Monday, November 26, 2012

Why the S&P 500 & Gold Rallied in the Face of Negative News

The amount of negative news that we have seen recently has been mind blowing. Europe is going into recession, Greece and several other countries are on the verge of bankruptcy, the Middle East is a powder keg, and the U.S. is facing a fiscal cliff. Shockingly for most retail traders, the past week has produced a very strong return for U.S. equity indexes as well as risk assets in general.

Retail investors often times consistently lose money because they focus on the financial media and all of the negative news that is out there. Trust me, as a longer term trader and investor, there is never an absence of negative news or potentially poor economic possibilities. This is not to say that markets cannot decline, investors just need to understand that markets are cyclical in nature and do not ever move in a straight line.

Based on what I was reading from most of the financial blogosphere recently, you would think that the entire world was about to end. A few blogs were calling for an all out collapse late last week or a possible crash this past Monday, November 19th. As is typically the case, the market prognosticators were wrong with the calls for a crash or an absolute collapse in financial markets.

Unlike those blogs, members of my service at the Traders Video Playbook were getting information indicating that we were expecting higher prices. At our service, we lay out regular videos covering a variety of underlying assets from the S&P 500 Index and oil futures, to gold and treasury futures. The focus is purely on analysis of various underlying assets across multiple time frames. We cover intraday time frames as well as daily and weekly swing time frames throughout the week with videos and written updates.

To put into perspective what we were seeing in the marketplace on Monday November 19th, the following charts were sent out to our members during intraday trading that day....Click here for "Why the S&P 500 & Gold Rallied in the Face of Negative News"

See you in the markets,

J.W. Jones

Get our Free Trading Videos, Lessons and eBook today!

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Markets are Cyclical in Nature....Make sure you know these "Four Stages of Stocks"

Our good friend and trading partner Chris Vermeulen has put together an article detailing his classic economic theory that dissects the economic cycle into four distinct stages..... expansion, trough, decline and recovery. And he explains in detail why a stock is no different, and proceeds through these cycles.

Knowing this information is crucial to survival as this cycle happens on all time frames (1 minute chart all the way up to yearly charts). Harnessing this information for trade selection and timing greatly reduces the amount of trades you take, while focusing only on new leaders which have massive upside potential.

So take a few minutes and click here to read Markets are Cyclical in Nature....Make sure you know these "Four Stages of Stocks"

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

HUI-Gold Ratio..... 3 Views, 1 Conclusion

Here is a little snippet from NFTRH 213 that showed the important indicator of gold sector health, the HUI-Gold Ratio (HGR) from three different views; daily, weekly and monthly. As you can see, daily must hold to keep the weekly intact, which in turn must hold to keep the monthly big picture of the secular bull (for the HUI, not this sad looking ratio) intact.

This is a difficult sector to own and indeed these charts say it is best to trade the stocks regardless of what one does or does not do with the bullion. But the conclusion is that until the HGR breaks down to a lower low, the current situation is viewed as a buying opportunity. On the other hand, HGR will serve as a handy risk management indicator if it should unexpectedly collapse.

Daily HUI-Gold Ratio (HGR) needs to hold a higher low to both the May and July lows here or else the story is bearish. That is because a new low here would threaten the higher low from Armageddon ’08, highlighted in yellow....Let's go to the charts [click here].

Keep Your Eye On Trends & Reversals.....SPY, RIMM, KOL

Today our trading partner Chris Vermeulen gives us some trades to keep an eye on......

The equities market technically still has another day of positive momentum behind it and with a short holiday week higher prices are favored.

This morning in the video I mentioned how oil continues to look untradible because of the sharp news related swings and lack of clear chart patterns. Yesterday it rallied over 2% and today is back down 2%.… Steer clear of this beast…

SP500 (broad market) continues to grind sideways/higher today. Volume is very light which bodes well for lower prices in the coming days. I would love to see a Pop-N-Drop tomorrow which is when the index gaps higher at the open into a resistance zone at which point we would be looking to get short (buy the SDS).

Research In Motion shares hit our first resistance level after being upgraded this morning…. Buy the rumor sell the news…? If you are long taking some money off the table here is smart play and to move your stop to break even or better.

Coal sector is looking tasty today and we may take a long position in KOL, but I will update if I do so.

Chris Vermeulen

Get our Free Trading Videos, Lessons and eBook today!

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Free Workshop Video: Advanced Trading Applications of Candlestick Charting

Candlesticks, used by many....truly understood by few. As a special treat to Gold ETF Trader readers, Gary Wagner is offering you an in depth look into candlestick charting. Join co-founder of Wagner Financial Group. and acclaimed author as he walks you through set ups in ways you can take your candlestick charting to a new level.

In this video workshop you'll discover the crucial chart patterns that candlesticks reveal - how to interpret them and how to use them to pinpoint market turns. You'll also learn how to use candlesticks in combination with familiar technical indicators like Stochastics, %R, Relative Strength Index and Moving Averages to create a dynamic, synergistic and extremely successful trading system.

Click here to watch Advanced Trading Applications of Candlestick Charting


Sunday, November 11, 2012

How do Hedge Funds Trade the First 30 Minutes the Markets are Open?

We have been day trading for years, back to the days when we got excited that we could now use this new technology and fax our orders in. And so much has changed over the years on the technology side. But a lot of things still have not changed one bit. Most importantly is the ability to use market psychology when getting the upper hand on traders and investors on the other side of your trades.

Yes, it's true.....we all can't be winners. There is a losing trade on the other side of every one of your winning trades. And I still, after all these years, believe that most of those losing trades are being placed by retail and professional traders that insist on breaking the rules of Trading 101. The pros know them better then anybody and they still continue to allow their emotions to dictate their trades.

That's why I have partnered with my friend Todd Mitchell in promoting his New 30 Minute E-Mini Breakout Strategy. This is a time tested system that takes your emotion out of the equation and allows you to make your trades in the first 30 minutes that the market is open, then go on with your life. Regardless of news cycles and market reactions. I am buying this for myself, we have traders in our family and our shop that will benefit from the immensely. So should you.

It's free to sign up, watch Todd's video and ask him questions about the program and the way the system works. This is the guy that hedge fund managers are sending their new employees to so they can use the system in their shops. Why wouldn't you take a minute to sign up, read the comments traders are leaving about the program and ask Todd your own questions.

OK, enough of me....I need to get ready for the first 30 minutes of trading on Monday.

See you in the markets,
Ray C. Parrish
President/CEO at The Gold ETF Trader

Just Click Here for "The New 30 Minute E-Mini Breakout Strategy"

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Did the SP500 Finally Bottom?

From our trading partner David A. Banister at Market Trends Forecast.com......

The SP 500 finally caved to match or go a bit lower than the SP 500 futures lows of about 11 days ago in yesterday’s action. The drop to the 1390 area is within our 1386-1400 pivot points for a major wave low pattern that we outlined as far back as September 25th for our subscribers.

Our work centers around sentiment and crowd behavior, the headlines are of interest but only tell you the psychology of the publishing arms or talking heads at the time. Often headlines can be negative and the market climbs, or positive and the market is dropping. So the key for our work is figuring out where we are in the sentiment patterns of the crowd, and then to anticipate the pivots ahead of time and invest accordingly.

In fact, in just 24 hours or so we had a 43 point SP 500 drop… this is interesting because the same thing happened at the June 2012 lows as well. Back then we had outlined pivots in the 1250-1270 areas as likely lows, and the market ended up bottoming at 1267. This bottom area yesterday fits within pivots we were able to anticipate 7 weeks ago, without any knowledge of the election or other headlines around the world.

Often, major washout days like yesterday centering around major news (Election) can create the final panic sell-off to complete a wave pattern of negative sentiment to the downside and then reverse the markets higher in new bullish pattern. To be sure, there are many sentiment headwinds like the Fiscal Cliff and more in the coming weeks…but markets tend to price all that in ahead of time right?

At yesterdays lows the market seems to have completed all requirements for a C wave of an ABC complicated decline from the 1474 SP 500 highs and so far an 8 Fibonacci week correction period.

What we expect is a rally now and again, we need to get back up and over 1423-1427 pivots this time and hold more than 24 hours, but the odds of a rally are now at 75% from here. IF we fail to hold the 1388 pivots, then the next levels are 1372 and 1363 to watch.

Bottom Line? Most metrics have been met for a wave pattern low, (Whether this be wave 4 or wave 2 doesnt much matter just yet) and the market now has a chance to start a wave 5 or wave 3 rally to the upside. Lets watch 1388 areas to hold first, then we will watch 1403, then 1423-1427 pivots to clear. We are neutral to bullish now after this washout

Back on Sept 25th we did a chart forecasting a drop to 1395-1400 as likely before the downtrend would end, now let’s see if the market can get some legs here. We have included that old chart here to show you how crowds are fairly predictable in their behavioral patterns in advance.

SP500 - SPX - SPY Bottom

Consider joining us for free weekly reports, or you can get a subscription discount and daily reports at Market Trends Forecast.com

Get our Free Trading Videos, Lessons and eBook today!

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

It Doesn't Have to Be Hard....Post Election Trading Made Simple

Our trading partner Chris Vermeulen gives us his take on trading the post election markets.......

Over the past two months shares of gold (GLD) and Apple (AAPL) have had a sizable bite taken out of their share price. Active traders along with the longer term investors have had a wild ride this fall watching these investments slide to multi month lows. The big question is when will gold and apple shares bounce?

Here we are again with another election behind us and Barack Obama in the White House again. Many think this means four years of the same thing… Printing, Inflation and higher stock prices.

Is this good or bad for Americans or the world for that matter? I doubt it, but who really knows and who cares because there is nothing anyone can do about it now. So buckle up your seat belt and focus on trading and investing with major trend both within the United States and abroad using exchange traded funds.

Currently the broad stock market and commodities are in a full blown bull market so the focus should be to buy the dips until proven wrong. Here are some charts showing the important breakout levels for Apple, metals, oil and key indexes like the Russell 2000.....Check out "Post-Election Trading Made Simple"

Get Chris' Free Trading Videos, Lessons and eBook today!


Monday, November 5, 2012

Why E-Minis Are One of Our Favorite Markets

We here at the Gold ETF Trader don't talk about E-Mini trading a lot, but there's a reason why the E-Mini futures are one of our favorite markets to trade.....

They're just so darn consistent, the opportunities are easy to spot, and the potential for making daily income is unlike any market we've ever seen!

The problem is most people approach the E-Minis all wrong....

Well, that's about to change....

You'll see what we mean inside of the free video presentation our trading partner Todd Mitchell created for you here.

Not only will you discover the real reason why so many traders use the E-Minis to make money, but he shows you how you can start taking advantage of these opportunities regardless of how large or small your trading account is.

Access is limited [really, no kidding] and that's why we don't intend to leave this video up for long, so please be sure to watch it today!

In this video Todd will also teach you the 3 times of day that offer the most profitable trading opportunities (and when you want to stay out of the market!), how to pull in profits without struggle, a 4 - step sequence to boost your trading profits immediately, and a lot more.

This could be the game changer you are looking for...Click here to watch the video.

Happy trading and we'll see you in the markets!

Ray C. Parrish
President/CEO at The Gold ETF Trader

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Election Cycle – What to Expect in Stocks & Bond Prices

By: Chris Vermeulen of The Gold & Oil Guy.com.......

It is that time in the presidential cycle that gets everyone emotional and concerned with the future outlook of the United States. While everyone has their opinion on whom they think is best for America, I promised myself a long time ago to keep my thoughts to myself for two key reasons. ONE: only 50% of Americans will agree with me J, and TWO: I am Canadian so I do not experience what Americans go through on a daily basis.

My thinking is if Obama wins then we will see Quantitative Easing continue. And with the recent positive economic numbers on Friday it should give some confidence to investors that things are SLOWLY stabilizing (Bullish for Stocks). But, if Romney wins then we could see Quantitative Easing be cut or eliminated which is obviously bad for equities.

So, let’s just jump into the charts of what I feel will unfold in the next few days and months.

Using the season chart of the four year election cycle we can see what the Dow Jones Index has done in past election periods. Obviously every market environment is drastically different in each situation but overall we see stronger stock price. This is naturally a very emotional time for investors but once the election is finished most individuals become more confident simply because there is a leader that has four years to make things better and there is nothing they can do about it now and the campaigning and debating is over.

Dow Stocks Election Cycle Trading

DIA – Dow Jones Industrial Average – Daily Chart:

Looking at the chart of Dow DIA Index fund you can see a 5-6 month cycle in the market which has a positive skew. Just so you understand what a positive skew is I will explain.

Positive Skew is when the market is trending up making a series of higher highs and higher lows. Because there are naturally more buyers during a bull market each cycle upswing lasts longer then when the cycle down downswing. So you get longer rallies which sends your secondary indicators (stochastics, volatility, put/call ratios, advance decline line etc…) in the overbought levels for extended periods of time. Those trying to pick a top continually get their head handed to them. The focus must be on buying the pullbacks. Keep in mind volatility is higher which meaning risk per trade is higher. Overall in the long run you stand a much higher chance of making money trading with the trend than trying counter trend trades (picking a top).

So as you can see below it looks like the stock market will be trying to put in the bottom over the next week or two which falls in line with our election cycle. It is very important to know that during intermediate cycle lows is where some of the biggest drops take place. These sharp drops are what is needed to cleanse the market one last time to shake as many traders with tight stops out of the market before it reverses and starts the next rally. I would like to see a 1-3 day market sell off as that would be the signature bottoming pattern I like to buy.

DIA Exchange Traded Fund Trading

Bond Prices – Moving Against the Norm…..

Bond investors are some of the most conservative people in the market. They do not like to take risks so they dump their money into bonds to make a tiny profit in exchange for low risk (volatility). The nature of these investors put more money into bonds as we enter the election because they are nervous about not knowing who will be in control of the country.

After the election finished some money flows out of bonds and into stocks because there is now a president and direction for the country. Generally come the new year investors move to bonds as the safe haven as they try to figure out what their game plan is for new year.

So looking forward to this week and the next 2 months I would not be surprised to see bond prices rise or trade sideways while stocks move higher. This analysis is based on Obama winning. If Romney wins then I feel bonds will rally much more and stocks could sell off.

Bond Sentiment Election Cycle Trading

TLT Bond Exchange Traded Fund – Daily Chart:

Here is a chart of 20+ year bonds showing a possible reversal to the upside that could trigger as soon as next week. This chart is forward looking 1 – 2 weeks. Overall the trend remains down but if Romney wins I feel bonds breakout above the red resistance levels and trigger a new uptrend.

Bond TLT Exchange Traded Fund Trading

Election Year Trading Cycle Conclusion:

Next week is going to be very interesting to watch unfold. I generally do not like to trade or invest before news of this magnitude so trade smaller sizes if you do as price action could be wild.

Get my Daily Trading Analysis & Trade Setups at The Gold & Oil Guy.com

Chris Vermeulen