Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Dow Theory Update for December 20: Primary and Secondary trends unchanged





Industrials make higher closing highs unconfirmed

I am on a "vacation mode", and hence my writing will be limited to strictly monitoring trends. No time for in-depth studies.

US STOCKS

The primary and secondary trend is bullish since November 21st, 2016, as explained here and here.

The Industrials made today a higher closing high unconfirmed by the Transports and SPY. The higher stocks go without starting the first secondary reaction, the more likely losses (if any) arising out from a failed trade are to be contained. Let’s see what happens. 


GOLD AND SILVER

The primary and secondary trend is bearish, as was explained here and here. The primary bear market was signaled on September 30rd, 2016

After what can be considered a secondary (bullish) reaction against the primary bear market (the rally retraced more than 1/3 of the previous decline on a confirmed basis), newer lows (breaking down below the last recorded primary bear market closing lows) has re-confirmed the primary bear market on November 14th, 2016.

For the time being no secondary (bullish) reaction against the primary bear market in sight.

As I write these lines extreme weakness persists.


GOLD AND SILVER MINERS ETFs

The primary and secondary trend is bearish, as was explained here and here.

After what can be considered a secondary (bullish) reaction against the primary bear market (the rally retraced almost 1/3 of the previous decline on a confirmed basis), newer lows (breaking down below the last recorded primary bear market closing lows) has re-confirmed the primary bear market on November 13th, 2016

For the time being no secondary (bullish) reaction against the primary bear market in sight.

Sincerely,
The Dow Theorist

Friday, December 9, 2016

Dow Theory Update for December 9: US stock indices making confirmed higher highs




Trends unchanged


Gary Antonacci, of the “Dual Momentum” blog, has recently penned an interesting article named “Common Mistakes of Momentum Investors”.  Since the Dow Theory is closely related to appraising momentum and riding on it, the article is quite applicable to Dow Theorist and is an interesting read so that we avoid usual psychological pitfalls.  



US STOCKS

The primary and secondary trend is bullish since November 21st, 2016, as explained here and here.


Following the primary bull market signal of November 21st, stocks have given little respite to afford a more convenient entry price for latecomers. Almost with no noticeable decline stocks have continued to make confirmed higher highs, which is bullish long term. Stocks are short term overbought and theoretically should pause. However, overbought situations may persist longer than one expects.While we don't know at this stage how will the current bull market signal (and concomitant trade) end, the longer the upward momentum persists, the more likely (while not a certainty) the trade is likely to be closed at a modest loss or even with a profit. The entry price for the SPY (close of November 21st) was 220.15. The SPY closed on December 8th, at 225.15 which amounts to ca. 2.27% advance. If a secondary reaction where to begin from this point, and would further lead to an "average" exit signal which tends to be at ca. -7.7% below the top (more about it here), we would be likely to make a -5.43% loss. Hence, the higher the market goes before undergoing the first secondary reaction, the better. Please mind, that absent a secondary reaction leading to the setup for a primary bear market signal, the closing lows of the last primary bear market (November 4th, 2016 for the SPY at 208.55) are our Dow Theory stop loss (which lies at ca. -5.27% below the entry price of 220.15).

GOLD AND SILVER

The primary and secondary trend is bearish, as was explained here and here. The primary bear market was signaled on September 30rd, 2016

After what can be considered a secondary (bullish) reaction against the primary bear market (the rally retraced more than 1/3 of the previous decline on a confirmed basis), newer lows (breaking down below the last recorded primary bear market closing lows) has re-confirmed the primary bear market on November 14th, 2016.

For the time being no secondary (bullish) reaction against the primary bear market in sight.


GOLD AND SILVER MINERS ETFs

The primary and secondary trend is bearish, as was explained here and here.

After what can be considered a secondary (bullish) reaction against the primary bear market (the rally retraced almost 1/3 of the previous decline on a confirmed basis), newer lows (breaking down below the last recorded primary bear market closing lows) has re-confirmed the primary bear market on November 13th, 2016

For the time being no secondary (bullish) reaction against the primary bear market in sight.

Sincerely,
The Dow Theorist

Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Dow Theory Update for December 6: More on the primary bull market signal



Trends unchanged for gold, silver and their miners: that is bearish


On November 21st, 2016 a primary bull market was signaled, as was reported here


Let’s further delve into the signal. First of all, let’s take a look at the charts

 
The highs of the last primary bull market (red horizontal lines) were bettered by the three indices: New primary bull market
After the primary bear market signal of November 2rd, 2016 (signal which has not heeded by Jack and Bart Schannep, as explained here), US stock indices rallied with no respite until the last recorded primary bull  market closing highs (red horizontal lines and blue arrows) were jointly bettered by the Industrials, Transports and S&P 500. The Transports (middle graph) were the first to better their last recorded primary bull market highs (11/7). The Industrials did so on November 10th, and eventually the S&P 500 confirmed on November 21rd, thus being signaled a primary bull market signal. Please mind that as per Rhea’s and Schannep’s Dow Theory the breaking out of the last primary bull market closing highs constitutes a legitimate primary bull market signal. While this is not the most usual primary bull market signal (the “usual” one entails the development of a secondary reaction against the primary bear market, subsequent pullback and breaking out of the secondary reaction highs), it is a fully valid one.


All in all since November 21st, 2016 the primary trend is bullish. Furthermore, as per the classical Dow Theory (and according to each possible interpretations thereof), the primary trend is bullish as well.

As to the Dow Theory when applied to weekly bars, while I still didn’t have the time to write an in-depth post, the trend has turned bullish, which is supposed to be tailwind for the current primary bull market signal (as determined by the daily bars). In other words, the trend in the higher time frame (weekly bars) is supportive and in gear with the trend in the lower time frame (daily bars).

So overall, technically at least, the trend is very bullish. I see, though, two clouds on the horizon (which nonetheless, I disregard, as I am strictly a technical trader). Please mind that “clear skies” in real time trading are a very rare occurrence. This is why it is so difficult to be a rule-based trader. One thing is back testing, another quite different thing is to trade in real time and stick to the rules no matter how many “clouds” we see on the horizon:

The first issue that bothers me is the “narrow ranging” which has been plaguing the stock market since 2010. The second issue is the age of the current cyclical bull market. I will further elaborate on both “clouds”.

Since 2010 the market has been experiencing some sort of “fibrillation”. In other words, further declines following primary bear market signals are short lived and shallow, whereas further advances following primary bull market signals lack enough magnitude before being reversed by the next primary bear market signal. I have already written about this unpleasant market environment here.


I have tabulated all trades taken as per Schannep’s Dow Theory since 1953. I calculated, among other items, the total amplitude of an upswing (that is from primary bear market low to primary bull market top), and the amount of the further advance until the top following a primary bull market signal. These are two key figures. The only way for any Dow Theory flavor to thrive is to have swings (from bottom to top) of sufficient magnitude so that if we deduct the percentage lost when entering (distance between entry price and bear market bottom) and exiting (distance between market top and exit price) we still have a healthy remainder: this remainder is the “meat” or our takeaway home from each Dow Theory swing. We know that we shed ca. 7-8% when entering and exiting. Thus, we can say that roughly we stand to lose ca. 15% of each upswing. If the upswing has a magnitude of let’s say 40% we will stand to make ca. 25% on the trade. If the upswing has a magnitude of just 15%, we will likely break even. A narrower range will entail outright losses. Please mind that this is not carved on stone. These are just rough calculations which, though, are well grounded in the historical record.

We do not only need a sufficiently ample upswing. We also need that the further advance following the primary bull market signal has enough “oomph” and is not aborted soon after the primary bull market signal.

From 1953 until 2009, the average upswing (from bear market low to bull market low) amounted to 54.15% (median 39.59%). Impressive, isn’t it?. Let’s take a 40% figure (close to the median). If we subtract 15% (ca. 7-8% lost when entering and exiting) we have a likely gain of ca. 25% per trade. By the way, this boe estimate quite accurately reflects the historical Dow Theory record: 25% made in ca. 1 ½ years (roughly estimate of the average trade duration) translates into a ca. 16% p.a. performance which is not far from the historical Schannep’s Dow Theory record until 2009.

Well, now fasten your seat belts: From 2010 to date, the average upswing amounted to just 25.88% (median 23.33%). In other words, the average upswing has been ca. cut in half. In my opinion this is clearly “fibrillation” and headwind for the Dow Theory. Noise has dramatically increased (“noise” being the lesser amplitude of upswings versus the amount of signals).

And what about the subsequent advance following a primary bull market signal. In other words, after buying following a primary bull market signal, is it very likely that the market will immediately reverse and hence we will make a loss or realize meager gains?

From 1953 to 2009 the further advance following a primary bull market signal was 37.98% (median 27.03%). In other words, if we subtract ca. 7-8% (the exit tends to be ca. 7-8% below the primary bull market top), we stand to make ca. 20% (more if we take the average instead of the median) on each trade.

However, from 2010 to date, the further advance following a primary bull market signal has been maimed. The further advance following a primary bull market signal was a meager 12.16% (median 7.6%), hence leaving very little “meat” available to profit from. If we deduct ca. 7-8% from the top, we are just close to break even. No loss, but, of course, very little gain. 

Note: All calculations have been made following the S&P 500; calculations are similar but not identical using the Industrials or the Transports.

If we couple lack of follow through following a primary bull market signal with an equally maimed further decline following primary bear market signals (which is the main driver of outperformance versus buy and hold, the larger the decline following the primary bear market signal, the better for the Dow Theory, as I will prove with numbers in a future post), we have a quite dismal picture. When getting out (primary bear market signal), the decline stops and we are forced to re-buy (next primary bull market signal) at normally higher prices, and when getting in (buying) the market is close to making a top and hence we can hardly build up profits.

As I wrote recently:

Let’s be clear about one thing: If I were to believe that from now on future primary bear market signals would be met with scant follow through, then I ‘d be better deserting the Dow Theory for good (at least Schannep’s which in the only “flavor” with reliable statistics and hard and fast rules, as the “classical” sadly is plagued with many subjective interpretations). In other words, if further declines following a primary bear market signal as determined by Schannep's Dow Theory were an oddity of the past (“oddity” which has persisted since 1960 even in recent times, albeit to a more mitigated extent), we should declare Schannep’s Dow Theory as dead, as the main source of outperformance versus buy and hold (further declines following the primary bear market signal) would be cut short.

The very same remarks I made concerning the lack of follow through after a primary bear market signal are fully applicable to the lack of further advance following a primary bull market signal. Further declines after the bear market signal are our main source of outperformance whereas further advances after the bull market signal are our main source of raw performance. Absent the two the Dow Theory will underperform and have meager returns. Please re-read the previous sentence. If we just had lack of further decline following primary bear market signals but further advances following primary bull market signals were sound, we would be underperforming but, at the same time, we would be having solid performance (i.e. buy and hold 20% p.a. and the Dow Theory 15% p.a.) which is a quite comfortable situation, given that sooner or later the Dow Theory will save us from a crash (or big decline).

On the other hand big declines following a primary bear market signal coupled with scant follow through following a primary bull market signal would imply Dow Theory outperformance versus buy and hold, but, at the same time, a likely negative performance (i.e. buy and hold, -20% versus Dow Theory -5%).

Thus, while it is unpleasant to underperform, it should give us solace to have, as we have, a keen and deep understanding of the nature of the underperformance.

My personal take is that Schannep’s Dow Theory (and the Rhea/classical as well but with more likelihood of higher drawdowns) is very solid. Why am I so sure? As an appetizer, please read here and here. I am convinced that Schannep’s Dow Theory (and of course the “Rhea/classical”) is not dead. The current ranging environment will sooner or later end. Rough patches plague all trading systems (by the way all trend followers are suffering, not just the Dow Theory) and we have to learn to live with them. The only way to live through the rough patch is to deeply understand the trading system. And this is hard work. No way around it. 

The second issue that bothers me is the age of the current cyclical bull market. The current cyclical bull market (more about cyclical bull markets here) is already very old. However, in real time it is very difficult to predict its demise (as in real time there is almost a distinct 50% probability of it continuing for some more months and percentage points). Furthermore, a last "gasp" of +20% is more than enough to close the current trade with profits, so one never knows. Hence, rather than relying on the statistical record of past cyclical bull markets, I am more confident on the solidity of the Dow Theory to ride different market environments. All in all, the current cyclical bull market got started in 2011, and hence it is an “old” one which implies that the odds a cyclical bear market (more than -16% decline on both the S&P 500 and Industrials as per Schannep’s definition) are high.

Sincerely,
The Dow Theorist