Weekend Stock Market Outlook

Stock Market Outlook For The Week of
November 18th = Downtrend

INDICATORS

20/50 Day Moving Averages: Downtrend
Price & Volume Action: Mixed
Objective Elliott Wave Analysis: Mixed

COMMENTARY

A difficult week to judge, but sticking with a downtrend for now. In the end, preserving capital is key so caution is the name of the game right now.

This week starts with major indexes back below their 50-day moving averages. Most fell below their 20-day moving averages last week as well, but were able to recover by the close on Friday... the lone exception being the NASDAQ.

2018-11-18- US Stock Market Averages

The price/volume signal switches to a mixed signal because we picked up a couple distribution days and we weren't able to hold a key moving averages (200 day). Neither of which is what you want to see early in an uptrend. Also, the best performing stocks aren't exactly "growth stocks" (car parts, retail, drug stores).

OEW indicates an uptrend within the overall downtrend. So far, OEWs expectation for a sell off to ~2,700 was the right call, as prices found support at that level on Wednesday and Thursday. If the analysis holds, a rally to +2800 will follow over the next few weeks, before we fall again towards 2,400.

The S&P ($SPX) couldn't hold its 200 day moving average, and retreated last week. In the process, it "filled" both gap ups in the recent uptrend. There was price support around ~2,700, as OEW expected.

2018-11-18 - SPX Technical Analysis - Daily

Looking at the long-term picture, the S&P should confirm the uptrend or downtrend this week...unless it moves completely sideways and closes at the same price as last week.

2018-11-18 - SPX Technical Analysis - Weekly

To summarize, the moving averages didn't provide much support last week, so the downtrend signal remains in place. The price/volume indicator shifted to from uptrend to mixed. OEW is still mixed, but shows a short-term uptrend within the overall downtrend. You could argue that the price/volume indicator has an uptrend bias since it hasn't shown an outright downtrend yet. And OEW could be interpreted as an uptrend for the near term. This interpretation would show 2 of the 3 signals in uptrend mode, and initiate a trend change.

So what to do? My expectation is that we rally higher from here. We may even get back above the 50-day moving average, which would shift the overall signal back to an uptrend...albeit missing out on a ~2% price increase. The characteristics of the market are different (volatility, etc.), so you need to make sure your signals are appropriate. Keep your losses small, and don't be in a hurry to initiate large positions.

Participate. Protect. Prepare.

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You can check out how well (or poorly) the outlook has performed as a stand-alone, signal generator using past performance estimates:

For the detailed Elliott Wave Analysis, go to the ELLIOTT WAVE lives on by Tony Caldaro. Charts provided courtesy of stockcharts.com.