Extended Oversold Period Ends With Important Breakout – The Market Breadth

Stock Market Commentary: Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell reminded the market one more time about the Fed’s determination to fight inflation with normalized monetary policy, and the market cared for the briefest of moments. After the anti-inflation dust settled, the major indices closed trading on a strong note. For example, the extended oversold period came … Read more

Apple Leads A Picture-Perfect Bear Market Bounce – The Market Breadth

Stock Market Commentary: In the middle of last week, the S&P 500 was poised to hit bear market territory. Conditions were ripe with the stock market trading in deeply oversold territory and other indices toiling deeply in bear markets; a sharp rebound could happen at any time for any excuse. Both the S&P 500 and … Read more

Deeply Oversold and Still 98 Points from A Full Bear Market – The Market Breadth

Stock Market Commentary: The stock market finally dropped into deep oversold territory. Yet, on this third day of now extended oversold trading conditions, the S&P 500 (SPY) remains 98 points away from joining the NASDAQ and IWM in hitting a bear market (a 20% loss from its all-time high). The stock market is well on … Read more

It Took 519 Trading Days to Close Oversold – The Market Breadth

Stock Market Commentary: The last “official” oversold period was 519 trading days ago. After 8 different intraday dips into and out of oversold territory, the stock market finally closed in oversold conditions. The signs of a bear market include the inability to stay out of oversold conditions. Today’s series of breakdowns combined with further deterioration … Read more

How Much Longer Can the Market Avoid An Extended Oversold Period? – The Market Breadth

Stock Market Commentary: Despite recent bouts of trading in or like a bear market, market breadth has somehow managed to avoid closing in oversold conditions. In fact, the last “official” oversold period was 518 trading days ago. Yet, since the NASDAQ topped out in November, market breadth has dropped into and out of oversold on … Read more

The Worst Kind of Oversold Bounce – The Market Breadth

Stock Market Commentary: The expected first of the month buying only showed up in the last hour of trading, but it still made an important impression. The recovery created a picture perfect bounce off the oversold threshold. At the same time the S&P 500 perfectly tapped its May, 2021 closing low before recovering. The volatility … Read more

On the Way to Oversold, Fed Faces Test of Resolve – The Market Breadth

Stock Market Commentary: Trading extremes led to a snapback rally as expected. However, the rally was short-lived as bear market action quickly resumed. The stock market looks like it is on the way to oversold trading conditions as March closing lows failed to hold as support. Fear is palpable as traders and investors scramble to … Read more

Safety Trades Surge As Stock Market Stumbles Toward Oversold – The Market Breadth

Stock Market Commentary: The runway for (short-term) bearishness has greatly shortened. The classic safety trades sprung to life to add exclamation points to the broadening sell-off. After over 6 weeks of near relentless losses, the Japanese yen (FXY) caught a strong bid. Inflation fears returned to the background as traders eased into Treasury bonds (per … Read more

Resistance to the Fed Gives Way to the Bear – The Market Breadth

Stock Market Commentary: The stock market chopped into bearish conditions in the previous week. My reasons for bearishness were not obvious, but, as is typical, market breadth dynamics led my thinking. Last week, the stock market flagged very clear signs of bearishness. Resistance to the Fed in the form of disbelief in the process of … Read more

Chopped Into Bearish Trading Conditions – The Market Breadth

Stock Market Commentary: As expected, the S&P 500 took the spotlight in the latest week of trading. Earlier I noted that the index was a breakdown away from bearish trading conditions. The S&P 500 obliged and dropped under its 50-day moving average (DMA) (the red line below). However, the bearish call is challenging because sellers … Read more