Index Charts Flash Caution Signals: Excess Of Bullish Expectations

 | May 11, 2021 09:42AM ET

h2 Sentiment Data Still Suggests Too Many Bulls Currently
 
All the major equity indexes closed lower Monday with negative internals on the NYSE and NASDAQ as trading volumes rose from the prior session.
 
The charts saw some 50 DMAs violated to the downside as well as some bearish “gravestone doji” signals appearing. The very negative futures this morning appear to be validating the doji signals.
 
Meanwhile, while the McClellan OB/OS Oscillators are neutral, the psychological data continues to suggest an excess of bullish expectations on the part of investors persists while insiders have yet to show any significant interest in buying their stocks at current levels.
 
So, while the proverbial horse may have left the barn, the new chart signals combined with the sentiment data suggest we shift our near-term macro-outlook for equities from “neutral/positive” to “neutral.”
 
In our opinion, today’s close may well be an important factor regarding the very near term. If no rally near the close appears, it would, in our view, be another negative.
 
On the charts, all the indexes closed lower yesterday with negative internals and higher trading volume on both the NYSE and NASDAQ. Chart weakness was seen on the COMPQX and NDX as both closed below their 50 DMAs and the COMPQX returned to a near-term downtrend.
 
As noted above, the DJI and DJT that had been leading the markets formed “gravestone doji” patterns that occurred after a long uptrend. The pattern formation is one where a stock or index opens, trades nicely higher intraday but then closes back down at or very near the open price. It suggests an exhaustion of buyers.
 
The VALUA also flashed a bearish stochastic crossover signal.
 
Near term trends are negative on the COMPQX, NDX and RTY with the rest positive, but likely to be violated today. Cumulative breadth remains negative on the All Exchange and NASDAQ, but positive on the NYSE.
 
On the data, the McClellan 1-Day OB/OS oscillators remain neutral (All Exchange: 28.67 NYSE: -7.46 NASDAQ: -46.87). Sentiment indicators still suggest an excess of bulls as the wall of worry needs repair.
 
The Rydex Ratio (contrarian indicator) measuring the action of the leveraged ETF traders, is still in bearish territory at 1.2.
 
This week’s Investors Intelligence Bear/Bull Ratio (contrary indicator) saw a rise in bullish sentiment at 16.8/60.4 as the AAII bear/bull ratio at 23.1/46.3 both remain in bearish territory.
 
The Open Insider Buy/Sell Ratio is bearish as well at 24.0 as insiders continue to sit on the sidelines. Valuation still appears extended with the forward 12-month consensus earnings estimate from Bloomberg rising to $188.97. This leaves the SPX forward multiple at 22.2. The “rule of 20” still finds fair value at 18.4. The valuation spread has been consistently wide over the past several months while the forward estimates have risen rather consistently. The SPX forward earnings yield dipped to 4.51%. The 10-year Treasury yield closed at 1.6%. We continue to view 1.55% as support with 1.63% as resistance.
 
In conclusion, as discussed above, the charts and data now suggest caution has become more advisable.
 
S&P 500: 4,1940/NA DJI: 34,037/NA COMPQX: 13,320/13,712
NDX: 13,316/13,755 DJT: 15,270/NA MID: 2,702/NA
RTY: 2,250/2,300 VALUA: 9,385/NA
h2 S&P 500/h2
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