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The Biggest Divergence

Daily Chart AFebruary 3 InvestWithAlex

2/3/2015 – A mixed day with the Dow Jones up 183 points (+1.13%) and the Nasdaq down 13 points (-0.28%) 

It is quite extraordinary, but the stock market hasn’t really discounted the economic and earnings headwinds we are about to experience. Case and point….

Based on current valuations, the prices of most stocks don’t appear to have factored in a recession scenario, “hence the downside should we see a recession could be rather severe,” RBC Capital Markets’ global equity team wrote in a research note to clients.
Applying a stress test to their coverage universe, using worst-case, price-to-earnings valuations seen during the 2008-to-2009 recession, RBC analysts said they believe the shares of most companies could still fall another 50% or more from current levels.

Bingo.

Nearly half of S&P 500 companies have now reported fourth-quarter results through Tuesday morning, and earnings-per-share is headed for a 5.8% decline on the year, according to FactSet, compared with an estimated 5.7% decline as of Friday. That’s the data provider’s blended growth rate, which combines those companies that have reported with the estimates for the rest.

That leaves us with one of two possibilities. Either the stock market will accelerate down, in an attempt to catch up to this economic/earnings reality -OR- we are about to experience some sort of a miraculous recovery. And while Janet Yellen surely prays for the latter, I do not believe in miracles.

Here is the only chart investors should care about.

shillers pe ratio

It is as simple as that. The stock market is selling at extreme valuation levels (just behind 1929, 2000 and 2007 tops), while the economy/earnings are decelerating at a fast pace. And if I have to explain to you what happens next, well, you shouldn’t be in the stock market in the first place.

This conclusion is further supported by my mathematical and timing work. It clearly shows a severe bear market between 2015-2017. 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 2015-2017 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 3rd, 2016  InvestWithAlex.com

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The Biggest Divergence Google

How To Sell At The Top

bulls falling

Well, it is a lot easier said than done. Recently Bill Ackman acknowledged that he should have lightened up on his long exposure at the top.

The first place to look for an explanation is mistakes we made in 2015, and we did make some important mistakes. Principally, we missed the opportunity to trim or sell outright certain positions that approached our estimate of intrinsic value. Our biggest valuation error was assigning too much value to the so-called “platform value” in certain of our holdings.

Let’s consider the overall market for a second in reference to what Mr. Ackman is talking about.

There are two forces at play here. Greed and fear. Well, they are technically one and the same. Sell too early and you will be labeled a fool.  Consider the fact that the majority of analysts and market pundits were calling for an all out “Blow Off Top” as recently as end of December. Never mind last May or July highs.

To sell at the top or buy at the bottom a better tool set is needed. That tool set is TIMING. If the cyclical long-term timing framework is known, it is a lot easier to make that decision. For instance, I outlined a number of these cycles in my weekly update Shocking: The Real Reason Behind January Sell-Off & What Happens Next

When you know that an important top or bottom is about to arrive, you no longer have to second guess yourself. Simply sell and/or go short, while the rest of the investment world awaits a blow off top that is unlikely to arrive. If you would be interested in that kind of an analysis, please Click Here 

Here is how TIMING works: Markets being, at minimum, a three-dimensional phenomena, exactly like a large molecule rotating in space, in and out of Z plane, with DNA coding sequences governing the entire process. Without understanding the market is 3-D, twisting like a plant governed by the phyllotactic laws of dual number series and harmonic composition and decomposition, all measurements taken on a 2-D chart become misleading. – Dr. B

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Junk Bond Collapse Is Accelerating

Daily Chart AFebruary 2 InvestWithAlex

2/2/2016 – A negative day with the Dow Jones down 294 points (-1.79%) and the Nasdaq down 103 points (-2.24%)

Exactly one year ago I wrote the following…….Subprime Short Bets Big Against Junk Bonds

Since 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.

In October of 2015 Carl Icahn issued the following warning….Just A Friendly Reminder From Carl Icahn

“God knows where this is going. It’s very dangerous and could be disastrous. It’s like a movie theater and somebody yells fire. There is only one little exit door. The exit door is fine when things are OK, but when they yell fire, they can’t get through the exit door…and there’s nobody to buy those junk bonds. Stocks are way overpriced.

 

And just a few weeks ago Jim Rogers told you the following Jim Rogers: I Am Shorting US Markets & Junk

Therefore, it shouldn’t come as a surprise when we see this

The rating agency said its Liquidity Stress Index jumped to 7.9% in January from 6.8% in December, its highest level since Dec. 2009 and biggest one-month change since March 2009. The index measures the number of companies that carry Moody’s lowest liquidity rating of SGL-4. It rises when more issuers are placed in that category, and it falls when liquidity improves.

An important chart to consider…..

junk bonds 4

You can very easily come to the following two conclusions here. First, that Icahn, Soros, Rogers are full of it and that most problems will be contained within the energy sector. Somehow the overall economy will recover and everyone will hold hands with Janet Yellen and sing Kumbaya.

The other possibility is, of courses, that we have reached an acceleration point and that the entire junk composite yield is about to spike higher. Just as it did in 2007-2009. I certainly believe, in addition to the gentlemen above, that today’s fundamental and technical environment supports that notion.

This conclusion is further supported by my mathematical and timing work. It clearly shows a severe bear market between 2015-2017. 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 2015-2017 will start (to the day) and its internal composition, please CLICK HERE.

(***Please Note: A 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 2nd, 2016  InvestWithAlex.com

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Junk Bond Collapse Is Accelerating  Google

Biotech Bloodbath

ibb index2

On February 17th, 2015, when the Biotech Index (IBB) was selling at around $320 I asked the following question. Is It Time To Short Biotech (IBB)?

I was too early. Then, on March 20th, when IBB had a massive spike higher, a spike that immediately failed, I asked the following. ….Did Biotech (IBB) Top Out TODAY?

Closer, but still not good enough. Biotech (IBB) ended up topping on on July 20th and just 25 points higher. Since then, the index is down 35%. And that’s quite a bear market for the industry.

Back in March 20th I have compared IBB to Nasdaq’s blow off top in March of 2000. Here is what I said at that time.

The Nasdaq hit an Intraday high of 5,132 on March 10th, 2000, then promptly turned around and proceeded to collapse 80%. Is it possible that the Biotech Index (IBB) did the same thing exactly 15 years later?

Not only is it possible, it is highly probable. Back in 2000 it was Pets.com and Nortel Networks. Today, it is hundreds of impressive sounding “Genome” Biotech names that have

  • A few Ph.D’s on their payroll.
  • An impressive idea.
  • A white paper on how their new generation drug will change the world and make Trillions….a  paper that maybe 10 people on this Earth can fully understand.
  • No way in hell of making a cent or getting their drug to the market.
  • A whole bunch of stupid investors that believe they will get rich.

Make no mistake, Biotech is an a giant bubble that will pop. And it’s not only Biotech. We are witnessing the same thing in the Silicon Valley’s “Mark Cuban” illiquidity bubble and even on the Nasdaq. Alibaba deal values Snapchat at $15 billion Do I really need to say anything when an app with no revenue is valued at $15 Billion by a company that is in its own spectacular overvaluation bubble? I hope note.

I am actually quite dumbfounded by the excessive weakness in biotech when compared to everything else. It was certainly the most overvalued and speculative sector in 2015 and it MIGHT just be forerunning the rest of the indices.

But I am not as bearish on the sector as I once was. If you did initiate a short position at or near a top, I would maintain it. The sector will push lower before its all over. However, don’t be surprised to see some big rallies and quite a bit of volatility moving forward.

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Bottom Callers Are Out In Force – Bearish?

Daily Chart AFebruary 1 InvestWithAlex

2/1/2015 – A mixed day with the Dow Jones down 17 points (-0.10%) and the Nasdaq up 6 points (+0.14%) 

The Dow is up a miserly 1,000 points since its bottom on January 20th,  but all sorts of bottom calling creatures are out in force. For instance….

“If China suffers a hard landing — we don’t expect that — but if it does, it will impact other emerging markets,” he said. “And when you look at other emerging markets, along with China, that can spill over not only to the United States, but to the rest of the global economy.For that reason, Chan puts the chances of a U.S. recession at roughly 25 percent.

I am just curious about where they were when I was calling and/or looking for a bottom….Should Investors Be Panicking Right About Now? (published on January 20th)

I am literally dumbfounded by how blind or how much in denial these people are. I predicted this recession two years ago. It is a simple matter of QE, interest rates and credit velocity. As soon as it is withdrawn, even at the margins, this Ponzi economy perpetuated by easy credit will collapse. It as simple as that.

Further, let me ask you a few simple questions. If the US Economy is doing so well, why has the Baltic Dry Index collapsed? Hitting its historic lows daily now. Why is the yield curve is as flat as a pancake and nearing inversion? Why has oil collapsed? Why was forward earnings guidance down 2% (biggest adjustment down since 2008) in Q-3?

Are we expected to believe that this is a mid-cycle slowdown? If so, please enlighten me, just what will propel us forward?

But here is the scariest part of all. The stock market hasn’t yet reacted to any of the above and/or readjusted. As I have mentioned at least a thousand times by now, the market is sitting at the 4th highest valuation level in history. According to Shiller’s Adjusted S&P P/E Ration. Right behind 1929, 2000 and 2007 tops.

And it shouldn’t take a genius to figure out what happens next. In fact, a proper investment allocation here should be as easy as it would be for Bernie Madoff to steal girl scout cookies on a Sunday afternoon.

This conclusion is further supported by my mathematical and timing work. It clearly shows a severe bear market between 2015-2017. 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 2015-2017 will start (to the day) and its internal composition, please CLICK HERE.

(***Please Note: A 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 1st, 2016  InvestWithAlex.com

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

Bottom Callers Are Out In Force – Bearish? Google

Shocking: The Real Reason Behind January Sell-Off & What Happens Next

Daily Chart AJanuary 29 InvestWithAlex1/29/2016 – A positive day with the Dow Jones up 392 points (+2.42%) and the Nasdaq up 107 points (+2.38%) 

After a scary August and September of 2015, bulls have been able to declare a victory of sorts in October/November. Erasing most of the earlier losses and leading the market to one of the best performing months in years (October). So much so that most investors believed, wrongly I might add, that the Dow 20K was once again just around the corner.

Unfortunately, the Dow topped out on November 3rd and then proceeded to oscillate violently for close to two months before initiating a massive sell-off on December 29th. The speed of the subsequent sell-off into January 20th bottom caught many people by surprise. Not us. We were expecting it all along. And if you are wondering why and/or what happens once today’s bounce plays itself out, I encourage you to check our long-term analysis below.

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

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- July of 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, that 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 (Look at NYSE for confirmation). 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 2015-2017. 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 2015-2017 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. January 29th  InvestWithAlex.com

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

Shocking: The Real Reason Behind January Sell-Off & What Happens Next  Google

COT Reports & Weekly Market Calendar – January 29th, 2016

COT Reports: If you are not familiar, the Commitments of Traders (COT) reports provide a breakdown of each Tuesday’s open interest for markets in which 20 or more traders hold positions. In other words, it gives us a preview of what commercial interests are buying or selling. As the theory goes, we want to be on the same side of the trade as the big guys.

While not a good timing tool, currencies, commodities and the stock market (to a lesser extent) tend to move in the direction of the bets made by the commercial players. Not always, but often enough.

Latest data, as of January 26th, 2016

Currencies: 

  • USD:  1K Long Vs. 57K Short – No changes. Substantial short interest remains.
  • Canadian Dollar: 81K Long Vs. 3K Short – No changes. Significant long interest remains.
  • British Pound: 190K Long Vs. 5K Short – Slight increase in net long exposure. British pound remains bullish.
  • Japanese Yen: 63K Long Vs. 94K Short – Neutral.
  • Euro: 134K Long Vs. 37K Short – Slight increase in net short exposure. Euro remain bullish.
  • Australian Dollar: 85K Long Vs. 1K Short – Slight decrease in net long exposure. Significant long position remains.

Conclusion: Based on the information above, commercial interests expect the US Dollar to decline while Canadian Dollar, British Pound, Euro  and Australian Dollar rally. Japanese Yen is neutral. This is consistent with our view that the FED won’t raise rates by much. 

Markets/Commodities/Volatility: 

  • E-Mini S&P 500: 387K Long Vs. 353K Short – Net neutral position remains.
  • Nasdaq 100-Mini: 38K Long Vs. 128K Short – Sizable short position. Slight decrease in net short position.
  • VIX: 23K Long Vs. 69K Short –  Significant decrease in net long exposure. VIX is now bearish.
  • Gold: 43 Long Vs. 60K Short – Gold remains neutral.

Conclusion: Based on the information above, commercial interests are now net neutral the S&P and gold. At the same time, commercials now have a very large short position on the Nasdaq. That is important. VIX turned bearish. 

Next Week’s Market Calendar: 

  • Q-4 Earnings. 
  • Friday, February 5th: Payroll/Unemployment

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COT Reports & Weekly Market Calendar – January 22nd, 2016 Google