Special Risk Capital Management LLC

A Softer Market May 15, 2020

Posted by Tom in Thoughts.
Tags: stock market commentary, technical analysis
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May 15, 2020 – The markets were down lightly this week. I’m seeing some increasing volume coming in on down bars. Now that doesn’t mean that we’re headed for a correction, it just indicates softening for the time being. I continue to watch other market breath indicators for weakness. IF they appear & confirm I’ll move to a more defensive position.

It seems that everyone has been so conditioned to “buy the dips” for the past (many) years that it will take a significant issue to break that habit. Jerome Power of the FED had an effect on the market, but so far not that much has become of it.

A follow up on last weeks commentary about how just a few (primarily tech) stocks have driven the indexes higher. Here’s another perspective on it courtesy of Goldman Sachs.

The darker line plots the average of the top 5 tech stocks in the S&P 500 Index, while the lighter line plots the remaining 495 stocks. Since Tech has been in the lead now for quite sometime it is important to watch the top 5 for signs of weakness. Tech is a “crowded trade” and then it starts to turn sour watch out. The rest of the market will follow.

As you can see we just touched the lower channel trend line so things are intact for now. I’ve move my warning level up to 8705; that’s the first line of support.

The major technology sectors remain high on the short term sector strength list. With everything being so focused in that area I’m getting more concerned that the markets are venerable. I’ve cut back some exposure in that group.

That’s it for now. Take Care & have a good week. ……. Tom …….

Price chart by MetaStock; table by http://www.HighGrowthStock.com. Used with permission.