergence Has Yet to Spoil Rally In Stock Indices – Above the 40 (November 8, 2019)

AT40 = 57.4% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs)AT200 = 54.9% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAsVIX = 12.1Short-term Trading Call: neutral Stock Market Commentary The stock market seems to be on a slow and steady march toward Christmas. The current bearish divergence and an exceptionally low volatility … Read more

A Narrowing Rally and A Sentiment Shift Define the Stock Market – Above the 40 (October 25, 2019)

AT40 = 59.4% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs)AT200 = 53.1% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAsVIX = 12.7Short-term Trading Call: neutral (see below) Stock Market Commentary A Sufficient Resolution I still harbor lingering skepticism, but the S&P 500’s recovery from the last hiccup and its subsequent slow … Read more

New Pressures for the Stock Market Despite Fade in Concerning Signals – Above the 40 (September 27, 2019)

AT40 = 61.4% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs)AT200 = 52.8% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAsVIX = 17.2Short-term Trading Call: cautiously bearish (caveats below) Stock Market Commentary A Conditionally Bearish Breakdown Friday’s trading action triggered my prime condition for flipping bearish. AT40 (T2108), the percentage of stocks … Read more

The Stock Market Fights Through Concerning Signals – Above the 40 (September 25, 2019)

AT40 = 68.9% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs)AT200 = 55.6% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAsVIX = 16.0Short-term Trading Call: neutral Stock Market Commentary One More Risk to Ignore An impeachment inquiry, an “admission”, and fresh promises from President Trump about getting a trade deal done with … Read more