Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Update at 3:50 pm

Here is a five minute bar chart of the e-minis showing the past two day sessions of trading.

The first thing that strikes me about this chart is the relatively high volume, downside breakout early this morning. After such action one expects the market to consolidate briefly and then continue down later in the day. But today this didn't happen. Instead we saw 6 hours of trading sideways in a narrow range and even one high volume upside bar late in the day. This tells me that the sellers are having a hard time mustering their bearish forces despite the help of relentlessly bad news in the media.

I think that what a market fails to do often conveys more information than what it does do. In this case the fact that there was no immediate follow through to the early downside breakout makes it even more likely that this move below the 800 level will turn out to be a brief shakeout which will probably end in the 760-70 range this week. The shakeout should be followed by a high volume rally that should carry the market well above 900.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well, you keep taling about "bad news in the media"...PLEASE, find "good ones"...that could provide fuel for the rally you (we ?) are hoping for...

Well the news are part of the game, the rally of 3:25pm was the result of Obama signing the next bailout...and the it faded out...not really enjoyable...the dow is down 300 points (at low of the day) and you're able to see good news out of it.

I am from Europe, and things are getting reaaly bad here...East EUROPE is breaking, Ireland and Spain are on the verge of total collapse, people are getting scared and loosing jobs in a speed never seen before...Sould east europe, spain or Ireland (Uk) default, the "subprime mess" will look like "children play"...

Still hoping to hear more joyful arguments from you Carl

Balsamo

Anonymous said...

Carl I hope you are right! My charts are telling me that I think we break the NOV lows and go lower before rallying back to the 802 level. I much prefer your take on it. lol

Anonymous said...

Carl,
Thank you for the insights. What a great day to learn for novices! Greetings from Germany, Val

Anonymous said...

Carl, you've been off your game the past several weeks. I actually agree with you, but only for more macro reasons. Extent of the negativity, fact this is options expiration week, and republican senators now making the statement that maybe bank nationalization isn't such a bad idea. That's gotta signify some type of bottom. Also, some of the stocks/etf's I watch, as the futs crash, their downside is not correspondingly as extreme, which I suppose is basically the same thing you're saying...

Anonymous said...

Carl, the drop today was mostly gap down at open. After last Friday close, there were two sessions of S&P futures trading during which the gap was formed, at very low volume, thereby creating a good buying opportunity for stocks during RTH.

As per Elliott wave analysis, I personally think that we have either completed or are about to complete, wave 4B down. So, the next imminent wave is a powerful wave 4C UP.

As much as there is bearish talk due to breakdown of the symmetrical triangle, a bullish case is also valid.

Moreover, as the implications of a breakdown are very ominous, it is unlikely that PPT won't spring into action, causing a "Stick Rally", and that would be in line with the wave 4C up theory.

Thanks for all your good work, good luck on your trading!

Anonymous said...

carl it sure is strange that people like you really think the market can go up. Maybe you need to step out your door and take a look at the world around you and see what is happening. Maybe you think the 20 percent of america that does not have a job will pay more for the stock you purchase today tomorrow. I think you are delusional and need to get out more often.

Anonymous said...

Carl, the gap down today could be an exhaustion gap. It is possible that we will have a gap up open and an island reversal tomorrow. It is quite possible and your bullish outlook will be vindicated!

Valeriobrl said...

I am agree...and I still think we will see VIX around 38 at the end of february
http://www.flickr.com/photos/valeriobr/3289492007/sizes/o/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/valeriobr/3290311886/sizes/o/