10 Minute
Bar Charts 4/12/02
Dow Jokes
Inflatables
Portfolio Sphincters Index (SPX)
Nasgap
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The Anals of Stock
Proctology
Today's Anals Below
Published 5 times
per week by the American Academy of Stock Proctology and
the American Society of Shortsellers
Dr. Stepan N. Stool, A.S.S. Chair
Friday
Nite Quickie (4/12/02)
Here's a brief review of
Friday's action. The complete weekend edition, including long term charts
and commentary will be posted Saturday.
It seemed worse because of
Turdsday, but the Dow continues to be Mr. Nowhere. In spite of all the
carnage in two Big Dogs, the stage managers of the Dow Jokes show have
done an admirable job of making things look a helluva lot better than they
are.
Big portfolios took a massive
hit this week, and a lot of rich folks ain't quite as rich as they were
two weeks ago. Just like the Nifty Fifty of the seventies did not break
down badly until the final stages of the bear market in 1974, the Turdy
Thirty of the zeros keeps getting pumped up while most investors are
losing their asses. I mean, a 5 for 1 reverse split of Ma Bell? Who'd a
thunk it?
A preliminary projection of
9850 for the 10-13 week cycle is still out there, but it could take
another month. As long as the cycles are conflicting, the Dow will just
sort of slop its way lower, rather than break into a nosedive. Very tough
on bears and swing trades of all types, but a lot worse for terminal
bulls, who are beaten, worn down, ever so gradually.
Portfolio Sphincters Index (SPX)
and Sentiment
The VIX closed at
22.09, down from 22.33 Thursday. Low volatility complacency rules, and as
long as it does, this down-up-down grind can continue indefinitely. On the inverted scale chart,
VIX has
finally dropped below the top band, signaling the beginning of a
big decline in stock prices. The last short term rally came from the 27-28
area. At the rate we're going it will take weeks to get even there, and a
good intermediate rally probably won't come until the index is well above
30.
The 17 day rate of change, a
proxy for the 6-7 week cycle, still hasn't turned up, but the 6-7 week cycle oscillator
superimposed on the chart has. These signals can be a
little early or a little late, but you can count on a bump up from
somewhere around here in the next week. It's doubtful that Friday was the
start since there's no confirmation from momentum.
The 29 day rate of change,
representing the 10-13 week cycle, is now definitely heading down,
breaking out of the top pattern it's been in for weeks. This should limit
any upturn in the 6-7 week cycle.
The blue channel lines are the extension of a linear
regression channel from the February and May 2001 highs.
(Sorry about the
bull.)
The 5-6 month and 10-13 week
cycle indicators are still weakening from low starting levels. This normally suggests extended, severe
weakness. So far the severe part hasn't materialized. The Chinese water
torture decline is likely to continue.
(Sorry about the
bull.)
After falling below the 61.8% retracement level of the February March rally,
the SPX bounced right back to it. The next level up is at 1120, a 23.6%
retracement of the recent decline.
(Sorry about the
bull.)
The Cycle Conditions tables include cycle
phase and a wild guess as to number of periods to the next turn, in days
for the shortest cycles, weeks (W) or months (M) for the longer ones. This
is a fluid exercise, in other words, the projections are likely to be
wrong, but they force us to be vigilant for key turning points, and
frequently work well enough to prevent costly misreadings of the market.
SPX
Cycle Conditions as of 4/12/02
Cycle |
Phase/PTT |
Target |
6
Month |
Down |
950-1000p |
10-13
Week |
Down/5-20 |
1076 |
6-7
Week |
Down-Bottom/0 |
1100 |
20-25
Days |
Down/4-9 |
1090 |
8,13
Day |
Bottom-Up/0 |
1100-1105 |
PTT - Periods Till Turn
L-Low,
H-High
SWD=
Sideways Down Phase- Trading Range
SWU=Sideways Up
p: preliminary
Too Early: Too soon to project
Nasgap
Charts
The 10-13 week cycle is early in a
downturn, with the 5-6 month cycle in a weak up phase, the quintessential
SWUP, or sideways up phase. The indicator keeps flirting with a breakdown,
but positive cyclicality is still just strong enough to prevent it. The
6-7 week cycle looks like it wants to rally from here, but it won't get
very far considering the weakness in longer cycles and the relative
stinginess of the Feed.
Heading down, 1699 is a 100% retracement of
the February-March rally. The first upside retracement level is 1777.
Nasdaq
Cycle Conditions as of 4/12/02
Cycle |
Phase/PTT |
Target |
6
Month |
Down/3-4M |
1475p |
10-13
Week |
Down/15-30 |
1630p |
6-7
Week |
Down-Bottom/0-1 |
1675-1725 |
20-25
Days |
?/? |
?? |
8,13
Day |
SWU/4? |
1785? |
PTT
- Periods Till Turn
L-Low,
H-High
*SWD=
Sideways Down Phase- Trading Range
SWU=Sideways Up
p: preliminary
Too Early: Too soon to project
Sucktor
Watch-
Sucktor
Watch will be covered in the weekend edition to be posted Saturday.
Dirty
Dirty SOX
Is this the beginning of a very early downturn in the 6 month spin cycle for
the dirty dirty SOX? There are hopeful signs but the group remains
dangerous for shorts. Where's the darn SOX 4 and 6 week
cycle low? Perhaps right on the 6 month trendline. Too many shorts are fodder for the bulls and market
makers. If the group can get decisively below that trendline, we'll
know the tide has turned, but it should try to shinny up that line for
awhile first.
Stool
Request Line Stock O' The Day
Stock 'O the
Day will be in the Saturday posting.
I still have
a few Stock'O's in the queue, but if you have an idea for one, send it to [email protected].
Include some original reason for why you think the stock is deserving. Be
clever! Anything longer than 25 words- automatic disqualification! And
please, no penny stocks.
Stoolwethers
Check back
later Saturday for the full weekend edition, including a Stoolwether
review.
Golden
Stool
Over
the next couple days, we may find out just how strong the uptrend in the
gold stocks is. 6-7 week momentum is indicating a top. If the indicators
remain at high levels, it's safe to conclude that these stocks are
trending, and so long as the trend is intact, they can be held. The
expectation here is still for a shallow correction like last month, but
watch those 10-13 week cycle indicators. If they turn down, it might be
best to step aside until the dust clears. It's also entirely possible that
the group is getting ready to launch again. Doc continues to be a holder
of precious metals funds until he sees clear and unmistakable signs of
reversal.
Long
Bong Hit
Long term
bond yields have been correcting for a couple of weeks. The moment of
truth has arrived, with yields back to the uptrend line. If short cycle
oscillators do not turn up with yields beginning to move up off the
trendline it could be a sign of severe economic weakness. It's going to be
real interesting next week to see what this market tells us as it trades
along this line. Bond yields have tended to cycle every 4 to 6 weeks.
They're due to turn up. Let's see if they do.
Uncle Buck's Illness
Every
time Uncle Buck looks like he'll finally keel over, he comes back from the
dead. Is it time for this up phase to kick into high gear for a couple of
weeks. Looking at recent cyclicality, it sure looks that way, but the 119
level may be impregnable.
See you in Intraday
Stool.
Dr. Stepan N. Stool
Chairman of the Department of Stock Proctology
A.S.S. Endowed Chair
American Society of Shortsellers Endowment
American Academy of Stock Proctology
Let me know what you think on the Stool
Pigeons Wire.
Previous Issue
Welcome
To New Subscribers
Welcome, and thank
you for subscribing to the Anals of Stock Proctology. You
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