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November 12, 2009

3 Breadth Charts You Won't See Anywhere Else
by Guy Lerner

Figure 1 is a daily chart of the S&P500 (symbol: $INX). The indicator in the bottom panel comes from mathematician James Meikka. Meikka developed a formula to measure advancing and declining issues that prevents drift and forces it to maintain a consistent relationship with the zero line. It is like a McClellan Summation Index. Instead of applying the indicator to advancing and declining issues, I am utilizing NYSE up volume versus down volume in figure 1 (the data is hidden). So my indicator in the lower panel is a measure of advancing volume versus declining volume.

Figure 1. SP500/ daily

The March, 2009 low is noted in figure 1. Point 1 shows the peak of the initial thrust from the March low. Both price and our volume indicator made new highs. At point 2, price made a new high, but the indicator did not; this is a negative divergence that led to price weakness over the next 4 weeks. Point 3 shows that price and the volume indicator made new highs together, but starting with point 4, price made a new high but the indicator has started to lag. Point 5 is another new high but the indicator remains way below its mid-September peak. My interpretation: stocks in the NYSE are not receiving the sponsorship to justify the recent highs in the index.

Figure 2 is a weekly chart of the S&P500 (symbol: $INX), and the indicator in the bottom panel shows the percentage of NYSE stocks trading above their 40 day moving average. While prices are making new highs this past week, the number of stocks trading above their 40 week moving average continues to hover around 50%; furthermore, the trend from the March low has been broken. My interpretation: another sign of weakness as the rally narrows; there is weakness under the surface.

Figure 2. SP500/ weekly

Figure 3 is a weekly chart of the S&P500 (symbol: $INX) with the NYSE cumulative volume index in the lower panel, which comes from the Worden Brothers software. The pivot low point identified with the blue up arrows remains the "line in the sand". The current value is very close to closing below this pivot point, and in essence, this would represent a bearish signal. Typically, there is a tight correlation between cumulative volume and price, and the situation here once again suggests internal market weakness. I will keep you posted on this chart!

Figure 3. SP500/ weekly

Guy M. Lerner
http://thetechnicaltakedotcom.blogspot.com/

Disclaimer: Guy M. Lerner is the editor and founder of The Technical Take blog. His commentary on the financial markets is based upon information thought to be reliable and is not meant as investment advice. Under no circumstances does the information in his columns represent a recommendation to buy or sell stocks. Lerner may on occasion hold positions in the securities mentioned in his columns and on the Web site; in all instances, all positions are fully disclosed at http://thetechnicaltakedotcom.blogspot.com/. However, their positions may change at anytime. For more information on any of the above, please review The Technical Take's full Terms of Use and Privacy Policy (link below). While Lerner cannot provide investment advice or recommendations, he invites you to send your comments to: guy@thetechnicaltake.com.

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