Markets climbed to new all time highs last week and the Dow finally got above the 20k level for the first time. But stocks appear to be pulling back from those new highs and that means we have to consider scenario two I described in my recent Dow 20k post. A sharper pullback could be in the making here.
Let’s start with the current Nasdaq chart:
The Nasdaq has outperformed the S&P 500 in recent months and is climbing within a narrowing wedge. That is always a dangerous setup, with or without Dow 20k, and is prone to a sudden drop once the high rate of change cannot be kept up.
The bearish divergence remains in my Earl indicator (blue line), while the slower Earl2 (orange line) has marked time by going sideways. This is typical for a market that has stretched itself out and up as far as possible, and that in itself is as dangerous as climbing inside a wedge.
The Nasdaq gained 41 points in the recent lunar green period and we are now starting a new red period. The setup suggests that we will finally get some downside action in a red period. A drop below 5550 would confirm this scenario.
I would remain cautious at this point and take some profits or at least keep stops very close to the market. A further climb is not impossible with this setup, but the odds are not good and the risk/reward ratio stinks.
To finish we have the LT wave chart for February:
The wave did a poor job in January, climbing higher when the wave suggested weakness and merely drifting sideways during what was supposed to be the stronger period. I have not seen this kind of “inversion” in the LT wave chart before, so I don’t know what it means (if anything).
The second peak on the 28th came close to the highs of the month and maybe that marks the return of normal cycles. If so, then market weakness should continue until the 8th and be followed by a brief period of strength until the 15th. The remainder of February is also weak, except for the last couple of days.
As always, this LT wave is experimental so don’t bet the farm on it.
LunaticTrader 