Stock-Market-Observations

DAILY UPDATE FOLLOWS THE BREAK

CHARTS

• MY CHART LINK (updated constantly)

• This link is to my personal charts and is open to the public.  It’s my playground for doodling trend lines, wave counts and other ideas.
• I draw the trend lines and wave counts on a daily basis (sometimes more often).
• When a market move has been going in one direction for a lengthy period of time, you will find the best trend lines and wave counts on charts with longer time frames.  This gives perspective to the lines and counts.  Perspective was a favorite of Edson Gould.
• I restrict my trend lines and wave counts to only a few charts, TSX, DJI, SOX and COMPQ.  The other charts on the page are usually for confirmation of the trend and wave structure.

• Page 1 – Buy/Sell Signals
• Page 2 – Indexes With 1 Minute Bars
• Page 3 – Indexes With 5 Minute Bars
• Page 4 – Indexes With 15  Minute Bars
• Page 5 – Indexes With 30 Minute Bars
• Page 6 – Indexes With 60 Minute Bars
• Page 7 – Indexes With Daily Bars (plus some indicators)
• Page 8 – Indexes With Daily Bars (candlesticks – last 13 months)
• Page 9 – Indexes With Daily Bars (since November 2008)
• Page 10 – Indexes With Weekly Bars (Candlesticks and Indicators, last 4 Years)
• Page 11 – Indexes With Weekly Bars (since 1981)
• Page 12 – Indexes With Monthly Bars (since 1981)

• Pages 13 through 16 are indicators.  The indicators are used to simply look for some type of leading action before a turn or confirming action of the wave count.  Page 13 is a look everyday indicator page.  The other indicator pages are less frequently visited.
• Page 17 through 29 are sector ETFs.  They represent most of the active sector ETFs and are always a good bet when looking for something that is breaking in a new direction.
• Page 30 through 42 are growth stocks.  These are stocks that have risen in price since 1990.  One qualification is that they must not be severely damaged in a bear market so they can’t rise to significant new highs in the following bull market.
• The growth stocks show daily market action for the last 3 years and weekly prices since 1990.  This gives a good perspective of how they have behaved in the immediate past (daily charts) and how they behaved during good and bad times (weekly charts).

WAVE COUNTS SIMPLIFIED

• My wave counts are not Elliott Wave!  It’s different, simple and functions without a maze of exclusions.

• There are 3 peaks (or valleys) to a completed wave count. A reversal of trend takes place after a completed wave count.   Often times it’s as simple as counting 3 bumps (or dips) on a chart . . . Other times, not so easy.
• In a downtrend the same rules apply except you are counting 3 dips instead of 3 bumps.
• Each group of 3 steps must stay confined to a channel.  Laying a pen or pencil on the chart will help you visualize the channel.
• As the trend progresses, all of the steps that make up a larger trend will also be confined to a larger channel.
• When the market breaks a channel (regardless of the perceived wave count), the current step has been terminated.  (Make sure your channel was correctly drawn before calling a termination).
• The correction following the second step is larger than the correction that followed the first step.  Obviously the correction following the third step is a reversal.
• A single wave may sub-divide into another 3 waves.  I will call this an extension.  When this happens (1) the trend is still intact, (2) the channel will widened and (3) instead of a total of 3 steps, there will be 5 steps.
• Sometimes I will use the terms “step” and “wave” interchangeably.

• Reading the glossary helps in the understanding of this blog.  There are many other important facts in the glossary.
• Glossary Link

ABBREVIATIONS

• DJI = Dow Jones Industrials
• DJT = Dow Jones Transportations
• SPX = SP 500
• ES = SP 500 Futures
• COMPQ = Nasdaq Composite Index
• TSX = Toronto Stock Exchange (Canadian blue chips)
• SOX = Semiconductors
• XLY = Consumer

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DAILY UPDATE

CLICK ON CHARTS TO ENLAGE

Yup, I accidentally published the one line update as I was doing some housecleaning in the blog (12/2/11).  That one line was supposed to be my lead line for my next update and so it will be today.

We’ve got the rally, now what???

Since November 28th, we appear to have completed 5 steps up and should begin a correction.  It probably began Friday morning.  Where the correction ends is the question.

I know the above chart is a little busy but it shows a lot of good info.

We have 2 red dotted support lines (based on prior lows) and black Fibonacci lines (based on the current rise) that show possible stopping points for a decline.  The 50% Fibonacci retracement is close to a red support line and this might be a good area for a deep retracement of the recent rally.  The lowest blue up trend line could also be a stopping point and maybe all 3 will converge on a single point in time.  All 3 lines converge on Tuesday but I like Wednesday but I’m not picky.  This chart can be found on page 4 of my charts.

One possible monkey wrench in the above scenario is the possibility that we had a rising correction on Monday and Tuesday (notice the stunted step 2).  That would mean we have only completed 2 steps up and another step up will occur this week.  This is a very realistic possibility.

Aggressive nuts can go short on Sunday in the S&P futures with a close stop at Friday’s high.  Of course if the futures open up strong on Sunday, that will end any thought of a short.  But if conditions are favorable and since I’ve been accused many times of being aggressiveness and nuts, I’ll probably short on Sunday with a very close stop.  The short would likely last a couple of days.  If I’m not right the damage will be minimal and one can always switch sides quickly because it could mean that step 3 up has not occurred.   The worst thing one can do is stay married to a wrong projection and ride it into oblivion.  Been there, done that.

Regardless, if things go as predicted in the next decline, I will probably issue a buy recommendation.  The ensuing rally should hold into year end (or longer).  As I had said previously this is a very strong seasonal part of the year and it pays to ride the current.

If we have finished the decline from February 2011 to October 2011, we could be on the verge of beginning large step 3 up.  If true, the rally could zig-zag over the next couple of years to new all-time highs (above Dow 14,200).  We’ll have to wait and see how this is going to work out but that is a best case scenario for the present.  Worst case would be another step down in the Feb – Oct decline.

Hopefully Europe’s problems will begin to diminish from the U.S. point of view.  If this happens, we may begin a sustained rise.  If not, then we will remain a pawn of Europe’s possible contagion problems.  The FED has ordered new stress tests on banks to see how they will do in a worst case European crisis.  At some point investors will realize that Europe’s problems are priced into the market.  When that happens we will begin a sustained rally.  It is expected that Europe will find enough band-aids to fix the problems for now.  In a couple of years (or less), that’s when the real problems will probably take place and mega step 3 down will begin.  See very long term view at the bottom of this update for a little history.

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EDSON GOULD

• Edson Gould, Premier Stock Market Strategist – Edson Gould had a profound influence on the development of my techniques and  indicators.  Prior to me subscribing to his advisory service, I was just one of the crowd.
• After 40 years I still have many of the publications from his advisory service, “Findings & Forecasts”.  Fearing the loss of these hard copy reports I have recently created pdf files of these reports.  Now I have hard copies and computerized versions of the reports.
• I have used a technique of his that I found in an obscure reference in one of his reports.  It was only mentioned once and never again.  I believe that he used this tool extensively and never told the world it’s importance.  Prior to my finding this tool, I had been trying unsuccessfully to find a different way to chart the market.  When I read about his technique I knew instantly that this was exactly what I had been seeking.  I have charted this method back to 1939 and found it to be very useful.  There is no mention of it in the reports that I posted below as I have deleted any reference to it.  It’s a super secret indicator and I’d have to kill you if I told you about it.
• This man was truly a legend in his own time.  It’s too bad that today most people have forgotten or never heard of him or his discoveries.  Because of this I have created pdf files of the best of his advice from the 1970s.  Below you will find only the first page of these reports.  A teaser is what you might call it.  The rest of the reports are available upon request.  This is a man that deserves to be remembered throughout technical analysis market history.

• The following are links to Edson Gould reports.

• My Most Important Discovery by Edson Gould
• It was also my most important discovery, for it explained the irrational volatility of markets that had mystified me in my early years.  During those early years I found nothing worked in predicting these irrational market swings.  But the fog lifted after reading this report and I began to understand how to begin predicting the market.

• Edson Gould Profile by MTA
• Edson Gould Concepts by William Scheinman

• Decade Cycle by Edson Gould
• Decade Cycle Update by Ned Davis

• Swing Principle by Edson Gould
• A measuring indicator
• Utilities by Edson Gould
• A forecasting indicator
• Dividends by Edson Gould
• Bonds by Edson Gould
• Speed Lines by Edson Gould
• Sentimeter by Edson Gould
• With companies failing to pay dividends commensurate with their earnings, this indicator has failed.  As the market climate continues to deteriorate through the coming years, I would expect dividends to return to their former levels and this indicator will once more become useful.  Prior to the late 1990s, it had 100 years of success.
• Bottoms by Edson Gould
• This was written and directed at the upcoming bottom in 1974 but it applies to all major bottoms.
• Three Steps by Edson Gould
• Where do you think my three steps principle came from???  Straight from this report although I modified the concept through the years.

• Edson Gould’s 1974 Forecast
• Gould’s 1974 forecast kept me bearish and short throughout 1974 until the week before Christmas 1974, during which I began making long term purchases.  After that it was ride the bull phases that transpired from 1975 to 1982.
• Edson Gould’s 1975 Forecast
• Edson Gould’s 1976 Forecast
• Edson Gould’s 1977 Forecast
• Edson Gould’s Five Year Forecast 1977 to 1982
• This was a remarkable forecast in 1977, where the Dow Industrials had never been higher than 1,000. NO ONE predicted a rise of this magnitude in 1977.  Most were waiting for a resumption of the bear market.
• As part of the 1977 to 1982 forecast: On Wednesday August 4, 1982 I went long the market for the first time in months.  By Friday, August 6 I was worried that I had made a mistake as I was deep in the hole (I was long the Kansas City Stock Market Contracts).  The Kansas City Stock Market Contract was the first of the stock index contracts (February 1982).  It was based on the Value Line Arithmetic Index, margin requirement were quite low, and it had a multiplier of 100 times the Value Line Arithmetic Index, which meant the leverage was very high.  On Friday (Aug 6) I took my wife to dinner and told her my tale of woe and whether I should sell my long positions.  I explained that my key indicator had reversed and continued higher on Thursday and Friday but the market had continued lower.  Since the key indicator was usually correct, we decided to stick it out for a few days more (I was crazy in those days).  My key indicator was mentioned by Gould only once in his market letters.  If you didn’t catch its importance, too bad, because he only gave you a peek.  Prior to Gould writing about this indicator I had been looking for one that had similar characteristics without success.  Thus when Gould wrote about it, I recognized instantly that I had struck gold.  I have modified this indicator slightly and researched it back to 1939.  This was a lot of work as it was before computers and online data (remember when Barrons was available only on paper, still is for the distant past).  Meanwhile on Monday August 9, 1982 the market took off like a rocket and never looked back.  I skyrocketed out of the hole and had a big profit.   In August 1982 the only people that were bullish were Edson Gould, Robert Prechter and myself (probably a couple of others but I didn’t know them).  Everyone else was extremely bearish.  It was a perfect example of crowd behavior.

• Sign Of The Bull by Edson Gould

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TRANSACTION SIGNALS

• ALL ACTIONABLE SIGNALS (buy or sell) ARE ONLY FOR SHORT TERM TIME FRAMES.  These signals are not designed for intermediate or long term time frames BUT . . . . .

• After a short term buy signal, long term tax status  can be achieved by a continuation of the upward trend, which causes short term actions to morph into long term holdings. 
  

• See more details in the glossary under “Taxes, Futures Contracts” and “Money Management”.

• Glossary Link

TRANSACTION RECORD

• In this blog a warning of an impending bottom (or top) is often issued well in advance of the formal buy or sell date.  This allows thoughtful consideration prior to a formal action signal.  To get a sense of how this works, you should read a few days prior to a formal buy/sell signal.  I often buy/sell in my personal account based on the early warnings.
• The transaction record near stock market bottoms will show that I am very skittish and usually remain so until the new direction is well underway.

• Buy signal in October 2011 was never issued due to a SERIOUS family illness
  
• SELL – SEPTEMBER 9, 2011
  
• BUY – AUGUST 30, 2011
• SELL – AUGUST 30, 2011 – Stopped out, re-bought quickly
  
• BUY – AUGUST 29, 2011
• SELL – AUGUST 25, 2011
• BUY – AUGUST 23, 2011
• SELL – AUGUST 1, 2011
• BUY – JUNE 23, 2011

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• Long Term – UP
  
• Uptrend
• Mar 2009 To Present
  
• Step 2 Up (of 3) Completed
• Has Step 3 Up Begun ???

• From the bottom in  March 2009
• Large step one up ended in May 2010
• Large step two up ended in May 2011.
• Significant break above the May 2011 highs should signal that Step 3 up is official

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• Very Long Term – DOWN
  
• Downtrend
• Jan 2000 To Present
  
•  Step 2 Down (of 3) Completed
• Currently In Rally Phase From Step 2 Down

VERY LONG TERM COMMENTS

We have 3 possibilities for the future.

• We have entered a very wide swinging market (megaphone formation) similar to that of 1966 to 1974. During that era we had three bear markets with two intervening bull market rallies.  Each bear market had a lower low than the previous bear.  The intervening bull market rallies saw new all time highs before the next bear market began.
• We also have formed a huge head and shoulders formation since 1998.  If this formation is valid, the downside measurement calls for a bottom around Dow Jones Industrials 1,000.
• We began a long term bull market in March 2009.  Each subsequent min-bear market will result in higher lows than the prior major low.

• I favor the megaphone formation as the most likely scenario.

Since 2000 we have had two bear markets, 2000 to 2003 and 2007 to 2009. Like 1966 to 1974, the recovery from the first  bear market saw a new all time high (2007 peak). It’s possible that we may experience another all time high during the present recovery period.  This would support the megaphone formation.  A failure to make new highs would support the head and shoulders argument.  In both formations the conclusion of the present recovery would call for a third and final bear market. An estimated time for the conclusion of the final bear market is approximately 2018.

The lesser downside target of both formations is the megaphone formation as it likely calls for a bottom 1,000 to 2,000 points below the 2009 low, which would be around Dow 5,000.

In the head and shoulders formation the measurement calls for a bottom around Dow Jones Industrials 1,000.  This is almost an unimaginable event regarding the possible fundamentals to create this scenario.  If this did happen, everything that could go wrong would have to go wrong.  The reasons range from the absurd to the absurdly absurd.  This scenario is so dark that it doesn’t seem possible but nevertheless, the head and shoulders formation is there and will be waiting until we pierce the all-time highs of October 2007.

Remember these are simply possible scenarios and are not embedded in fact.  Whatever the outcome, it never hurts to be a little cautious with some of your money.  But in the worst case scenario, everything that we take for granted as being safe . . . .  would not be safe.  This is something to never forget in the event things go very badly.

Hopefully we will never have to think about worst case scenarios other than to have a good laugh at them presently.

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MISCELANEOUS

• There are useful items throughout this blog.  For instance, the “Wall Street Quotes” can be very instructive.  So make sure and look all through the blog.

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