Over the past three years, as the dollar hit its yearly cycle low, it has rallied strongly. On the weekly chart, when the yearly trough coincided with the weekly RSI being oversold, the dollar rallied for 2 intermediate cycles.
I would say that seasonally, this appears to be a very bullish time for the dollar.
Now as you know gold peaked last December, consolidated - during this bullish time for the dollar - and it took two daily cycles before gold started rallying again.
It seems that gold and the dollar are setting up the same way this time except gold peaked a few weeks earlier or am I missing something?
Ike, I think you need to expand your view past the last three years. Look at the last 30 years. You will see the dollar forms a major three year cycle low every 3 to 3 1/2 years.
Yes the recent bottom was probably a yearly cycle low but the three year cycle low is still ahead for the dollar. That will of course mark the yearly cycle low for 2011 when it arrives.
Trust me with two rounds of massive QE there's no way Bernanke gets out of this without at least a mild currency crisis in the dollar.
Good article. Every single approach can be used well and every approach can be used badly. The trick is to pick a style and do it well. Without money management and risk control every trader will eventually go broke (the analog to Gary's "Every user of huge leverage will eventually go broke.") For a trader the rules are simple: stops, appropriate position sizing, let winners run, cut losses, don't panic in or out, go counter overwhelming sentiment. Easy to say, hard to do, but if actually followed strictly anyone can trade.
80.63 is the 38.2% restracement level of the entire move down in the dollar. I'm wondering whether this is a more important traget to look at rather than the round 80 number. For Friday, at least, it seemed to bounce off that number. Who knows what Monday will bring.
Also not sure if our carriers which are now in Korea will calm people down or cause people to be more alarmed (i.e., dollar up or dollar down).
Also curious the effect that this will have on gold AND silver as they may respond differently given the reactions.
If you're looking at $USD levels that might mark a pullback, if not a reversal, you might also keep in mind the 200dma (currently 81.74), which would also be the ballpark for an A=C move from the lows.
As for the ZH article, I have no opinion (other than to note that ZH isn't afraid to go a bit overboard at times on their analysis and extrapolations)) except for the ending paragraph, where they note a last-minute buy of 2K Feb gold. The suggestion, I assume, was that some smart and large buyer was front-running a big move up next week.
The CME report for yesterday appears to show nothing quite so remarkable except a lot of contract rolling from Dec to Feb that actually netted a small reduction in OI between the two. The net add was mostly in April.
My buy point was lower than we went on fri. There was no action on my part.
I can't just buy a 'drop'. That's too vague. I have to have specific entry and exit parameters. Mine were not met.
However, I'm still mindful that a continuation up in the metals right now would seem to catch many unaware. As I read and observe what I and others have done, it is clear that many people have lightened and sold down - if not completely out (the trader-types.)
A resumption to the upside would clearly fall into the category of the market's faking out the most people, again.
The metals ARE going higher, it is just a question of if we get some kind of pullback for a few weeks first. I'm still betting on the pullback scenario, but I'm VERY closely watching for the opposite.
The odds would favor a decline right now, being that the dollar broke 80, and we're in the timing band for an intermediate low in the next few weeks (I believe we're now in week 21 (is it 22?) and trough to trough averages 20-25 weeks).
The previous miner pullbacks were very short lived. I will be patient but not greedy when it comes to the probable pullback upcoming.
I also don't know where you get your sentiment readings from TZ, but I would say bulls outweigh bears significantly right now in PMs as well as stocks. One would think that it needs to completely inverse, bears need to significantly outnumber bulls for the next cycle to begin upwards.
I think the next few weeks will be significant (I'm wagering downwards).
Robert: I don't believe the sentiment needs to reverse. That would need to happen to halt a major decline, but in the middle of an upmove you just need to work off the extreme bullishness before the rally resumes. "More bears than bulls"will come at the next intermediate low. At the next intermediate high we need to get to "tons of bulls" so we need to have "lots of bulls" and keep rallying even with all those bull present to get to a truly lopsided extreme. TZ: I'm out and nervous about it because it is a lot easier to be out right now than in, so I agree that the biggest fooler would be a resumption. But there were also a lot of late buyers that have yet to be punished very much, so we'll see...
i think we will be going up starting early next week. Sentiment is bearish right now stemming from cycle theory, dollar strength to the head and shoulders pattern on the metals.I re-entered long position in gold friday before the close and will re-enter silver sunday evening.
Seems to me gold is forming a triangle on the weekly chart, which would imply one more push higher before the int decline just to fool everybody that jumped out to jump back in before a bigger decline....
I don't really see a triangle. I do see a possible bear flag that's in the process of breaking down. But I think we've all gotten burned enough times to not trust chart patterns anymore.
Just follow the plan.
If the prior cycle low is violated then reduce to a minumum core position as the odds will have gone up tremedously that the intermediate cycle correction has begun.
You cover your OIH? I didn't follow you on that trade but I am short energy. I felt like covering Friday, didn't, but hopefully next week will lead us into an intermediate decline ;).
Gary you over or under 10 bedrooms with all your earnings?
The problem with technical patterns is that they are so watched now they rarely come true. Every software package out there identifies all the most popular patterns, and people are just waiting to suck you into them, and do the opposite of normal. The last 18 months of head and shoulder patterns that never confirmed pretty well sum it up.
You guys really think the market is opt to go higher right away, and the dollar immediately turn around? That is hard to see with the dollar busting through 80. I think we'll be above 80 for some time, and I don't think equities and gold can rally during this state.
Assuming we're approaching, prior to Spring, the dollar's 3-year cycle low, one would think that an intermediate decline, prior to this subsequent healthy rise in equities and PMs would be probable.
The only contrary thought is to see all these Head and Shoulder patterns that are appearing everywhere to not produce the expected results in an exact fashion. The int low will happen, no doubt about that.
The OEX put/call ratio 10 DMA has moved rapidly from a neutral/bullish stance 2 weeks ago to bearish. It is lower than it has been for three years and fell very steeply.
This is not considered to be a contrarian indicator as it's not the money [the trading of OEX options is dominated by professional hedgers].
This looks a bit scary to me .... coupled with the unusually high selling last month by insiders.
Possibly smart money thinks the food riots etc starting to manifest in China will reverse the growth theme and deflate stock markets and commodities.
Presumably if we are in for a larger than anticipated correction, PMs and PM stocks will also be hit. :o
First off the OEX options data is very volatile so it could be nothing more than OEX traders expected a one or two day drop.
Insider selling is completely worthless for timing tops. Insiders sell for a whole host of reasons. I can assure you insiders aren't any better at timing tops than anyone else and they are usually way too early.
Insider buying is a great timing tool for bottoms though.
The fact remains that we still don't have a large SoS day and no significant intermediate top has begun without one of those in the last 5 years.
Despite the dollar rise I think everyone understands the dollar isn't rallying because of deflationary forces it's rising because currency traders are selling the Euro right now and that's the only reason the dollar is rallying.
With Ben printing willy nilly it's going to be tough to get a sustained correction. Case in point the dollar has rallied 4 points and the stock market is only down 3%.
I understand your thoughts on the dollar leading most markets right now. However, isn't the Korean situation something that would normally be gold positive (although maybe not so much gold equities). What do you think?
Also, do you think silver will act differently than gold in this situation?
It seemed like THE DOC called the dollar low weeks ago ,but at that time you and him were experiencing different views of where we were in the dollar and the Gold cycles.
Since the dollar rallied (and you both do cycle analysis) , Are you and him now counting dollar lows from the same point regarding the dollar cycle low..or do you and him have different starting points?
Also, will you be reporting daily during the time you are in Hawii ( not the blog, I mean subscriptions).thx
You tell John that OEX option numbers are volatile as if that somehow explains the highest OEX put purchases since 2007.
Thinking through SoS will show why these numbers will not necessarily show what you are hoping. When the SoS becomes intense, the numbers can simply disappear.
Why? Because the intense selling results in a down day, and there are no clues left in SoS numbers. This is a dangerous statistic on which to rely.
I think I can make a very good case for the stock market moving into an intermediate cycle low. I wish you would entertain this idea and work on timing the low.
Wes, I have been watching for a day where it was intense but turned the day positive and so far I haven't seen one. But the fact remains that every single intermediate decline except one since 05 has seen one or more of these SoS days.
You can dismiss that if you want to. I find it pretty hard to dismiss something that has an almost perfect record.
Now that doesn't mean we can't get an intermediate decline. Heaven knows we have all the ingredients in place. Sentiment has become extremely bullish, we are 22 weeks into an intermediate rally, and the dollar has bounced out of an intermediate cycle low.
But with the Fed willing to print whatever it takes and no SoS numbers I wouldn't be willing to bet heavily on a significant decline or an extended one.
We already got a very extended daily cycle. The odds are the current cycle will now be shortened. That suggests this intermediate correction could be over in another 2-3 weeks. And we may be lucky to even see a move back to the 200 DMA.
Robert: Nope. Still short OIH, SMH, and UNG. Interested in seeing what Monday brings. Which has more pull? Good Holiday retail numbers or Korea? I am not especially bearish so will likely honor my break-even stops if need be (I almost never put in actual stop orders).
Gary: Those OEX numbers, as Wes said, are quite extreme, and we are talking about the ten day MA, so it's not a "daily volatility" situation. Also, there's a big gap between a "one or two day decline" and an intermediate decline. My guess is a week or two down, which wouldn't need a SoS day, but would still honor the OEX numbers. Then rally into New Year's and then have our standard NDX tank in January. This connects all the dots (so probably won't happen!)
If we get the intermediate correction now, then we shouldn't see immediate weakness again in January. That should only happen if an intermediate cycle was going to fail and if an intermediate cycle fails this quickly there's a good chance the secular bear market has returned.
The only way this works cyclically is if this is only a daily cycle correction and we will soon see stocks and gold rally back to new highs.
Then we get the intermediate top in January.
The problem is that for that to happen this has to be a a dead cat bounce in the dollar index that needs to roll over into the normal timing band for an intermediate bottom in late December.
I think the Korean situation threw a big monkey wrench in what was likely unfolding cyclically in the dollar, stocks and gold.
Do I think we are going to see a war in Korea? Not really. Do I think tensions are going to ease overnight? Probably not.
If the market is ready to dip down into an intermeidate cycle low it needs a catalyst. Something that it can convince itself is bigger than Ben's QE.
It won't be bigger than QE but that's not the point, we just need something to give the market an excuse to sell off despite Ben dumping in billions of dollars everyday.
I don't think Ireland was ever going to be the catalyst because they pretty much setup the bailout immediately.
I look at more than just psychology indicators. I also look at monetary and valuation statistics as well as seasonal signals.
The early winter through spring of the second year of a presidential cycle has been particularly strong in the past. Coupled with the monetary and valuation numbers, I predict that when the market turns up, there will be no good entry points for a long time. I'm thinking straight up for months.
But, first we have to do something about those psychology indicators. About the only way they can be changed in in a hurry is for something really scary to happen.
I have sizable limit orders set in case of a flash crash.
whether Ben (and europe) can get the dollar turned back around on Monday or Tuesday.........if that happens ...then the USD is very close to a high and the next cycle being extremely left translated would probably not go higher than what we have right now which means the PMs could be in a position to be at a low now so.....i might be worth dipping in yer toes
Wes, I think you can probably throw out all your presidential cycle data as being useless at this point. We are in the post credit bubble phase.
Credit bubbles have always in the past led to a depression. I doubt this one will be any different. The only difference will be whether we choose a deflationary or inflationary one.
If we continue to go down the inflationary path then commodity prices will continue to soar as liquidity continuously leaks out of the stock market and into the commodity markets. Eventually this will collapse the economy again just as it did in the summer of `08.
The place to be is in the sectors that will benefit from this liqudity leak. It certainly won't be the general stock market. That will continue to underperform just as it has from the beginning of the commodity bull in 2001 and the underperformance will only intensify the more furiously Ben prints.
Remember the next 4 year cycle low is due in the March to Nov. time frame 2012. Most bear markets require at least a year to run their course with a year and a half being the norm.
That being the case and the dollar scheduled to put in a major 3 year cycle low next spring we should see the next true deflationary event begin as the dollar rallies out of the 3 year cycle low.
That should mark the start of the next leg down in the long term secular bear market that began in March of 2000.
But even if we still have a few months of gains ahead I doubt the stock market will make any huge gains, certainly nothing even vaguely approaching what we will see in the precious metal sector or commodity sector in general.
Brian, March 09 was the 4 year cycle low. But it was an extremely stretched and aborted cycle caused by the Fed's extreme dollar debasement.
The four year cycle should have bottomed in 2006 but the Fed went on a massive debasing campaign and the cycle stretched to March 2008. Then the Ben really turned up the presses and aborted what should have been an extreme left translated cycle in March 09.
The end result is that we are now dealing with very distorted markets brought on by the Fed's attempts to halt the secular bear market.
It has already caused a credit and real estate bubble of which we are now suffering the hangover from.
Bernanke has learned nothing from the mess he created so he's now going to great an even bigger catastrophe with his printing press. That will start with a currency crisis next spring that should spike inflation enough to destroy the economy all over again.
That along with the continuing after effects of the credit bubble will trigger the next leg down in the secular bear market that is due to bottom sometime in 2012. (a shortened cycle almost always follows a stretched one. So we can expect the next 4 year cycle to run 3 years into 2012.
Gary, if the break below 1348 gets triggered overnight but then bounces back by morning do we still retreat to a minimum core position or do we wait to see what happens during the day tomorrow?
OEX put buying is now about the highest in 20 years. Dumb money option traders are buying are at about a 5 year low in put buying.. Not a good recipe for further rally. Am holding my shorts. added TZA Friday.
I would believe that there are ways for the big guys to try to estimate, at least partially, how many people are looking to deliver based on volumes at particular firms, open interest now compared to historical norms, spys, system hacking, or whatever. But there is also probably enough unknown that surprises could result EOD today and into tomorrow as the true number becomes apparent. Clearly delivery surprises occur in all kinds of futures markets (cocoa being the most recent example i think), but this market is important enough that I would think steps have been taken to minimize such a surprise. We will see.
>Gary you over or under 10 bedrooms with all your earnings?
Are you purposely going to continue trying to alpha-male people on this board who you feel may be either smarter or richer than you? I ask honestly cause you may not realize you are doing it.
It isn't necessary to keep throwing out these slights or one-ups.
TZ: I have a serious question. Your long analysis of complicated situations is interesting, but does it actually help you make any money in the markets? There are always a few persuasive arguments on each side of an issue, so for me it just makes my head spin (which is why I am a primarily a technician except on major macro stuff, like gold being good---too much fundamental noise day to day. You have talked just a little about stops, money management, position sizing, etc. which seem infinitely more important to me. Does the complex analysis help you get into profitable situations, and if so how? Who can really figure out the delivery issues, and even so they might be price into the market already---or not. What am I missing here?
Metals are a bull. That's what I invest in. I pretty much do it technically.
My comment about delivery isn't some sort of strategy. I have no trade or 'play' based on it.
I mention it here for those who might not have much knowledge of the futures markets (or less than I do), do not know when particular dates occur, or what they might mean.
There ARE delivery issues that arise in futures markets. We ARE expecting at *some point* to have delivery issues with gold and silver. It is at least worthwhile to know and be aware of small time frames when that possibility is highest - as it is NOW.
If, for example, we saw a surprise gap up today or tomorrow, we would need to conclude that an overwhelming and surprising (to those short) number of people are holding for delivery. If something like that occurred it would be critical to re-examine being reduced or at core, imo.
I'm at core position expecting lower prices and I will be entering (leveraged - like it appears you trade) using my own technicals in combination with gary's assistance.
Does that answer things? You seem to think that every possible statement a person says needs to have a specific, immediately actionable trade attached to it. This doesn't - unless something weird happens in next day or two.
I'm responsible for many deleted posts. I was not aware that you were involved in that process or that it required action on your part. I have checked blogger.com help and can't determine how comments work from your view. Can you elaborated?
If a person posts then deletes, do you get and view the deleted post?
TZ: Oh no, certainly not "every possible statement" needs to be actionable, but I am unable to divine out an action strategy after so many of yours that I was wondering if I was missing something. I certainly don;t mind them being posted. And Robert: I agree with TZ. We have a pretty civil blog here after getting rid of the anonymous posters a month or so ago, so if you can take the personal attacks down a notch it'd be more pleasant reading for everyone. And Gary: Can you just leave the deleted comment? No one wants to give you more work! I'd rather just see them there than have you need to clean them up.
You're far too emotional for me to pay attention to you. You are a sensationalist, which almost always is a trait of a poor investor.
You mention all these things and then say that you are not making a play on the information you provided. If you were so adamant or confident about all the information you spew on here, and you're not making a play on it, then you're just creating unnecessary noise here IMO. Good day.
Sorry to ask such a novice question, but if the stop is at $1348 for gold and I have a position in SIL which requires a share price for a stop, how do I do that?
Elaine, You should be able to set up a trade trigger to key off GLD. If GLD trades at or below $131 sell whatever you want to sell to return to a minimum core position.
If you aren't familiar with trade triggers call your broker, he will be able to tell you how to set iut up.
Wes: You covering anything? The short side is getting more interesting to me as we go down, not less (added some more TZA this morning). Do you have a target in mind?
I was tempted to cover S&P this morning, but seeing how the Irish news did calm the market we could be looking a few days of selling. Maybe a Portuguese bailout is needed sooner than later? 10yr above 7% this morning.
The euro just popped up on my screen as close to a buy (Man I love stockcharts.com). Looks like about 129.50 on FXE would do it. I will post if/when i buy it.
To those that do not understand TZ's posts, or think they are frivilous, I would sugget be careful trading the precious metal bull. Clearly, TZ is an experienced futures trader and just shares his knowledge and opinion on the futures market. Not watching the futures market in gold and silver yet being invested in precious metals would be like...well, ignoring cycles analysis, not a good idea.
And to those that always want to know if TZ every makes a profit, give it a break. Let's hear about some of your trade ideas and how they worked out.
TZ is an honest poster who shares his trade ideas and win or lose he owns up to it. What do you want from a blog discussion group?
The PMs' resilience in the face of this dollar rally since last night is quite impressive. They could always break down further, of course, but you have to see this as a nice "high consolidation" that will lead to another nice leg up once the dollar breaks down again.
Of course waiting until the cycle timing bands are hit for a low before loading up again is the prudent course. But it's been nice not to take as big a hit as would have been expected during this dollar rally. Just shows the depth/breadth of this gold/silver bull (i.e. across all currencies).
We came within a hair of breaking below the previous daily cycle low on the SPX (1173.64 vs. 1173.00). Soooo close, so far.
Interesting divergence elsewhere as the COMPQ and RUT are well above the previous low, and the DOW broke below. So smaller caps strength is bullish? Indicating a rally to come?
The VIX is in position to give one of it's buy signals (buy stocks); i.e. a close outside the 20 BB and then a close back inside.
Please let TZ post his views. Do remember that cash is also a position.
A trader I know who primarily trades equities, is up about 30% this year, when his total average exposure to the market would be around 40%. i.e. he is never fully invested, and when invested it is rarely a large part of his portfolio. He just looks for high risk-reward opportunities, and even hedges those. His objective is to minimize draw-downs, and he is very profitable with very limited exposure to the market.
A lesson I learnt is that it is best to be a patient listener. You can always ignore what you do not agree with.
Very strange cycle timing. The stock market looks like it wants to drop into an intermediate low. It is due and the dollar is rallying. However we don't have a SoS day.
Oil has definitly put in its cycle low. Rising energy stocks are going to support the market.
I still think the Korea mess threw a monkey wrench into the dollar's intermediate cycle.
Yeah, so much contradiction/confusing, or it is "supposed" to come off that way today. Dollar up, Gold up, Oil up, stocks down. I think this dead time, market uncertainty for an extended period of time, can really create a situation where many traders make many mistakes (get too emotional). I'm holding my shorts now, it looks like I may have to hold them until next week, but we'll see what happens. I have no problem getting back into silver if we see some healthy momentum upwards any day now.
You're still my favorite. I joined you in watching your 3 AM potential gold sabotage on Friday. I just find it silly that you put out so much information, it is usually good information too, that is extremely bias in one direction yet then you don't even have the conviction to put your money where your mouth is. This is not an insult just an observation. To anyone else spewing hate towards me, I'll kick your ass (unless of course you train with Gary) :-P
Now let me get back to work so I can afford another year of SMT. :-7
USO (oil) has just popped up on my screen as a high-probability short-side trade. I know Gary is saying oil put in an intermediate low, but short-term it's in trouble. Gary: have you ever figured out how to fax a burrito? I don't get to Vegas, but if I short it I bet one I make money on my short trade (I am already ahead in OIH). You asked that I post my exits. The only one I am getting itchy in is UNG as I am up 6% in three days on that short, but am not seeing a reason to cover yet.
Onlooker " Interesting divergence elsewhere as the COMPQ and RUT are well above the previous low, and the DOW broke below. So smaller caps strength is bullish? "
small caps are not impacted by dollar as much. In general, economy news are getting better, I suspect PMI tomorrow will be good. just my 2 cents
I never look at things like the weather. The question is whether the winter seasonality is already priced into the price of oil. If everyone has already bought OIL and USO in anticipation of winter, the ETF's have to go down, as there will be no new buying to support the price. I never wonder whether it's in the price or not (no one can ever really know). I just know if I short it when it's at an upside over-done extreme I am highly likely to win (if I don't screw up my trading, that is!)
Gary, I guess you're offline right now. You're not going to bet me that burrito if OIL is down a lot by the time you respond. Oh well, I'll just assume you made the bet (nice of me, eh?)
Fair enough, Gary. I have no idea whether oil will make a new low, and thanks for correcting "anyone can make counter trend profits" because as you well know that is NOT easy. It's taken me 25 years to get the right set of indicators together. I do it for "lunch money" while waiting for a major setup. I have had a lot of lunches this year. O.K. no burrito on this one. I'll have to make enough on the trade to buy one myself.
we barely got any bears on this intermediate decline especially in gold and silver. Those getting in during this consolidation are going to get whipsawed as it goes down from here. They'll feel the pain for a few days or week then sell early in the red or as it passes back up in the green. Long shot for it to go right back up again at break $1282, IMHO.
Folks it's too late in the intermediate cycle to be pressing hard on the long side of gold. I think if we were going to get the parabolic move we needed to be over $1450 already. It is half way through the daily cycle and we aren't even close to making new highs yet.
Gold can rally against a rising dollar but it can't make a parabolic run against a rising dollar. If we do see a final cycle higher it will likely just make a marginal new high before moving down into an intermediate low.
The big move for this leg has already happened. The next big move will come out of the intermeidate cycle low, whenever that happens. For now just follow the plan.
We will look to step on the gas hard again at the next intermediate bottom.
Just shorted CCJ at 36.92. Big intraday reversal on high volume (like SLV) then rallying into the reversal day on light volume. This is a good shorting pattern. A question: Does anyone find these trading ideas useful? Happy to post if so, but if no one does I'll only post my SPX buys and sells like I used to. (and go UNG!)
I find them useful although I rarely trade them. I did buy some UNG puts the other day when you first posted your UNG trade and just finished closing them out. Was a good trade.
I find your trading ideas useful..I have been following most of your posts and recently executed one of your trades..please continue posting your ideas..Thank you.
oa92000: I can't share my screens because I am in the middle of starting a hedge fund base on them and my partners would be very unhappy! stockcharts lets you program your own screens and I have input the data I use.
Poly: Yeah. Gary had been using $200mm, but was feeling that, given the money sloshing around and the volatility it'd take more, but this is surely plenty. Of course, it can change in the late after-the-close posting, so keep an eye out about two hours after the close for that final number. I hope it sticks!
Last year we saw SOS numbers like that in October and exited half of our positions just to see the market rally another 30% for a month and a half. SOS is not a timing tool.
wow...That 500 and 551 SOS number showed up as soon as the SPX turned positive for the day!! Now, as I type (3:58 EST), with the SPX in the RED, if it closes in the RED, that SOS number will just disappear from the End of Day data!!
Gary, thoughts on this? 551 SOS @ 3:30 pm, SPX finishes 1 point in RED and SOS number disappears from EOD data.
Robert--You wrote: DG, does that mean you're going to have to go into the office daily? ;) Huh? I'm apparently to dense for your reference.
Gary: You've been saying you needed to see this to believe an intermediate decline is coming. Now that it's here you are saying it may be 2 months early. Seems like you just don't want to believe a decline here. Your holdout indicator just rolled over and bullishness is rampant. Why the hesitancy now?
Sold my RBY a week ago (bummer!!) , but my MNEAF , AMOK , UXG had big surprize to the upside. Big surprize since I was going to hold them as they pulled back. volume up looked good too. crazy day.
KBX and HL not too bad either, but i dont own them
Robert: That's the great thing. I'm launching it with an existing fund 50-50 but I get to stay home and call in orders to them in my underwear! No road show, no office, just my trading system and advising. I hope I can pull this off as it would be quite the deal. Wes: the SPY was up 37 cents today. Remember it's SPY not SPX, so we will get it, and there was "strength" (assuming it doesn't change too much in the late posting)
aviat72, but I believe they were all below $100 though, right?
Robert, the equity must end positive to constitute a technical SoS. Obviously total money flow could be negative when the stock is negative for the day, as you point out.
Robert, My suggestion has always been not to get tangled up in the mess that is the stock market. We have titanic forces pushing and pulling the market back and forth.
Does one really want to get sucked into that to maybe make some small profits on the short side, and then only if you time the exit perfectly?
DG, My answer is kind of the same as what I said to Robert. We aren't in a confirmed bear market so I'm not keen about trying to play the short side for the reasons I stated above.
In the long run I will make a lot more money (and lose a lot less) if I just let corrections happen and then buy the dip (in bull markets).
I learned a long time ago that trying to catch every swing up and down was mostly a losing proposition for me (and for most people).
Now maybe the large SoS number will signal the beginning of an intermediate decline and maybe it will be a poor timing tool again like it has many times in the past. With Bernanke printing like crazy how far can we really expect a correction to go?
For me it's not worth trying to fight with something like that. I would rather just wait patiently for gold to dip down into an intermediate decline and then I will reload heavily knowing I have the safety net of a secular bull market under me.
QEII has been a non-event for the stock market (and I'd guess for gold,too). It was already priced in.
You seem to think that because the event hasn't taken place yet, it cannot be priced in. You know that is not right. This happens all the time in markets.
Fair enough Gary. So it's not that there is some reason not to expect an intermediate dip (other than Ben's printing), just that you have no interest in allocating capital there. I am happy to make money on the short side while waiting for gold to bottom. At that point I will be all in in gold like I was until the recent bounce after the reversal day, but if I see money lying on the sidewalk I am happy to bend over and pick it up (so to speak---were that it were that easy!).
Wes, your point is fair, but that's why it pays to look at it during the day. If it is big all day and then the SPY closes down a few cents, it's still telling us something. I think the near $600mm is significant, but I'd never bet on just one indicator. Given everything else you and I have blogged about I am happy to see it.
Wes, It's not possible to "price in" QE. This isn't a jobs number that can be guessed at in advance. This is new money being constantly pumped into the market.
Haven't you wondered why a 5 point rise in the dollar has had almost no effect on the stock market?
The reason of course is that the dollar is only strong because traders are irrationally selling the Euro. That doesn't mean that dollars are becoming scarce, they aren't. Quite the opposite. Ben is flooding the world with new ones.
It's going to be tough to get a sustained correction in that kind of environment. I dare say if Bernanke hadn't stopped QE in March we never would have seen the flash crash in May. It would have most likely just unfolded as a very mild correction.
Do you expect smart money to sell on weakness? Nobody ever wants to sell on weakness. Gary's tested the SPY SoS prudently (I don't think he lies). I also believe he's tested many indicators and if this didn't meet his criteria it wouldn't obviously be of importance.
Wes, Of course not. It's because big money sells into strength. They aren't unloading on down days. If they did that they would move the market even further against themselves.
And the indicator is actually one of the best tools we use even if it isn't a perfect timing devise. On a pure price level it almost never has a losing trade.
So even if this signal turns out to be early it will most likely still turn out to be a winning signal because at some point the market will trun down into an intermediate decline and the smart money that sold today will be able to re-enter at lower prices.
You are missing the point. The SoS either occurs or not completely independent of whether the SPY closes positive or not.
But, when SPY never goes positive during the day, we cannot tell whether SoS is happening or not by looking at this source (WSJ) of data
That's what makes it an unreliable indicator.
As a technical matter, the SoS data are generated when the SPY is sold on a downtick. Whether this downtick occurs above or below yesterday's close is immaterial. Yet, the WSJ source only shows it on up days.
Wes, You are missing the fact that 5 years worth of data strongly suggest that SoS days precede an intermediate correcction and BoW days usually precede an intermediate bottom.
Virtually no top or bottom occurs without seeing one or more of these days. So whether or not it's happening intraday is irrelevant. History says we are going to see at least one or more prior to any major reversal.
So the wise thing to do is wait for one before taking positions against an intermediate trend.
I don't delude myself into thinking I can time every wiggle in the stock market. History is pretty clear that no one will do it on a consistent basis over a long period of time.
That's why I'm mostly Old Turkey with my PM positions and it's why I'm up well over 50% so far this year because I don't try to time the daily wiggles.
Maybe for you losing 15 days is a big deal but for most people making money is a bigger deal and if one has to wait 15 days to do it...well that's the cost of doing business :)
Realistically today's SOS only missed the exact top by 3%. I doubt that anyone has done much better than 1.5 - 2% using other methods and if the market goes on to make new highs other methods will probably get stopped out for a loss whereas the SoS tool would keep one in the trade until it produces a profit.
I don't know about you but I prefer the strategy that produces profits :)
Again let me be clear that I have no desire to short this market despite the large SoS number today.
Even as much of a trader as I am, I think there is value in knowing whether the correction has legs or will be just a few day affair. If the top was 1220 and I find out at 1190 that we are going a fair bit lower, that's something I can use. Conversely, if there is no SoS day and that implies we cannot go much lower, that also has value to me. I am happy to short a stock at 50 on the way to 30 even if at one point it had been 60. Even more so if at 50 I know it's going to 30 whereas at 60 I am only guessing how low it can go.
Not that it is perfect (no indicator is) but calling it late doesn't matter much to me, at least. I just want to know where the next decent move is.
I'm frustrated by you guys not acknowledging that SoS could be happening (and I'll bet has been happening) without us seeing it because the WSJ source doesn't post the data unless the SPY closes up on the day.
Had the SPY not gone positive today, we wouldn't have known about the SoS from this source. It would still have happened, but we would have never seen it.
I once used Interactive Data software that displayed money flow on every security. I'm guessing WSJ gets their data from ID. I still use ID as my data source, but I don't use their software anymore.
The point is that money flow data shows net buying or selling regardless of whether the security is trading higher or lower. The WSJ uses this data and calls it SoS when the security is up on the day. When the security is down and the money flow data are down we don't get to see it.
That doesn't mean it (net selling) didn't happen. It just means we can't see it.
Wes, you're 100% correct that SoS could be happening right under our nose(same for BoW) without it ever showing up and thus makes a poor "pseudo requirement" of an intermediate top/bottom.
In this case it worked in our favor, and if Gary is correct it preceded the 5 previous declines. But you're right, being lucky 5 times earlier holds no future guarantee.
Not sure I understand your frustration, Wes. SoS represents a fade, and that's the notable part. Selling on a down day is sort of assumed, except when BoW appears, which is again notable as contra-action.
Wes, we've been watching SoS daily for months. There has never been too significant of number recently, nothing ever close to what we got today at -582, to holler about.
If my memory serves me right, a few times over the past weeks/months we saw some -100s and maybe one -300 that disappeared, but if you were really really really interested you could go back and search all daily comments (sometimes comments serve multiple days), because I can assure you they were commented on.
FYI the biggest BoWs previously came in on July 27th (185), July 28th (180), and Aug 24th (256). Those purchases average to around $109/SPY, which many were sold at $119/SPY today, bringing in ~8.5%. Not bad for 3 months work with mega millions. At this rate, if they were able to do that 3 times a year, that'd bring home 25.5% annually (sounds about right). Obviously this is one trial but you get the idea.
So if the intermediate decline in gold began on Nov 9th, we're halfway through it already, right?
At other times Gary says "If we're rolling over into an intermediate decline", implying the decline has yet to begin or is just beginning. It's kind of confusing.
It has nothing to do with selling on a down day. It's about selling into upticks or strength, there is a difference. His point (I believe) is if the market turned down only 1 more S&P point then SPY would have turned negative and disappeared off the SoS list. But the underlying selling or outflow of $-600 would still exist. If you're waiting for a SoS day, as Gary repeatedly has called for as a prerequisite to a intermediate top, you could be found holding through the drop.
I had a busy week last week, had hoped to get to the SoS research on GLD over the weekend, but came down with the flu or bad cold or something. I'm on the mend, but not back to normal energy level yet.
I will try to take a look at that later this week or next weekend.
Pima: Sorry about your cold. Glad you still plan to study money flows on GLD.
Wes: Yes, I agree, there can be a strong money flow day that doesn't show up. BUt that doesn't take away from it's being effective so long as when it does show up it is meaningful. If in fact it has preceded every decline (but one) over the past five years, that's impressive. I have a friend who is a naturalist. He often says, "When the bird and the book disagree, believe the bird!" No matter how much what you are saying makes sense a 95% track record over five years is what it is. The fact that some data doesn't show up is true, but if Gary is right that it has always preceded a move, then there you have it. The bird has spoken, regardless of what the "book" says, even though I believe I under stand your point and it makes sense. If it stops working, I'm happy to drop it, but since I've been watching it it's been a good, if not precise, indicator of a trend change.
and hopefully Gary will give the SoS signal and it's consequences to stock traders/investors some good detail tonight, outside of "the plan". I don't believe we've all thrown 100% of our net worth behind the volatile PM's :-)
Wes, Even if today had ended down I would take the intraday numbers as a big warning.
I suspect the one time in the last 5 years the SoS didn't catch the top was because it turned the day negative when it happened.
Really all the money flow data means to me is that smart money is either getting out or getting in. They won't time tops or bottoms perfectly anymore than anyone else buit I figure they have much better info than I can possibly get. So when they move I want to take notice and prepare to follow their lead.
The only caveat is that I have no desire to short in bull markets. I save that for confirmed bear markets.
>I just find it silly that you put out so much information, it is usually good information too, that is extremely bias in one direction yet then you don't even have the conviction to put your money where your mouth is.
I traded a **significant** amount of gold and silver futures on the evening breakout after the fed a few weeks ago. I posted them in real time and you can go back and look if you doubt me.
I made a 'ferrari unit' on those trades but, I'll let you decide what model and whether new or used :-)
(I did give back much of the profit on the margin hike and subsequent drop. But I was honest about that too, and overall it was well profitable. So I don't understand your continuing comments about me not putting money to work. I also have a core position that I've held through this entire time.)
None of this is a personal attack and I understand your comments to me aren't either.
I just want you to understand why I (and gary it seems) and others probably won't partake in the keeping score part of the game by posting totals. My ferrari thing was a cute line and all, but I'm mostly trying to make a point and I'll be unlikely to bring it up again.
Wes, I think you are mistaking a bit of good luck with market timing skill.
I understand that realistically I'm not going to get much better than 60% of my calls right over the long haul. That's about the best anyone can do over any significant period of time.
The only way to do better is to either use a mechanical system that takes emotions out of the equation (requires strict discipline) or just ride a bull market (have to be willing to weather drawdowns).
All in all the reward from riding a bull market is so much greater than any other strategy, that for me, I'm willing to suffer through the draws to achieve the ultimate goal.
I think I can clearly explain 'money flow' to you guys (as I understand it).
Any security has a BID and ASK. People are PATIENTLY posting where they will buy and sell a security. There is a gap (spread) in the middle.
ASK->100 BID->99
When a trade OCCURS, a party has to go and TAKE either the bid or the ask with a marketable order. If they are buying they get the ASK, if they are selling the get the BID.
Any trade is a change of shares. Whether it is a buy or a sell doesn't matter. It still represents one party giving their shares to the other party in exachange for money. But depending on WHICH PARTY WAS LESS PATIENT that transaction can occur at ONE OF TWO PRICES. Either 99 or 100.
If the trade occurs at 100, it means the BUYER was the LESS PATIENT (or more EXCITED) party. If the trade is at 99 then the SELLER was the initiating entity and MORE EXCITED/LESS PATIENT.
Remember, you can sell your shares by EITHER posting a limit order and taking the ask (being *patient*) or you can immediately take the bid. One way is fast and emotional. The other is slow and patient. Big money is slow and patient.
So, recapping...Trades happen at either the higher OR lower price. A trade is always the same - a transfer of money and shares. Thinking that one is a 'buy' and one is a 'sell' isn't really correct in this situation.
The correct mechanism to think of is that one party was patiently waiting at the bid or ask. And the other party INITIATED the trade.
The MONEY FLOW is thus the balance of the trades initiated by people grabbing the higher numbers (to 'buy') and people grabbing the lower number (to 'sell').
The theory of money flow thus is that the party that is MORE EXCITED, LESS PATIENT, and more willing to "GET ME IN NOW!!! with a MARKET ORDER!!!" (either to buy OR to sell) is the party that is probably making the mistake and probably acting emotionally.
So...predominately seeing trades going off at the ASK (high number) shows impatient (greedy top?) people buying. Seeing the trade happen at the low number BID shows impatient (scared?) people selling.
The overwhelming balance of one or the other on particular days can show emotional buying tops and panic selling bottoms.
I occasionally look at this data, but tonight struck me odd because 80% of the PM stocks I looked at had unusually high increases in shorts. We'll see if this has any value over the coming days.
Yes, prices of securities go up and down during the day, but there is ALWAYS a "high" and "low" number (ask/bid) and a trade (money/share transfer) always happens at one of those two prices.
The use of "uptick" and "downtick" in this dicussion I don't like because it seems to suggest a security's price is MOVING when it isn't. The bid/ask can stay at:
ASK->100 BID->99
and can trade there all day. The trades back and forth at 100 and 99 are technically changes 'up' and 'down' in the price, hence the words uptick and downtick, but the price isn't really going anywhere.
I think it is better to think of things as I presented. There are two prices with a spread and the price as which the security trades indicates who was the more emotional party wanting in or out.
Just read your subscriber's report for today and it brings up a question:
It looks like the chances are high that we will not see gold make new highs before it moves down into its intermediate cycle low. If the odds of gold moving into that cycle low are much higher than the odds of it making a new high first, wouldn't it be a good idea to start unloading some of our positions at current prices rather than waiting for our stops to get hit?
Is it possible today's large SoS numbers were due at least in part to the fact that we are bumping up against the deadline (tomorrow) to sell losing stocks and avoid the effects of the wash-sale rule?
As an aside, I found parts of tonight's update to be confusing, but maybe it's just me being obtuse.
Like I said before, in bull markets the surprises come on the upside, so I will just continue to follow the plan and leave the second guessing to others.
China's benchmark short-term money market rate, the weighted average seven-day government bond repurchase rate, jumped over 57 basis points early on Tuesday to its highest level in more than two years, withtraders reporting an acute liquidity squeeze.
Do you think the wikileaks of 2 of the banks in the US early next year( 1 being a very big bank they say) will have any effect on the market now or in a few months? I know the leaks have been about government and the war which is huge but has not cause any stir in the markets as of yet. Just wondering if something like this could be a factor when determining market conditions going forward
yes you did, and yes it did ...but this late in the gold daily cycle, it still doesnt look like a valid break upwards...more like a suckers rally (selling opportunity). Double top for now? wouldnt even an 'old turkey' feel extra comfortable lightening up on positions in view of the timing here??
Alex: Things jiggle. Gold will very likely make new lows before it makes new highs. If it rallies much more it will actually hit my shorts screen. I may not short it there as I wouldn't want to unleash the Wrath of Gary (and because the world is collapsing, to be fair), but a one day surge based on imminent collapse fears doesn't change a cycle that still needs to unfold.
I tend to agree with DG. If gold makes a new high it will probably just be a marginal new high like it did this summer before moving down into an intermediate cycle low.
But there's no way I would ever sell my core position or short. It is a bull market after all.
Yes, I agree, but I do choose to just lighten up at the top a bit.Lock in profits. However , I do know that in GOLD , a cycle low can form with a couple of screaming $40 down days in a row, bounce and retest :)
Thanks for the feedback re whether to sell now or wait for stops to get hit.
My thinking was that if the odds were, say, only 1 in 10 that gold would make a new high here before moving into its intermediate cycle low, then I would take profits on all except my core position just to get the higher prices that gold is trading at now rather than the lower prices at the stop.
Of course, we can't know for sure what the odds are, so there's the rub. And as you have reminded us many times: In bull markets surprises always come on the upside.
I hear what you're saying and it's similar to my thinking also. Maybe start reducing positions a little at a time, but do NOT go below your core position size.
I believe Gary will have us holding a core position thru the intermediate cycle. The only time we are going sell everything is when it becomes clear that a D wave is upon us.
http://www.zerohedge.com/article/surge-after-hours-selling-takes-gold-volatility-index-all-time-low
ReplyDeletemore strangeness at the end of today
TZ,
ReplyDeleteI would love to see the H&S play out with a reversal. That will set up a parabolic move to the upside.
Currently on the side lines waiting for an edge!!
Hope everybody has a great weekend.
Gary,
ReplyDeleteOver the past three years, as the dollar hit its yearly cycle low, it has rallied strongly. On the weekly chart, when the yearly trough coincided with the weekly RSI being oversold, the dollar rallied for 2 intermediate cycles.
I would say that seasonally, this appears to be a very bullish time for the dollar.
Now as you know gold peaked last December, consolidated - during this bullish time for the dollar - and it took two daily cycles before gold started rallying again.
It seems that gold and the dollar are setting up the same way this time except gold peaked a few weeks earlier or am I missing something?
Ike,
ReplyDeleteI think you need to expand your view past the last three years. Look at the last 30 years. You will see the dollar forms a major three year cycle low every 3 to 3 1/2 years.
Yes the recent bottom was probably a yearly cycle low but the three year cycle low is still ahead for the dollar. That will of course mark the yearly cycle low for 2011 when it arrives.
Trust me with two rounds of massive QE there's no way Bernanke gets out of this without at least a mild currency crisis in the dollar.
Great weekend read for all traders/speculators
ReplyDeletewww.chicagosean.com/2010/11/there-is-epidemic-sweeping-retail.html
Coouldn't have said it better myself. I just don't think it's possible to indicator your way to riches.
ReplyDeletehaha..you could have written that article Gary...in fact you probably have over the last few years, reiterating exactly what that author said.
ReplyDeleteGood article. Every single approach can be used well and every approach can be used badly. The trick is to pick a style and do it well. Without money management and risk control every trader will eventually go broke (the analog to Gary's "Every user of huge leverage will eventually go broke.") For a trader the rules are simple: stops, appropriate position sizing, let winners run, cut losses, don't panic in or out, go counter overwhelming sentiment. Easy to say, hard to do, but if actually followed strictly anyone can trade.
ReplyDeleteglad everybody is liking the article. I remember those days of indicator over load.
ReplyDeleteHope everybody has a great weekend and look forward to the Monday action.
Gary: "three year cycle low is still ahead for the dollar."
ReplyDelete200 EMA $80.5 going to reverse $USD, or i'll just give up my GDXJ & SIL holdins
TZ / Gary / Anyone else with an opinion!
ReplyDeleteWhat do you make of thay Zero Hedge Article? Hard to decipher imo. Thanks
Steven
80.63 is the 38.2% restracement level of the entire move down in the dollar. I'm wondering whether this is a more important traget to look at rather than the round 80 number. For Friday, at least, it seemed to bounce off that number. Who knows what Monday will bring.
ReplyDeleteAlso not sure if our carriers which are now in Korea will calm people down or cause people to be more alarmed (i.e., dollar up or dollar down).
Also curious the effect that this will have on gold AND silver as they may respond differently given the reactions.
TZ, Looks like you finally made some money on Friday if you pulled the trigger on your plan!
ReplyDeleteIf you're looking at $USD levels that might mark a pullback, if not a reversal, you might also keep in mind the 200dma (currently 81.74), which would also be the ballpark for an A=C move from the lows.
ReplyDeleteAs for the ZH article, I have no opinion (other than to note that ZH isn't afraid to go a bit overboard at times on their analysis and extrapolations)) except for the ending paragraph, where they note a last-minute buy of 2K Feb gold. The suggestion, I assume, was that some smart and large buyer was front-running a big move up next week.
The CME report for yesterday appears to show nothing quite so remarkable except a lot of contract rolling from Dec to Feb that actually netted a small reduction in OI between the two. The net add was mostly in April.
http://www.cmegroup.com/daily_bulletin/Section62_Metals_Futures_Products_2010229.pdf
Brian,
ReplyDeleteMy buy point was lower than we went on fri. There was no action on my part.
I can't just buy a 'drop'. That's too vague. I have to have specific entry and exit parameters. Mine were not met.
However, I'm still mindful that a continuation up in the metals right now would seem to catch many unaware. As I read and observe what I and others have done, it is clear that many people have lightened and sold down - if not completely out (the trader-types.)
A resumption to the upside would clearly fall into the category of the market's faking out the most people, again.
The metals ARE going higher, it is just a question of if we get some kind of pullback for a few weeks first. I'm still betting on the pullback scenario, but I'm VERY closely watching for the opposite.
TZ,
ReplyDeleteWhen's the actual last time you made a trade?
The odds would favor a decline right now, being that the dollar broke 80, and we're in the timing band for an intermediate low in the next few weeks (I believe we're now in week 21 (is it 22?) and trough to trough averages 20-25 weeks).
The previous miner pullbacks were very short lived. I will be patient but not greedy when it comes to the probable pullback upcoming.
I also don't know where you get your sentiment readings from TZ, but I would say bulls outweigh bears significantly right now in PMs as well as stocks. One would think that it needs to completely inverse, bears need to significantly outnumber bulls for the next cycle to begin upwards.
ReplyDeleteI think the next few weeks will be significant (I'm wagering downwards).
Robert: I don't believe the sentiment needs to reverse. That would need to happen to halt a major decline, but in the middle of an upmove you just need to work off the extreme bullishness before the rally resumes. "More bears than bulls"will come at the next intermediate low. At the next intermediate high we need to get to "tons of bulls" so we need to have "lots of bulls" and keep rallying even with all those bull present to get to a truly lopsided extreme.
ReplyDeleteTZ: I'm out and nervous about it because it is a lot easier to be out right now than in, so I agree that the biggest fooler would be a resumption. But there were also a lot of late buyers that have yet to be punished very much, so we'll see...
i think we will be going up starting early next week. Sentiment is bearish right now stemming from cycle theory, dollar strength to the head and shoulders pattern on the metals.I re-entered long position in gold friday before the close and will re-enter silver sunday evening.
ReplyDeleteSeems to me gold is forming a triangle on the weekly chart, which would imply one more push higher before the int decline just to fool everybody that jumped out to jump back in before a bigger decline....
ReplyDeleteI don't really see a triangle. I do see a possible bear flag that's in the process of breaking down. But I think we've all gotten burned enough times to not trust chart patterns anymore.
ReplyDeleteJust follow the plan.
If the prior cycle low is violated then reduce to a minumum core position as the odds will have gone up tremedously that the intermediate cycle correction has begun.
DG,
ReplyDeleteYou cover your OIH? I didn't follow you on that trade but I am short energy. I felt like covering Friday, didn't, but hopefully next week will lead us into an intermediate decline ;).
Gary you over or under 10 bedrooms with all your earnings?
The problem with technical patterns is that they are so watched now they rarely come true. Every software package out there identifies all the most popular patterns, and people are just waiting to suck you into them, and do the opposite of normal. The last 18 months of head and shoulder patterns that never confirmed pretty well sum it up.
ReplyDeleteYou guys really think the market is opt to go higher right away, and the dollar immediately turn around? That is hard to see with the dollar busting through 80. I think we'll be above 80 for some time, and I don't think equities and gold can rally during this state.
ReplyDeleteAssuming we're approaching, prior to Spring, the dollar's 3-year cycle low, one would think that an intermediate decline, prior to this subsequent healthy rise in equities and PMs would be probable.
ReplyDeleteContrary thoughts?
The only contrary thought is to see all these Head and Shoulder patterns that are appearing everywhere to not produce the expected results in an exact fashion. The int low will happen, no doubt about that.
ReplyDeleteThe OEX put/call ratio 10 DMA has moved rapidly from a neutral/bullish stance 2 weeks ago to bearish. It is lower than it has been for three years and fell very steeply.
ReplyDeleteThis is not considered to be a contrarian indicator as it's not the money [the trading of OEX options is dominated by professional hedgers].
This looks a bit scary to me .... coupled with the unusually high selling last month by insiders.
Possibly smart money thinks the food riots etc starting to manifest in China will reverse the growth theme and deflate stock markets and commodities.
Presumably if we are in for a larger than anticipated correction, PMs and PM stocks will also be hit. :o
Any thoughts about this, anyone?
I meant to say:
ReplyDelete"This is not considered to be a contrarian indicator as it's not the dumb money "
First off the OEX options data is very volatile so it could be nothing more than OEX traders expected a one or two day drop.
ReplyDeleteInsider selling is completely worthless for timing tops. Insiders sell for a whole host of reasons. I can assure you insiders aren't any better at timing tops than anyone else and they are usually way too early.
Insider buying is a great timing tool for bottoms though.
The fact remains that we still don't have a large SoS day and no significant intermediate top has begun without one of those in the last 5 years.
Despite the dollar rise I think everyone understands the dollar isn't rallying because of deflationary forces it's rising because currency traders are selling the Euro right now and that's the only reason the dollar is rallying.
With Ben printing willy nilly it's going to be tough to get a sustained correction. Case in point the dollar has rallied 4 points and the stock market is only down 3%.
Gary,
ReplyDeleteI understand your thoughts on the dollar leading most markets right now. However, isn't the Korean situation something that would normally be gold positive (although maybe not so much gold equities). What do you think?
Also, do you think silver will act differently than gold in this situation?
Thanks Gary
ReplyDeleteI think if gold is ready to drop down into its intermediate cycle low it will use whatever situation is available at the time as an excuse to do so.
ReplyDeleteAnd I doubt silver will move contrary to gold. It may show relative strength, but it's probably going to follow its big brother.
Gary
ReplyDeleteIt seemed like THE DOC called the dollar low weeks ago ,but at that time you and him were experiencing different views of where we were in the dollar and the Gold cycles.
Since the dollar rallied (and you both do cycle analysis) , Are you and him now counting dollar lows from the same point regarding the dollar cycle low..or do you and him have different starting points?
Also, will you be reporting daily during the time you are in Hawii ( not the blog, I mean subscriptions).thx
Alex,
ReplyDeleteI will try to get something out daily while in Hawaii but there's a good chance the nightly reports will be brief.
Yes Doc called this one correctly. There seems to be little doubt the dollar put in a very shortened intermediate cycle 3 weeks ago.
I'm going over the implications in the weekend report.
Gary,
ReplyDeleteI think you are putting too much emphasis in SoS.
You tell John that OEX option numbers are volatile as if that somehow explains the highest OEX put purchases since 2007.
Thinking through SoS will show why these numbers will not necessarily show what you are hoping. When the SoS becomes intense, the numbers can simply disappear.
Why? Because the intense selling results in a down day, and there are no clues left in SoS numbers. This is a dangerous statistic on which to rely.
I think I can make a very good case for the stock market moving into an intermediate cycle low. I wish you would entertain this idea and work on timing the low.
Wes,
ReplyDeleteI have been watching for a day where it was intense but turned the day positive and so far I haven't seen one. But the fact remains that every single intermediate decline except one since 05 has seen one or more of these SoS days.
You can dismiss that if you want to. I find it pretty hard to dismiss something that has an almost perfect record.
Now that doesn't mean we can't get an intermediate decline. Heaven knows we have all the ingredients in place. Sentiment has become extremely bullish, we are 22 weeks into an intermediate rally, and the dollar has bounced out of an intermediate cycle low.
But with the Fed willing to print whatever it takes and no SoS numbers I wouldn't be willing to bet heavily on a significant decline or an extended one.
We already got a very extended daily cycle. The odds are the current cycle will now be shortened. That suggests this intermediate correction could be over in another 2-3 weeks. And we may be lucky to even see a move back to the 200 DMA.
Robert: Nope. Still short OIH, SMH, and UNG. Interested in seeing what Monday brings. Which has more pull? Good Holiday retail numbers or Korea? I am not especially bearish so will likely honor my break-even stops if need be (I almost never put in actual stop orders).
ReplyDeleteGary: Those OEX numbers, as Wes said, are quite extreme, and we are talking about the ten day MA, so it's not a "daily volatility" situation. Also, there's a big gap between a "one or two day decline" and an intermediate decline. My guess is a week or two down, which wouldn't need a SoS day, but would still honor the OEX numbers. Then rally into New Year's and then have our standard NDX tank in January. This connects all the dots (so probably won't happen!)
ReplyDeleteIf we get the intermediate correction now, then we shouldn't see immediate weakness again in January. That should only happen if an intermediate cycle was going to fail and if an intermediate cycle fails this quickly there's a good chance the secular bear market has returned.
ReplyDeleteThe only way this works cyclically is if this is only a daily cycle correction and we will soon see stocks and gold rally back to new highs.
Then we get the intermediate top in January.
The problem is that for that to happen this has to be a a dead cat bounce in the dollar index that needs to roll over into the normal timing band for an intermediate bottom in late December.
I think the Korean situation threw a big monkey wrench in what was likely unfolding cyclically in the dollar, stocks and gold.
hi Gary,
ReplyDeleteyou seem pretty pessimistic about North Korea...Do you really think that things could escalate from here?
Do I think we are going to see a war in Korea? Not really. Do I think tensions are going to ease overnight? Probably not.
ReplyDeleteIf the market is ready to dip down into an intermeidate cycle low it needs a catalyst. Something that it can convince itself is bigger than Ben's QE.
It won't be bigger than QE but that's not the point, we just need something to give the market an excuse to sell off despite Ben dumping in billions of dollars everyday.
I don't think Ireland was ever going to be the catalyst because they pretty much setup the bailout immediately.
I look at more than just psychology indicators. I also look at monetary and valuation statistics as well as seasonal signals.
ReplyDeleteThe early winter through spring of the second year of a presidential cycle has been particularly strong in the past. Coupled with the monetary and valuation numbers, I predict that when the market turns up, there will be no good entry points for a long time. I'm thinking straight up for months.
But, first we have to do something about those psychology indicators. About the only way they can be changed in in a hurry is for something really scary to happen.
I have sizable limit orders set in case of a flash crash.
from the weekend report:
ReplyDeletewhether Ben (and europe) can get the dollar turned back around on Monday or Tuesday.........if that happens ...then the USD is very close to a high and the next cycle being extremely left translated would probably not go higher than what we have right now which means the PMs could be in a position to be at a low now
so.....i might be worth dipping in yer toes
correct or possibly plausible ..?
ReplyDeleteWes,
ReplyDeleteI think you can probably throw out all your presidential cycle data as being useless at this point. We are in the post credit bubble phase.
Credit bubbles have always in the past led to a depression. I doubt this one will be any different. The only difference will be whether we choose a deflationary or inflationary one.
If we continue to go down the inflationary path then commodity prices will continue to soar as liquidity continuously leaks out of the stock market and into the commodity markets. Eventually this will collapse the economy again just as it did in the summer of `08.
The place to be is in the sectors that will benefit from this liqudity leak. It certainly won't be the general stock market. That will continue to underperform just as it has from the beginning of the commodity bull in 2001 and the underperformance will only intensify the more furiously Ben prints.
Remember the next 4 year cycle low is due in the March to Nov. time frame 2012. Most bear markets require at least a year to run their course with a year and a half being the norm.
That being the case and the dollar scheduled to put in a major 3 year cycle low next spring we should see the next true deflationary event begin as the dollar rallies out of the 3 year cycle low.
That should mark the start of the next leg down in the long term secular bear market that began in March of 2000.
But even if we still have a few months of gains ahead I doubt the stock market will make any huge gains, certainly nothing even vaguely approaching what we will see in the precious metal sector or commodity sector in general.
H,
ReplyDeleteJust follow the plan :)
Gary, Why would the Mar 09 low have not qualified as the 4 year cycle low in stocks instead of the 08 bottom?
ReplyDeleteBrian,
ReplyDeleteMarch 09 was the 4 year cycle low. But it was an extremely stretched and aborted cycle caused by the Fed's extreme dollar debasement.
The four year cycle should have bottomed in 2006 but the Fed went on a massive debasing campaign and the cycle stretched to March 2008. Then the Ben really turned up the presses and aborted what should have been an extreme left translated cycle in March 09.
The end result is that we are now dealing with very distorted markets brought on by the Fed's attempts to halt the secular bear market.
It has already caused a credit and real estate bubble of which we are now suffering the hangover from.
Bernanke has learned nothing from the mess he created so he's now going to great an even bigger catastrophe with his printing press. That will start with a currency crisis next spring that should spike inflation enough to destroy the economy all over again.
That along with the continuing after effects of the credit bubble will trigger the next leg down in the secular bear market that is due to bottom sometime in 2012. (a shortened cycle almost always follows a stretched one. So we can expect the next 4 year cycle to run 3 years into 2012.
Gary, if the break below 1348 gets triggered overnight but then bounces back by morning do we still retreat to a minimum core position or do we wait to see what happens during the day tomorrow?
ReplyDeleteI would tend to wait. If the intermediate decline has begun then it will break it during the day also.
ReplyDeletethanks Gary for answering my question despite a busy w/e for you!
ReplyDeletegood luck today
Gary
ReplyDeleteif you're fairly confident that the intermediate decline has begun, why are you waiting for $1348 to be broken before lightening up on your positions?
How many times must we be surprised to the upside before we learn our lesson?
ReplyDeleteGold and silver must be driven down today as much as possible to squeeze out any remaining longs.
ReplyDeleteToday is "first position day" meaning anyone still long the DEC contract at 5:15 is standing for (or indicating they are standing for) delivery.
OEX put buying is now about the highest in 20 years. Dumb money option traders are buying are at about a 5 year low in put buying.. Not a good recipe for further rally. Am holding my shorts. added TZA Friday.
ReplyDeleteI would believe that there are ways for the big guys to try to estimate, at least partially, how many people are looking to deliver based on volumes at particular firms, open interest now compared to historical norms, spys, system hacking, or whatever. But there is also probably enough unknown that surprises could result EOD today and into tomorrow as the true number becomes apparent. Clearly delivery surprises occur in all kinds of futures markets (cocoa being the most recent example i think), but this market is important enough that I would think steps have been taken to minimize such a surprise. We will see.
ReplyDeleteROBERT,
ReplyDelete>When's the actual last time you made a trade?
>Gary you over or under 10 bedrooms with all your earnings?
Are you purposely going to continue trying to alpha-male people on this board who you feel may be either smarter or richer than you? I ask honestly cause you may not realize you are doing it.
It isn't necessary to keep throwing out these slights or one-ups.
People do me a favor and proof your posts before you publish.
ReplyDeleteHaving to go back and clean up all these multiple deletes is getting tiresome.
TZ: I have a serious question. Your long analysis of complicated situations is interesting, but does it actually help you make any money in the markets? There are always a few persuasive arguments on each side of an issue, so for me it just makes my head spin (which is why I am a primarily a technician except on major macro stuff, like gold being good---too much fundamental noise day to day. You have talked just a little about stops, money management, position sizing, etc. which seem infinitely more important to me. Does the complex analysis help you get into profitable situations, and if so how? Who can really figure out the delivery issues, and even so they might be price into the market already---or not. What am I missing here?
ReplyDeleteuup 200 ema 23.48
ReplyDeleteProbably a waste of time to watch UUP. Just track the actual dollar index. The 200 day simple moving average is at about 82.
ReplyDeleteThat would be the next signficant resistance level.
DG,
ReplyDeleteMetals are a bull. That's what I invest in. I pretty much do it technically.
My comment about delivery isn't some sort of strategy. I have no trade or 'play' based on it.
I mention it here for those who might not have much knowledge of the futures markets (or less than I do), do not know when particular dates occur, or what they might mean.
There ARE delivery issues that arise in futures markets. We ARE expecting at *some point* to have delivery issues with gold and silver. It is at least worthwhile to know and be aware of small time frames when that possibility is highest - as it is NOW.
If, for example, we saw a surprise gap up today or tomorrow, we would need to conclude that an overwhelming and surprising (to those short) number of people are holding for delivery. If something like that occurred it would be critical to re-examine being reduced or at core, imo.
I'm at core position expecting lower prices and I will be entering (leveraged - like it appears you trade) using my own technicals in combination with gary's assistance.
Does that answer things? You seem to think that every possible statement a person says needs to have a specific, immediately actionable trade attached to it. This doesn't - unless something weird happens in next day or two.
GARY,
ReplyDeleteI'm responsible for many deleted posts. I was not aware that you were involved in that process or that it required action on your part. I have checked blogger.com help and can't determine how comments work from your view. Can you elaborated?
If a person posts then deletes, do you get and view the deleted post?
Do you have to do something do it?
I thought this was just between me and blogger.
TZ: Oh no, certainly not "every possible statement" needs to be actionable, but I am unable to divine out an action strategy after so many of yours that I was wondering if I was missing something. I certainly don;t mind them being posted.
ReplyDeleteAnd Robert: I agree with TZ. We have a pretty civil blog here after getting rid of the anonymous posters a month or so ago, so if you can take the personal attacks down a notch it'd be more pleasant reading for everyone.
And Gary: Can you just leave the deleted comment? No one wants to give you more work! I'd rather just see them there than have you need to clean them up.
TZ.
ReplyDeleteYou're far too emotional for me to pay attention to you. You are a sensationalist, which almost always is a trait of a poor investor.
You mention all these things and then say that you are not making a play on the information you provided. If you were so adamant or confident about all the information you spew on here, and you're not making a play on it, then you're just creating unnecessary noise here IMO. Good day.
Sorry to ask such a novice question, but if the stop is at $1348 for gold and I have a position in SIL which requires a share price for a stop, how do I do that?
ReplyDeleteElaine,
ReplyDeleteYou should be able to set up a trade trigger to key off GLD. If GLD trades at or below $131 sell whatever you want to sell to return to a minimum core position.
If you aren't familiar with trade triggers call your broker, he will be able to tell you how to set iut up.
OK, thank you, I will call them.
ReplyDeleteWes: You covering anything? The short side is getting more interesting to me as we go down, not less (added some more TZA this morning). Do you have a target in mind?
ReplyDeletegary ,
ReplyDeletecan you watch dollar index realtime?
I was tempted to cover S&P this morning, but seeing how the Irish news did calm the market we could be looking a few days of selling. Maybe a Portuguese bailout is needed sooner than later? 10yr above 7% this morning.
ReplyDeleteLive dollar index:
ReplyDeletedollar index
The euro just popped up on my screen as close to a buy (Man I love stockcharts.com). Looks like about 129.50 on FXE would do it. I will post if/when i buy it.
ReplyDeleteIf the S&P breaks 1173 we will have a failed daily cycle and that should mean at least another 2-3 weeks of downside.
ReplyDelete92000,
ReplyDeletedollar index
To those that do not understand TZ's posts, or think they are frivilous, I would sugget be careful trading the precious metal bull. Clearly, TZ is an experienced futures trader and just shares his knowledge and opinion on the futures market. Not watching the futures market in gold and silver yet being invested in precious metals would be like...well, ignoring cycles analysis, not a good idea.
ReplyDeleteAnd to those that always want to know if TZ every makes a profit, give it a break. Let's hear about some of your trade ideas and how they worked out.
TZ is an honest poster who shares his trade ideas and win or lose he owns up to it. What do you want from a blog discussion group?
The PMs' resilience in the face of this dollar rally since last night is quite impressive. They could always break down further, of course, but you have to see this as a nice "high consolidation" that will lead to another nice leg up once the dollar breaks down again.
ReplyDeleteOf course waiting until the cycle timing bands are hit for a low before loading up again is the prudent course. But it's been nice not to take as big a hit as would have been expected during this dollar rally. Just shows the depth/breadth of this gold/silver bull (i.e. across all currencies).
RBY is a good example of surprises coming the upside...
ReplyDeleteWe came within a hair of breaking below the previous daily cycle low on the SPX (1173.64 vs. 1173.00). Soooo close, so far.
ReplyDeleteInteresting divergence elsewhere as the COMPQ and RUT are well above the previous low, and the DOW broke below. So smaller caps strength is bullish? Indicating a rally to come?
The VIX is in position to give one of it's buy signals (buy stocks); i.e. a close outside the 20 BB and then a close back inside.
Robert:
ReplyDeletePlease let TZ post his views.
Do remember that cash is also a position.
A trader I know who primarily trades equities, is up about 30% this year, when his total average exposure to the market would be around 40%. i.e. he is never fully invested, and when invested it is rarely a large part of his portfolio. He just looks for high risk-reward opportunities, and even hedges those. His objective is to minimize draw-downs, and he is very profitable with very limited exposure to the market.
A lesson I learnt is that it is best to be a patient listener. You can always ignore what you do not agree with.
"If the S&P breaks 1173 we will have a failed daily"
ReplyDeleteWould that be intraday or close only?
Intraday.
ReplyDeletegetting cold ...where can I get best Hawaii vacation deal?
ReplyDeleteVery strange cycle timing. The stock market looks like it wants to drop into an intermediate low. It is due and the dollar is rallying. However we don't have a SoS day.
ReplyDeleteOil has definitly put in its cycle low. Rising energy stocks are going to support the market.
I still think the Korea mess threw a monkey wrench into the dollar's intermediate cycle.
I wonder how this will end up playing out.
Gary,
ReplyDeleteI have my trigger stop at $131.57. Is that too high? I see you mentioned 131 earlier today.
Yeah, so much contradiction/confusing, or it is "supposed" to come off that way today. Dollar up, Gold up, Oil up, stocks down. I think this dead time, market uncertainty for an extended period of time, can really create a situation where many traders make many mistakes (get too emotional). I'm holding my shorts now, it looks like I may have to hold them until next week, but we'll see what happens. I have no problem getting back into silver if we see some healthy momentum upwards any day now.
ReplyDeleteTZ,
ReplyDeleteYou're still my favorite. I joined you in watching your 3 AM potential gold sabotage on Friday. I just find it silly that you put out so much information, it is usually good information too, that is extremely bias in one direction yet then you don't even have the conviction to put your money where your mouth is. This is not an insult just an observation. To anyone else spewing hate towards me, I'll kick your ass (unless of course you train with Gary) :-P
Now let me get back to work so I can afford another year of SMT.
:-7
USO (oil) has just popped up on my screen as a high-probability short-side trade. I know Gary is saying oil put in an intermediate low, but short-term it's in trouble. Gary: have you ever figured out how to fax a burrito? I don't get to Vegas, but if I short it I bet one I make money on my short trade (I am already ahead in OIH). You asked that I post my exits. The only one I am getting itchy in is UNG as I am up 6% in three days on that short, but am not seeing a reason to cover yet.
ReplyDeleteOnlooker "
ReplyDeleteInteresting divergence elsewhere as the COMPQ and RUT are well above the previous low, and the DOW broke below. So smaller caps strength is bullish? "
small caps are not impacted by dollar as much. In general, economy news are getting better, I suspect PMI tomorrow will be good. just my 2 cents
DG,
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty much committed to an intermediate cycle low being formed, based on the indicators I follow.
Owning puts instead of being short common creates some problems for me since the commissions are high on trades and the fills can be iffy.
My first target in price is around QQQQ=49.5, but my first target in fear is VXO=25.
Like pornography, I expect to know it when I see it.
While I'm short term bearish, I won't expect the market to go down every day. I anticipate buying common against the puts for upside trades.
I've done nothing to date and will try to post my trades.
Thanks, Wes.
ReplyDeleteJust modestly shorted OIL at 24.03. Will likely add on further rally.
ReplyDeletedg, short oil in winter???
ReplyDeleteI never look at things like the weather. The question is whether the winter seasonality is already priced into the price of oil. If everyone has already bought OIL and USO in anticipation of winter, the ETF's have to go down, as there will be no new buying to support the price. I never wonder whether it's in the price or not (no one can ever really know). I just know if I short it when it's at an upside over-done extreme I am highly likely to win (if I don't screw up my trading, that is!)
ReplyDeleteGary, I guess you're offline right now. You're not going to bet me that burrito if OIL is down a lot by the time you respond. Oh well, I'll just assume you made the bet (nice of me, eh?)
ReplyDeleteDG,
ReplyDeleteAnyone can short term trade and make a counter trend profit. Well some people can. Most won't.
A better bet IMO would be that oil doesn't drop below the recent low.
Oil bottoming at 80 for this intermediate cycle is a scary thing for the economy.
ReplyDelete$120-$150 oil will ruin the economy. IMO.
Volume light on the green miners.
ReplyDeleteCould still be bottom, but wise to wait for momentum IMO.
DXY to hold 81 at least for a day or two near-future IMO.
Gary,
ReplyDeleteI have my trigger stop at $131.57. Is that too high? I see you mentioned 131 earlier today.
Fair enough, Gary. I have no idea whether oil will make a new low, and thanks for correcting "anyone can make counter trend profits" because as you well know that is NOT easy. It's taken me 25 years to get the right set of indicators together. I do it for "lunch money" while waiting for a major setup. I have had a lot of lunches this year. O.K. no burrito on this one. I'll have to make enough on the trade to buy one myself.
ReplyDelete$131 was a ball park figure. If you want to get it exact you will need to watch Kitco.
ReplyDeletewe barely got any bears on this intermediate decline especially in gold and silver. Those getting in during this consolidation are going to get whipsawed as it goes down from here. They'll feel the pain for a few days or week then sell early in the red or as it passes back up in the green. Long shot for it to go right back up again at break $1282, IMHO.
ReplyDeleteFolks it's too late in the intermediate cycle to be pressing hard on the long side of gold. I think if we were going to get the parabolic move we needed to be over $1450 already. It is half way through the daily cycle and we aren't even close to making new highs yet.
ReplyDeleteGold can rally against a rising dollar but it can't make a parabolic run against a rising dollar. If we do see a final cycle higher it will likely just make a marginal new high before moving down into an intermediate low.
The big move for this leg has already happened. The next big move will come out of the intermeidate cycle low, whenever that happens. For now just follow the plan.
We will look to step on the gas hard again at the next intermediate bottom.
Year-end fair value target for the S&P 500: Using EPS estimates from 91 to 92 and P/E multiples from 12 to 15. (1104-1375)
ReplyDeleteJust shorted CCJ at 36.92. Big intraday reversal on high volume (like SLV) then rallying into the reversal day on light volume. This is a good shorting pattern.
ReplyDeleteA question: Does anyone find these trading ideas useful? Happy to post if so, but if no one does I'll only post my SPX buys and sells like I used to. (and go UNG!)
dg, "The euro just popped up on my screen as close to a buy (Man I love stockcharts.com)."
ReplyDeleteMind to share where you see this?
DG,
ReplyDeleteI find them useful although I rarely trade them. I did buy some UNG puts the other day when you first posted your UNG trade and just finished closing them out. Was a good trade.
Hi DG,
ReplyDeleteI find your trading ideas useful..I have been following most of your posts and recently executed one of your trades..please continue posting your ideas..Thank you.
Man, I had some RBY but sold it.
ReplyDeleteSPY just hit 400 on SOS
ReplyDelete$-452.56 SPY SOS.
ReplyDeleteTime to double up those shorts?
Ply, sorry to ask, what does that mean?
ReplyDeleteoa92000: I can't share my screens because I am in the middle of starting a hedge fund base on them and my partners would be very unhappy! stockcharts lets you program your own screens and I have input the data I use.
ReplyDeleteThere it is Gary. A big SoS day. I will be adding to my shorts as Poly suggests!
ReplyDeleteAgree, that's a monster SOS, I'm adding to my S&P puts.
ReplyDeleteSophia, it means there is a large money outflow out of SPY, being sold into strength.
tripple bottom on the S&P, plus a big hammer right on the lower channel line on big volume. I´m buying it if we close near the highs.
ReplyDeleteAdded to my SMH and TZA shorts.
ReplyDelete$-497.
ReplyDeleteThat's certainly well above Gary's qualifying SoS mark, if I'm not mistaken. :-)
Key reversal up days on the banking indices.
ReplyDeletePoly: Yeah. Gary had been using $200mm, but was feeling that, given the money sloshing around and the volatility it'd take more, but this is surely plenty. Of course, it can change in the late after-the-close posting, so keep an eye out about two hours after the close for that final number. I hope it sticks!
ReplyDeleteEnd of day numbers on SOS is all that matters, so let's see how it ends.
ReplyDelete-$551m SoS as of 3:32 PM EST.
ReplyDeleteGary,
Have you ever seen an SoS in the SPY of this magnitude that did not precede an intermediate decline?
I got just some real good fills. Thanks for the attentiveness guys.
ReplyDeleteDG, does that mean you're going to have to go into the office daily? ;)
I've seen a larger SoS number that came almost two months too early.
ReplyDeleteNow at $-551 - Dec S&P puts are expensive as hell. I'm playing the rest via TZA too.
ReplyDeleteThat sucker ain't coming off the board.
Last year we saw SOS numbers like that in October and exited half of our positions just to see the market rally another 30% for a month and a half. SOS is not a timing tool.
ReplyDeleteThat's kind of unsettling Gary.
ReplyDeleteSo you'd suggest now holding shorts until we see at least a move below 1173 at some point in the medium term?
wow...That 500 and 551 SOS number showed up as soon as the SPX turned positive for the day!! Now, as I type (3:58 EST), with the SPX in the RED, if it closes in the RED, that SOS number will just disappear from the End of Day data!!
ReplyDeleteGary, thoughts on this? 551 SOS @ 3:30 pm, SPX finishes 1 point in RED and SOS number disappears from EOD data.
It's money flows out of SPY, not tracking the SPX index.
ReplyDeleteRobert--You wrote: DG, does that mean you're going to have to go into the office daily? ;)
ReplyDeleteHuh? I'm apparently to dense for your reference.
Gary: You've been saying you needed to see this to believe an intermediate decline is coming. Now that it's here you are saying it may be 2 months early. Seems like you just don't want to believe a decline here. Your holdout indicator just rolled over and bullishness is rampant. Why the hesitancy now?
What really doesn't cause too much alarm in me right now is the value of the dollar. I don't foresee a strong rally by any means while we're over 80.
ReplyDeleteah! Thanks Poly...my bad....
ReplyDeleteWas looking @ the SPX instead of the SPY.
Well, SPX is Red, SPY is green and SOS looks to be staying @ 551.
Interesting week ahead. I am still holding on to my core and not short.
Good Luck to DG and others who are short!
DG, I was referring to you starting a hedge fund.
ReplyDeleteNick, SoS can occur even on red days. Upticks can occur at anytime an equity is moving up, being that it is down for the day or up for the day.
there will be no SoS numbers for SPY at the end of the day because there will be no strength.
ReplyDeleteI suspect this is what has been going on all along, and is why I said yesterday that SoS is a dangerous indicator on which to rely.
We did get another SOS in SPY today; we also had one last week or one before that.
ReplyDeletehttp://online.wsj.com/mdc/public/page/2_3022-mflppg-moneyflow.html
Wow,
ReplyDeleteSold my RBY a week ago (bummer!!) , but my MNEAF , AMOK , UXG had big surprize to the upside. Big surprize since I was going to hold them as they pulled back. volume up looked good too. crazy day.
KBX and HL not too bad either, but i dont own them
Robert: That's the great thing. I'm launching it with an existing fund 50-50 but I get to stay home and call in orders to them in my underwear! No road show, no office, just my trading system and advising. I hope I can pull this off as it would be quite the deal.
ReplyDeleteWes: the SPY was up 37 cents today. Remember it's SPY not SPX, so we will get it, and there was "strength" (assuming it doesn't change too much in the late posting)
aviat
ReplyDeleteIt will disappear because the market closed down. This doesn't, of course, mean that selling on strength didn't happen. It most certainly did.
But this indicator is so flawed that we will not see it.
aviat72, but I believe they were all below $100 though, right?
ReplyDeleteRobert, the equity must end positive to constitute a technical SoS.
Obviously total money flow could be negative when the stock is negative for the day, as you point out.
Wes, SPY ended positive, it will be a SoS day.
ReplyDeleteRobert,
ReplyDeleteMy suggestion has always been not to get tangled up in the mess that is the stock market. We have titanic forces pushing and pulling the market back and forth.
Does one really want to get sucked into that to maybe make some small profits on the short side, and then only if you time the exit perfectly?
DG,
My answer is kind of the same as what I said to Robert. We aren't in a confirmed bear market so I'm not keen about trying to play the short side for the reasons I stated above.
In the long run I will make a lot more money (and lose a lot less) if I just let corrections happen and then buy the dip (in bull markets).
I learned a long time ago that trying to catch every swing up and down was mostly a losing proposition for me (and for most people).
Now maybe the large SoS number will signal the beginning of an intermediate decline and maybe it will be a poor timing tool again like it has many times in the past. With Bernanke printing like crazy how far can we really expect a correction to go?
For me it's not worth trying to fight with something like that. I would rather just wait patiently for gold to dip down into an intermediate decline and then I will reload heavily knowing I have the safety net of a secular bull market under me.
Good point DG, so we will see it today. But, you have to admit that it is just blind luck that we do.
ReplyDeleteThis could have been happening all along (the selling on strength) but we haven't seen it because SPY closed down.
Wes,
ReplyDeleteThe SoS numbers are compiled during the day and only disappear if the day ends down.
That doesn't mean they weren't there. If today had ended down and they vanished I would still take into account they were there during the day.
Gary,
ReplyDeleteQEII has been a non-event for the stock market (and I'd guess for gold,too). It was already priced in.
You seem to think that because the event hasn't taken place yet, it cannot be priced in. You know that is not right. This happens all the time in markets.
Fair enough Gary. So it's not that there is some reason not to expect an intermediate dip (other than Ben's printing), just that you have no interest in allocating capital there. I am happy to make money on the short side while waiting for gold to bottom. At that point I will be all in in gold like I was until the recent bounce after the reversal day, but if I see money lying on the sidewalk I am happy to bend over and pick it up (so to speak---were that it were that easy!).
ReplyDeleteWes, your point is fair, but that's why it pays to look at it during the day. If it is big all day and then the SPY closes down a few cents, it's still telling us something. I think the near $600mm is significant, but I'd never bet on just one indicator. Given everything else you and I have blogged about I am happy to see it.
Update, -582m SoS SPY @ 4:03 PM EST.
ReplyDeleteThe last update will be @ 5:33 PM EST (delayed 15-30 minutes).
I don't foresee the dollar able to move too much higher but even holding here could kill stocks.
Gary,
ReplyDeleteIf the market hadn't rallied, you would have never seen the data.
It's a bad, unreliable indicator.
Wes,
ReplyDeleteIt's not possible to "price in" QE. This isn't a jobs number that can be guessed at in advance. This is new money being constantly pumped into the market.
Haven't you wondered why a 5 point rise in the dollar has had almost no effect on the stock market?
The reason of course is that the dollar is only strong because traders are irrationally selling the Euro. That doesn't mean that dollars are becoming scarce, they aren't. Quite the opposite. Ben is flooding the world with new ones.
It's going to be tough to get a sustained correction in that kind of environment. I dare say if Bernanke hadn't stopped QE in March we never would have seen the flash crash in May. It would have most likely just unfolded as a very mild correction.
Kind of like what we are seeing so far.
Wes,
ReplyDeleteDo you expect smart money to sell on weakness? Nobody ever wants to sell on weakness. Gary's tested the SPY SoS prudently (I don't think he lies). I also believe he's tested many indicators and if this didn't meet his criteria it wouldn't obviously be of importance.
Gary,
ReplyDeleteDo you recall the largest SoS you've noted in GLD? Today is not worth looking at for GLD but I am curious. Thanks.
Wes,
ReplyDeleteOf course not. It's because big money sells into strength. They aren't unloading on down days. If they did that they would move the market even further against themselves.
And the indicator is actually one of the best tools we use even if it isn't a perfect timing devise. On a pure price level it almost never has a losing trade.
So even if this signal turns out to be early it will most likely still turn out to be a winning signal because at some point the market will trun down into an intermediate decline and the smart money that sold today will be able to re-enter at lower prices.
Robert,
ReplyDeleteI haven't really tested the money flows in GLD. But I suspect they probably aren't going to be predictive.
By the way, the last huge SoS number I remember was exactly the day before the Dubai break. I had quite a nice day the next day!
ReplyDeletePima: You out there? You had mentioned you were going to look at GLD SoS and BoW days. Did you ever get to that? I'd love to know if you do it.
Robert,
ReplyDeleteYou are missing the point. The SoS either occurs or not completely independent of whether the SPY closes positive or not.
But, when SPY never goes positive during the day, we cannot tell whether SoS is happening or not by looking at this source (WSJ) of data
That's what makes it an unreliable indicator.
As a technical matter, the SoS data are generated when the SPY is sold on a downtick. Whether this downtick occurs above or below yesterday's close is immaterial. Yet, the WSJ source only shows it on up days.
Wes,
ReplyDeleteYou are missing the fact that 5 years worth of data strongly suggest that SoS days precede an intermediate correcction and BoW days usually precede an intermediate bottom.
Virtually no top or bottom occurs without seeing one or more of these days. So whether or not it's happening intraday is irrelevant. History says we are going to see at least one or more prior to any major reversal.
So the wise thing to do is wait for one before taking positions against an intermediate trend.
Gary,
ReplyDeleteIf you are proud of the fact that this indicator called the top 15 trading sessions after the fact, I am equally proud to call it all yours.
I don't delude myself into thinking I can time every wiggle in the stock market. History is pretty clear that no one will do it on a consistent basis over a long period of time.
ReplyDeleteThat's why I'm mostly Old Turkey with my PM positions and it's why I'm up well over 50% so far this year because I don't try to time the daily wiggles.
Maybe for you losing 15 days is a big deal but for most people making money is a bigger deal and if one has to wait 15 days to do it...well that's the cost of doing business :)
Realistically today's SOS only missed the exact top by 3%. I doubt that anyone has done much better than 1.5 - 2% using other methods and if the market goes on to make new highs other methods will probably get stopped out for a loss whereas the SoS tool would keep one in the trade until it produces a profit.
ReplyDeleteI don't know about you but I prefer the strategy that produces profits :)
Again let me be clear that I have no desire to short this market despite the large SoS number today.
Even as much of a trader as I am, I think there is value in knowing whether the correction has legs or will be just a few day affair. If the top was 1220 and I find out at 1190 that we are going a fair bit lower, that's something I can use. Conversely, if there is no SoS day and that implies we cannot go much lower, that also has value to me. I am happy to short a stock at 50 on the way to 30 even if at one point it had been 60. Even more so if at 50 I know it's going to 30 whereas at 60 I am only guessing how low it can go.
ReplyDeleteNot that it is perfect (no indicator is) but calling it late doesn't matter much to me, at least. I just want to know where the next decent move is.
DG,
ReplyDeleteI'm frustrated by you guys not acknowledging that SoS could be happening (and I'll bet has been happening) without us seeing it because the WSJ source doesn't post the data unless the SPY closes up on the day.
Had the SPY not gone positive today, we wouldn't have known about the SoS from this source. It would still have happened, but we would have never seen it.
I once used Interactive Data software that displayed money flow on every security. I'm guessing WSJ gets their data from ID. I still use ID as my data source, but I don't use their software anymore.
The point is that money flow data shows net buying or selling regardless of whether the security is trading higher or lower. The WSJ uses this data and calls it SoS when the security is up on the day. When the security is down and the money flow data are down we don't get to see it.
That doesn't mean it (net selling) didn't happen. It just means we can't see it.
Wes, you're 100% correct that SoS could be happening right under our nose(same for BoW) without it ever showing up and thus makes a poor "pseudo requirement" of an intermediate top/bottom.
ReplyDeleteIn this case it worked in our favor, and if Gary is correct it preceded the 5 previous declines. But you're right, being lucky 5 times earlier holds no future guarantee.
Thanks, Poly. I needed that. :)
ReplyDeleteNot sure I understand your frustration, Wes. SoS represents a fade, and that's the notable part. Selling on a down day is sort of assumed, except when BoW appears, which is again notable as contra-action.
ReplyDeleteWes, we've been watching SoS daily for months. There has never been too significant of number recently, nothing ever close to what we got today at -582, to holler about.
ReplyDeleteIf my memory serves me right, a few times over the past weeks/months we saw some -100s and maybe one -300 that disappeared, but if you were really really really interested you could go back and search all daily comments (sometimes comments serve multiple days), because I can assure you they were commented on.
FYI the biggest BoWs previously came in on July 27th (185), July 28th (180), and Aug 24th (256). Those purchases average to around $109/SPY, which many were sold at $119/SPY today, bringing in ~8.5%. Not bad for 3 months work with mega millions. At this rate, if they were able to do that 3 times a year, that'd bring home 25.5% annually (sounds about right). Obviously this is one trial but you get the idea.
So if the intermediate decline in gold began on Nov 9th, we're halfway through it already, right?
ReplyDeleteAt other times Gary says "If we're rolling over into an intermediate decline", implying the decline has yet to begin or is just beginning. It's kind of confusing.
It has nothing to do with selling on a down day. It's about selling into upticks or strength, there is a difference.
ReplyDeleteHis point (I believe) is if the market turned down only 1 more S&P point then SPY would have turned negative and disappeared off the SoS list. But the underlying selling or outflow of $-600 would still exist. If you're waiting for a SoS day, as Gary repeatedly has called for as a prerequisite to a intermediate top, you could be found holding through the drop.
DG,
ReplyDeleteI had a busy week last week, had hoped to get to the SoS research on GLD over the weekend, but came down with the flu or bad cold or something. I'm on the mend, but not back to normal energy level yet.
I will try to take a look at that later this week or next weekend.
Hope you had a great T-day!
DG, If you give me a .2% stake in your hedge fund I'll give you the SoS and BoW data as far back as it exists for GLD by the end of tonight ;)
ReplyDeletePima: Sorry about your cold. Glad you still plan to study money flows on GLD.
ReplyDeleteWes: Yes, I agree, there can be a strong money flow day that doesn't show up. BUt that doesn't take away from it's being effective so long as when it does show up it is meaningful. If in fact it has preceded every decline (but one) over the past five years, that's impressive. I have a friend who is a naturalist. He often says, "When the bird and the book disagree, believe the bird!" No matter how much what you are saying makes sense a 95% track record over five years is what it is. The fact that some data doesn't show up is true, but if Gary is right that it has always preceded a move, then there you have it. The bird has spoken, regardless of what the "book" says, even though I believe I under stand your point and it makes sense. If it stops working, I'm happy to drop it, but since I've been watching it it's been a good, if not precise, indicator of a trend change.
and hopefully Gary will give the SoS signal and it's consequences to stock traders/investors some good detail tonight, outside of "the plan". I don't believe we've all thrown 100% of our net worth behind the volatile PM's :-)
ReplyDeleteDG,
ReplyDeleteI like "believe the bird". My point was that WSJ doesn't allow us to see the bird all the time. But the bird is still there, nonetheless.
A value of -500 million is significant whether or not the SPY closed marginally up or down.
But we only see it on up days.
I have requested from my software vendor that he furnish me with the software formula for money flow. When he does, I'll run it on my data feed.
ReplyDeleteIf this happens, I'll report money flow on SPY regardless of closing price.
I'm actually hoping this has merit. But I think we need it on both up and down days. Otherwise we run the risk of getting the word 15 days late.
Wes,
ReplyDeleteEven if today had ended down I would take the intraday numbers as a big warning.
I suspect the one time in the last 5 years the SoS didn't catch the top was because it turned the day negative when it happened.
Really all the money flow data means to me is that smart money is either getting out or getting in. They won't time tops or bottoms perfectly anymore than anyone else buit I figure they have much better info than I can possibly get. So when they move I want to take notice and prepare to follow their lead.
The only caveat is that I have no desire to short in bull markets. I save that for confirmed bear markets.
Gary,
ReplyDeleteI reviewed your work before I subscribed, and I have reviewed it even more since.
While you protest to the contrary, you are an excellent market timer.
ROBERT,
ReplyDelete>I just find it silly that you put out so much information, it is usually good information too, that is extremely bias in one direction yet then you don't even have the conviction to put your money where your mouth is.
I traded a **significant** amount of gold and silver futures on the evening breakout after the fed a few weeks ago. I posted them in real time and you can go back and look if you doubt me.
I made a 'ferrari unit' on those trades but, I'll let you decide what model and whether new or used :-)
(I did give back much of the profit on the margin hike and subsequent drop. But I was honest about that too, and overall it was well profitable. So I don't understand your continuing comments about me not putting money to work. I also have a core position that I've held through this entire time.)
ROBERT,
ReplyDeleteMy previous post deviated a bit from my norm and some was pushback at your repeated comments.
In general, it is simply best for people to not try to bump each other over amounts or gains.
Be happy with whatever sums you have. Really. We wish you the best.
There is no benefit to trying to one-up each other for a number of reasons:
- somebody is always richer
- somebody is always poorer
- nothing is verifiable anyway - so it usually just degrades into lying at some point as a person feels slighted and starts boasting.
- a LOT of people have been *both* richer and poorer and have a greater sensitivity to not broadcasting it in others faces.
- it isn't necessary to the discussion
ROBERT,
ReplyDeleteNone of this is a personal attack and I understand your comments to me aren't either.
I just want you to understand why I (and gary it seems) and others probably won't partake in the keeping score part of the game by posting totals. My ferrari thing was a cute line and all, but I'm mostly trying to make a point and I'll be unlikely to bring it up again.
Wes,
ReplyDeleteI think you are mistaking a bit of good luck with market timing skill.
I understand that realistically I'm not going to get much better than 60% of my calls right over the long haul. That's about the best anyone can do over any significant period of time.
The only way to do better is to either use a mechanical system that takes emotions out of the equation (requires strict discipline) or just ride a bull market (have to be willing to weather drawdowns).
All in all the reward from riding a bull market is so much greater than any other strategy, that for me, I'm willing to suffer through the draws to achieve the ultimate goal.
I think I can clearly explain 'money flow' to you guys (as I understand it).
ReplyDeleteAny security has a BID and ASK. People are PATIENTLY posting where they will buy and sell a security. There is a gap (spread) in the middle.
ASK->100
BID->99
When a trade OCCURS, a party has to go and TAKE either the bid or the ask with a marketable order. If they are buying they get the ASK, if they are selling the get the BID.
Any trade is a change of shares. Whether it is a buy or a sell doesn't matter. It still represents one party giving their shares to the other party in exachange for money. But depending on WHICH PARTY WAS LESS PATIENT that transaction can occur at ONE OF TWO PRICES. Either 99 or 100.
If the trade occurs at 100, it means the BUYER was the LESS PATIENT (or more EXCITED) party. If the trade is at 99 then the SELLER was the initiating entity and MORE EXCITED/LESS PATIENT.
Remember, you can sell your shares by EITHER posting a limit order and taking the ask (being *patient*) or you can immediately take the bid. One way is fast and emotional. The other is slow and patient. Big money is slow and patient.
So, recapping...Trades happen at either the higher OR lower price. A trade is always the same - a transfer of money and shares. Thinking that one is a 'buy' and one is a 'sell' isn't really correct in this situation.
The correct mechanism to think of is that one party was patiently waiting at the bid or ask. And the other party INITIATED the trade.
The MONEY FLOW is thus the balance of the trades initiated by people grabbing the higher numbers (to 'buy') and people grabbing the lower number (to 'sell').
The theory of money flow thus is that the party that is MORE EXCITED, LESS PATIENT, and more willing to "GET ME IN NOW!!! with a MARKET ORDER!!!" (either to buy OR to sell) is the party that is probably making the mistake and probably acting emotionally.
So...predominately seeing trades going off at the ASK (high number) shows impatient (greedy top?) people buying. Seeing the trade happen at the low number BID shows impatient (scared?) people selling.
The overwhelming balance of one or the other on particular days can show emotional buying tops and panic selling bottoms.
Gold & Silver Miner Short Interest Unusually High:
ReplyDeleteSVM 135% increase (.4 dtc)
EXK 49% increase (.5 dtc)
PAAS 43% increase (1.6 dtc)
SLW 40% increase (.6 dtc)
ABX 37% increase (.9 dtc)
NG 35% increase (1.8 dtc)
GG 20% increase (2 dtc)
AEM 15% increase (3.4 dtc)
I occasionally look at this data, but tonight struck me odd because 80% of the PM stocks I looked at had unusually high increases in shorts. We'll see if this has any value over the coming days.
www.shortsqueeze.com
dtc = days to cover
Yes, prices of securities go up and down during the day, but there is ALWAYS a "high" and "low" number (ask/bid) and a trade (money/share transfer) always happens at one of those two prices.
ReplyDeleteThe use of "uptick" and "downtick" in this dicussion I don't like because it seems to suggest a security's price is MOVING when it isn't. The bid/ask can stay at:
ASK->100
BID->99
and can trade there all day. The trades back and forth at 100 and 99 are technically changes 'up' and 'down' in the price, hence the words uptick and downtick, but the price isn't really going anywhere.
I think it is better to think of things as I presented. There are two prices with a spread and the price as which the security trades indicates who was the more emotional party wanting in or out.
Gary,
ReplyDeleteJust read your subscriber's report for today and it brings up a question:
It looks like the chances are high that we will not see gold make new highs before it moves down into its intermediate cycle low. If the odds of gold moving into that cycle low are much higher than the odds of it making a new high first, wouldn't it be a good idea to start unloading some of our positions at current prices rather than waiting for our stops to get hit?
Thanks!
Gary-
ReplyDeleteHow long do dollar daily cycles typically run?
Is it possible today's large SoS numbers were due at least in part to the fact that we are bumping up against the deadline (tomorrow) to sell losing stocks and avoid the effects of the wash-sale rule?
ReplyDeleteAs an aside, I found parts of tonight's update to be confusing, but maybe it's just me being obtuse.
Like I said before, in bull markets the surprises come on the upside, so I will just continue to follow the plan and leave the second guessing to others.
ReplyDeleteMag,
ReplyDeletedaily cycles 20-25 days on average.
James,
ReplyDeleteIf you were long stocks go to cash. For precious metals just continue to follow the plan.
Pretty simple.
James and Gary,
ReplyDeleteThank you, I guess I had the same confusion. I still think of SIL as basically a stock. I need to modify my preconceptions.
China's benchmark short-term money market rate, the weighted average seven-day government bond repurchase rate, jumped over 57 basis points early on Tuesday to its highest level in more than two years, withtraders reporting an acute liquidity squeeze.
ReplyDeleteGary,
ReplyDeleteDo you think the wikileaks of 2 of the banks in the US early next year( 1 being a very big bank they say) will have any effect on the market now or in a few months? I know the leaks have been about government and the war which is huge but has not cause any stir in the markets as of yet. Just wondering if something like this could be a factor when determining market conditions going forward
so...we are late in the gold cycle...looking for it to make a LOW
ReplyDeleteThe dollar is up .50 and Gold has shot straight up about $20.00
what planet did I wake up on??
Like I said the surprises come on the upside. Now you see why I choose to stick to the plan instead of trying to second guess.
ReplyDeleteyes you did, and yes it did ...but this late in the gold daily cycle, it still doesnt look like a valid break upwards...more like a suckers rally (selling opportunity). Double top for now? wouldnt even an 'old turkey' feel extra comfortable lightening up on positions in view of the timing here??
ReplyDeletewait..I know what your going to say...
JUST FOLLOW THE PLAN, MAN!
Alex: Things jiggle. Gold will very likely make new lows before it makes new highs. If it rallies much more it will actually hit my shorts screen. I may not short it there as I wouldn't want to unleash the Wrath of Gary (and because the world is collapsing, to be fair), but a one day surge based on imminent collapse fears doesn't change a cycle that still needs to unfold.
ReplyDeleteI tend to agree with DG. If gold makes a new high it will probably just be a marginal new high like it did this summer before moving down into an intermediate cycle low.
ReplyDeleteBut there's no way I would ever sell my core position or short. It is a bull market after all.
Yes, I agree, but I do choose to just lighten up at the top a bit.Lock in profits. However , I do know that in GOLD , a cycle low can form with a couple of screaming $40 down days in a row, bounce and retest :)
ReplyDeleteGary, nice work.
ReplyDeleteGary,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the feedback re whether to sell now or wait for stops to get hit.
My thinking was that if the odds were, say, only 1 in 10 that gold would make a new high here before moving into its intermediate cycle low, then I would take profits on all except my core position just to get the higher prices that gold is trading at now rather than the lower prices at the stop.
Of course, we can't know for sure what the odds are, so there's the rub. And as you have reminded us many times: In bull markets surprises always come on the upside.
Alex,
ReplyDeleteI hear what you're saying and it's similar to my thinking also. Maybe start reducing positions a little at a time, but do NOT go below your core position size.
I believe Gary will have us holding a core position thru the intermediate cycle. The only time we are going sell everything is when it becomes clear that a D wave is upon us.
P/C
ReplyDeleteThats the plan for me too..I just hope we see that d-wave before it strikes too hard...they have a tendency to be BRUTAL :)