S & P - No [Confirming] Signal Of A Top, yet

Monday  27 May 2013

There is a reason why the trend is the most important consideration when positioning
in any market.  The number of profitable shorts, as of last week, can still be counted on
one hand, at least those who remain amongst the ranks of the devastated ones still trying
to pick a top.  The most money is lost picking tops and bottoms, but top-pickers are always
at odds with that fact.  Richard Dennis lost more money trying to buy sugar under 5 cents
than he did buying at higher prices on previous occasions.  He ranks as a poster child for
money lost in bottom-picking, and he was a highly regarded professional player.

No matter.   Top-picking egos have been clamoring for a top over the past several months.
Like a stopped clock, one day they will be right.  We prefer to let the markets reveal their
message and respond to it, rather than front-run it.

What will be evident in viewing charts from over  three time frames, monthly, weekly, and
daily, is that the trend is unequivocally up, and that is a strong statement from the market.

Where many may have anticipated the possibility of a triple top, the Fed-driven market
sailed right through what would normally be resistance.  One has to remember that the
anticipated resistance was just potential, and it had to be confirmed by market activity
showing signs of weakness and reversal behavior.  It never happened.

The failure of a triple top is a great example of why one should follow the message from
developing market activity and not front-run and get run over in the process.  The channel
shows that there is still room to rally without being in an overbought condition.  What may
provide valuable information will be the location of the close by the end of the week.  A
strong close will mean continuation.  A weak close could signal a possible turn, but it takes
time to turn a trend, so one does not have to be the first one in.

The dashed portion of the channel represents future support/resistance, once the first
three points are established, the two swing lows in 2009 and 2011, forming the bottom
support line, and a line parallel to it using the swing high between those points, 2010.

What has many bears-in-waiting salivating is the weekly Outside Key Reversal [OKR].
Just like one swallow does not a summer make, nor does a single bar necessarily reverse
a trend.  It may lead to a trend reversal, but further proof of confirming market activity
is required.

What is interesting about the weekly chart is the location of current price activity within
the channel.  It is not reaching the top of the channel.  The OKR is occurring at the mid-
point of the channel, generally a sign of a weakening trend.  An important issue with that
observation is the fact that price also failed at a similar mid-point back in September of
2012 and was still able to keep the trend intact.

It is simply a piece of information of which to be aware.

An OKR also developed on the daily chart, last Wednesday, 3rd bar from the right.  The
volume was exceptionally strong.  Volume was also strong the next day, with a lower high,
lower low, and lower close, but note the location of the close.  It was at the upper end of
the bar, and that is the market telling us that despite the increased volume and effort to
drive price lower, buyers were in control by the end of the day.

If an OKR at a [potential] high is a sign of weakness, more weakness should follow.  The
exact opposite happened, as noted on Thursday.  This reflects the power of a trend and
how it takes a lot of effort to reverse it.

Friday’s close showed a drop in volume, and that equates to a lack of follow-through
selling pressure.  The upper end close shows buyers still in control.  Unless and until
weakness enters the picture, one has to respect the trend.  If long, one would want to
be moving up stops on all stock positions for protection, in case a turn does develop.

As for being short, it may be appropriate for individual stocks that have been under-
performing the current market rally, but there is no reason for shorting the market at
current levels.  What can never be known in advance is how future price activity will
develop.  The trend, [and Fed effort], may not be over, and based upon how the market
has been up, up, and still up since September 2011, it is a message not to be ignored.

If more weakness enters the market next week, or sometime soon after, there will be
ample time to take a short position when a turn in trend says it makes sense, to then
make dollars from that side of the market.

One interesting piece of factual information is the last two times the S&P traded at an
all-time new high and reversed downward to close more than 1% below the high were at
the March 2000 and October 2007 highs.  Will the same hold true this time around?
If it does, we will see market weakness to substantiate it.

Let the market be your guide.  It never disappoints, unless its message is disregarded.