GMI: 0; GMI-S: 6; GMI-L: 25; Gone fishing

While the GMI has been zero for some time, note that the GMI-L is now 25 and the GMI-S is 6.  This means that all but one of the 16 short term indicators for the four major indexes are negative; and now the long term indexes are weakening.  Gi0720 12% of the Nasdaq 100 stocks rose on Thursday along with 21% of the S&P 500 stocks and 27% of the Dow 30 stocks.  While 18% of my universe of 4,000 stocks rose, only 6% of the IBD 100 stocks from 5/15 rose.  The market is slaughtering tech and growth stocks.  Only 50% of the IBD 100 stocks from 5/15 are in a bullish stage 2 up-trend, the lowest percentage since I began tracking this indicator on June 9 (range: 50-81%).  Only 32% of these IBD 100 stocks from 5/15 closed above their 30 day averages.  The QQQQ is in its eleventh day (D-11) of the current short term down-trend and has closed below its 10 week average for 10 straight weeks.

So what to do?  I am going on vacation, but will try to update the GMI sometime between now and early August when I return.  Every successful trading guru I respect has written that there are times to be out of the market.  The eloquent Jesse Livermore said there were times to go short, go long, and to go fishing.  Nicolas Darvas said only to trade when one’s conditions for trading are perfectly met by the market.  The "M" in CAN SLIM says to stay out of growth stocks when the general market is declining.  There is no hurry or urgency to trade. With the market acting so schizoid, I am going fishing.  The saying, "in May go away," has never been more appropriate.  Check out Thursday’s Investor Education myth buster article in IBD for an analysis of why it makes sense to be out of the market during declines.  Perhaps the market will give us a better opening in the fall.  Conservation of capital keeps one in the game…….

Please send your comments to:  silentknight@wishingwealthblog.com.

GMI: 0; GMI-S: 50; Real turn?

The GMI is still zero, although the GMI-S rose to 50.  One half of my short term indicators for the four indexes are positive.  The QQQQ is still the laggard.  Gmi0719 86% of the Nasdaq 100 stocks rose on Wednesday, compared with 93% of the S&P 500 and 97% of the Dow 30 stocks.  90% of my universe of stocks rose as did 94% of the IBD 100 list from 5/15.  There were 82 new yearly highs and 38 new lows in my universe of 4,000 stocks.  A TC2005 scan of the market found 14 rockets and 458 submarines, indicating that there are still many more stocks in confirmed down trends.  The QQQQ, currently at 36.62, has a long way to go (consecutive closes above 38.50) before it would convince me that a meaningful change in trend has occurred in growth stocks.  Time will tell.

Please send your comments to:  silentknight@wishingwealthblog.com.

GMI: 0; 100% cash

The GMI is still zero and a long way from turning positive.  There were 23 new highs and 257 new lows on Tuesday in my universe of 4,000 stocks.  Gmi0718 54% of the Nasdaq 100 stocks, 52% of the S&P 500 stocks and 73% of the Dow 30 stocks advanced.  The 50 day average of the IBD mutual fund index is about to cross below the 200 day average, indicating that managers of growth stocks funds are doing poorly.  When that happens, I also do not do well holding growth stocks.  With the major indexes below their 30 week averages (never mind their 30 day averages) the markets remain in sustained down trends.  Tuesday was the ninth day (D-9) of the current QQQQ short term down trend.  However, the QQQQ has closed below its 10 week average for nine weeks.  I typically make profitable long trades when the QQQQ  remains above its rising 10 week average.  The GMI indicators have kept me out of all major market declines since 1995.  I remain 100% in cash as I prepare to go on vacation until early August.

Please send your comments to:  silentknight@wishingwealthblog.com.