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Is The Market Is Getting Ready To Slingshot To The Moon?

Daily Chart February 12th

2/12/2014 – A positive day with the Dow Jones up 109 points (+0.61%) and the Nasdaq up 56 points (+1.18%).

Here we go again. Extremely bullish market pundits are out in force. Predicting the Dow 20K within a few months and all other kind of nonsense. Case and point: Here’s what can ‘slingshot’ Dow toward 20K: CIO Just as they did at all previous tops.

According to quite a few people the market has been consolidating over the last few months and is now getting ready for a break out. A few closes above 18,000 would do the job and subsequently skyrocket this market to 20K and beyond. In other words…..buy, buy, buy.

Unfortunately, I do not share in their enthusiasm. First, this period of proposed consolidation can as easily be viewed as a period of distribution. Right before a major down leg starts. There is no conclusive technical evidence either way. Plus, most market sentiment indicators are flashing an “overbought” signal.  Most importantly, my calculations do not allow the Dow to go much higher at this juncture.

This conclusion is further supported by my mathematical and timing work. It clearly shows a severe bear market between 2014/15-2017. In fact, when it starts it will very quickly retrace most of the gains accrued over the last few years.  If you would be interested in learning when the bear market of 2014/15-2017 will start (to the day) and its internal composition, please CLICK HERE.

(***Please NoteA bear market might have started already, I am simply not disclosing this information. Due to my obligations to my Subscribers I am unable to provide you with more exact forecasts. In fact, I am being “Wishy Washy” at best with my FREE daily updates here. If you would be interested in exact forecasts, dates, times and precise daily coverage, please Click Here). Daily Stock Market Update. February 12th, 2015  InvestWithAlex.com

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Is The Market Is Getting Ready To Slingshot To The Moon? Google

Is Apple (AAPL) Really Worth $1 Trillion?

aapl

Apple (AAPL) has been on a tear since reporting its earnings. It broke above its previous resistance levels of $115 – $120 and the stock looks unstoppable. Further, everyone believes that AAPL is a strong buy and that the company is worth at least a Trillion. Consider the following.

While I don’t typically bet against Carl Icahn, you might want to be very careful here. Here is why. As illustrated above, the overall bullish overtone on the stock is excessive. And if I had a penny for every “no brainier” investment that went sour, well, I would have a lot of pennies.

Would Apple be properly valued at $1 Trillion? That’s debatable. There are a lot of people who believe that Apple is worth a lot more. As Carl Icahn does. Then there quite a few people who believe that Apple is excessively overpriced here. Pick your medicine. Finally, should a bear market develop as anticipated, it is highly unlikely that AAPL will be able to maintain today’s levels. In other words, Apple might be at or near its top.

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Is Apple (AAPL) Really Worth $1 Trillion? Google

Investment Wisdom Of The Day

warren_buffet“None of this means, however, that a business or stock is an intelligent purchase simply because it is unpopular; a contrarian approach is just as foolish as a follow-the-crowd strategy. What’s required is thinking rather than polling. Unfortunately, Bertrand Russell’s observation about life in general applies with unusual force in the financial world: “Most men would rather die than think. Many do.” – Warren Buffett

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Investment Wisdom Of The Day  Google

Subprime Short Bets Big Against Junk Bonds

high yieldSince about the start of 2014 I have maintained that when a bear market of 2014/15-2017 kicks in, a number of things will happen. Junk bonds will blow sky high, 10-Year Note will test 1.4% (double bottom) and the stock market will drift lower. Driving both bulls and bears up the wall in the process.

Joshua Birnbaum, the Ex-Goldman trader who correctly shorted subprime mortgages during the financial crisis tends to agree.

Joshua Birnbaum, the ex-Goldman Sachs Group Inc. trader who made bets against subprime mortgages during the financial crisis, now has more than $2 billion in wagers against high-yield bonds at his Tilden Park Capital Management LP hedge-fund firm, according to investor documents.

I believe he is absolutely right in his assessment. The situation is not that dissimilar from 2007-2009 period. Except, instead of “subprime” bubble we are currently going though a stock market overvaluation and junk debt bubble. There is just way too much risk in our financial system to warrant today’s valuation levels. Once the tide goes out, you will see junk yields surge. Counterparty risk associated with Greece or Russia (discussed earlier) might get this party going.

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Subprime Short Bets Big Against Junk Bonds Google

Why Higher Salaries Are Nothing But A Pipe Dream

Daily Chart February 11th

2/11/2015 – A mixed day with the Dow Jones down 7 points (-0.04%) and the Nasdaq up 13 points (+0.28%).

Most mainstream economists are extremely exited. According to them the US Economy is booming, the unemployment rate is scraping the bottom, job openings are surging and salaries are about to skyrocket. That in turn will propel the economy forward and today’s “secular bull market” will run for at least another 10 years. A view that can be found here:  Americans Are About to Get a Nice Fat Pay Raise

They have got it all wrong. Here is why……..

  1. The true unemployment/underemployment rate is at least double the official number of 5.7%. Is the Unemployment Rate of 5.7 Percent Just a ‘Big Lie’? That is to say, there is no real pressure for companies to increase wages.
  2. We are at the tail end of this FED and liquidity driven economic recovery cycle. Meaning, the next bear market and recession are just around the corner. Most corporations understand that we are rolling over and won’t hire into a recession.
  3. Most economists have been perplexed as to why CAPEX remained flat over the last few years. Even though the economy surged higher and interest rates remained low. It is because most companies have already optimized their balance sheets and there isn’t that much new to invest in. It’s the same reason very few companies will expand their labor force. There is no need.
  4. Productivity and new technologies. It is a lot cheaper to buy a $40,000 robot that will last for my 5 years than to hire a $40,000 a year complaining and lunch taking human being. We are getting there fast as technology and artificial intelligence improves.

In other words, don’t expect salaries to surge anytime soon. Certainly don’t demand higher pay or quit your job before you have another one lined up.

This conclusion is further supported by my mathematical and timing work. It clearly shows a severe bear market between 2014/15-2017. In fact, when it starts it will very quickly retrace most of the gains accrued over the last few years.  If you would be interested in learning when the bear market of 2014/15-2017 will start (to the day) and its internal composition, please CLICK HERE.

(***Please NoteA bear market might have started already, I am simply not disclosing this information. Due to my obligations to my Subscribers I am unable to provide you with more exact forecasts. In fact, I am being “Wishy Washy” at best with my FREE daily updates here. If you would be interested in exact forecasts, dates, times and precise daily coverage, please Click Here). Daily Stock Market Update. February 11th, 2015  InvestWithAlex.com

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Why Higher Salaries Are Nothing But A Pipe Dream  Google

What’s Next For Tesla (TSLA)….Buy or Short?

TSLA

Tesla (TSLA) has been stuck in a clearly defined down trending channel since early September of 2014. The question is……

Is Tesla about to bottom and surge higher to $400 as some people expect or will it break down to test support at $120 and possibly $40?

Fundamentally speaking, the company is grossly overpriced and highly speculative. And with competition from major auto makers ramping up, Tesla is just as likely to end up bankrupt as it is to be the next run away success story. That is to say, it is still a 50/50 proposition.

Here is the bottom line. As of right now, the stock is neither a short nor a long. It is neutral. Should it reverse this downtrend and re-establish a bullish pattern, you might want to consider going long. At the same time, should the stock break below $175 level, it becomes a short sellers dream. Given our overall bear market forecast (2014/15-2017), the probability of Tesla accelerating its bear leg increases daily. If so, you might want to get ready to load up on the short side.

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What’s Next For Tesla (TSLA)….Buy or Short? Google

Investment Wisdom Of The Day

george-soros-investwithalex“Economic history is a never-ending series of episodes based on falsehoods and lies, not truths. It represents the path to big money. The object is to recognize the trend whose premise is false, ride that trend and step off before it is discredited.” ~ George Soros

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Why Stock Buybacks Signal A Bear Market Ahead

We have talked about stock buybacks and their eventual negative impact on this forum before. The Atlantic has a fairly good expose on the subject matter from a different angle Stock Buybacks Are Killing the American Economy

The article asks a simple question. Despite corporate profits being at the highest levels on record, at 12% of GDP, the underlying economic picture continues to deteriorate. Where did the money go?

The answer is as simple as it is surprising: Much of it went to stock buybacks—more than $6.9 trillion of them since 2004, according to data compiled by Mustafa Erdem Sakinç of The Academic-Industry Research Network. Over the past decade, the companies that make up the S&P 500 have spent an astounding 54 percent of profits on stock buybacks. Last year alone, U.S. corporations spent about $700 billion, or roughly 4 percent of GDP, to prop up their share prices by repurchasing their own stock.

Here is the scariest part. Not only was this money more or less wasted, this money was also borrowed away from future growth…..in the form of QE and zero interest rates. And the result? Overpriced and highly speculative stock market that is set to fall as soon as this “buyback” stimulus is withdrawn.

Finally, keep in mind that most corporations behave as individual investors would. They always buyback at the top while hoarding cash at the bottom. As was evident during the 2006-2010 period. That is not a good omen for the future.

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Why Stock Buybacks Signal A Bear Market Ahead Google

Simple Cycles Analysis Predicts A Severe Bear Market of 2015-2017

Daily Chart February 13th2/13/2015 – An up day with the Dow Jones up 46 points (+0.26%) and the Nasdaq up 36 points (+0.75%). 

Below is a comprehensive longer-term review of the stock market and what the next few years holds. 

In the early January of 2000, the US Economy wa s booming. The Dow was fast approaching 11,800 and the Nasdaq was a stone throws away from its improbable benchmark of 5,000. Everyone was making a ton of money and as far as most people were concerned, the future looked very bright.  So much so, that very few people predicted a bear market of 2000-2002, let alone a secular 2000-2017 bear market that was about to begin.

The only way to do so was to know and to understand the cyclical TIME structure oscillating within the stock market.  For instance, an analyst working with such time cycles would know that the stock market’s 17-18 year cycle was topping out in conjunction with the 5 year cycle that started at 1994 bottom.  The bull market that started at the bottom in August of 1982 was coming to a conclusion. In fact, it would top out exactly 17.5 years after it had started or on January 14th, 2000 at 11,800. The 5 year cycle that started in December of 1994 would top out at exactly the same time; 5 years and 35 trading days after it had started.

What does this have to do with predicting a severe bear market of 2014/15-2017?

Everything.  Based on my work the stock market is a mathematically precise entity. And while there are hundreds of TIME cycles oscillating within the stock market at any one time, I will concentrate on only two to prove my point.  The 17-18 cycle and the 5 year cycles. We will look at these cycles over the last 100+ years and I will prove to you, without a shadow of a doubt, they work.

THE 17-18 YEAR CYCLE IN THE STOCK MARKET:

Long Term Dow Structure3

Long-term cycles within the stock market tend to oscillate going all the way back to the first day of trading, in May of 1790.  If you would be inclined, I would encourage you to verify that information for yourself. For our purposes we will start our analysis a little bit later or exactly 100 years ago. As the chart above indicates, the stock market tends to oscillate in clearly defined 17-18 year alternating Bull/Bear market cycles.

  • 17.5 Year Bull Market (1914 bottom to 1932 bottom): The previous bear market terminated in July of 1914. At that time the US stock market shut down for World War 1. The stock market remained closed between August of 1914 and December of 1914 (a very rare occurrence). When the market finally reopened in December of 1914 it immediately began a rally that would not terminate until October of 1929. Followed by a now famous 1929 stock market crash and a massive 90% 3 year decline. The cycle terminated at the bottom in 1932, completing the 17.5 year bull market cycle at that time.

*Note: It is important to address the 1929-1932 bear market and its impact on the overall 1914-1932 Bull Market cycle. It is a complex matter to discuss without sufficient background or understanding, but the final (short-term) structural composition of this Bull Cycle inverted over the last 3 years (1929-1932). Mostly due to a massive rally between 1924-1929 and a number of down cycles converging on this time period at the same time.  Regardless, the overall cycle lasted 17.5 years.

  • 17 Year BEAR Market (1932 bottom to 1949 bottom): The cycle originated at the bottom in July of 1932 and lasted until June of 1949. During this period of time we had a post great depression bounce, 1937 crash and World War 2. Yet, despite the overall upward trajectory, this clearly defined 1949 bottom remained 60% below its 1929 top and well below both its 1937 and 1942 tops.
  • 17 Year BULL Market (1949 bottom to 1966 top): The market surged higher between 1949 bottom and 1966 top. This was the so called “Golden Age” of post war reconstruction and the American industrial boom. During this time the Dow appreciated over 500% in a clearly defined bull market cycle.
  • 16.5 Year BEAR Market (1966 top to 1982 bottom): The market stayed relatively flat during this period of time with a few notable declines of 30-50%. With the 1972-1974 mid cycle decline of 54% being the largest one.  This clearly defined bear market completed in August of 1982. Approximately 25% below its 1966 top.
  • 17.5 Year BULL Market (1982 bottom to 2000 top): A very well known period and a clearly defined bull market. The market surged higher from its August of 1982 bottom to reach its historic top in January of 2000. During this time the Dow appreciated over 1,400% in one of the strongest bull markets in history.
  • 17 Year BEAR Market (2000 top to 2017 bottom): Even though the market is sitting near all time highs (as of this writing in January of 2014) and even though most people have assumed that the new bull market has started, in relative terms the market hasn’t appreciated very much since its top in 2000. The Nasdaq is still down. Plus, with the final down leg of this bear market being ahead of us (based on my mathematical and timing work), the BEAR market of 2000-2017 should complete itself in a negative territory or below its 2000 top.

It is important to note that the small variation (of +/- 1 year) in duration of these cycles is caused by smaller or larger cycles arriving at the same time. As such and based on the cycles above, we are no longer working in an arbitrary fashion when it comes to predicting the stock market.  In other words, if the stock market repeats a clearly defined 17-18 year Bull/Bear cycle over a 220 year period of time (since 1790) and does so without interruption,  it is safe to assume that the future is predictable and not random.

THE 5 YEAR CYCLE IN THE STOCK MARKET

One other easily identifiable cycle within the stock market is the 5 year cycle. These 5 year cycles represent one completed growth pattern or one completed Bull or Bear cycle. Typically, they tend to appear for 5 years, disappear and then reappear at a certain point in the future. While they are not sequential as the 17-18 year cycle above, once their place within the overall stock market is understood, they show up at exactly the right time.  For instance,

  • 1914 -1920: Bull Market
  • 1924-1929: Bull Market (followed by a 1929 crash)
  • 1932-1937: Bull Market (followed by a 1937 crash)
  • 1937-1942: Bear Market
  • 1966-1971: Bear Market
  • 1982-1987: Bull Market (followed by a 1987 crash)
  • 1994-2000: Bull Market (followed by a 2000 crash)
  • 2002-2007: Bull Market (followed by a 2007 crash)
  • 2009-2014: Bull Market

One thing to understand about these 5 Year cycles is that they are exact. They have much lower level variance as compared to their longer counterparts. Essentially, we are NOT talking about 5 years +/- 6 months. We are talking about 5 years +/- a few days. For instance, the 2002-2007cycle started on October 10th, 2002 (at 2002 bottom) and terminated on October 11th, 2007. If you are counting, that is exactly 5 Years and 1 day or scary accurate. I encourage you to study the other cycles outlined above in order to prove to yourself how shockingly accurate they all are.

 CONCLUSION: 

In summary, predicting a bear market of 2015-2017 is rather simple.  All 17-18 year bear cycles end with a 2-3 year bear market. For instance, 1912-1914, 1946-1949 and 1979-1982. And while most believe that the secular bear market ended at 2009 bottom, it is not the case. The secular bear market of 2000-2017 is still in effect and will terminate only when the year 2017 is reached. Although the final price bottom will be higher than the mid-cycle bottom reached in March of 2009.

Further, the 5-Year cycle that started on March 6th, 2009 bottom terminated on July 16th, 2014. Suggesting that the stock market is now ready to initiate its bear leg (despite recent higher highs). When I combine this cyclical analysis with the rest of my mathematical and timing work, the outcome is crystal clear. A severe bear market of 2015-2017 is just around the corner.

This conclusion is further supported by my mathematical and timing work. It clearly shows a severe bear market between 2014/15-2017. In fact, when it starts it will very quickly retrace most of the gains accrued over the last few years.  If you would be interested in learning when the bear market of 2014/15-2017 will start (to the day) and its internal composition, please CLICK HERE.

(***Please NoteA bear market might have started already, I am simply not disclosing this information. Due to my obligations to my Subscribers I am unable to provide you with more exact forecasts. In fact, I am being “Wishy Washy” at best with my FREE daily updates here. If you would be interested in exact forecasts, dates, times and precise daily coverage, please Click Here). Daily Stock Market Update. February 10th, 2015  InvestWithAlex.com

Did you enjoy this article? If so, please share our blog with your friends as we try to get traction. Gratitude!!!

Simple Cycles Analysis Predicts A Severe Bear Market of 2015-2017 Google

Big Money Is Very Worried. Should You Be?

kenneth-griffin

Presented without a comment. Kenneth Griffin, whose Citadel hedge funds manage $24 billion in assets, states…

We are approaching 2015 with “vigilance” in light of tumultuous market circumstances. Market conditions remain uncertain. A half-decade of unprecedented government intervention and monetary stimulus continues to impact the global financial markets. We continue to challenge our assumptions [and] assess our portfolio’s risk.

Senior manager at the $25 billion hedge fund Elliott Management…..

Current stock prices around the world cannot possibly reflect the best analysis of millions of investors and long-term bond prices are reductio ad absurdum and beyondum, and that owning the debt of developed countries today was quite nutty.

That is to say, if you are getting a feeling that we might be standing on the edge of a cliff, you may not be that far off in your assessment.

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Big Money Is Very Worried. Should You Be?  Google