Will the Story of 2019 be called “The Grinch Who Stole the New Year”? 


The Grinch who stole the 2018 Christmas is likely to keep dancing his way into the New Year. Our Models indicate NOT to trust the deadcat bounces likely to appear on the markets over the next few sessions remaining in 2018. 

Trading Plans for WED, 12/26:


Medium-term/long-term Models


Our medium-term models started the month of December with indeterminate state and stayed out of the markets throughout the first half of the month.

Mon 12/17: Booked +20 points in profit on a short
Tue 12/18: Booked +9.25 points in profit on a short

Wed 12/19: Booked +26 points in profit on a short
Thu 12/20: Booked +26.5 points in profit on two shorts
Fri 12/21: No trades
Mon 12/24: No trades


Today’s Plan/Forecast: For today, Wednesday 12/26, our medium-term models indicate potential deadcat bounce moves in the market. Models indicate going short on a break below 2375 level – if the index were to move up to test that level – with a 12-point trailing stop. 

If the index does not manage to reach that level, the models indicate going short on a break below 2335, with a 10-point trailing stop.

No long trades indicated for today.        

Last Published Trading Plan/Forecast: Our last medium-term forecast indicated no trading by our medium term models (click here to read the full forecast and/or verify this claim). 

Results/Outcome: No trades.    

Aggressive, Short-term, Intraday, or Professional Traders


Our aggressive intraday models mostly stayed out of the market in early December since dismissing as “noise” the much hyped US-China trade “truce” related spike up which was short lived (to see the original call click here to read the full forecast titled: “US-China Meeting Weekend Preliminary Results Driving Wild Moves – Let the Noise Settle!”) 


Mon 12/10: Booked +31.25 points in profit on two shorts
Tue 12/11: Booked +0.50 points in profit on a long
Wed 12/12: No trades

Thu 12/13: Booked -2.25 points in loss on a short
Fri 12/14: Booked +14.25 points in profit on a short

Mon 12/17: Booked +51.75 points in profit on a short

Tue 12/18: Booked +15.25 points in profit on three shorts
Wed 12/19: Booked +41.00 points in profit on two shorts
Thu 12/20: Booked +26.5 points in profit on two shorts
Fri 12/21: Booked -2.00 points in loss on two shorts
Mon 12/24: Booked +50 points in profit on two shorts

Today’s Plan/Forecast: For today, Wednesday 12/26, our aggressive, intraday models indicate going long on a break above 2390 with an 8-point trailing stop, and going short on a break below 2390 with a 10-point trailing stop. For the trades to trigger, the breaks should occur during the regular session hours (9:30am-4:00pm EST). 

Last Published Trading Plan/Forecast: Our last aggressive intraday models’ forecast stated: For today, Monday 12/24, our aggressive, intraday models indicate going long on a break above 2425 with a 8-point trailing stop, and going short on a break below 2390 with a 10-point trailing stop” (click here to read the full forecast and/or verify this claim). 


Results/Outcome: The index broke below the 2390 level around 9:45am EST, triggering a short position with a trailing stop of 10-points. The index then reached an interim low at 2367.79 around 10:05am, taking the trailing stop trigger to 2377.79. The stop was hit in the next five minutes at 2378, closing the short position for a gain of 12 points.   


The index broke below the 2390 for a second time around 11:05am, with the models opening the second short position of the day. The index then reached an interim low of 2369.70 around 12:20pm, after which the index rose to test our ten points stop but the stop survived it. The short survived through the session to reach the low at 2351.63 – the position was closed out at the end of the session at 2352, for a gain of 38 points.  

Thus, our aggressive intraday models booked a net profit of 50 points on the Christmas eve’s trading plans (+12 + 38).    

Model Biases/Outlook:


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

The index has tracked our bearish forecasts and has come down to test the key support level of 2610-2620 and even the 2585 level before taking a breather on 12/10, Monday. The market slide resumed on Monday 12/17 with the index closing below 2550. Our models are biased to the bearish side and will remain so while the index is below 2535.

A Brief Trace Back of The Current Bias/Outlook


Thursday, 09/27, our models had negated the previously adopted bullish bias and signa
led 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 continued to stay bearish while the index is below 2710. While within the 2710-2770 band, we reiterated an “indeterminate” bias.

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. 

With the close of Wed 11/28, our models negated this bearish bias and adopted an “indeterminate” bias for Thu 11/29. With the close below the key 2535 level (prior level was at 2610), models are now bearish since Monday, 12/17. 


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.