The S&P 500 has not been able to break to new highs. Friday, on about the sixth attempt to break above the 1850 level, it quickly gave up and closed just above the low for the day. Volume ended up above average on the retreat.
The NASDAQ Composite has been able to break above January highs, however it produced what could be a reversal candle on Friday – an open at a new high, a close near the low for the day, on above average volume.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average and the Russell 2000 are in weaker positions than the S%P 500.
Seasonally, for the next 10 weeks, the Dow actually has the best track record. The DJIA has averaged a 3.3% gain with gains in a high 29 out of 35 years (83%). The Dow has a steadily increasing average gain, and an improving ‘win rate' (the # of years of gains vs. losses). This is a characteristic of a good seasonal pattern.
The S&P 500's seasonal track record is similar – an average 2.7% gain over the next 10 weeks, with gains in 27 out of 35 years (77%).
We go downhill from here. The Russell 2000 has averaged a 2.7% gain over the next 10 weeks, but with gains in only 14 out of 22 years (64%), and the laggard is the NASDAQ Composite, averaging only a 1.8% gain with gains in just 14 out of 23 years (61%).
To sum this up, there is no track record of strong buying this time of year. Any evidence of weakness is to be taken seriously. This is the type of market that will be sensitive to negative news. Consider lightening positions, buying a little downside protection (such as small positions in inverse-ETFs), and if buying, enter trades on only the strongest stocks. Wait for this market to prove it was only consolidating. Don't be the one to lead the way on the buy side.
Of course, there's much more you need to know and many more stocks you can capitalize upon each and every day. To find out more, type in www.markettamer.com/seasonal-forecaster
By Gregg Harris, MarketTamer Chief Technical Strategist
Copyright (C) 2014 Stock & Options Training LLC
Unless indicated otherwise, at the time of this writing, the author has no positions in any of the above-mentioned securities.
Gregg Harris is the Chief Technical Strategist at MarketTamer.com with extensive experience in the financial sector.
Gregg started out as an Engineer and brings a rigorous thinking to his financial research. Gregg's passion for finance resulted in the creation of a real-time quote system and his work has been featured nationally in publications, such as the Investment Guide magazine.
As an avid researcher, Gregg concentrates on leveraging what institutional and big money players are doing to move the market and create seasonal trend patterns. Using custom research tools, Gregg identifies stocks that are optimal for stock and options traders to exploit these trends and find the tailwinds that can propel stocks to levels that are hidden to the average trader.
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