Recent Articles in Monthly Report

The Put/Call indicator is now very positive as it is in areas marking major bottoms. We rate sentiment neutral here because the intermediate sentiment indicator remains in sell mode, although Put/Call has given strong buy indications.

SPY and other indexes have had the down month we forecast in December. The IYT has confirmed a bull market according to Dow Theory. This should be enough to set up a reasonably strong 2018.

Equities should be a bit choppier due to overbought conditions, however. Breadth indicators have also started to improve, and are not overbought. Equities are set up to rally, and while a short-term pullback is possible that would set up a strong 2018.

Commodities have built a long-term base, and these could be strong in 2018. GLD has surged. We sold it, but it may have bottomed at 117, our forecast price. Industrial metals (DBB) have broken out. Oil seasonal weakness into June has produced a rally, but favorable seasonality ends in February.

Commodities have built a long-term base, and these could be strong in the second half of 2017. GLD has been choppier than expected, but hit targets. We have sold it, but it may have bottomed at 120.

SPY and other indexes have broken out. The IYT has confirmed a bull market according to Dow Theory. This should be enough to set up the strong end to 2017 we have forecast. Breadth indicators have also started to improve, and are not overbought. Equities are set up to rally, and while a short-term pullback is possible that would set up a strong end to 2017.

Our current reading of the internal momentum indicators is POSITIVE. The intermediate FBO has a divergence in place but may be a rounding bottom, and is improving. The daily FBO has given a breadth surge. A rally should improve the breadth indicators. We are hopeful as normally the McClellan is the first indicator to improve – and this pattern is starting at this time, and this improvement affects the other indicators. This is happening now.

SPY tested our breakout points in the 241 area, and while it did not become oversold, other indexes have done so. This should be enough to set up the strong end to 2017 we have forecast, and also should provide impetus for the market to broaden out.

Our current reading of the sentiment indicators is NEGATIVE. %Bears moved into sell mode in February. The indicator has gotten slightly worse over the last month. The Put/Call indicator is neutral to slightly positive. Market Vane and Consensus, Inc. figures are showing more bulls – we do not provide but these are now weak and getting worse. We rate sentiment negative here because the intermediate sentiment indicator remains in sell mode, while Put/Call is in neutral territory, after giving a slight sell signal. Put/Call is about the same as the last few months’ reports.

TLT has rallied into our target area of 126 – 130, and failed. LQD looks better than TLT. It has already filled the November gap, and is also weakening. HYG and various junk bond ETFs have rallied and still look strong. TLT has a buy signal on the Monthly stochastic, but the trading action is a concern. This peak could be the last before another major correction that could carry TLT to 100.

We have moved through our “breakout point” suggesting the market can advance into yearend. Our benchmark for this is the 231-area on SPY, suggesting favorable risk/reward. See our January Yearly Forecast Research Piece for more details. We are positive on 2017 overall. Yes, the market needs to broaden out but just WHEN they should end is an open question.

Commodities have built a long-term base, and these could be strong in the second half of 2017. GLD has been weaker than expected, but the long-term trend systems are still barely positive. Industrial metals (DBB) have made a solid looking bottom.  There has been favorable oil news, and oil seasonal weakness into May but this bottom may be upon us, and advisors should start to add these.

Technically, little has changed over the last month. Our concern is that the current condition on the indicators could lead to corrective behavior into the summer, or even by May. Fundamentally, we are seeing some “growing pains” on the part of a Trump Administration, and a solid oversold condition could lead to a strong rally into the end of 2017 and possibly beyond.

TLT has consolidated the weak November, and could rally into summer, but this would be a selling opportunity.  LQD fell also, but looks better than TLT.  Commodities have built a long-term base, and these could be strong in 2017.

Technically, there are more positives, and the market should rally into the end of January. Our concern is that the next overbought condition on the daily indicators could lead to corrective behavior into the summer. Fundamentally, the reason for this could end up being some “growing pains” on the part of a Trump Administration, and a solid oversold condition could lead to a strong rally into the end of 2017 and possibly beyond.