Special Risk Capital Management LLC

Market Neutral, but Could Change Quickly June 27, 2020

June 26, 2020 – This will be an unusual posting, in that I’ll cover a few extra market indicators that I look at. But first the market as shown via the NASDAQ Composite Index below.

You can see that the broader market has not gone very far over the past 3 weeks. The upward momentum has definitely slowed way down and indicators are either neutral or negative. The overall question is this a pause within an up trend or the beginning of a correction? And IF it is a correction, how far down will it go? Actually, no one really knows the answer to either question. I am watch the price levels shown for support.

I’ve labeled a possible Buying Climax (bc?) and and an UpThrust (UT?) on the chart. What should really draw our attention is the big volume on Friday . . much larger than the Friday before (which was caused by option expiration). High volume = High activity, and a down bar would indicate more selling than buying. So even though my main model is “Neutral” (cash) I did put on a small hedge via an inverse ETF. I can always increase or close it out.

But here’s what else concerns me: What is going on in the broader market breath indicators. I’ll only give you a quick explanation, but if you study these, you’ll see what I mean.

Cumulative Up/Down Volume –

The S&P 500 is shown in the background as a white line for reference. I look for breaks above or below the channel, then confirmation them the following day above / below the signal bar. The lower indicator helps to draw attention to a possible signal.

McClellan Summation Index –

Same basic principle. A break of an envelope with confirmation. For those interested, you can “Google” these indicators for more information. The idea is to develop an early warning system to detect when the risk is increasing and money is moving out of the market. The “Smart Money” will typically sell into rising prices / a rally, and not wait for things to get weak and prices begin to soften.

The third confirming indicator is the VIX. It is basically a ratio of put to call options volume. Options are the cheapest & quickest way for traders to hedge out their positions and “buy insurance” when they begin to get concerned. It looks like the easy money is done for the time being.

I should note that none of these indicate how far prices will go, just that things are getting “soft”, and extra caution is warranted. Onward to sectors.

Of note above is the decline in Technology sectors and the rise of Treasury Bonds and Precious Metals. It’s early, but things appear to be getting more defensive.

That’s it for this week. Have a good and safe 4th of July (USA readers) and continue being safe with this virus. It’s NOT over. … Tom …

Price charts by MetaStock & TC2000/Warden Brothers; table by http://www.HighGrowthStock.com. Used with permission.