Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Dow Theory Update for December 17: Recap for 2019




Primary Trends unchanged



It has been almost one month without updating about the trends for US stocks, precious metals, etc. My silence was due to the lack of change of trends, and to my having written several posts deepening vital concepts of the Dow Theory; one on capitulation whose saga I hope to complete by the end of Q1 2020 (currently I am penning the next chapter), and two posts (here and here) submitting evidence as to the applicability of the Dow Theory to any market, not just stocks, which opens the way for creating a Dow Theory based futures fund (this aspect, namely the construction of a Dow Theory portfolio that lends itself to be the cornerstone of an investment or even a futures fund, will take a good deal of my time next year).


This post is likely to be the last one of 2019, unless something happens that warrants a post. I feel 2019 has been a year rich in posts deepening the Dow Theory. I have dealt with many issues, namely:

·        Which stocks indices are best for applying the Dow Theory (http://www.dowtheoryinvestment.com/2019/10/dow-theory-special-issue-which-indices.html)

·        Which markets are better suited for the Dow Theory (http://www.dowtheoryinvestment.com/2019/06/dow-theory-special-issue-which-markets.html )

·        Important clarifications as to why monthly highs is not the relevant pivot the determine the change of trend (it is the secondary reaction, irrespective of its length) and the added value provided by confirmation (http://www.dowtheoryinvestment.com/2019/04/dow-theory-special-issue-why-it-is-bad.html and http://www.dowtheoryinvestment.com/2019/04/dow-theory-update-for-april-13rd-back.html  )

·        Clarifications as to why one must not wait until the last recorded all-time highs get bettered to declare a primary bull market with specific numbers concerning the performance lost when waiting so much

·        Clarifications as to how to determine a secondary reaction under the Rhea/Classical Dow Theory

 (http://www.dowtheoryinvestment.com/2019/02/dow-theory-update-for-february-4.html ) and how erroneous appraisal result in being “late”.

·        Isolating the two variables that account for the Dow Theory outperformance versus buy and hold (http://www.dowtheoryinvestment.com/2019/01/dow-theory-special-issue-two-variables.html ). 

All in all, there is plenty of stuff to read and mature for the reader really intent on mastering the Dow Theory.

Now let’s analyze the current state of trends. Please mind that I am writing before the close, so things might change.

US STOCKS

Under Schannep’s Dow Theory


The primary and secondary trend turned bullish on October 25th, 2019, as was explained here and here. The Industrials and the S&P 500 continue making higher highs. As of this writing we are far from a secondary reaction. The Transports is failing to make higher highs (last one on 11/07/2019), but with just two indices the confirmation requirement is met.

Here you have an updated chart



Under the Rhea/Classical Dow Theory

If we appraise the trend under the “Rhea/classical” Dow Theory, the primary trend is bullish since April 1st, 2019, as was explained here

The secondary trend is bearish, as there is an ongoing secondary reaction against the primary bull market. The orange rectangles display the secondary reaction. On 06/20/2019 the Industrials bettered their secondary reaction closing highs unconfirmed by the Transports. On 08/27/2019 the Transports violated their secondary reaction closing low unconfirmed by the Industrials, and, hence, no primary bear market was signaled.

The Industrials has continued making higher highs and the Transports have been badly lagging behind unable to break up above their secondary reaction closing highs. The longer it takes for confirmation to occur, the more suspect the primary trend becomes. We should not forget that the failure to jointly better the secondary reaction highs entails that we cannot declare the secondary reaction as extinguished, and hence the secondary trend remains bearish.

Here you have an updated chart:




GOLD AND SILVER

The primary trend and secondary trend was signaled as bearish on 11/07/2019 as was profusely explained here

 Off the hitherto last recorded primary bear market lows of 11/08/2019, SLV rallied for 16 trading days until the last recorded closing highs of 12/03/2019.

GLD made its last recorded primary bear market lows on 11/11/2019 and rallied for 15 trading days until 12/3/2019.

Hence, the time requirement for a secondary reaction has been met.

However, the extent requirement has not been fulfilled, as neither ETF has even managed to rally at least 3% (it should be more if we perform volatility adjustments), and the rally has not managed to retrace at least 1/3 of the bear swing which got started on 09/04/2019 (date of the primary bull market top). Hence, any way you cut it, the extent requirement is far from being fulfilled. This is why the current movement is displayed in the chart below with a green rectangle so that we don’t mistake it for a real secondary reaction (I display secondary reactions against primary bear markets in blue color).

I also explained that I’m doubtful as to whether this particular primary bear market will have long legs, as the trend, when appraised using weekly bars (longer time frame) is bullish. The resistance of the gold and silver miners ETFs to signal a primary bear market seems to confirm my qualms. Given that the precious metals miners tend to be leading SLV and GLD, the resistance of SIL and GDX to signal a primary bear market is more headwind against the current primary bear market signal.

Here you have an updated chart:

The small rally starting from the primary bear market lows does not qualify as a secondary reaction
GOLD AND SILVER MINERS ETFs


The primary trend is bullish since 12/18/2018 as explained here. No changes. By the way, tomorrow we will be lighting a candle for the 1st anniversary of the primary bull market signal. A trade whose duration seems quite in line with what is to be expected under the Dow Theory.

On 09/04/2019 SIL and GDX made its last recorded primary bull market closing highs. From that date both ETFs declined and the secondary trend turned bearish  (secondary reaction against the primary bull market) as explained in-depth here.

On 10/25/2019 the setup for a primary bear market has been completed as explained here

Here you have an updated chart



US INTEREST RATES

As I was explained here, TLT and IEF (two ETFs that relate to US interest rates) are in a bull market (since 12/18/2018 or 11/19/2018 depending on the way one appraises the secondary reaction). I also explained that they are currently under a secondary reaction.

If you look carefully at the charts below you will see two different kind of rectangles superimposed. The orange and larger ones display the secondary reaction. The green and shorter ones display the first pullback which did not manage to fulfill the time requirement, and hence did not reach the status of a secondary reaction. This is why I highlight them but don’t “code” them with the color given the bearish secondary reactions (orange).

Off the 11/08/2019 closing lows (secondary reaction lows) both ITFs rallied for several days. TLT rallied +4.61% (blue rectangle) which amply exceeds the volatility adjusted requirement for a minimum movement (which stands at 2.87%). Since it is only necessary that one index fulfills the minimum movement for the rally that follows the lows of the secondary reaction, we can declare that the setup for a primary bear market has been completed.

However, “setup” is not the actual signal. Both ETFs have to violate their secondary reaction closing lows (red horizontal lines) for a primary bear market to be declared.

Here you have an updated chart.




I wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy new year.
Sincerely,
The Dow Theorist

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Dow Theory Special Issue: Hamilton’s insight that the Dow Theory may be applied to many markets seems to be right (II)


Applying the Dow Theory to oil markets while exploring the short side. Towards building a Dow Theory portfolio 

 


In the first post of this new Hamilton saga, I applied the Dow Theory to the oil sector. I took the pair formed by USO (crude oil) and XLE (oil stocks) ETFs. I analyzed the “long” side, that is buying when a primary bull market is signaled and selling and remaining “flat” when there was a sell signal. As you can read in that post, in spite of heavy declining markets, the Dow Theory managed to remain positive while dramatically containing drawdowns.

Today we are going to explore the short side. What would have happened if instead of just going flat when a primary bear market got signalled we would have actually shorted (and covered when a primary bull market was signalled)? This post merely analyses the short side, not the combined performance of going long and short (that is covering and buying when a primary bull market signal is given and selling and shorting when a primary bear market is given). The combined long/short performance will be the subject of another post.

First off, I have to make clear that shorting is not made for everyone. In this post, I made very clear that in most instances is not advisable to short US stocks. Please read the linked post carefully.


From such a post, we can conclude that if the US keeps their persistent upward bias of ca. +8 p.a. and we continue to be subject to shorting fees, paying dividends to the lender, etc., shorting US stocks may result in very modest gains or outright losses.

However, not always are conditions so negative for shorting. What if one were to short S&P 500 futures? In such a case, there aren’t any shorting fees and no need to pay dividends as there is no lender. Basically, we would be confronted with just the upward bias of ca. 8% p.a. of US stock indices (something which on any given year may not be the case and which is not carved in stone and is likely to change as I wrote here)


What if a hedge fund manager were utterly convinced that US stocks indices were not going to deliver more than 1-2% p.a. in the next ten years? What if such a hedge fund manager is not going to short ETFs but S&P 500 futures (even by having full collateral and not leveraging). In such an instance, the only worry would be contango or backwardation (which can benefit or harm one’s position when rollover is due). Hence, in such a setting, shorting, with all caution, could be attempted.

Furthermore, there are many markets with no Godfather. Markets which, unlike US stocks, seem to have no one to prop them up. No plunge protection team. Nada. Nichts. Nothing. Gold, silver, oil, their miners, wheat, corn, soymeal, soy beans, etc. decline with gusto. There is no 8% p.a. upwards bias for those bereft asset classes. They go up and suddenly got clobbered for years. Nobody to step in as a buyer of last resort. Free to fall. Vested institutional interests favor their falling (who wants high commodities?). And fall do them!

Furthermore, outside the US there are many stock indices which regrettably lack any upward bias. Not all countries are as blessed as the USA. Here you have the CAC 40 (French index). In the period spanning from the end of 1999 to 2019 the CAC has basically made zero gains. 

French Stock Index CAC 40. No upward bias from the end of 1999 to date
 
And what about the Spanish IBEX 35 (made of the 35 most important companies of Spain). Well, a similar fate than that of France. In the last 20 years. No gains at all. Even modest losses. Talk about the long term view!

Spanish Stock Index IBEX 35. How not to make any money in 20 years. Quo vadis (where are you going) Spain?


 These two charts are courtesy of Yahoo! Finance

While I try to get outside politics on this blog (even politics get discounted by the markets) one thing seems to be clear. The business of USA is business. In spite of everything, USA remains a good place for goal oriented and entrepreneurial people.

My point is that not all stock indices have a build in upward bias which makes shorting a losing proposition. Even the upward bias of US stock indices may one day come to an end, or at least, take a long a pause.

Even within the US stock universe, not all stocks go up. While I don’t advocate shorting individual stocks (one earnings surprise can wipe you out as shorts have unlimited losing potential), we can see certain stocks ETFs that have persistent down trends, as we have seen for the last 7 and odd years in this blog with precious metals miners ETFs, they are made of stocks but without the fanfare of other industry sectors.

The same applies to oil stocks. At least in the period I tested (2009-2019) the only bias I could see is a negative one.

Shorting, when used judiciously, may add value. On the one hand, it acts as a diversifier. Maybe some markets are declining and their longs result in small losses or very modest gains. However, their shorts are doing great. We cannot know in advance which markets will go up and down in the next years and hence if confronted with a declining market, being short would allow us to extract performance whereas the long side stalls. And I write "stalls" because the Dow Theory even when confronted with declining markets tends to win less or lose little but you are not likely to lose your shirt.

The USO/XLE example of this post is a clear example of the value added by shorting. Picture yourself as an investor in 2009 (when my exercise began). You were bullish on commodities because the preceding 10 years had been bullish. You decide to apply the Dow Theory by only going long. Thereafter, you have to suffer a secular bear market and your longs suffer. As we saw in the previous post by going only long the Dow Theory would have managed to make a modest +5% while buy and hold lost money. However, such an outperformance cannot hide that +5% in 10 years is a very modest result. Not to blame on the Dow Theory but on a market that had hair curling declines. However, as we shall immediately see, if the investor had shorted, he would have made a respectable gain (the tide was on his side).

The take away is this: We don’t need to predict the future. Just to properly apply the Dow Theory and the very trend will take care of ourselves.

All in all, my opinion on shorting can be summarized as follows:

1.      In general, I don’t recommend shorting individual stocks (exception: very short term trades lasting few days and under very specific circumstances).

2.      In general, I don’t recommend shorting US stock indices. Hitherto, the odds have been stacked against you. Upward bias, shorting fees and paying dividends to the lender make it a long term losing proposition. 

3.      However, shorting S&P 500 futures may in some specific instances be thinkable.

4.      Specific US stocks ETFs may be suitable candidates for shorting (but keep in mind shorting fees and dividends to be paid to the lender).

5.      Shorting stock indices of other countries (especially through their futures) may be a good way of getting short exposure to one’s portfolio without confronting an upward bias.

6.      Shorting commodities (which would be through futures) seems plausible. No upward bias, no shorting fees, no dividends to pay and just having to worry about contango and backwardation, rollover and liquidity,all of these issues which the trading desk of any hedge fund worth its salt masters to perfection.

After this somewhat lengthy introduction, let’s analyse what would have been the performance of applying the Dow Theory to the USO/XLE pair by going short when a primary bear market was signalled and covering and going flat when a primary bull market was signalled.

·        Total short trades taken: Five. The average duration of each trade is less than one year, as declines tend to be faster than rallies.

·        Maximum drawdown short (closed trades): -27.03%. Please mind that given the asymmetry between being long and short, one is more likely to experience higher drawdowns (and losing trades) when being short. A decline from 100 to 50 entails a loss of 50% when being long. A rally from 50 to 100 entails a loss of 100% when being short. This is why, one should construct portfolios, that is diversifying one's capital across many markets so that one can take shorts but any specific losing trade doesn't decimate one's capital. Portfolio construction under the Dow Theory is a field which I hope to explore in future posts.

·        Maximum drawdown buy and hold: -64.33%

·        Maximum rally buy and hold: When comparing drawdowns, and when being in a short only mode, it is good to measure the magnitude of the largest upward swing (the tide against our shorts) during the time we had shorts. Our last short in this test was closed (covered) on 4/12/2016. As you can see from the spreadsheet below USO rallied a whopping 97.51% from 2/18/2009 to 4/29/2011. XLE rallied a remarkable 165.71% from 3/2/2009 to 6/23/2014. Thus, even if, for the whole period considered, there was a downward bias which resulted in a net loss for buy and hold, there were strong rallies which had to be confronted by the shorts taken according to the Dow Theory. All in all, the short side wasn’t easy either. A quite "noisy" market nothing like the calm seen with US interest rates or US stock indices.



·        Final capital buy and hold (starting at 100): 90.93. Hence buy and hold lost for an allocation of 50% to each ETF ca. 9.1%. There were strong rallies but also strong declines with a global negative outcome.

·        Final capital Dow Theory (starting at 100): 156.75, which translates to an outperformance versus buy and hold of ca. 6.5% p.a. (annualized). It also represents an annual performance of ca. +4.6% annualized. Please mind that the negative “gravitational” force against long positions has been favorable for shorts during the period tested, as there was a maximum decline of -64.33%. We also observe, that by being short when there was an predominantly bearish tide resulted in making positive returns.


All in all, shorting in markets (USO/XLE) which lack upwards bias would have resulted in positive returns. The maximum drawdown experienced by the Dow Theory when shorting was also much smaller than that of buy and hold.

Here you have a breakdown of the trades taken.



 
In the next post, I’ll show the performance if both long and short positions had been taken. In that post I will also display the charts containing all Dow Theory signals.

Until then cogitate this post and the preceding one.

Sincerely,
The Dow Theorist