Fed Speak, GDP, FOMC, China…Busy Headlines-driven Week Ahead 


Our models have closed the abbreviated Thanksgiving trading week by booking another 17 points of profits on top of the prior week’s aggregate profits of 137.75 points on the S&P 500 Index! 

This is now a market with bears in charge, with some bounces upwards after volatile sessions of sell-off. Our models continue to advise caution against getting into the markets on false spikes up while below 2710.

Model Biases/Outlook:


As per our earlier key levels, the index closed below the 2685 level on Tuesday, 11/20 and our models are now sporting an outright bearish bias. 

With the mixed action following the midterm results, our models have adopted a cautious, “indeterminate” stand while between 2795 and 2745. As of Wednesday 11/14, this is updated to a “mildly bearish” stand while below 2755, which turned outright bearish with a daily close below 2685 on Tuesday 11/20.

As we reiterated since the midterm elections last week, “this market is still likely going to be fraught with bull traps rather than bear traps – be cautious when buying into the spikes”. 

A Brief Trace Back of The Current Bias/Outlook


Thursday, 09/27, our models had negated the previously adopted bullish bias and signaled a neutral bias between 2933 and 2887, which was later updated to 2920 and 2880. 

On a break below 2880 on 10/10/18, our models executed the pre-published trading plan to book 142 points in profit on a short position! Our models have since adopted a “cautiously bearish” bias. This caution is in view of potential spikes up in a whipsaw mode.

As of the close on Wed, 10/24, our models turned bearish and continue to stay bearish while the index is below 2710. While within the 2710-2770 band, we reiterated an “indeterminate” bias for the market till 11/07.

As of the close on Wed, 11/07, our models negated the indeterminate bias and adopted a “cautiously bullish” bias. This is flipped back to “indeterminate” bias following the midterm election results action and will remain so while the index is between 2795 and 2745. 

As of Wed 11/14, we adopted a “mildly bearish” bias while below 2755. With the close below 2685 on Tue 11/20, we updated this to an outright “bearish” bias for Wed 11/21. We reiterate this bearish bias for the sixth consecutive day.    

Trading Plans for TUE, 11/27:


Medium-term/long-term Investors


Our medium-term models started the mid-term election season with a decent streak of consecutive profitable days as below:


Mon 11/12: Booked 21.25 points in profit on a short.
Tue 11/13: Booked 10.50 points in profits on a short. 
Wed 11/14: Booked 15.50 points in profits on a short. 

Thu 11/15: No trades taken.
Fri 11/16: Booked 11.75 points in profits on a long. 
Mon 11/19: Booked 11.00 points in profits on a short.
Tue 11/20: No trades taken.
Wed 11/21: No trades taken.
Mon 11/26: Long position entered at 2672. 

Last Published Plan/Forecast: Our last forecast stated: “For today, Monday 11/26, our medium-term models indicate going long on a break above 2672, and indicate going short on a break below 2642 during the regular session – with a 10-point trailing stop” (click here to read the full report and/or to verify this claim)

The Outcome: The index broke above the 2672 level around 2:30pm EST, triggering a long position at 2672 with a 10-point trailing stop. At the close of 2673.45, the trailing stop is anchored at 2663.45. The models are currently carrying this long into the Tuesday’s session. 

Today’s Plan/Forecast: For today, Tuesday 11/27, our medium-term models indicate carrying the current long until the stop is hit. If the stop hits and the long closes, the models would stay flat for the rest of the session.    

Aggressive, Short-term, Intraday, or Professional Traders


Our aggressive intraday models started the mid-term election season with a decent streak of consecutive profitable days as below:

Mon 11/12: Booked 35.25 points in profit on a short.
Tue 11/13: Booked 13.50 points in profits on a short. 

Wed 11/14: Booked 14.00 points in profits on a short. 
Thu 11/15: Booked 2.25 points in profits on a long. 
Fri 11/16: Booked 13.75 points in profits on a long.
Mon 11/19: Booked 6.00 points in profits on a short.
Tue 11/20: No trades taken.
Wed 11/21: No trades taken.
Mon 11/26: Booked 0.50 points in loss on a long.

Last Published Plan/Forecast: The last forecast by our aggressive intraday models stated: “For today, Monday 11/26, our aggressive intraday models indicate going long on a break above 2664, and indicate going short on a break below 2646 during the regular session – with an 8-point trailing stop” (click here to read the full report and/or to verify this claim)

The Outcome: The index broker above the 2664 level early in the session, triggering a long position. Within the next hour, the index reached a high of 2671.64, thus dragging the 8-point trailing stop to 2663.64 on the index level. This was hit around 10:45am EST and the models closed the long position with a modest 0.50 point loss. The models remained flat for the rest of the session. 

        

Today’s Plan/Forecast: For today, Tuesday 11/27, our aggressive intraday models indicate going long on a break above 2672 during the regular session, and indicate going short on a break below 2648 during the regular session – with an 8-point trailing stop. If the index does not cross these levels during the regular session hours, the
models would stay out of the market.   

  

NOTE: Remember that a “trailing stop” works differently from the traditional stop-loss order. Please bear in mind that the trailing stop’s trigger level would keep changing throughout the session (click here to read on the conceptual workings of a trailing-stop). 

IMPORTANT RISK DISCLOSURES AND NOTICES – READ CAREFULLY:

(i) This article contains personal opinions of the author and is NOT representative of any organization(s) he may be affiliated with. This article is solely intended for informational and educational purposes only. It is NOT any specific advice or recommendation or solicitation to purchase or sell or cause any transaction in any specific investment instruments at any specific price levels, but it is a generic analysis of the instruments mentioned.

(ii) Do NOT make your financial investment or trading decisions based on this article; anyone doing so shall do so solely at their own risk. The author will NOT be responsible for any losses or loss of potential gains arising from any investments/trades made based on the opinions, forecasts or other information contained in this article.

(iii) Risk Warning: Investing, trading in S&P 500 Index – spot, futures, or options or in any other synthetic form – or its component stocks carries inherent risk of loss. Trading in leveraged instruments such as futures carries much higher risk of significant losses and you may lose more than you invested in them. Carefully consider your individual financial situation and investment objectives before investing in any financial instruments. If you are not a professional trader, consult a professional investment advisor before making your investment decisions.

(iv) Past performance: This article may contain references to past performance of hypothetical trades or past forecasts, which should NOT be taken as any representation or promise or guarantee of potential future profits. Past performance is not indicative of future performance.

(v) The author makes no representations whatsoever and assumes no responsibility as to the suitability, accuracy, completeness or validity of the information or the forecasts provided.

(vi) All opinions expressed herein are subject to change at any time, without any notice to anyone.