rounded corner
rounded corner
top border

S & P - Markets Are Very Rational


Bookmark and Share

Monday Evening  21 June 2010

 The market continues to speak as it rejected higher values, exactly at a 50% retracement that became
resistance.  Mention was made that 1130 was the half-way mark, based on the weekly chart, and the
rally high was 1129.50.  Although no position was taken, last week, we did indicate that the structure
of the market looked weak.  After rallying in response to the Chinese Yuan news, over the weekend,
price proceeded to decline 27 points.  One could call that a weak market.

 What resulted from Monday's wide bar range was an outside  key reversal: a higher high, lower low
and a slightly lower close.  Two possibilities emerge.  One, price could remain in a trading range, bound
by Monday's high and low.  Two, the weakness will continue.  It may be preceded by a weak rally, but
a retest lower, even as far as the 1040 area, could be in store.

 It is clear that few expected to see such a dramatic rally, and few expected to see that rally not only
fully erased, but decline under Friday's low, as well.  This tells us that no one can know in advance HOW
the market will develop, and it is why we always say to wait for developing market activity to point the
direction for taking a position with a higher degree of probability that the outcome will be positive.

 Two potential scenarios were given above, but anything can happen, so we have to wait and see if a
weak rally unfolds or if downside continuation accelerates before a rally develops.  The point is, not
knowing HOW price will unfold, wait for it, and then be in a position to respond.  It may sound like a
broken record, but it does reduce risk exposure when the trading environment is uncertain.

 Uncertainty will never be removed from trading, but seeing how market activity develops, there IS a
rationale in what it says, along the way.  We are adding a Natural Gas chart to amplify this point.

 1

 S&P D 21 Jun 10

 To further demonstrate how markets are not random, as many non-technically oriented people like to
espouse, and books have been written about the randomness of markets, but we are not in that camp,
and for good reason.  This chart was added to show an unrelated event, but one that gives notice of
what the market is doing.

 Mention has been made that when you see over-lapping bars, there is a battle going on between the
buyers and sellers. It is best to wait and see how it is resolved.  We bought the breakout in Natural Gas
back on 11 June, [See  Natural Gas - A Special Type Of Trade, click on 
http://bit.ly/ciqvvF],  
but we got out too soon, just under 5.000 before the market moved into a sideways trading range, higher, and led to the over-lapping bars.

 Where to get back in, once out and price rallies higher?

 When the overlapping bars developed, we did not know the outcome, and were prepared to buy a new
higher breakout, but it did not happen.  Reading the developing market activity said to wait.  Monday's
sharp decline shows why.  The market activity was rational in the sense that it was giving a message
of an unresolved battle.  We have seen over-lapping bars before, and we will see them again.  They
do not tell you the outcome in advance, but they do say to exercise patience.  How random can that be?!

 The read on the S&P was not as clear, but the market was sending mixed messages in the latter part
of the rally, just prior to Monday.  The outcome was unknown, but there was reason, based on how the
market developed, to exercise caution and stand aside.  This way, one does not get caught in the wrong
direction, irrationally trying to outguess the market.

Nat Gas D 21 Jun 10

 



Recent articles from this author



About the author


Michael Noonan is the driving force behind Edge Trader Plus.  He has been in the futures business for 30 years, functioning primarily in an individual capacity.  He was the research analyst for the largest investment banker in the South, at one time, and he managed money
in the cash bond market for a $5 billion pension fund using Peter Steidlmeyer’s Market Profile.

Proficient in Gann, Elliott Wave, Market Profile, etc, Mr Noonan no longer uses any of those technical procedures.  Instead, his primary focus is on developing market activity, relying solely on the information generated by the market itself, such as the interaction between  price and volume, and how they relate to important price levels in the market structure.  He incorporates proven market principles, such as knowledge of the trend, supply and demand, along with disciplined rules for to find developing high probability trade opportunities.

He can be reached by e-mail at his website: mn@edgetraderplus.com

Published by Barchart
Home  •  Charts & Quotes  •  Commentary  •  Authors  •  Education  •  Broker Search  •  Trading Tools  •  Help  •  Contact  •  Advertise With Us  •  Commodities
Markets: Currencies  •   Energies  •   Financials  •   Grains  •   Indices  •   Meats  •   Metals  •   Softs

The information contained on InsideFutures.com is believed to be accurate but is not guaranteed. Market data is furnished on an exchange delayed basis by Barchart.com. Data transmission or omissions shall not be made the basis for any claim, demand or cause for action. No information on the site, nor any opinion expressed, constitutes a solicitation of the purchase or sale of any futures or options contracts. InsideFutures.com is not a broker, nor does it have an affiliation with any broker.

Copyright ©2005-2012 InsideFutures.com, a Barchart.com product. All rights reserved.

About Us  •   Sitemap  •   Legal  •   Privacy Statement