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Welcome To The Zombie-Land Of Investing – Part 2

In Part I of this research post, we highlight how the ES and Gold reacted 24+ months prior to the 2007-08 market peak and subsequent collapse in 2008-09.  The point we were trying to push out to our followers was that the current US stock market indexes are acting in a very similar formation within a very mature uptrend cycle.

We ended Part I with this chart, below, comparing 2006-08 with 2018-19.  Our intent was to highlight the new price high similarities as well as the price rotation similarities between the two critical peaks in market price. We are terming the current market a “Zombie-land” because it appears global investors are somewhat brain-dead as to the total risks that are setting up in the global markets right now. But, wait before you continue reading make sure to opt-in to our free market trend signals newsletter.

Forward guidance is waning. Earning expectations are decreasing.  Debt levels are skyrocketing all over the planet.  Global banks are continuing to move into more Quantitative Easing measures to attempt to spark growth.  The equity markets are 9+ years into a rally while the global central banks are 10+ years into some form of continued QE efforts.  Global economic data suggests a moderate downturn in economic activity and growth for many foreign nations.  We believe the next crisis will not originate in the US, but from outside the US.  We believe the risks associated with the massive debt levels in the foreign markets will be the reason for another price decline.  Quite possibly, a commodity price collapse (think OIL) will become the catalyst for this event.

IF OIL WERE TO FALL BELOW $45…

If Oil were to fall below $45 (eventually possibly flirting with the $30 price level) as our predictive modeling suggests, then we believe many foreign nations will suddenly become serious risk factor related to debt/credit and could potentially create a domino-process where the US/Global markets collapse on this new risk factor. Our last predictive model signal was for natural gas and we just close out the trade locking in 19% profits this week.

IS 2007 SETTING UP ALL OVER AGAIN?

But what if this is 2007 setting up all over again?  Take a look at the ES chart above – where a peak setup in May/June 2007, followed by a deep price correction.  Follow that price move even further to see how price rallied to a new all-time high throughout July, August and most of September before setting up in a deeper price rotation in late September and carrying forward into October.  Now, take a look at this current ES Weekly chart to see if there is any similarity between them.

GOLD UP 50% FROM ITS LOWS ALREADY

Gold has already rallied nearly 49% from the 2015 lows and the recent price rotation is somewhat similar to what happened to Gold in 2006-2007.  The extended base that set up between 2017 and 2018 could be interpreted as a similar type of base that set up in 2006-07.  The current rally is somewhat similar to what happened in late 2007 and early 2008 when the US stock market began to collapse volatility expanded in a strong uptrend which was followed by a moderate price retracement before Gold began a rally totaling more than 250% from the base/bottom.  Is this setup happening again right now?

WEEKLY NQ CHART SHOWS THE EXTENDED MELT-UP

This Weekly NQ chart shows the extended melt-up that is taking place after the October to December deep price rotation that took place in 2018.  We believe this deep price rotation is similar to the deep price rotation that happened between July and September 2007.  The subsequent “melt-up” process is a function of the “zombie-land” function of price and bias.  Investors chase after security and returns by pushing the price higher and higher when fundamentals and expectations don’t align with these expectations.  This same type of “zombie-land melt-up” happened in 2007 as well.

We understand the implications of this research post and want to warn all of our followers they need to be extremely cautious of the current market setup.  Even though the US stock market may continue an upside bias within a melt-up process, we believe there are very strong underlying risks in the markets that could prompt a very deep price correction.

THE US FED IS NOT LOWERING RATES BECAUSE …

The US Fed is not lowering rates because of market strength and super strong forward guidance.  They are lowering rates because they believe risks exist in the debt/credit market and are trying to stay ahead of a big problem – a potentially very big problem.  The overnight REPO market has been a topic for our researchers for the past 45+ days as this temporary institutional debt tool has exploded recently.  Now, the US Fed has actively decreased rates and has begun acquiring more debt on its balance sheet.. hmm.  That seems strangely similar to another credit/debt crisis event.

(source: https://thesoundingline.com/october-saw-the-largest-increase-in-feds-balance-sheet-since-the-financial-crisis/)

We know many of our followers may consider this just another warning from a bunch of doom-sayers again.  We’re not wishing for this outcome – trust us.  We simply look at the technical data, determine a probable outcome and present our findings to our followers to try to keep them informed.

Too many similarities are starting to align to make this just some strange coincidence.  Too many unknowns and uncertainties are aligning just 12 months before a US presidential election cycle.  It seems strangely familiar to us that these same types of price events are unfolding now.  If there is no correlation then we’ll likely be incorrect in our analysis.  But if we are right and there is a major price reversion event setting up, we think it is wise to alert as many of our friends as possible.

Keep reading our research because our proprietary tools have been nailing all of these price targets and move many months in advance.

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!

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.

Chris Vermeulen
www.TheTechnicalTraders.com

PART II – Is The Debt Crisis About To Be Reborn In 2020?

There are some key elements of political and economic Super-Cycles that all traders must stay aware of listed below. But if you have not yet read PART I do so now. _  Very often, 12+ months before a major US political election cycle, the US stock market typically enters a Bearish trend phase that lasts until 8+ month before the actual election date. _   The Transportation Index has not recovered to levels from the September 2018 peak.  This lower price rotation in the Transportation Index suggests the global economy is not expecting growth in the near future. _   Other than Precious Metals, the Commodities sector has rebounded off of recent lows but has yet to see any real price advancement – suggesting that demand for raw commodities is rather weak. _   The Real Estate sector in the US is starting to falter near a current high price level.  We are seeing price decreases hit the markets as sellers are desperate to attract buyers.  This could be a warning that a price revaluation event is about to unfold in the US. _   Super-Cycles suggest a moderately sized price rotation between now and early 2020 (likely greater than 20% in size).  This rotation, should it happen, will become a price revaluation event that could attempt to “shake loose” some of the sector pricing and forward expectations we’ve mentioned (above). Our bigger concern is the localized state and federal pension and retirement issues that continue to respond with higher levels of financial commitments and greater levels of annual budgets as related to ongoing capacity and operational activities in the US. If an unwinding event was to unfold in or near 2020, it is our belief that a pricing revaluation event related to any of the core economic factors above (particularly with Real Estate, Economic Cycles, the US Presidential Elections, and a soft/weakening US economy) could result in a much larger price revaluation event taking place.  This would create extended pressures on local State and Federal expenses and highlight debt issues that can often be hidden behind “creative accounting” tricks. State and Local Government Debt Securities and Loan Liability levels have stayed elevated, yet somewhat flat over the past 10+ years.  It is very likely that these debt levels have been contained because of the US easy money policies of the past 10+ years.  When the US Dollar is cheap and easy to repay, these debt levels don’t look so difficult.
Pension and retirement systems/fund are a completely different story for State and Local government agencies.  Asset flows have dramatically increased in volatility after 2000.  Additionally, the depth and magnitude of asset outflows have become quite dangerous while price revaluation events were unfolding (2000 to 2004 and 2008 to 2015).  Outflows in state and federal pension and retirement funds create large forward operational pressures and shortfalls in expected funding levels.  These decreases in funding should be made whole by the State or City – but they are rarely ever repaid in full. As these “wholes” in the pension and retirement systems continue to fester (resulting in decreased funds for pensioners and decrease fund to be deployed as investment assets), the problems begin to compound over time.  More and more retirees and pensioners start drawing benefits while the system continues to take in less and less – never actually catching up in total value.
One big revaluation event, or possibly two, from now and we believe the entire system will create a multiple Trillion Dollar debt crisis within the US and possibly throughout the modern world.  We believe the under-estimated state and federal pension/retirement funding issue is the next shoe to drop and that it will take a price revaluation event to expose the risks that are evident within this failed “Ponzi” scheme.  Read the recent news about Chicago and Illinois to learn just how dangerous these entitlement contraptions really are. Let’s assume that a revaluation event does take place within the next 5 to 10+ years – this would be something like a Real Estate price correction or some type of stock market, asset market price correction related to local or global economic issues.  Could these massive asset funds handle an extended DRAWDOWN from their funds while Cities, States, and Federal agencies attempt to deal with declining revenues?  How much time would it take for these pension and retirement funds to fall into crisis or insolvency? By our estimates, the current asset levels in the US retirement/pension system have just started to breach the lower asset level channel originating from 1970 to 1999 attribution levels.  It has taken 20+ years of  US Fed and global Central Bank market manipulation, as well as President Trump’s incredible US economic and stock market rally, to recover to these levels.
Overall, skilled technical traders must be aware of the risks that are ever-present for another crisis event or what we are calling a “price revaluation event” that could create havoc on anyone’s retirement accounts, trading portfolios and/or simple family life/future.  We’re trying to help to highlight what we believe will be the future 16 to 24 months of pricing activity within the US Stock market based on our research tools and our experience/knowledge. I urge you visit my Wealth Building Newsletter and if you like what I offer, join me with the 1 or 2-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 Round or Gold Bar! I can tell you that huge moves are about to start unfolding not only in metals, or stocks but globally and some of these super cycles are going to last years. A gentleman by the name of Brad Matheny goes into great detail with his simple to understand charts and guide about this. His financial market research is one of a kind and a real eye-opener. PDF guide: 2020 Cycles – The Greatest Opportunity Of Your Lifetime 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. Chris Vermeulen www.TheTechnicalTraders.com