Dow Theory Update for May 17: US stocks refuse to confirm neither bull nor bear signal

End result: No change of primary trend.

US STOCKS

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

The secondary trend is bearish (secondary reaction against the primary bull market). The secondary reaction was signaled on April 13^th, as explained here.

As per Schannep’s Dow Theory in order to complete a primary bear market setup, at least one index should rally more than 3% off the secondary reaction closing lows. The Transports and the S&P 500 have done so. The Transports secondary reaction closing lows were made on April 13^th, 2017 (closing price 8874.56). On April 24^th the Transports closed at 9282.99, which is a rally of +4.60%, thus exceeding the minimum 3% requirement.

The S&P 500 secondary reaction closing lows were made on April 13^th, 2017 (closing price 2328.95). On May 10^th, the S&P 500 closed at 2399.63, breaking out above its last recorded primary bull market closing high of March 1^st, which amounts to a rally of 3.03% (which is more than 3%). The SPY, likewise, bettered its March 1^st closing highs on May 15^th, 2017 (blue upward arrow on the bottom chart).

By the way, the S&P 500 higher closing high has not been confirmed by neither the Industrials nor the Transports. Please mind that the SPY is not “confirming” the S&P 500, as we are talking of the same index. Hence, the S&P 500 higher highs have not been confirmed.

Thus, we cannot declare the secondary reaction as extinguished. Furthermore, the longer the lack of confirmation by the Transports and Industrials persists, the more suspect the current rally off the April 13^th, 2017 closing lows becomes.

Today, May 17^th, the Transports have violated their April 13^th, 2017 secondary reaction closing lows (red downward arrow in the middle chart). Under the “Rhea/classical” Dow Theory, for a primary bear market signal to exist, it is necessary that the Industrials confirm. They have not done so. Please mind that under the "Classical/Rhea" Dow Theory as interpreted by Schannep, there is a secondary reaction going on, and hence, a primary bear market signal would be signaled if the Industrials were to violate the April 13th secondary reaction lows (even if the S&P 500 were not going to do so). However, strict "classical" Dow Theorists might not see a secondary reaction yet, as was explained here.

Here you have an updated chart:

 

The primary trend remains bullish until reversed

Under Schannep’s Dow Theory, for a primary bear market to be signaled, we need the S&P 500 to confirm, namely, to violate its April 13^th secondary reaction closing lows. As the S&P 500 has not done so, the primary trend remains bullish. Why under Schannep’s Dow Theory should the S&P 500 always be part and parcel of any signal? The answer here

Bottom line: We are seeing lack of confirmation when it comes to higher highs, which negates the end of the current secondary reaction. On the other hand, we have just seen today lack of confirmation when it comes to lower lows, which negates the primary bear market signal. However, until a signal is reversed by a new one, the trend remains unchanged, and hence the primary trend remains bullish.

GOLD AND SILVER

The primary trend turned bullish on April 12^th, 2017 as explained here

The secondary trend is bearish, as explained in depth here.

GOLD AND SILVER MINERS EFTs

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

The secondary trend is bullish as explained here

As was explained here, SIL and GDX have set up for a primary bull market signal.

Sincerely,

The Dow Theorist

Dow Theory Update for May 15: SLV and GLD under secondary reaction against primary bull market

Trend for stocks unchanged

I am writing early in the morning before the open of May 15^th. So things might change by the today’s close.

US STOCKS

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

The secondary trend is bearish (secondary reaction against the primary bull market). The secondary reaction was signaled on April 13^th, as explained here.

As per Schannep’s Dow Theory in order to complete a primary bear market setup, at least one index should rally more than 3% off the secondary reaction closing lows. The Transports and the S&P 500 have done so. The Transports secondary reaction closing lows were made on April 13^th, 2017 (closing price 8874.56). On April 24^th the Transports closed at 9282.99, which is a rally of +4.60%, thus exceeding the minimum 3% requirement.

The S&P 500 secondary reaction closing lows were made on April 13^th, 2017 (closing price 2328.95). On May 10^th, the S&P 500 closed at 2399.63, breaking out above its last recorded primary bull market closing high of March 1^st, which amounts to a rally of 3.03% (which is more than 3%).

By the way, the S&P 500 higher closing high has not been confirmed by neither the Industrials nor the Transports. Thus, we cannot declare the secondary reaction as extinguished. Furthermore, the longer the lack of confirmation by the Transports and Industrials persists, the more suspect the current rally off the April 13^th, 2017 closing lows becomes.

The SPY has not deigned to better its March 1^st closing high. As of this writing (10:25 a.m. NY time) the SPY is breaking out above such a high. However, we have to wait for today’s close.

So now we have two alternative scenarios:

a) Either the three indices break above the March 1^st, 2017 closing highs (last recorded primary bull market highs), and the primary bull market gets reconfirmed. Only the S&P 500 has hitherto done so.

b) Or, the S&P 500 together with other index (either the Transports or the Industrials) break down the secondary reaction lows (made on April 13^th for the SP 500 and Transports, and on April 19^th for the Industrials), in which case a primary bear market would be signaled. Why the S&P500 must always be present for a primary bear market signal to be signaled? The in-depth answer here.

As I explained in-depth here, even if the current primary bear market setup becomes an actual primary bear market signal, the current trade is very likely to be a winner. 

Furthermore, as I explained here , if the current "fibrilation" state were to persist (something we cannot know in real time), we might have seen end of the current bull swing.

Here you have an updated chart:

The only thing that is certain is that the primary bull market, until reversed, deserves the benefit of doubt

GOLD AND SILVER

The primary trend turned bullish on April 12^th, 2017 as explained here

The secondary trend is bearish, as both SLV and GLD have declined for more than 15 trading days (when using just two indices, I’d rather demand a longer time period for a secondary reaction to exist, although the appraisal of secondary reaction is a tricky business).

Both SLV and GLD have retraced more than 1/3 of the previous primary bull market leg (see chart below). Such a primary bull market swing starts at the closing lows of the last primary bear market which were made on 12/23/2016 for SLV and 12/15/2016 for GLD and finished at the closing highs of 4/13/2017 (SLV) and 4/18/2017 (GLD).

Thus, both the time and extent requirement for a secondary reaction have been met, and we can declare the existence of a secondary (bearish) reaction against the primary bull market.

Since the May 9^th, 2017 closing lows both SLV and GLD have been rallying for three days (likely four if today’s close is also up). On a closing basis neither SLV nor GLD have rallied enough to set up both precious metals for a primary bear market signal (not even one precious metals has rallied on a closing basis more than 3%, or more, if we perform volatility adjustments). More about volatility adjustments here

 

SLV and GLD under a secondary reaction

As an aside, it is worth mentioning that the primary trend when using weekly bars is bearish, which tends to be headwind for any meaningful bullish action. Furthermore, the gold and silver miners ETFs remain in a primary bear market, which is also a negative.

GOLD AND SILVER MINERS EFTs

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

The secondary trend is bullish as explained here

As was explained here, SIL and GDX have set up for a primary bull market signal. Here you have an updated chart. The blue rectangles display the bullish secondary reaction against the ongoing primary bear market whereas the orange rectangles display the pullback that setup both ETFs for a primary bull market signal.

Will the blue horizontal lines be broken up (bull signal)? Or the red ones be violated (bear market reconfirmed)?

   

If the last recorded primary bear market lows were jointly revisited (red horizontal lines) , the primary bear market would be reconfirmed.

If the secondary reaction closing highs (blue horizontal lines) were jointly broken up, a primary bull market would be signaled.

It is worth mentioning that SIL made on May 4^th, 2017 a marginally lower closing low whereas GDX refused to do so. Since that date precious metals (stocks and the metals themselves) have been rallying.

As an aside, it is worth mentioning that the primary trend when using weekly bars is bearish, which tends to be headwind for any meaningful bullish action.

Sincerely,

The Dow Theorist