Critical Headlines-driven Week In Progress – Don’t Jump the Gun! 


Our models have opened the post-Thanksgiving trading week with the prior two week’s aggregate profits of 154.75 points from the pre-defined trading levels 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”. This would be invalidated if and when the index closes above 2710.  

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 seventh consecutive day.    

Trading Plans for WED, 11/28:


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.
Tue 11/27: Booked 5.50 points in losses on the long. 

Last Published Plan/Forecast: Our last forecast stated: “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” (click here to read the full report and/or to verify this claim)

The Outcome: The index reached a high of 2676.50 in the first 30 minutes of the session, dragging the trailing stop trigger to 2666.50. This stop was triggered in the next ten minutes, closing the long (entered at 2672 on Monday) at a loss of 5.50 points.  

Today’s Plan/Forecast: For today, Wednesday 11/28, our medium-term models indicate going short on a break below 2652 with a 10-point trailing stop. No long trade is indicated while the daily close is below 2710.   

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.
Tue 11/27: Booked 3.50 points in loss on a long.

Last Published Plan/Forecast: The last forecast by our aggressive intraday models stated: “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” (click here to read the full report and/or to verify this claim)

The Outcome: The index broker above the 2672 level by 10am EST, triggering a long position with an 8-point trailing stop. Within the next hour, the index reached a low of 2665.82 but the long survived the stop narrowly. By noon, the index reached a high of 2676.60 dragging the 8-point trailing stop to 2668.60 on the index level. This was hit in the next 30 minutes and the models closed the long position with a 3.50 points loss. The models remained flat for the rest of the session. 

        

Today’s Plan/Forecast: For today, Wednesday 11/28, our aggressive intraday models indicate going short on a break below 2670 during the regular session, and indicate going long on a break above 2704 during the regular session – with a 7-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.