Monday, July 4, 2011

Expect Equity Market CIT - Next Week


Hello BBTL BLOG readership,

If you have been following our recent blog commentaries, you might say we are now beginning to sound repetitious.

In a nutshell, we are now very near to the final stages of the bullish run-up that began and which KRTT accurately identified about September 01, 2010.

If you are an Elliott Wave (EW) aficionado, according to our preferred EW count we are near the completion of EW wave 3 (as shown in green), and will soon begin wave 4 down. We have also written some of the characteristics of a generic Wave Four in a recent blog.

Please note that there are other associated EW counts of greater or lesser importance in alternate colors on our charts. These fractal EW waves within waves are usually referred to the degree of scale.

Further, our considerable cycles data that we employ in our forecast, which will not be taught in a free blog, strongly suggest the turn down will begin next week.

The KRTT time targets are next week, and written on our charts. At present, we are still a little shy of our time and price targets, so in an ideal world, we still have room a little more upward price momentum left, before the time cycle roll-over.

However, we wanted to educate this evening about a valuable what if concept and strategy. What happens when things go unexpectedly wrong?

Tonight we will discuss one of the most difficult to manage financial situations - surprise.

As we have lectured and taught in our blog before, there is a considerable plethora new financial news and information overload every day. In this way, the financial markets are truly dynamic and subject to change.

Some are so misled by this constant bombardment of news, that they have mistakenly decided that the markets must be random. Let us assure you - they are NOT random.

KRTT teaches that one should discount about 99% of daily financial news as rubbish that absolutely should be ignored. Further, we educate that, as one of our clients stated, it constitutes an immense financial signal-to-noise ratio, that is intentionally designed to keep incompetent financiers and snakes in suits employed and in control your capital.

But remember, there is always an exception to every rule.

The rare type of financial news that KRTT clients search for each day, incorporates rare, yet highly significant material change. Expressed another way, some news is so powerful that it creates a tipping point.

For instance as current possible example, over the next few days China may float their currency higher, another USA financial or banking scandal could erupt with legal implications, details of a new quantitative easing and stimulus program could be announced by the FED and cause a US Dollar currency panic, or in the worst case, an unthinkable world disaster could take place.

These rarest types of financial news are indeed material in nature.

Again, they are changes that are so potent and so powerful that they financial upset the apple cart so to speak.

As the vast majority involve Man and are about Man's input on the planet, KRTT coined the phrase "Man Made Upset Mechanisms."***

We are discussing this topic for a very specific Natural Law reason. What if Man interrupts, intervenes or influences and thus interacts with Nature and natural cycles?

There always exists, right up to the expected cycle turn date, or even shorty after you initiate your sound plan of financial action, the possibility of a global change that is so significant, the natural cycle that should have happened inverts, or, as it is more commonly called - a cycle inversion.

In summary, Man lives on this planet with his own agenda, and further has the ability to upset the financial status quo. Imagine what decades of excessive monetary stimulus and sub-par interest rates - put into place by Central Bankers did to the natural cycle of recession and expansion.

The economic cycle tried to rest, but was never allowed to rest, by greedy Central Bankers and politicians who decided the economy needed to be stimulated - for their profit. This topic is even covered in "The General Theory" (John Maynard Keynes).

If you guessed that the Central Bankers are thus - the primary cause of engineering the recent Financial Crash, then you fully share our educated view. We do not usually plug the Hollywood movies here on our blog, but we are looking forward to viewing "Inside Job" recently out in the USA.

However, just as the great minds of W. D. Gann, R. N. Elliott, and Albert Einstein discovered and taught, the all-powerful forces of Cycles, Natural Law and Science, will always in the end rule our universe.

Our KRTT teachings of Nature and Nurture interacting, and details of financial cycles and Natural Law behavior at work in the financial markets, essentially will set free, the financial truth forever.

*** Please note again that the above is a KRTT copyright and KRTT proprietary topic. If you wish to discuss or use this elsewhere, you must disclose KRTT as the author. Thank you in advance for respecting our intellectual property.

In the end, those who refuse to learn about and accept Financial Natural Law as the ultimate ruler, unless they are lucky enough to live their life throughout a privileged and lucky era, will eventually find out and learn about nature and science, the hard way.

As one who was very wise once stated, the science and proof is always in the pudding.

Let's just sit tight, and see if the financial cycles we have discussed recently and our blog technical analysis forecast and teachings work out as we so suggest it will.

Then, those all-too-greedy bulls whom arrogantly ignored W.D. Gann and others, may have a little pudding on their faces. The bears may soon be smiling as the win back their recent losses. Frankly, don't bears like pudding?

Sincerely,

James Kelly Sr.,
Editor in Chief, BBTL Blog
www.KRTT.com
www.Facebook.com/KRTTcom
www.twitter.com/KRTTcom






***IMPORTANT COPYRIGHT NOTICE

About KRTT Upset Mechanism Theory...

Our KRTT Upset Mechanism discovery and theory*** also explains via emerging science, why after too much intervention or manipulation by Man himself, (i.e. sub-par interest rates by Central Bankers for too long) financial crashes or even lasting recessions occur. These crashes, are in essence, a summarizing way of essentially Nature putting back into proper order, the proper natural cycle as it was meant to be. Finally this is an extremely important endorsement for laissez-faire economics.

***Should you wish to use, quote, write about, or in any way explain and discuss our herein disclosed Upset Mechanism theory as written, we ask that you please protect our intellectual property rights and ensure that you apply recognition for such theory to Kelly Research Training & Technology (www.KRTT.com) until such time as KRTT publishes such theory, and other material in E-book format. This book will eventually be sold over the internet for a reasonable cost via our web site.

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Spot the SP 500 Trend

Hello BBTL Blog followers,

The weekend markets are closed allowing for further SP500 trend and cycles analysis. I enjoy weekend financial analysis, in a calmer closed market period, allowing for reflection on the financial information in a logical concise manner.

Yet in the end, I do not have a great deal to add this weekend beyond what I stated last week. Overall, my trend and cycle forecast thus remains down in an Elliott Wave four scenario.

That stated, admittedly the SP500 index is now resting at a very interesting and important inflection point, as it heads into what could become a very volatile USA Thanksgiving holiday week.

We therefore caution to prepare yourself for some possible fake-out financial moves in either direction especially tomorrow and Tuesday morning. Given this possible confusion factor, today I will attempt to make clear - the truer market trend, by using some simple, yet powerful technical analysis rules and definitions.

Normally, the upcoming USA Thanksgiving Thursday holiday which is immediately followed by the first big Christmas shopping day known as black Friday, has a positive market bias.

Then, once this super-sale weekend shopping ends, financial analysts everywhere will decipher the weekend same store sales, to determine and forecast the full December 2010 shopping outlook, which needless to say is critical to many retailers hoping to boost annual sales and profit.

Yet, in a nutshell in 2010, even bigger events than normal and high volatility could commence during the upcoming week. Why?

Consider the ever looming economic uncertainty, the reluctance of the USA consumer to spend, the very high USA unemployment, and the ongoing global angst of the Bernanke save-the-USA-economy money printing, which so far has been completely ineffective and adds risk and tax liability.

From a more scientific and math perspective, if we look at recent technical charts and trading levels in the past few weeks, one pertinent technical analysis and math pattern now stick out as - most important.

The SP500 is currently sitting at effectively the psychological level of about 1200 points.

Using Fibonacci definitions in the shorter term, it now rests at the 50% retracement level - exactly between the recent high and low.

Essentially, the 1200 level is 27 points up to the former 2010 high (1227) as set in early November, and equally, it is also 27 points down to the recent low at 1173 made just last week in a sharp sell-off.

The question is now what?

The only way one makes a profit is to understand the current trend and go with it. This is why our blog title today of spot the trend is exceedingly important. Here is where a simple trend definition can become invaluable.

One of the more useful textbook definitions of a bullish trend is a series of higher-highs and higher-lows. Conversely, a bearish or down trend is a series of lower-highs and lower-lows.

For now, again the SP500 sits exactly in the middle of two very important support and resistance levels at 1173 and 1227.

The key question becomes; will it first take out the resistance high of 1227, to thus confirm a bullish uptrend, or alternatively, will it soon take-out the former support low at 1173?

In my own analysis, given the chance for early week pre-Thanksgiving holiday optimism, I would not be completely surprised to see the SP500 index open the week and trade modestly higher by even 7 - 15 points.

Yet frankly, a small rally or small sell-off in any direction is still generally meaningless.

The concept here is that we are attempting to confirm the trend direction by using key support and resistance levels. This means we must first bullishly take out the former record 2010 high (at 1227) or alternatively, break below the recent important low at 1173.

Later as our holiday week develops, volatility may pick up significantly, as global institutions begin to hedge their seasonal bets with either large buy or sell tickets.

By the way, although I cannot discuss all of our KRTT analysis tools for brevity and time, this higher volatility concept this week is also completely in line with our cycles and other technical tools forecast.

Some of these have been highlighted on the blog recently such as: Coming Fibonacci Event

For now, my bet is the recent SP 500 index low at the SP 500 1173 level is the likely candidate to be taken out first.

Remember, the very instant this 1173 level low is taken out this week or next, it would immediately confirm the down trend as in place by the definition of a series of lower lows and lower highs.

As always, there is never an absolute financial guarantee. After all, the financial markets are no longer freely traded.

Who knows if Bernanke, the FED, or the PPT will play scrooge in 2010, or alternatively, in another act of their money-printing desperation will come to the equity market rescue in possibly manufacturing the biggest ever Santa Claus rally.

There are two charts below with mark-up comments for your perusal. Enjoy.

Spot the trend.



Sincerely,

James Kelly Sr.,
Editor in Chief, BBTL Blog
www.KRTT.com
www.Facebook.com/KRTTcom
www.twitter.com/KRTTcom

Friday, April 1, 2011

Mark Carney Speaks to Michael Enright

CBC's Sunday Edition's Michael Enright had a 15 minute conversation with Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney. You can listen to the entire interview here (hour 2, about 10 minutes in).

The most cutting point he made is transcribed below, at about 26:00 on hour 2 (emphasis mine):

Michael Enright: You expressed concern publicly for a long time I think from the moment you took the job about household debt in Canada. I think it was running somewhere around $40,000... and you're concerned about that. Interest rates are very low at the moment. Is there a correlation between the lower the interest rate [and] the more likely it is for people to take on more debt?

Mark Carney: Well this is the concern. Interest rates in Canada are low, abnormally low, exceptionally low...

ME: Are they emergency rates do you think?

MC: Well we had them at emergency levels from April of last year, in April of 2009 after the crisis...

ME: Right.

MC: The Lehman crisis. We got them down to 25 basis points and we further increased our balance sheet beyond that. But we moved them up from emergency levels because the Canadian economy is back at the level we were before the crash, we recovered all the jobs we lost during the crash, and things have moved quite positively for Canada. But they're still at exceptionally low levels. And the risk is that Canadians, some Canadians, take on debt on the assumption that interest rates will always be this way.

ME: Or they're here now, they look pretty good and they'll probably stay that way for a while.

MC: Excatly. And particularly when one thinks about mortgage debt, thirty year mortgage debt, that is not a sensible assumption. And our concern is that people will get themselves into positions which will make it very difficult to service their debt.

ME: But you can't say, wait a minute folks, I wouldn't go and buy a summer cottage because something might happen in the next 6 or 8 months. I mean, that would send Bay Street spinning, wouldn't it?

MC. No. We're taking a longer term perspective on it and we're providing as much transparency as we can about the future path of monetary policy, as much as appropriate. The one thing we can say with high degree of certainty is that over a thirty year mortgage interest rates are not going to be at the same level as they are now, they're going to be higher, and that Canadians, individuals, should be comfortable that they can service their debt at higher interest rates, and the banks that lend to them should also be comfortable about that.
That's central banker speak for "Wake the f&%$ up, Canada."

And, for macro nerds, on "currency wars" and exchange rate management:

ME: The huge worry going into the G20 and we read about it all the time... is the possibility of a currency war. First of all what is a "currency war" and if one breaks out is Canada protected?

MC: Well it's not a term that we use but the concern is that there will be a series of countries will engage in what is effectively competitive devaluation. They will hold down the value of their currency relative to others and that the number of these countries and the weight of these countries will be such that unsustainable adjustment will be pushed on other countries...

ME: To do the same...

MC: Yes. And other countries whose currencies float such as Canada. So in the extreme earlier this fall you had roughly 40% of the currencies by trade weight -- with the US dollar -- so in relative importance four of those 10, or 2 out of 5 of the currencies that trade with the US in importance managing their currencies to some extent.

ME: Gaming the system I guess... Is that what it is? It's like a trade war only you're using currency instead of goods.

MC: Yeah, you're using currency instead of tarriffs, and the issue is, the fundamental issue, is that doesn't work in the long term. You can cause damage to the global system in the short term, but it doesn't work in the long term because ultimately, those adjustments to currencies will come through relative inflation differentials, if nothing else. And if you'll allow me a second, the issue right now is that, let's take between China and the United States, and if China's currency doesn't move, the other way for China's real currency to move, in other words the real value of Chinese goods to increase relative to US goods, which is the same thing in effect, is there to be higher inflation in China than in the US. And what we've seen in the last few months, which we've been saying at the Bank [of Canada] for years, is that Chinese inflation's accelerating and US inflation is decelerating. And so you're getting a more difficult adjustment than you would have if currencies were allowed to adjust.

ME: If the worst-case scenario gets into play, is Canada going to get caught in the crossfire? What protections do we have?

MC: Well we have a number of protections. I think the short answer is no, I mean we're not naive in this situation. We have a number of tools: in the extreme we can intervene in currency markets if extreme movements in our dollar seriously threaten economic outcomes in Canada and those are decisions taken by the Minister of Finance and the [BoC] Governor. They are extreme... but we have tools there. We, very importantly, and I think it's important to understand, our level of currency is very relevant for the Bank of Canada's mandate, obviously. It affects the outlook for inflation in Canada, and if it were to threaten our ability to achieve our inflation target, which is what we're accountable...

ME: the 2%...

MC: The 2%. That's what we're accountable to parliament and Canadians for, we would adjust policy. And we have flexibility in policy here in Canada and we would not hesitate to use it if it were appropriate.

Thursday, March 31, 2011

City of Vancouver Permit Update for 2010

I have been producing some graphs starting in early 2009 showing the trend of permits in the City of Vancouver (here and here). Here is an update to December, 2010.

Residential dwelling permits graphed since 2007:


Permits parsed for 1-2 dwelling units only (i.e. SFHs):Multi-unit building permits:

All permits' value, residential and commercial:


Analysis:

1. There was a significant, though not full, rebound in multi-unit permits in late 2009 and into 2010. This is commensurate with the rebound in construction employment coming out of the recession.
2. The detached market is extremely hot right now. This is evident through significant price appreciation of detached-zoned lots in the City, notably (but not exclusive to) the west side.
3. Detached permits have been falling significantly since mid-2010. Seasonality in permit applications cannot be discounted; I would not be surprised to see detached permit applications rebound going into the first half of 2011. A builder friend of mine claims the City's permit office has a backlog it's working through.
4. The building recession in late 2008 through mid-2009 is now bookended.
5. The data presented here show what a severe housing recession looks like and hint at how dependent the City is on sustained permit revenue to fund its operations.
6. The permit data are coincidental with faltering sales, however the permit data are released with about a month's delay; sales are available with virtually no delay thanks to paulb over at vancouvercondo.info. It's worth remembering that with housing markets, prices are a lagging indicator.
7. Laneway housing continued its upward trend. Builders and the permit department are likely becoming more familiar with the process and relevant codes (and likely fine-tuning it as they go). I would expect to see a continued increase in laneway housing permits, barring any major pullbacks in the availability of credit.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Teranet Index: September 2010

NOVEMBER 2010

Price declines in all six markets in September

Canadian home prices in September were down 1.1% from the previous month, according to the Teranet-National Bank National Composite House Price Index™. The monthly decline ended a string of 16 consecutive increases in the composite index since the last monthly deflation in April 2009. For the first time since February 2009, prices fell in all six of the metropolitan markets surveyed. The declines were 2.4% in Halifax, 2.2% in Calgary, 1.6% in Toronto, 0.5% in Ottawa and 0.3% in Montreal and Vancouver. For Vancouver it was the third consecutive monthly decrease and for Calgary it was the second.
This result was reflected in a further deceleration of the 12-month price increase in September, to 7.9% for the composite index. It was the third consecutive month of deceleration, leaving the 12-month rise the smallest since last January. The 12-month increases range quite widely from market to market: 9.2% in Vancouver and Ottawa, 9.0% in Toronto, 7.6% in Montreal, 3.6% in Halifax and 1.7% in Calgary.

Teranet – National Bank National Composite House Price Index™

Contact Us

For general enquiries:

info@housepriceindex.ca

For licenses covering all index-linked products, please contact:

Simon Côté
514 879-5379
In October, according to our calculations based on data from the Canadian Real Estate Association, market conditions were balanced in Canada as a whole, with Calgary presenting a buyer's market.

Teranet – National Bank House Price Index™


The historical data of the Teranet – National Bank House Price Index™ is available at www.housepriceindex.ca.
Metropolitan areaIndex level
September
% change m/m% change y/y
Calgary156.89-2.2 %1.7 %
Halifax128.07-2.4 %3.6 %
Montreal135.67-0.3 %7.6 %
Ottawa132.64-0.5 %9.2 %
Toronto125.98-1.6 %9.0 %
Vancouver154.84-0.3 %9.2 %
National Composite137.94-1.1 %7.9 %
The Teranet–National Bank House Price Index™ is estimated by tracking observed or registered home prices over time using data collected from public land registries. All dwellings that have been sold at least twice are considered in the calculation of the index. This is known as the repeat sales method; a complete description of the method is given at www.housepriceindex.ca

The Teranet–National Bank House Price Index™ is an independently developed representation of average home price changes in six metropolitan areas: Ottawa, Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver, Montreal and Halifax. The national composite index is the weighted average of the six metropolitan areas. The weights are based on aggregate value of dwellings as retrieved from the 2006 Statistics Canada Census. According to that census1, the aggregate value of occupied dwellings in the metropolitan areas covered by the indices was $1.168 trillion, or 53% of the Canadian aggregate value of $2.207 trillion.

All indices have a base value of 100 in June 2005. For example, an index value of 130 means that home prices have increased 30% since June 2005.
By:
Marc Pinsonneault
Senior economist
Economy & Strategy Group
National Bank Financial Group

Teranet - National Bank House Price Index™ thanks the author for their special collaboration on this report.

1 Value of Dwelling for the Owner-occupied Non-farm, Non-reserve Private Dwellings of Canada.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Reiterate Bearish Outlook

Hello BBTL Blog readership,

It is late evening and my time is short. Nonetheless, I simply wanted to repeat the bearish theme I have developed recently.

Although seasonally and statistically, we are now within the normally optimistic and positive equity biased USA Thanksgiving holiday week, the equity markets looked extremely vulnerable today.

A late day equity rally was equally suspicious, and yet we must also assume a sell-off this week could be halted by the USA PPT, or even the aftermarket stabilization team from Wall Street dealers, as they attempt to prevent the massive GM from heading south too soon.

One thing however is very clear. There are many troubling global events at present. After my analysis today, I again concluded that this is a global equity market that is living on borrowed time.

The only thing missing now is the financial catalyst event and media spin to explain any sell-off. Be warned, even a watershed sell-off would not be surprising to see. Indicators are VERY WEAK.

Along with the charts here are a few analysis thoughts......

Logical Analysis = SELL

1. With the global debt crisis in the Euro Zone resurfacing, the USA dollar could rally (against a weaker Euro). This would set-off a renewed deflationary sell-off in both stocks and commodities.

2. China spends vast amounts on currency wars and maintaining their low Yuan rate. Since Japan and China are the two largest foreign owners of USA debt, they have a large vested interest to see the USA currency rise. The recent QE2 events suggest currency wars too are heating up. Most agree the USA dollar is in trouble with the FED excessive money printing, but on the flip side, few realize the FED also has massive dollar swaps with foreign central banks abroad, that must be eventually repatriated. These are both causes for a higher USA dollar. Again, a higher USA dollar even if temporary, would have a potential negative impact on prices of commodities and equities.

3. Wall Street scandals continue and frankly, the public is on the verge of revolt and anger, if banks and brokers that break laws are not prosecuted. It is long overdue a time to level the playing field for market participants and instill a sense of law and order on Wall Street. Read the latest USA financial scandal by clicking the link. Insider Trading Scandal

Technical Analysis = SELL

1. Check out the technical indicators in the SP500 chart below. They remain weak and suggest that a the down trend must soon resume.

2. Then, add some advanced analysis and market logic of Natural Law in the way of W.D. Gann (Gann Box) and Elliott Wave. Note, that both of these market wizard mindsets would now also likely agree that this is an equity market to sell; now.

3. Finally, we said it before and will say it again for the record. We hinted about the coming Fibonacci event in recent past blogs. We suggest you go back and check that former post and look carefully at the chart. We have also stated that Fibonacci math is both universally systemic, and it is amongst the most important to heed in the Financial markets. In early December there is a coming Fibonacci hot-spot.

Exhibits



 
Sincerely,

James Kelly Sr.,
Editor in Chief, BBTL Blog
www.KRTT.com
www.Facebook.com/KRTTcom
www.twitter.com/KRTTcom

Monday, March 28, 2011

SP500 Trend remains Down

Hello BBTL blog followers,

Although I do not place a great deal of emphasis on a single trading session, especially on a low volume holiday Black Friday, the SP500 Index trend this week was as forecast.

As it is Friday and I am short of time, I am updating today via two technical analysis charts that remain negative. My overall analysis conclusion now suggest that a renewed thrust down in the index will likely commence early next week in a Wave C corrective pattern.

If I get more time over the weekend I may write something in further detail, but suffice is to say that my view is down, with immediate risk to at least the 90 day moving average on a daily chart.

See the two exhibits below with mark-up educational comments. Enjoy your weekend and follow the trend.



Sincerely,

James Kelly Sr.,
Editor in Chief, BBTL Blog
www.KRTT.com
www.Facebook.com/KRTTcom
www.twitter.com/KRTTcom

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Jiggery - Poker - No Major Changes

Hello BBTL Blog followers,

The USA and Canadian equity markets probably surprised many participants both professional and amateur today, given the highly unusual U-Turn in market direction late in the day.

After a sharp early morning sell-off in indices like the SP500 and Dow Jones, which many attributed either to nervousness regarding the events in the Korean Peninsula, or the overnight strength of the USA dollar, all of a sudden, with about an hour and half of trading left in the session, the market rallied sharply to close little changed.

Frankly, other than a few rare large man-made events such as QE2, it is usually a complete waste of time for an investor or trader to try and explain-away or justify all of the market gyrations. Again, this only adds to the financial noise factor, and a source of distraction and financial confusion. Analysis of the so-called news or media spin-of-the-day does noting to add profit to your account.

That stated and just for fun, my own personal interpretation of the sudden U-turn event today, relates to some suspicious jiggery-pokery being carried out. It could be the PPT, or even some large hedge funds whom are engaged in month-end window dressing. It is noteworthy that tomorrow is month end.

Essentially, stated slightly different, someone with deep pockets does not want the market to go down right now - near month end. This begs the question; what will December bring?

So as to the very-short term trend - "considerable emphasis on very short" - this could potentially fake-out market participants into becoming overly bullish. In my analysis, this is the exact move jiggery-poker is being staged for.

Far more scientific and intelligent is applying a little technical analysis and statistical theory, to rare inter-day U-Turns such as that witnessed. Usually, these are indicative of a short-term bottom. This means tomorrow could see some early equity strength in the morning, or even for a few short days.

A better way to look at current SP-500 index in my opinion as example, is to consider the significant price overlap that we have been discussing lately in recent trading sessions. The market is thus in an overall holding pattern waiting for the cycle to expire.

Remember the great W.D. Gann and too many others to list have taught that TIME (and thus cycles) are the MASTER CONTROL FACTOR.

Add to that, the bigger picture indicators on the weekly charts, as I have been discussing lately, and it should provide ample evidence to keep any bullish horns hidden in your closet for now, unless you are a very good trader and using stops.

Overall, the equity market has entered a final period of a very large distributed top, after a near two year run-up, whereby smart money is now selling to weaker or less sophisticated hands. As we have already stated by hinting at cycles and time, this should continue until Q1 of 2011.

In short, today's missive regarding the current trend forecast, still suggests ignoring the jiggery-poker rules, as at least in my view there are far too many other indicators which still suggest that the trend will resume a southerly direction in an overall Wave C in the current Elliott Wave Four down trend.

This too suggests that traders and investors prepare for a coming wild ride.

Further, hinting at KRTT's more sophisticated short-term cycles applications that we normally do not disclose here, they too also suggests that over the very short term, we may have to wait until about December 03, 2010 for the fireworks to really begin to heat up.

Go back and review the coming Fibonacci event post that was done a while back.

In conclusion, the only valuable financial truth is in following the trend.

It is only the trend that makes a profit by going with it, or in creating a loss if you fail to understand the true market direction. This is why technical analysis software, placed in the hands of a well trained analyst is invaluable.

Technical analysis trend determination, is essentially the one weapon that will cut through all of the chaos and jiggery-poker, being frequently played by Wall Street, Bay Street and global magnates.

So having reiterated the golden trend following rule here on this blog a hundred times or so, we need to consider the charts in detail.

As usual, I have placed mark-up educational comments on the two exhibits below. Don't be fooled by those whom play jiggery-poker, hoping to gain control over your money.

The wise trading maxim regarding risk of: "if in doubt - get out" seems quite appropriate at present, especially for anyone who is at all conservative minded, or less than a highly experienced trader, and one who has the discipline to use rigid stops.

Spot the trend and go with it.




Sincerely,

James Kelly Sr.,
Editor in Chief, BBTL Blog
www.KRTT.com
www.Facebook.com/KRTTcom
www.twitter.com/KRTTcom

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Sell Signal

Hello BBTL Blog readership,

My review of the latest two trading days is brief this evening, and mainly by way of two charts as found below that speak clearly. In a nutshell if anything, my previous forecast of a new emerging trend down is being reinforced.

As for any financial news, yesterday's FED announcement was largely a non-event, and Mr. Bernanke had no new monetary inflationary rabbits to pull our of his magical FED hat. The news release can be found here.

Perhaps more important from a financial news perspective, is to watch the USA dollar versus the Euro. The fragile sovereign debt situation in the Euro zone is ongoing. These financial flair ups can create further short term volatility, and significantly impact currencies and global bond yields which have been rising faster than most expected.

As for the trend truth and the most important technical perspective, the record high in the SP 500 at about the 1246 price level was set Monday December 13, 2010. Thus, it is still too soon for a change in trend (CIT) to suggest a fully confirmed down trend is in place. Trend traders usually wait a few days for the trend to get established and be visually confirmed using technical clues.

After all the high was just two days ago and therefore still to early for technical confirmation. Although frankly, today's bearish trend reinforced and followed along nicely with my previous cycles forecast (CIT December 13 - 15), the Fibonacci event demonstrated weeks ago, and even the planetary Gann Astrology set-up found in the Astro-sky challenge.

Of paramount importance, this is one of the rarest of financial blogs that also forecast with the benefit of considerable and powerful cycles knowledge. As the great W.D. Gann pointed out approximately 100 years ago, time (not price) - is the master control factor, and the financial markets including equities follow exact rules of science, or as Gann then expressed - Natural Law.

In summary, all of the cumulative evidence I have reviewed recently, including powerful cycles data, suggest that a change in trend (CIT) to down has already taken place. As one chart below shows, a mechanical method of trading using the Net New Highs of the NYSE also confirmed a short-term down signal today.

However, I should advise that possibly working opposite and against my short-term bearish forecast, of an immediate downtrend getting underway now, I observed that the marginal sell-off in the SP 500 today looked very controlled.

This could suggest that Wall Street traders, and highly influential powers including large hedge funds, or even the PPT, have very large bull-side bets placed on the recent bull trend until triple witching expires this Friday.

As one additional item, I was surprised to see that very few blog readers actually took the time to watch the video web link posted in my last blog. I believe this highly important video speaks volumes and is essential viewing to understand some of the coming events now besieging America, and perhaps becoming even more important in 2011.

Again, that video which I titled as Wall Street Crooks can be found by clicking here.





James Kelly Sr.,
Editor in Chief, BBTL Blog
www.KRTT.com
www.Facebook.com/KRTTcom
www.twitter.com/KRTTcom

Interesting Statistics - Millionaires

Here are some interesting statistics about millionaires:

  • 14% of millionaires say their parents were wealthy.
  • 42% say they don't feel wealthy.
  • 95% say hard work is how they made their million. 83% say smart investing, 81% frugality, 67% say risk taking, and 41% say luck is how they made their million.
  • 90% of millionaires are college graduates.
  • The median price of a millionaires car is $31,400.
  • States with the highest amount of millionaires includes: Alaska, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Washington D.C., and Virginia. Hey, Jaime Tardy lives in Maine.
  • Millionaires invest on average $39,300 a year.
  • 61% say they still have a great deal to learn about investing.
  • 1 in 6 millionaires are single.
  • Millionaires give up to $13,000 annually to charity.

Friday, March 25, 2011

Bernanke's Rally

Hello BBTL readership,

Is it Time for Plan B - B is for Bullish?

After today's sharp SP500 rally, the obvious question as a comment below asked is; "Have I changed my former bearish stance?" It is indeed a timely topic that requires a well thought out answer. I will do my best to provide that answer giving both sides of the equation.

In a nutshell, my short answer is no. I am maintaining my formerly bearish outlook - at least for now. However, this simple answer requires more explanation. Read on.

Previously, and if you have been reading this blog recently, I was looking for part two of a counter-trend decline, or expressed for Elliotticians; a Wave C down within an Elliott Wave Four trend.

This bearish view was therefore my plan A - or my primary market forecast. However, as I also educate on this blog, all expert traders and investors must keep an open mind. In doing so they should also have a what if plan. Often I call this - a plan B. Likewise, good Elliott Wave (EW) analysts usually have a preferred EW count as well as a secondary count (in the event their primary EW count is wrong).

Although, it is conceivable and even possible to force an unorthodox Elliott Wave C count as now being complete, there remain several significant technical clues that dictate suspicion and better EW counts.

Consider that to judge and suggest the Elliott Wave Four as now fully complete, and therefore to imply that today's rally is the start of a final wave five up and a likely breakout day, also must imply that after months of recent bullish upside in August to November, and after about a 220 SP500 point rally (a huge 22% rally in stocks in mere months), it is all completely worked off and now consolidated by a mere 25% retracement that lasted a few days and the correction was totally finished in just three weeks.

Given how close we are to a major terminating top (see - the big picture weekly chart) after almost two years of trend run-up - all based on global bailouts and liquidity injections, this type of exuberant bullish action is at least highly suspicious.

Has Ben Bernanke's constant monetary manipulation created a runaway market that will lead to an eventual crash? Perhaps.

So essentially, the only way I can see and verify an immediate new bullish trend up from here - is by another manufactured cycle inversion created by excessive Fed liquidity. To reach such a remarkable conclusion at present, I need more evidence - than a mere one day rally.

Therefore without doubt, or at least for now, I am maintaining my former bearish outlook until the evidence suggest I must change my view. This means I am not attempting to second guess the market. Rather, I am just closely watching the trend now to determine if indeed it has changed or something is happening that I did not anticipate.

I will therefore defer my ultimate and final trend thoughts for another day, or possibly even two days, if there is very little trading action (in a narrow range) tomorrow. Detecting a cycle inversion and thus a new wave five up is indeed possible, but currently I still view it as a low probability. However, ask what is going directly against my forecast? Look at the recent actions and statements of Bernanke.

Further, given the time for today's rally, the current scenario is also cyclically confusing (assuming another inversion) and yes, I rely heavily on cycle calculations, yet I do not disclose them in great detail here on the blog.

Nonetheless. as I have included cycle hints lately (December 03 and the coming Fibonacci event), I do expect we are now very near the best weekly period or cusp of the most significant December 2010 cycle hot-spot. These periods of cycle summation can and do cause changes in trend to occur.

As to the ultimate risk side of the equation, at present, anyone doing a forensic audit of longer term market internals should conclude there are very significant risks here. This is a dangerous manipulated market to err on the side of caution unless you use stops and can afford to have losses.

Stocks and much of the financial world of securities, including commodities and even bonds, are truly reacting in a knee-jerk short-term fashion to Sovereign debt problems, currency wars, and mainly to the massive artificial liquidity creation of Ben Bernanke.

Clearly, the strength of today's rally - essentially coming out of nowhere - was somewhat of a surprise and smacks of suspicion of more Ben Bernanke antics. After all, without any doubt Mr. Bernanke wants to inflate USA stocks even higher. He has stated that fact very clearly.

So in conclusion, let's face and admit one important Federal Reserve fact.

No one, unless they have privileged inside information from Bernanke and the Federal Reserve, can determine just how far the FED will go over the short term to prop USA stocks up in price via using FED and the USA Treasury liquidity and buy programs. Year end would seem logical for a critical period whereby the FED and USA Treasury do not want panic and market sell-offs.

However, fast forward about two weeks from now, and December will look substantially less appealing than it does right now. December is famous for low liquidity and also tax loss selling. So that so called Santa Claus rally that occurs seasonally in some years in early December, is equally often followed by the lows of a New Years hangover.

In summary, unless Ben Bernanke is your personal source for USA stock market information, this morning's early rally was anyone's guess. Essentially, seventy-five percent of today's SP500 Index gain was over in less than five minutes as I watched multiple SP 500 stocks gap up at the open.

Is this just another hint that the USA FED will further prop up the market in December? I will probably know by tomorrow.

In the meantime - spot the trend and go with it (on the technical charts provided).

I have posted two very different SP500 charts this evening. The first being an hourly chart that provides the micro short term picture of the SP500 Index. As my mark-up comments suggest - for now, I still believe the trend is down and we are very near Wave B termination, thus expecting a C wave down no later than early next week.

The second chart as a weekly chart, clearly depicts the far more important bigger picture or primary trend (Terminating Wave Five Up) and the potential for considerable downside risk after this wave terminates (projected in Q1 2011).

Recommended Reading

I have personally portrayed the unaudited USA Fed, Ben Bernanke, and global Central Bankers as being incredibly incompetent and monetarily dangerous far too many times to count in recent years. Yet here, in an interesting feature editorial from the Canadian Globe and Mail newspaper, others are starting to discuss what I have been saying for years.

Here is an excerpt from the recommended reading feature...

"Mr. Bernanke's policies among them, the creation of an artificial stock market boom are short-sighted and arrogant...." to read more click here



Sincerely,

James Kelly Sr.,
Editor in Chief, BBTL Blog
www.KRTT.com
www.Facebook.com/KRTTcom
www.twitter.com/KRTTcom

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

On Time - On Target

Hello BBTL Blog Readers,

W. D. Gann Theory versus KRTT Modernized Natural Law Theory

I remain on a demanding time schedule and will post updates as time permits, or as extremely important technical events occur.

I begin today's weekend blog as I have taught here before, by stating that financial markets are dynamic and important new events or information may need to be closely analyzed each day to allow for adjustments to our previous viewpoints.

Therefore keeping an open mind, (and being prepared to change our mind) while trading or investing is indeed a highly valuable principle.

Having stated this concept of new information being added possibly each day, I also want to emphasize that the financial markets predominately follow Natural Law.

This is exactly as the great W. D. Gann first taught us over 100 years ago.

However, going beyond a fixed or rigid 100% viewpoint of Natural Law, what my personal analysis and discoveries have added - beyond the amazing Gann theory, is that Man himself also attempts to intervene and interfere with Natural Cycles and Natural Law.

In essence, the financial markets are thus dictated by both Man and Nature.  

For example, Ben Bernanke by his unlimited money printing and essentially zero interest rate policy is deliberately attempting to intervene, or engineer an economic cycle distortion, by extending or stimulating the basic business cycle (or even a weak economy) past it's normal termination point or normal cycle based on Natural Law.

In a nutshell, Central Bankers with their constant deliberate intervention techniques, deliberately distort otherwise perfect Natural Law and Natural Cycle events. This is one reason why in our more modern financial world we now see more boom and bust cycles and even financial crashes.

This is simply Nature - resetting the cycle to where it should have been.

The IMPORTANT KEY TO ALWAYS REMEMBER is that Nature, Cycles and Natural Law will ultimately prevail, - as they always have - and always will.

In essence, if Man deliberately intervenes and carries the natural financial market past one predetermined cycle point, whereby the trend should have changed, when a future cycle or Natural Law hot-spot is eventually hit - the change in trend becomes far more likely and potentially more violent or abrupt.

Essentially, the more Man interferes - the greater the boom and bust cycles and the risk of an all out market crash.

Without doubt, even an amateur should see, that based on the deliberate near zero interest rate policy, that has been prolonged - time and time again, Central Bank policy (even globally) could easily be nearing the  precipice of a complete Bond Market Revolt, whereby global investors unanimously refuse to accept extremely low interest rates any longer, in a higher risk and higher inflation environment.

Most of you have now heard of the new age term - bond vigilantes.  

It seems that the world has now been perfectly set-up by Central Bankers such as Bernanke, for an interest rate (Bond Market) revolt and show-down ,as well as a possible rising interest rate shock.

What might Mother Nature and Natural Law do, when this potential for an interest rate Tsunami cycle to hit and reach a tipping point?  What chaos could be created in currencies?

My own analysis and observation, is that if the global economies of the world now have too much debt as a problem (based on past leverage and speculation from excessively prolonged low interest rates) , imagine the potential for an escalation and new focus on debt problems,  - if interest rates were to suddenly rise.

Mr. Bernanke has a very big ego, and a seemingly unlimited supply of money. So far he has hoodwinked politicians and most of America into believing the FED is acting prudently and in their interest. Yet, if he truly believes that he, the FED or any policy of monetary expansion can control and intervene in natural cycles, or in any and all global economic situations he is mistaken.

To those whom understand not-interventionist economics (often called Laissez-Faire of Austrian School Economics) and the boom-bust bubbles the Fed is deliberately engineering, an otherwise respected man becomes delusional, if not outright dangerous.

It is my assertion, that Bernanke and the FED have not been able to grasp the dangerous risks of their own policies.

So what will prevail Man (Bernanke) or Nature?

CYCLES, ASTRONOMY and MARKET GEOMETRY

Normally, I do not reveal much about cycles and market geometry here on the blog. However, I have decided to make some exceptions now, due to the potential importance of nearing future Natural Law hot-spots.

Assuming I and my greatest teacher W. D. Gann, are indeed correct about our assertions of Natural Law ruling our planet - and also the financial markets, there are some fairly easy to spot guidelines or additional hypothesis.

For instance, Natural Law was been found almost everywhere in Nature. It is seen in yearly seasonal weather and farming (Growing) cycles, our calendar and time cycles, a woman's menstrual cycle, migration cycles of animals, or even in the aging process of our own species, or the obvious cyclical nature of the tides and moon cycles.

In essence, Natural Law does not show up just some places or in some sciences - it shows up on our planet and even the universe - everywhere. As Einstein once remarked, it looks like a God, or the creator of such a vast system, did not merely roll the dice in randomness.

Einstein by example, was able to write highly complicated observations about our universe and quantum mechanics using in the end - a relatively simple math formula.

Benoit Mandelbrot, did the same thing when he established fractal geometry.

So now what about the financial markets? Can we look at them using more than one version of Natural Law?

The answer is yes.

MARKET GEOMETRY

Some of you may have possibly heard of, or studied - market geometry.

Market geometry is largely self-explanatory (about financial markets, charts, and geometry) but moreover, is about the fabric of geometry woven between financial time and price.

The key belief is that changes in trend will occur when time and price are equal or at least in a harmonic proportion.

This is far too complex of a topic to teach here on the blog, but I will say that the current market geometry of the SP500 index is now rapidly approaching a near perfect state - and could even be spotted by an amateur at present. Why?

The time cycle from the last major cycle low (in early March 2009) is soon to be, - two years.

For instance, assuming you use Earth Calendar years of 365 days and assume the cycle low was March 6, 2009, then the two year point will be exactly on March 05, 2011.

Equally switching to the price topic, the closing price value of the SP500 on Friday February 04, 2011 was about the 1310 price level.

If we go back and look at the March 2009 price cycle bottom and use an approximate 667 price level for the SP500 at the cycle lo , and now consider the current 1310 level; the SP500 Index will also soon be at two times the low price level if it continues rising or, if and when it reaches 1334.

In summary, the SP500 Index is nearing two times price (1334) and two annual Earth years (March 05, 2011).

Those whom follow the Natural Law theory of Market Geometry should likely be using a time and price target of 1334 on March 05, 2011.

CYCLES

Deviating slightly from the above market geometry theory, which again was a form of Natural Law, the Great W.D. Gann was keenly focused on pure cycles and Natural Law as derived from the circle of 360 degrees.

Most of you have probably heard of the most significant Gann angle of 45 degrees, which is one-eighth of a circle, and also the Gann angle where time and price will meet on a chart (since one unit of time will equal one unit of price).

Assuming we were using Gann cycles based on the 360 degree theory, and not Earth Cycles, then the time target for the SP500 high would likely be 720 days (equal to 2 times 360).

This simply means we back up the cycle time target by ten days and use 720 days from the March 2009 low in the SP500.

Please note that there are other cycles involved beyond what is simply mentioned above.

ASTRONOMY - ASTROLOGY

Although using astrology (or astronomy) is indeed the most esoteric or difficult form of Natural Law to apply to financial markets, without a doubt it was indeed used and studied to verify and predict financial turning points by the Great W. D. Gann.

Since the early Gann teachings in this area of Natural Law surfaced over many decades (some which were hard to verify), a great deal of modern-day progress has been made.

As a result financial astrology software like Galactic Trader, Cycle Timer, Market Warrior and others are becoming cheaper, better, and more abundant. Better yet, many excellent books on this esoteric topic of Astro-Finance have been written.

Although it is far too difficult a topic to even attempt on this blog and further our KRTT theories are mainly proprietary, I will suggest that turning points in many financial markets often come on (or within a few days) of a new or full moon.

This means looking for a change in trend to occur around such days, may assist an advanced analyst to verify or even predict such changes in trend.

Finally, one of the biggest Astro events of every calendar year are the solstices and equinoxes.

Please note that I do not endorse trading or investing using Astro-Finance as a stand alone tool. It is however extremely important to study this area as many associated learning benefits can occur.

SUMMARY and TECHNICAL CHARTS

Several months ago on this blog, I forecast that I expected a major significant top to occur in the SP500 Index in the first quarter of 2011.  Hopefully, today's blog will provide an insightful glimpse into some of the important reasons why I still hold this viewpoint as valid.

The 720 - 730 day harmonic cycle target and market geometry hot-spot ahead is in late February to early March. After that we approach the Spring equinox.

Keep in mind that markets can also fail or terminate early if a man-made upset occurs.

I continue to see this market as very high risk and advise caution, raising cash, and using tight stops.

As usual, a couple of technical analysis chart (that speak the trend truth ) are below with my usual mark-up comments. Enjoy.












James Kelly Sr.,
Editor in Chief, BBTL Blog
www.KRTT.com
www.Facebook.com/KRTTcom
www.twitter.com/KRTTcom

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Too Soon

Hello BBTL blog readership,

Although the market sold off in the last two days in line with my bearish-in-nature blog recently, and directly hit a January 19, 2011 cycle target, it is still too soon to declare any significant victory or trend - in either way.

Clearly, the short-term trend has become more difficult for the bulls. That much is certain. Yet equally, instead of the aggressive or panic selling one might expect in such an overbought market, the nature of the selling in the last two days was more akin to mild profit taking with some exceptions in individual stocks.

Can we conclude the top is in? No, not yet - at least assuming one is focusing on trends.

Shorter term swing trading on the other hand, involves a form of market gambling or placing calculated portfolio bets against an existing trend while controlling risks and usually with a superior understanding and experience level of financial markets.

Some, might pull the trigger here in such an overbought market, in a short side SP500 trade. Yet, clearly, even by today's technical analysis (as below) the upside risks remain. Consider alone what Ben Bernanke wants. Remember the market maxim, which once was a near biblical financial rule to never fight the FED. At least until a little more short side evidence rolls in, one should conclude that a sell short swing trade is still less than an ideal trade entry (risk) in the case of the SP500 index.

For the bulls, the NYSE market internals were actually mildly positive today. For instance, there were still almost 150 new highs and only 31 new lows on the NYSE; nothing the bears could write home about. Also, although the SP500 finished the day in slight negative territory, the upside volume eclipsed selling volume.

In short, the morning selling was fully washed out by an afternoon rally, even though commodities like gold have taken a significant hit today and recently. Hello overvalued commodities; has anyone told you about - deflation? Is no one watching the recent gold sell-off? It has been a leading indicator for some time, and yet lately, is looking outright bearish. By the way, the gold sell-off is very much in line with our expectation and gold forecast made months ago.

Those crazy bulls, which I recently renamed as pigs, have clearly not lost their all too-brave and too-stupid buying-the-top nature - yet. Also, the NYSE TICK chart (as below) is still in strong territory and there is no negative divergence in TICK. This implies the bears may need to remain patient a while longer. A few more short-term pigs may need to be taught a market lesson the hard way.

Despite the ominous onset of a longer-term bear EW count which this blog has been depicting for months,  the minor fifth wave may not yet be fully completed. Time will tell, yet such bullish markets as we have seen in December and January are statistically the exact types where Elliott extensions occur.

In cycles language, these are commonly referred to as cycle extensions. Therefore, a key forensic is to now watch and see - if key SP500 support levels are taken out. Later, bearish charts become more obvious with a series of lower lows and lower highs - if the downtrend is authentic.

On the other hand, and especially considering risk and money management issues as I have been discussing for some time, we can now firmly conclude that the market nature is slowly changing and becoming more bearish.

Essentially, social mood may even suddenly wake up here, and realize that there are many potential negatives in the economy, and especially one of the biggest potential shocks in 2011- higher interest rates - which I and most others believe will eventually come later in 2011. After such a prolonged period of abnormal near zero rates (engineered by the FED), the potential for a real interest rate shock in both equities and commodities is not to be overlooked - not to mention the economy.

You will recall, assuming you have been reading this blog, for many months now my overall market forecast and prediction for the SP500 was for significant top sometime in the first quarter. This predication still holds and is looking even more accurate given the last two days.

Given the irrational bullish exuberance and exceptional early-year rally so far in January, a more likely scenario now, is first to witness a bearish thrust down (initial shock), followed by one last bullish wave up, whereby the ignorant pigs bring the market back one last time as they line up to go to the financial slaughter.

This scenario, is also very much in line with some the strongest cycle targets I have in early March (or very late February), where a more major and final bearish change-in-trend (CIT) could occur. My final cycle target in the first quarter comes on march 19-20, 2011. How good is that, to have key cycle dates to watch for a CIT - in advance?

Further, as one of our astute blog readers and comments recently remarked, in a few more months the pressures will gradually build in 2011 on Central Banks to raise interest rates.

Then, as stated, the bond vigilantes will increasingly refuse to buy low rate bonds in a higher risk environments.  Also, there is an emerging inflation risk in bonds in 2011. With all of the global bailouts and accumulated government debt in the financial crisis, one inflation certainty for sure - is higher future taxes - which will really hit already constrained consumers hard.

But, to add another wild card, what about the potential of a USA dollar crisis if Bernanke holds rates at near zero too long?

Recently, as example, the USA dollar index has been relatively stable or even subdued in trading sessions. The focus is still on the Euro zone. Bernanke surely feels safe.

This currency scenario however, could easily and quickly change for the worse, as debt issues cross the Atlantic westbound, or as further competitive devaluations for trade purposes between the USA (and mainly China) are scrutinized by nations now being adversely affected.

Their tempers are clearly rising. Trade wars too are a reality. Just ask Brazil, which recently had some not nice words to say about the USA, and Mr. Bernanke's monetary policy which constantly competitively devalues the USA currency and causes other currencies to inflate in comparison.

On a purely cycle analysis basis, I did have a very strong cycle target in January and frankly about the 19th, 2011. So far, the change in trend now in January therefore is - on time. But I constantly ask myself, will the all-too-easy FED money and FED moral suasion of higher stock prices once again invert another cycle?

What I want to now see in order to legitimize being bearish about the current trend, and for all future trend determination, is for the two key support levels of 1261 and 1251 to be taken out on the SP 500 Index. Support levels near a major high when taken out are key forensic clues. Consider the gold chart, which has successfully already taken out several support levels.

I expect the next highest support level of SP500 at about 1261 must be tested soon (by Feb 04 latest) or else, we could see a 1300 - 1335 level before any final SP500 implosion or capitulation. Remember, pigs are greedy.

For now, perhaps the best advice for short-term traders is to be patient, and let the charts tell us the eventual short-term trend. My current guess is clearly down with sporadic ABC pattern rallies. Again, watch for any sharp upside reversal (more wave five to a recent higher high) or alternatively, any downside support levels being taken out (confirming the top is thus in).

Keep in mind that we are solely focusing on the SP500 Index. Individual charts are a completely different story and need individual analysis.

By example, the pigs recently buying F5 Networks were already slaughtered with about a 23% loss in just the last two days. In essence, some individual charts have already turned down from their major or significant tops. The highs for those charts for all of 2011 may well be in the past. Others stocks near record highs may still have room for final rallies. Again, I want to emphasize that every chart must be analyzed on it's own merit.

In summary, although I believe the very short term trend is now down, and that we will at least test the SP500 1261 - 1262 level soon, it is clearly too early to call a significant trend victory on either bullish or bearish side. We need more evidence.

However, one thing which I have been preaching a lot recently, still holds as true.

Overall this market is expensive, and we are absolutely near a major equity top in my viewpoint. Therefore, the basis of risks versus reward, I say raise cash, sell, or use tight stops.

Two charts are included below with my usual mark-up comments. Follow the trend, or if you consider yourself an expert, go ahead and swing trade. Both types of traders when proactive and savvy, use stops to protect capital to ensure their long term survival.

A lot of blogs close on the words "good luck" but frankly, earning a profit is a lot more about achieving and mastering market intelligence, financial education, discipline, and experience.

Spot the trend and go with it and forget what you read or hear. If you find yourself relying on hope or luck in your trading or investing, consider calling me personally for some needed one-on-one financial education, or personal financial tutoring. Consider it an investment in yourself.  


Financial education by the way, works far better than luck.



James Kelly Sr.,
Editor in Chief, BBTL Blog
www.KRTT.com
www.Facebook.com/KRTTcom
www.twitter.com/KRTTcom

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Gaps - Stock Market Manipulation ?

Hello BBTL Blog readership,

My posting is late this evening, and therefore my missive will be short.

However, do not be fooled or rush off as the three chart exhibits below are worth far more than any words could describe. I have said it before and will say it again; the only trend truth is in the charts. Spot the trend and go with it.

Moreover, financial markets work by Science and Natural Law; not by what any man says will happen.

Be Very Careful or Get Out

Also, my current position is well known and clearly stated. If you need to question my current equity market viewpoint, go back and read some of my recent postings.

However in a nutshell, my position is that until a more realistic equity correction is allowed to happen the markets are extremely dangerous. My message would include that if you are long and cannot take on considerable risk and losses, use tight stops. If you are smart you should avoid exposure to the considerably overbought indices - as the risks are simply far too high.

Likewise, on the flip side, with zero interest rates and the fact that Bernanke has added so much liquidity recently, he, as one of the most powerful financial men in the world is attempting to melt the US stock market - up.

Essentially, this is also a hidden message to warn anyone who dares to short stocks or the index. Another stock market implosion is not what Mr. Bernanke wants right now. He sees the world, and particularly the USA in rose colored inflation glasses.

So currently, the only way to be short stocks at present is with a dangerous swing trade (since the trend is still up and has not reversed - yet). Again, this makes the equity markets even more precarious, given that Mr. Bernanke and his close friends on Wall Street appear to be intervening in the markets. Today's sharp gap up at the open of trading, was another clue that market intervention by the PPT is alive and well. Yet, if they keep this up much longer, investors may soon have to rename Wall Street to Fraud Street.

Ask When and Why an Opening GAP Should Occur?

Back in the old days when equity markets were actually honest, not manipulated by our governments, and it was a far more level playing field, it was extremely rare that one ever saw an opening gap in a stock. Now there are hundreds - daily.

Generally, in the past, in order for the pro, or market maker, to GAP a stock up at the open of trading in the morning, there had to be something very significant happening - over night.

After all, if there was no corporate news overnight that was of a material nature, and thus no significant news or order imbalance, by deliberately opening a stock higher than the previous closing price, the pro could technically carry out and cause an act of illicit stock market manipulation.

Below, is a brief sample of the exact legal words used by one Canadian Securities Regulator (BCSC) regarding this manipulative act. The words used by the SEC, or any other regulatory authority should not be substantially different, assuming of course that the spirit and intent of the Rule of Law - for all - is being upheld.

By the way, this is not a unique problem in the USA, as these legal words and equivalent acts of manipulation are equally laughable in Canada, whereby when it comes to white-collar stock market crime and stock manipulation, Canadian regulation and enforcement are for all intensive purposes, non-existent.

Manipulation and Fraud
A person must not, directly or indirectly, engage in or participate in conduct relating to securities or exchange contracts if the person knows, or reasonably should know, that the conduct

(a) results in or contributes to a misleading appearance of trading activity in, or an artificial price for, a security or exchange contract, or (b) perpetrates a fraud on any person.

Yet, today at the opening of trading there were a huge number of US stocks, including many of those in the SP 500 Index - that gapped sharply higher - all on no overnight material news. Equally, there was absolutely no proof or any evidence that there was so much demand that a huge order imbalance existed to justify the opening gaps. In fact, trading volume today in most stocks was well below normal.

If stocks are thus deliberately allowed to gap up at the open of trading, without overnight news of a material nature, and without any order imbalance - than technically, it could constitute an intentional act of stock market manipulation - which essentially as a result - could perpetrate a fraud on society, and especially all those whom invest and believe markets are freely and fairly traded. 

Now imagine, what would it could say or imply, if that same fraud and manipulation was in fact being carried out or conducted by a fiduciary body - who was charged to oversee and protect the general public?

The logical conclusion is yours to choose. Possibly write to your local politician and demand a truthful answer that begins with auditing the large trades at investment bankers. 


Chart Truth - Spot The Trend




Stock Market Challenge - Are you a Market Wizard?

1. Astro-Sky Traders (Gann Astrology) - One of the most famous days in stock market history, was on October 19, 1987 when the stock market crashed. Is there any similarity in the Astro-Sky between October 19, 1987, and next Monday December 13, 2010. If so what is the similarity?

2. Market Geometry Traders - The Gann Box shown on the last chart today (SP 500 Index daily) suggests a near completion. Given the SP 500 Index April 26, 2010 high was about 225 days ago (time); what is the significance now, of a market move of (about) 225 SP 500 Index points (price) down, and essentially, then back up again in (about) 225 days?

Please note that there will be no formal answers given on our blog. However, it would be a nice idea to share your thoughts with each other via comments.

James Kelly Sr.,
Editor in Chief, BBTL Blog
www.KRTT.com
www.Facebook.com/KRTTcom
www.twitter.com/KRTTcom