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Fear Reaches A Level Seen Only 4 Times Since 2008 – Signature Pattern

Since 2009 the stock market has had for major waves of investor fear (volatility) take place which was in 2010, 2011, 2015, and 2018. Each time the market corrected we saw a drop anywhere from 12% – 18% and both traders and investors became emotional and started selling assets in fear of lower prices. What we are experiencing right now is the same sort of setup once again.

These waves of panic selling are a signature pattern of a mini-crash and they have similar outcomes each time which I will share with you here so you know what to expect and how to trade this rare market condition.

It takes a lot to convince the masses to reach this level of fear. Each of these mini-market crashes there has been some catalysts to further induce fear/selling. This time its Covid-19 that is tipping the scales.

Only two assets have acted as a safe haven which is bonds, and gold. Once again everyone has been piling into these over the past week, and even more so on Friday with Bonds surging 6.5% at one point during the session.

What does it mean when everyone is buying bonds and gold like this?

Where should you put your money to work going forward?
If you are thinking of buying bonds or gold you may want to think again.

Take a look at the charts for gold and bonds below when fear and the volatility index (VIX) have reached the level we experienced last week.

WEEKLY CHART OF GOLD, AND THE VIX PERFORMANCE

The chart below is straight forward. The bottom yellow section is the level of fear (VIX), while the top candlestick chart is the price of gold.

This chart shows what happens to the price of gold when everyone becomes fearful. Gold tends to rally as fear rises and the VIX spikes. But once the VIX has spiked the price of gold will trade sideways for many weeks and eventually have a deeper correction.

While gold could see more fear-based buying in the next week or two I feel most of the upside potential has always been realized and your money will be stuck in an underperforming asset when it could be deployed elsewhere in the market.

WEEKLY CHART OF BONDS (TLT), AND THE VIX PERFORMANCE

The below chart of bonds is a little different in how it reacts to extreme broad-based fear. Bonds tend to trade sideways or higher for a few several weeks and this is because bonds are really the core safe-haven play amount investors and financial advisors.

When extreme fear hits the market and spooks the masses it can take weeks for all those buy and hold investors recognize the market weakness and take action selling their stocks and moving their money into bonds. This buying pressure on bonds is a slow trickle-in effect as advisors have clients call them and demand they put their money into a low-risk investment like bonds.

Bonds do have another interesting twist for last week’s particular price action. Only three times since 2008 have I seen bonds move 20% in value within a short period of time which is what they reached last week. Within  1-3 weeks from a 20%+ gain, the price of bonds has corrected on average 11.5%.

CONCLUDING THOUGHTS:

In short, my 23 years of technical analysis experience in reading charts, and statistical analysis is telling me we should be looking at different asset classes to trade over the next couple of months.

On Friday at the opening bell subscribers and I closed our TLT bond trade for a 20.07% gain. During that time the stock market crashed 14.5% which we avoided because of our technical analysis which closed our long SP500 position before the big drop.

As a technical analysis and trader since 1997, I have been through a few bull/bear market cycles. I believe I have a good pulse on the market and timing key turning points for short-term swing traders.

Visit my ETF Wealth Building Newsletter and if you like what I offer, and ride my coattails as I navigate these financial markets and build wealth while others lose nearly everything they own during the next financial crisis.

Chris Vermeulen
www.TheTechnicalTraders.com

Have We Seen The Peak In The VIX?

The recent price breakdown in the US stock market (near the end of February 2020) prompted a very big spike in the VIX – could we see another HUGE spike with a deeper price selloff in the near future?

Our researchers believe this first downside price rotation in the US stock market may be just the first downside move in what may become a “waterfall” price event where price declines in a series of downside price waves reaching an ultimate support level.  The way the VIX works is to attempt to normalize implied volatility based on available options call and put data over a 30-day span.  The process of normalizing this data attempt to eradicate outlier data from the equation.  Thus, a VIX level of 40 has likely resulted in completed data that attempts to eliminate outlier data points that may have resulted in a much higher VIX value.

After this recent rally in the VIX level, the current normalization process will likely take the current range of the VIX (options data) into consideration for future VIX levels.  Thus, in order for the VIX to reach levels above 40 again, a much bigger downside price move would have to take place – possibly pushing the SPY to levels near $260 or lower.  A move like this would have to happen in an aggressive type of price decline in order for the VIX to rally back above 40.  Is this something we should expect in the near future?

Options Traders Be Aware: In our next post, we will touch one why trading options in this type of market condition is a major NO-NO.

Be sure to opt-in to our free market trend signals newsletter before closing this page so you don’t miss our next special report!

Our researchers believe the likelihood of a price decline like this is greater than 60% at this time.  We believe a Waterfall type of price event is unfolding where the price will attempt to source out true support levels as global central banks position ahead of any economic fallout for Q1 and Q2 of 2020.  It is because of these expectations that we believe global traders and investors will suddenly pull capital away from risk, into CASH and safe-havens while the unknowns of the global economic situation play out.  This dramatic shift from just 30 days ago may push the VIX to levels above 50 or 60 if we experience another aggressive selloff.

Liquidity becomes a major problem as Algos begin to pull capital out of the markets – like the FLASH CRASH of years ago.  This type of activity is already happening as many of our Algos and those of some of our friends have already started identifying severe risk factors in the markets as ATR and VIX have skyrocketed.  This lack of liquidity in the global markets could prompt an extended FLASH CRASH type of price event over the next 30 to 60+ days – possibly multiple FLASH events.

DAILY VIX CHART

This Daily VIX chart highlights the scale of the second Waterfall price event that recently took place.  The first Waterfall price move took place in early February and was very minor – yet our researchers caught it.

WEEKLY VIX CHART

This Weekly VIX chart highlights what we believe to be a likely scenario where VIX normalizes to levels below 25 over the next 2~3 weeks before another downside Waterfall event takes place as Q1 earnings data is about to hit the markets (near the end of March or early April).  It makes perfect sense to us that revisions and announcements will begin to hit the news wires relating to missed earnings and profit expectations near the end of March 2020.  If the Coronavirus is still working its way through Europe, the Middle East, and North America, we could be set up for a shocking April 2020 as Q1 earnings are announced.  This is what we believe will send the VIX skyrocketing to levels above 45~50 potentially.

A 25 to 35 day period of relative calm (2~3+ weeks) before earnings data starts to funnel into the news cycle.  Come early April, if companies have not yet already adjusted guidance, we could be in for a series of surprises that shock the US stock market and send the VIX skyrocketing.

SMART CASH INDEX SHOW GLOBAL EQUITY TREND

Our Smart Cash Index has recently broken below historical support channels and may begin to move into a new downward price channel soon.  This would be the first time in over 8+ years that this lower price channel has been seriously threatened in this manner.  A new downward price channel setup could indicate some extended downside price moves are in our future.  These types of downside price moves could indicate a broader global move away from risk as trader attempt to move capital into the safety of CASH and other investments.

CONCLUDING THOUGHTS:

As we’ve been warning for many months, 2020 is sure to be a very exciting year for skilled traders.  Don’t miss any of these incredible opportunities for broad sector swings and bigger moves in the US and Global stock markets.  These are the types of price swings that can make fortunes for skilled traders who are ahead of the bigger moves.

In fact, on Friday while traders and investors were down 15% with equities subscribers and I locked in 20.07% profit on our TLT trade and we avoided the equities collapse all together using my proven technical analysis strategies.

As a technical analysis and trader since 1997, I have been through a few bull/bear market cycles. I believe I have a good pulse on the market and timing key turning points for both short-term swing trading and long-term investment capital. The opportunities are massive/life-changing if handled properly.

I urge you visit my ETF Wealth Building Newsletter and if you like what I offer, join me with the 1-year subscription to lock in the lowest rate possible and ride my coattails as I navigate these financial market and build wealth while others lose nearly everything they own during the next financial crisis. Join Now and Get a Free 1oz Silver Bar!

Chris Vermeulen
www.TheTechnicalTraders.com

Emergency Technical Traders Market Crash Update & Video Analysis

The US stock market opened Sunday, March 8, 2020, dramatically lower.  Oil collapsed 25% to near $30.  Gold shot higher to levels just above $1700.  All of the major US indexes were lower than 5%.  As of this morning, the US major indexes are lower by 6.40%, and oil down 23%. Bonds are set to open 7-8% higher at this time.

As mentioned in yesterday’s update, we could see metals and miners get hit with margin calls, and silver took a beating last night down over 5%, and miners are down 5% in pre-market, so things could get uglier yet.

The war on oil has officially started. To me, it’s a typical bully/bad guy move. When everyone is bleeding, and in trouble like the financial markets, everyone’s mental state, and our health, the true bullies and bad guys (sharks) come out of the woodwork. Russia is being difficult and will keep production high for oil; the Saudis are giving out hug discounts on oil and jacking up their production to flood the market with their oil and take as much of the market share possibly. When blood is in the water, the sharks attack.

This oil war is going to devastate the USA and Canadian oil sectors and businesses if the price of oil trades between $20-35 per barrel, which I think is what will happen and could last a few years.

The US futures for stock hit a circuit breaker and halted futures trading of the Indexes once a 5% drop took place, but ETF and regular stocks will continue to trade. The next round of circuit breakers are only during regular trading hours and was implemented after the May 10, 2010, flash crash.

This new set of circuit breakers have never been hit before which are:
A drop of 7% stock halt for 15 minutes.
A drop of 13% stocks halt for 15 minutes.
A drop of 20% stocks halt for the rest of the session.

This is a huge breakdown in the US markets and indicates much greater weakness within the global markets and further concern that the COVID-19 virus may continue to disrupt the US and European markets (as well as others).

The potential that multiple billion-dollar disruptions in the US and other foreign markets, including travel, leisure, autos, hospitality, and many others, may see a continued decline in sales and incomes over the next 6+ months.  We don’t believe we will truly understand the total scope of this COVID-19 virus event until possibly well after July 2020.

The crazy part is I’m in a little secluded town in Canada, and people are starting to panic and buy food and toilet paper for their bunker stash. Almost everyone I talked to this weekend while out snowboarding has been affected by manufacturing, trade show cancellations, travel restrictions, etc..  We are in a full out global crisis that seems to affect everyone in some way no matter their location, occupation, or business.

There will be some great opportunities to find and execute incredible trading opportunities – yet the risks are very high right now for volatility and price rotation.  Think of the markets like a body of water in a severe storm.  The waters are very choppy, unstable, and chaotic – just like the markets.

Unless you have the right information, skills, and vehicle to navigate these waters, there is a very high probability that a dangerous outcome could happen. I closed out our last position on Friday with our TLT bond trade for a 20.07% profit and we are 100% cash watching this market VS trying to survive it.

Right now, Cash is king.
Waiting for proper setups and understanding risks is critical.  Timing your entries and targets is critical.  Learning to stay away from excessive risk is essential.

We’ll scan the markets for you and find the best opportunities that set up over the next week.

We appreciate your loyalty and want to continue to deliver superior analysis and research.  Please be well aware that the current market environment is very dangerous for traders.  The VIX recently touched above 50.  We believe it could reach levels above 75~90 still.  These are incredible levels for the VIX.

WATCH VIDEO ANALYSIS

Stay tuned for more free info, but if you like what you read here and
watched then subscribe to the premium trading newsletter today and
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Chris Vermeulen
Chief Market Strategist
www.TheTechnicalTraders.com

Is This A Repeat of February 2018 Market Crash?

Back in early 2018, after a dramatic rally in early January 2018, the US stock market collapsed suddenly and violently – falling nearly 12% in a matter of just 9 trading days.  Our researchers asked the question, is the current collapse similar to this type of move and could we expect a sudden market bottom to setup?

Although there are similarities between the setups of these two events, our researchers believe there are two unique differences between the selloff in 2018 and the current selloff.  We’ll attempt to cover these components and setups in detail.

Make sure to opt-in to our free market trend signals newsletter before closing this page so you don’t miss our next special report!

FIRST, THE SIMILARITIES:

_  The contraction in market price just before the end of the year in 2017 was indicative of a market that had rallied to extended valuation levels, then stalled in December as the year-end selling took over.

_  The renewed rally in early January was a process of capital re-engaging in the market as future expectations continued to drive and exuberant investor confidence in the markets.

These two similarities between 2018 and 2020 seem fundamental.

Yet, there are differences that may drive a further price contraction event – beyond what we saw in 2018.

_  The US/China trade deal disrupted market fundamentals over the past 6+ months and established a more diminished function of global economics as the trade tensions continued

_  The foreign market capital shift process, where foreign capital poured into the US stock market over the past 12+ months and supported the US Dollar was a process of avoiding foreign market risks.  This process trapped a large portion of foreign capital in the US markets prior to the 2020 collapse.

_  Global geopolitical functions are far more fragile than they were in 2018.  After BREXIT was completed and prior to the signing of the US/China trade deal, a number of concerns existed throughout the world and are still valid.

_  The Wuhan Corona Virus has changed what global investors expect and how both supply and demand economic functions are being addressed world-wide.

The potential of an early price bottom setting up after this 2020 price collapse is very real.  Yet, the ultimate bottom in the markets may be much lower than the 11% or 12% price decline that happened in 2018.  The scale and scope of the Corona Virus event, should it continue beyond April 2020 (and possibility well into June or July 2020), could extend the price decline even further.  Ultimately, this extended risk function may push the US and global markets to deeper lows before a bottom sets up – yet the outcome may be very similar.

After the double bottom in 2018 setup, a slow and stead price advance continued until the SPY price rallied to new highs in September 2018.  A very similar type of price activity may take place in 2020 after the ultimate bottom in price sets up.

Our researchers believe the ultimate bottom in the SPY will likely happen near $251 – near the middle of the 2018 price range.  Ideally, the event that takes place to create this price decline will likely happen in a “waterfall” event structure.  This means we may see a series of 3 to 9+ day selloffs culminating in a major market bottom near $251.

If our research team is correct in this analysis, a bottom will likely form in the SPY and near $251 to $265 where and extended bottom pattern may setup.  We may see a double-bottom type of pattern as we saw in 2018.  Ultimately, we believe the bottom will setup sometime in mid-2020 and the remainder of the year will continue to support an extended price rally into the end of 2020.

Are we looking at a similar type of price event like we saw in early 2018?  Ideally, yes.  Although, we believe this downside price move will be deeper in terms of the total price decline (likely 18% to 25%) and will end when price valuation levels reach a point where global investors feel opportunity exists beyond risk.

Right now, we believe an incredible opportunity for skilled investors is present and that incredible market sector price rotations are taking place.  We believe the devaluation process will move the markets lower by at least 15% to 20% or more.  That suggests the bottom in the SPY is likely near $251 before we see any real opportunity for price to form a support base and begin to rally higher.

As a technical analysis and trader since 1997, I have been through a few bull/bear market cycles. I believe I have a good pulse on the market and timing key turning points for both short-term swing trading and long-term investment capital. The opportunities are massive/life-changing if handled properly.

I urge you visit my ETF Wealth Building Newsletter and if you like what I offer, join me with the 1-year subscription to lock in the lowest rate possible and ride my coattails as I navigate these financial market and build wealth while others lose nearly everything they own during the next financial crisis. Join Now and Get a Free 1oz Silver Bar!

Chris Vermeulen
www.TheTechnicalTraders.com

Yield Curve Patterns – What To Expect In 2020

Quite a bit of information can be gleaned from the US Treasury Yield Curve charts.  There are two very interesting components that we identified from the Yield Curve charts below.  First, the bottom in late 2018 was a very important price bottom in the US markets.  That low presented a very deep bottom in the Yield Curve 30Y-10Y chart.  We believe this bottom set up a very dynamic shift in the capital markets that present the current risk factor throughout must of the rest of the world.  Second, this same December 2018 price bottom set up a very unique consolidation pattern on the 10Y-3Y Yield Curve chart.  This pattern has been seen before, in late 1997-1998 and late 2005-2008.

The reality of these two patterns setting up in the Yield Curve charts suggests that the US and global markets are going to experience a surge in volatility and a very real potential that the US and global markets will contract over the next 6 to 24 months.  Within about 3 to 6+ months of these patterns setting up, one of two separate outcomes typically takes place.

A.  A continued US stock market price advance takes place pushing the Yield Curves lower and ultimately setting up a massive stock market top formation.

B.  A moderate price peak sets up where the Yield Curve levels begin to rise from these current levels while the US and global stock markets begin a moderate correction phase – eventually leading into the possibility of a massive price collapse.

Our research team believes the deep price rotation near the end of 2018 set up a very unique capital shift event that took place within the global markets.  Currently, there is well over $75 Trillion in the US and global markets.  This capital has become enough of a force in the global markets to act as the “moon and the tide”.  In a way, this capital, and the search for profits and safety, has propelled the global markets into a very fragile position.

This total amount of capital, in combination with the derivative markets and global credit markets, presents a significant risk for global central banks and nations.  Many foreign nations have pushed their debt levels to well over 100% of GDP.  Still, even more, have engaged in reckless lending and shadow banking practices that engage a further level of risk to the global markets.  Global central banks have taken on excessive debt levels and acquired assets after 2009 in order to help stabilize the global markets.  The combination of all of these facets of new capital, risk, and assets add a new dynamic to historical patterns in the Yield Curves.

Even though the patterns are similar in structure, the risks are far greater than in 2000 or 2008.  Before, the Central Banks were like a ship navigating the Tides of the seas.  Now, the Central Banks have become the Tides and the Moon – they are essentially an omnipresent force in all levels of assets, capital, risks, and contagion.

We believe the 30Y – 10Y yield curve may move slightly lower if any type of reprieve or complacency continues throughout the global markets that risk is not a factor going forward. This would suggest that the US stock market may continue to move a bit higher – possibly seeing the DOW breach the $30,000 level.  Otherwise, we believe the Yield Curve may continue to climb suggesting that a global market peak is setting up and a price reversion event is beginning to take place.

This 10Y – 3Y Yield Curve chart highlights the potential for a brief collapse in this level to below ZERO, yet it is not necessary at this point in time to confirm a potential major market peak.  Ideally, the future of the US and global stock markets depend on how these yield curves react at this juncture in time.  A deeper move to levels below ZERO will suggest a broader market peak is setting up.  A rally from these levels would suggest the peak has already set up and that real risk and fear are entering the global markets.

The NQ setup an Engulfing Bearish pattern after a very impressive rally from moderate rotation in December 2019.  We highlighted the potential that the US markets are rallying to a peak in a number of research articles recently.  The one we’ve included, below, is an excellent example of this type of research.

January 31, 2020: A COMBINATION TOPPING PATTERN IS SETTING UP

As we’ve been suggesting for many months, this is the time for skilled traders to become “cautious long traders”.  This upside move could end in a very violent manner as the Moon and Tide shift suddenly as fear and central bank paralysis setup in the markets.  We urge all our friends and followers to prepare for this eventual setup and to understand the total scope of this omnipresent capital/debt event.  This time will certainly be different because Central Banks have become banker, holders, guarantor and leveraged participants in the future outcome.

Our suggestion is to plan to setup your portfolio so you have sufficient cash in reserve in the event of an unexpected market decline.  We also suggest proper protection/hedge investments, such as precious metals and metals miner ETFs.  Currently, this single Engulfing Bearish pattern is not enough of a trigger to warn of any immediate action for traders – but the Yield Curve charts are clearly showing us the markets will either continue to rally to an ultimate peak or begin to setup that peak very quickly from current levels.

Think of it this way, we know the music will likely stop at some point in the near future, we just don’t know exactly when it will stop.  So, we have to prepare for the scramble for the chairs when it ends.

Join my Swing Trading ETF Wealth Building Newsletter if you like what you read here and ride my coattails as I navigate these financial markets and build wealth while others lose nearly everything they own.

Chris Vermeulen
www.TheTechnicalTraders.com

Is The Technology Sector Setting Up For A Crash? Part IV

As we continue to get more and more information related to the Coronavirus spreading across Asia and Europe, the one thing we really must consider is the longer-term possibility that major global economies may contract in some manner as the Chinese economy is currently doing.  The news suggests over 700+ million people in China are quarantined.  This is a staggering number of people – nearly double the total population of the entire United States.

If the numbers presented by the Chinese are accurate, the Coronavirus has a very high infection rate, yet a moderately small mortality rate (2~3%).  Still, if this virus continues to spread throughout the world and infects more and more people, there is a very real potential that 20 to 50 million people may be killed because of this event.  It may become one of the biggest Black Swan events in recent history.

We really won’t know the total scope of the damage to the Chinese and Asian economies for another 35+ days – possibly longer.  The information we have been able to pull from available news sources and from the Chinese press is that hundreds of millions are quarantined, the Chinese Central Bank is pouring capital into their markets in order to support their frail economy and, just recently, President Xi suggested stimulus will not be enough – austerity measure will have to be put into place to protect China from creating a massive debt-trap because of this virus.

Austerity is a process of central bank planners cutting expenses, cutting expansion plans, cutting everything that is not necessary and planning for longer-term economic contraction.  It means the Chinese are preparing for a long battle and are attempting to protect their wealth and future from an extreme collapse event.

From an investor standpoint, FANG stocks have outperformed the S&P, NASDAQ and DOW JONES indexes by many multiples over the past 5~6 years.  The chart below highlights the rally in the markets that originated in late 2016 (think 2016 US Presidential Election) and the fact that foreign capital poured into the US stock market chasing expected returns promised by future President Trump.

It becomes very clear that the FANG stocks rallied very quickly after the elections were completed and continued to pull away from valuation levels of the S&P, NASDAQ and DOW JONES US indexes.  How far has the FANG index rallied above the other US major indexes? At some points, the FANG index was 30~40% higher than the biggest, most mature industries within the US.  In late 2018, everything contracted a bit – including the FANG index.

As or right now, the FANG index has risen nearly 274% from October 2014.  The S&P has risen nearly 60% over that same time.  The NASDAQ has risen 140% and the S&P 500 Info Tech Index rose 180%.  The reality is that capital has poured into the technology sector, FANG stocks and various other US stock market indexes chasing this incredible rally event.

(source: https://www.theice.com/fangplus)

This Netflix Weekly chart highlights what we believe are some of the early signs of weakness in the FANG sector.  The sideways FLAG formation suggests NFLX has reached a peak in early 2018 and investors have shied away from pouring more capital into this symbol while the Technology index and FANG index have continued to rally over the past 8+ months.

This Weekly Custom FANG Index chart highlights the rally that took place after October 2018 and continues to drive new highs today.  This move on our Custom FANG index shows a very clear breakout rally taking place which is why we believe more foreign capital poured into the US markets as the US/China trade deal continued to plague the global markets and as BREXIT and other economic issues started to weigh on economic outputs.  What did investors do to avoid these risks?  Pour their capital into the hot US technology sector.

Another chart we like to review is our Custom Technology Index Weekly chart.  This chart shows a similar pattern to the FANG chart above, yet it presents a very clear picture of the excessive price rally and rotation that has taken place over the past 5+ months.  The real risk with this trend is that investors may start to believe “it will go on forever” and “there is no risk in these trades”.  There is a very high degree of risk in these trades.  Once the bubble bursts, the downside move may become very violent and shocking.

A reversion event, bubble burst event, in the technology sector as a result of the economic collapse in China and throughout other areas of the world may break this rally in the technology sector at some point and may push investors to re-evaluate their trading plans.  Until investors understand the risks setting up because of the Coronavirus and the potential for a 20%, 30%, even 40% decrease in economic activity and consumer spending may finally push global investors to really think about the true valuations within the FANG/Technology sector.

We writing this article to alert you to the very real fact that “what goes up – must come down” at some point.  Pay attention to how this plays out and what may cause global investors to suddenly change their opinion of the Technology sector.   A pullback in this sector may result in a -40% to -50% price reversion.

We believe the economic collapse and humanitarian crisis that is unfolding in China may be enough to put a massive dent in future expectations for 2020 and 2021.  You simply can’t have a major global economic collapse in this manner without having some type of cross-over event.  As we learned in 2008-09 with the US credit crisis – when a major economy collapses its assets and financial markets, the ripples spread across the globe.  China may become the next financial crisis event for the new decade.

Join my Swing Trading ETF Wealth Building Newsletter if you like what you read here and ride my coattails as I navigate these financial markets and build wealth while others lose nearly everything they own.

Chris Vermeulen
www.TheTechnicalTraders.com

Is The Technology Sector Setting Up For A Crash? Part III

FANG stocks seem uniquely positioned for some extreme rotation over the next 6+ months.  The continued capital shift that has taken place over the past 5+ years has driven investment and capital into the Technology sector – much like the DOT COM rally.  The euphoric rally in the late 1990s seems quite similar to today.

The biggest difference this time is that global central banks have pushed an easy-money monetary policy since just after 2000.  The policies and rallies that took place after 9/11 were a result of policies put in place by George W. Bush and Alan Greenspan.  Our research team believes these policies set up a  process where foreign markets gorged on cheap US Dollars to expand industry and manufacturing throughout the late 1990s and most of the early 2000s.  This process sets up a scenario where the US pumped US Dollars into the global markets after the 9/11 terrorist attacks and foreign markets gobbled this capital up knowing they could expand infrastructure, industry, and manufacturing, then sell these products back to the US and other markets for profits.  Multiple QE attempts by the US Fed continued to fuel this capital shift.

It wasn’t until after 2008-09 when the US Fed entered a period of extreme easy money policy.  This easy money policy populated an extensive borrow-spend process throughout most of the foreign world.  Remember, as much as the US was attempting to support the US markets, the foreign markets were actively gorging even more on this easy money from the US and didn’t believe anything would change in the near future.  China/Asia and most of the rest of the world continued to suck up US Dollars while pouring more and more capital into industry, manufacturing and finance/banking.

This process of borrowing from the US while tapping into the expanding US markets created a wealth creation process throughout much of Asia/China that, in turn, poured newly created wealth back into the US stock and real estate markets over the past 7+ years.  It is easy to understand how the trillions pushed into the markets by the US Fed created opportunity and wealth throughout the globe, then turned into investments into US assets and the US stock market.  Foreign investors wanted a piece of the biggest and most diverse economy on the planet.

This foreign investment propelled a new rally in the Technology sector, which aligned with a massive build-out of technology throughout the world and within China.  Remember, in the late 1990s, China was just starting to develop large manufacturing and industry.  By the mid-2000s, China had already started building huge city-wide industry and manufacturing.  But in the late-2000s, China went all-in on the industry and manufacturing build-out.  This created a massive “beast” in China that depends on this industry to support finance and capital markets.  This lead to the recent rise in the global and US markets as all of this capital rushed around the globe looking for the best returns and safest locations for investment.

FANG stocks have taken center stage and the recent rally reminds of us the DOT COM rally from the 1990s.  Could the Coronavirus break this trend and collapse future expectations within the global markets?  Is it possible that we are setting up another DOT COM-like bubble that is about to break?

THE WEEKLY CHART OF APPLE (AAPL)

This first Weekly chart of Apple (AAPL) shows just how inflated price has rallied since August 2019.  The share price of AAPL has risen from $220 to almost $320 in the last 6 months – an incredible +49%.  We attribute almost all of this incredible rise to the Capital Shift that took place in the midst of the US/China trade war.  Foreign capital needed to find a place to protect itself from currency devaluation and to generate ROI.  What better place than the US Technology Sector.

THE WEEKLY CHART OF FACEBOOK (FB)

Facebook has also seen a nice appreciation in value from the lows in late 2018.  From the August 2019 date, though, Facebook has seen share prices rise about +25% – from the $180 level to the $225 level.  Although many traders may not recognize the Double Top pattern set up near the $220 level, we believe this setup may be an early warning that Technology may be starting to “rollover” as capital may begin searching for a safer environment and begin exiting the Technology sector.

THE WEEKLY CHART OF GOOGLE (GOOG)

Google (Alphabet), GOOG, is another high-flier with share prices rising from $1200 to $1500 from August 2019 till now – a +28% price increase.  We can clearly see that GOOG is well above the historic price channel set up by the rotation in late 2018.  We believe resistance near $1525 will act as a price boundary and may prompt a downside price rotation associated with the rotation away from risk within the Technology sector.  Any downside move, if it happens, could prompt a price decline targeting $1350 or lower.

CONCLUDING THOUGHTS:

Remember, we are warning of a change in how capital operates within the markets.  The Capital Shift that has continued to drive advancing share prices in Technology may be nearing an end.  It does not mean the capital shift will end, it just means this capital may rotate into other sectors in an attempt to avoid risks and seek out returns.  We believe this is a real possibility because we believe the Coronavirus in China is disrupting the markets (supply/manufacturing and consumer spending) by such a large factor that we believe capital will be forced to identify new targets for returns.  In other words, we believe the Technology Sector may be at very high risk for a price reversion event if this “black swan” event continues to disrupt the global markets.

Let’s face it, a very large portion of our technology originates and is manufactured in China.  In fact, a very large portion of almost everything we consume is manufactured in China.  Heck, the cat food I buy every week is made in China.  If this Coronavirus continues to force China to shut down large sections of their nation and manufacturing while it continues to spread, then the only real outcome for the rest of the world is that “China manufacturing capabilities will be only 10~20% of previous levels” (if that).

Once supply runs out for most items originating from China, then we are going to have to deal with a new reality of “what are the real future expectations going to really look like” and that is why we are preparing our followers and friends the Technology sector may be one of the biggest rotating sectors in the near future.

Join my Swing Trading ETF Wealth Building Newsletter if you like what you read here and ride my coattails as I navigate these financial markets and build wealth while others lose nearly everything they own.

Chris Vermeulen
www.TheTechnicalTraders.com

NOTICE: Our free research does not constitute a trade recommendation or solicitation for our readers to take any action regarding this research.  It is provided for educational purposes only.  Our research team produces these research articles to share information with our followers/readers in an effort to try to keep you well informed.  Visit our web site (www.thetechnicaltraders.com) to learn how to take advantage of our members-only research and trading signals.

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Is The Technology Sector Setting Up For A Crash? Part I

One thing that continues to amaze our research team is the total scale and scope of the Capital Shift which is taking place across the globe.  For almost 5+ years, foreign investors have been piling into the US stock market chasing the stronger US dollar and continued advancement of US share prices.  It is almost like there is no other place on the planet that will allow investors to pool capital into such a variety of strong assets while protecting against foreign capital risks.  Yet the one big question remains – when will a price reversion event hit the US stock market?

So many researchers, even our team of researchers, believe we have found the keys to unlocking when the price reversion event will take place.  Time-honored technical analysis techniques have set up very clear triggers that were negated by higher prices and continued upside trending.  What is certain at this point is that the Capital Shift is going to continue until it stops – at some point in the future.

Our research team decided to take a look at the FANG index and the individual symbols that make up that sector to see where the real strength and weakness exist.  Our goal was to attempt to understand how and when a potential price reversion event may take place and how this event may be correlated to the global contraction event related to the Coronavirus spreading across the planed while paralyzing certain economies.  Could the Coronavirus event be the catalyst that sets off a breakdown in the technology sector?

There are three components we want to start our focus on in this, Part I, of this research article.  First, the very real possibility that we are “rallying to a peak” at some point in the near future.  Second, the Custom Volatility Index highlighting continued overbought price action and the very real potential for a breakdown in price from these inflated levels.  Lastly, the FANG index itself suggesting we are very near to upper price boundaries after capital has poured back into the US markets in early 2020.

These three components suggest a market that is full of over-enthusiastic optimism and capital that has poured into the US stock market chasing gains that were clearly expected as 2019 came to a close.  Yet, in early 2020, a new risk suddenly became known, the Coronavirus, and this risk has already begun to devastate China’s economy and economic activity.  What happens if this sudden collapse in economic activity spreads over the next 30+ days and how will it change future expectations in the US stock markets?

CUSTOM TECHNOLOGY INDEX WEEKLY CHART

This Custom Technology Index Weekly chart highlights what we clearly believe is the “rally to the peak” type of price action related to the continued Capital Shift taking place in the global markets.  The breakout to the upside in November 2019 prompted a concentrated pooling of capital into the US markets.  After the end of the year, when institutional investors started engaging in the markets again, it was rumored that more than multiple-billions reentered the markets in early January 2020.  It is obvious when you look at this chart.

By the second week of the new year, capital continued to pour into the technology sector – pushing it higher by nearly 15% in less than 45 days.  That is an amazing rally to start off 2020 and could possibly be the “rally to the peak” process we’ve been hinting about.

CUSTOM VOLATILITY INDEX WEEKLY CHART

This Custom Volatility Index Weekly Chart is something we use to determine how overbought or oversold the US stock market is in relation to historical VIX weighted price ranges.  When this index is above the GREEN middle range, the US stock market is reaching into extremely bullish trending and overbought territory.  When this index is below the GREEN middle range, the US stock market is reaching extreme bearish trending and oversold territory.  The GREEN middle range is a neutral zone for trading.

Obviously, as VIX spikes and price levels collapse, we can see this Custom Volatility Index falling to levels below 6.0.  As price trends higher with moderately low VIX levels, we continue to see this Custom Volatility Index hover above 12~14.  The downside rotation in the US stock market (the -600 pt Dow day) pushed this Custom Volatility Index from near 22 to 14 – a big reversion event on this chart.  Now, the current level is back above 18 and pushing higher – the rally to the peak is setting up.

FANG WEEKLY CHART

Lastly, this FANG Weekly chart highlights the concentration of capital that has pushed the technology sector, and particularly the FANG stocks, much higher in 2020.  The reality of the situation is that until forward expectations, guidance or global economic functions change, this rally will likely continue for some time.  Our concern is that global market expectations could change very quickly in relative terms because of global economic functions and contractions related to the Corona Virus.

We recently authored an article suggesting that the entire Belt Road sector could become a risk factor if China is pushed into a very deep economic crisis.  China’s banking sector recently underwent a stress test where China’s economy dipped below expected GDP levels.  Nearly 15% of China’s banks will become insolvent if GDP drops below 5.5%.  Nearly 50% of China’s banks will become insolvent if GDP drops below 4.5%.  What happens if China’s GDP drops to 0.5% for a 4 to a 6-month span of time and the Chinese economy sputters in recovery after this Coronavirus event settles?

What happens to the Belt Road Initiative and the projects/relationships China has with those nations if, all a sudden, China enters a “Credit Crisis” in excess of $5 to $6 trillion US dollars.  Bloomberg recently reported that China Home Sales plunged 90% in the first week of February.  You don’t have to be a genius to understand the risks associated with that type of plunge in a key economic growth component.

If our research team is correct, this “rally to the peak” will continue in the US for as long as risk factors stay mildly calm for the US.  Once risk levels elevate across to a point where the US investors and economy may become threatened, then traders will likely begin to bail out of overvalued sectors, like Technology, and into safe-haven investments.  It is critical that skilled traders be prepared for this move because when it happened, it may happen very quickly and violently.

Join my Market Timing Signals Alert Newsletter if you like what you read here and ride my coattails as I navigate these financial markets and build wealth while others lose nearly everything they own.

Chris Vermeulen
www.TheTechnicalTraders.com

NOTICE: Our free research does not constitute a trade recommendation or solicitation for our readers to take any action regarding this research.  It is provided for educational purposes only.  Our research team produces these research articles to share information with our followers/readers in an effort to try to keep you well informed.  Visit our web site to learn how to take advantage of our members-only research and trading signals.

Stock Market Sector Rotation Should Peak Within 60+ Days – Part II

The first part of this article highlighted what we believe is the start of a broad market sector rotation setup in the US and global markets.  This second part will highlight what we believe are excellent examples of sector trade setups for our friends and followers.

As China continues to pour capital into their markets to stabilize the outflow and fall of asset prices, a number of interesting components of broader sector rotation are setting up.  First, the US stock market has rolled lower in what we are calling a “first-tier” of the “waterfall event”.

Additionally, Mid-Caps, Transportation, Energy, and Financials have all started to roll-over of already begun to rotate lower.  We believe the contraction in economic activity and global market engagement as a result of the Wuhan virus will result in a much bigger and broader downside price move than many are expecting in the coming weeks.

The death toll for the Coronavirus outbreak reached 910, surpassing the number that died in the 2003 SARS episode. This is causing huge issues with global supply chains and shipping companies as I talked about last week in my HoweStreet Interview.

We believe traders need to be aware of the continued capital shift that has been taking place over the past 4+ years.  As foreign markets struggle and the US Dollar continues to strengthen, capital has been moving into the US stock market as a protective measure.  We believe this will continue throughout the virus event, yet we believe the US stock market will contract, move lower, as a result of this virus event as well.

Many US companies are still exposed to foreign markets through overseas engagement and retail locations,  Automakers, consumer products, manufacturing, heavy equipment and dozens of other sectors derive 5% to 25%+ of their revenues from China and other overseas markets.  MacDonalds, Starbucks, Caterpillar and dozens of other US companies have broad exposure in China and Asia.  We believe this virus event could last well into July and possibly much longer.  Because of this, we believe a broader market sector rotation will take place and that volatility will continue to increase over the next 6 to 12+ months.

Here are the three sectors we believe have a strong potential for setting up a fantastic trade.  Follow our research to learn more about what we do and how we can help you find incredible trade setups.

RUSSELL 2000 (IWM) – WEEKLY CHART

The Russell 2000 (IWM) has already started to move a bit lower over the last few weeks.  Even though the US stock market was plowing higher throughout most of December and January, the Russell 2000 is actually showing signs of a rounded top formation with a very clear downside “first leg” (waterfall) type of price decline.  We believe broader market contraction and sector rotation could push IWM below $144 in an attempt to target historical support near $126.

TECS TECHNOLOGY SECTOR ETF – WEEKLY CHART

The Technology sector may see a broader market decline over the next 30 to 60 days that could push TECS from recent lows, below $6, to levels above $12 to $16 on a reactionary move in this 3x ETF.  TECS has experienced very low volatility over the past 3+ months while the US stock market has continued to rally in Q3 and Q4.  Any breakdown in the global technology sector could push TECS well above recent peak levels near $18.

XLF FINANCIAL SECTOR ETF – WEEKLY CHART

The Financial Sector is very likely to experience a 3% to 10% decrease in consumer activity related to the lack of travel, outside entertainment, shopping and food services activities and could see extended risk to loans, debts, and other services as a result of a global economic market contraction.  We believe a downside risk exists in XLF where the price will likely break below $30 and target the $25 to $26 level over the next 30 to 60+ days.  Ultimately, XLF must hold above the December 2018 lows near $22 if the current downside rotation ends within recent price ranges.  A move below $22 would indicate we have entered a new stage of a Bear trend.

The reality of the situation for most of us is that we are not at immediate risk of catching anything except a common cold or flu.  As skilled traders, we must identify an opportunity where it presents itself and we must attempt to learn to capitalize on that opportunity.  We believe these sectors, and many others, are about to present very real trading opportunities for skilled traders.

The virus is expected to double in scope every 6.5 days based on modeling data.  Obviously China and Asia are the biggest risks right now.  Our biggest concern is that the virus spreads into India and Africa.  We believe a spread into these regions could add hundreds of thousands or millions of infected people to the lists.  At this point, it is far too early to tell how extended this virus event will become – yet we feel we are just starting this rotation and the true scope of it won’t be known for many weeks or months.

Join us in our quest to create incredible profits from these bigger trends today. As a technical analyst and trader since 1997 I have been through a few bull/bear market cycles, I have a good pulse on the market and timing key turning points for both short-term swing trading and long-term investment capital. The opportunities are massive/life-changing if handled properly.

Join my Swing Trading ETF Wealth Building Newsletter if you like what you read here and ride my coattails as I navigate these financial markets and build wealth while others lose nearly everything they own.

Chris Vermeulen
www.TheTechnicalTraders.com

NOTICE: Our free research does not constitute a trade recommendation or solicitation for our readers to take any action regarding this research.  It is provided for educational purposes only.  Our research team produces these research articles to share information with our followers/readers in an effort to try to keep you well informed.  Visit our web site (www.thetechnicaltraders.com) to learn how to take advantage of our members-only research and trading signals.