2018 Archives -

Market Quality and Strength Falter

Published on June 29, 2018 by Blair in Featured, Long / Cash Position, Long / Short Position

Over the past week my core measures of market quality and strength fell below zero. One thing of note is that perceptions of risk aren’t rising much (yet). So, we’re seeing core weakness without a lot of concern. We’ll just have to wait to see if the weakness turns to fear or if this is simply a whip saw. The weakness in market quality and strength changes the core portfolio allocations as noted below. As always, use your own personal risk tolerance to structure your own portfolio. Volatility Hedged portfolio: 100% Long (Since 5/7/2018) Long / Short Hedged portfolio: 70% long high beta stocks and 30% short the S&P 500 Index (or use an ETF like SH) Long / Cash portfolio: 40% long and 60% cash

Tags: market health, sh

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Market Quality Goes Positive

Published on June 14, 2018 by Blair in Featured, Long / Cash Position, Long / Short Position

Over the past week my measures of market quality have gone positive. This changes the portfolio allocations as follows: Long / Cash portfolio: 80% long and 20% cash Long / Short Hedged portfolio: 90% long high beta stocks and 10% short the S&P 500 Index (or use an ETF like SH) Volatility Hedged portfolio: 100% long (Since 5/7/2018)

Tags: market health

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Strengthening Indicators

Published on June 8, 2018 by Blair in Featured, Long / Cash Position, Long / Short Position

All of my market health indicators are strengthening. Most notably my measures of risk and strength have moved from negative to positive. This changes the portfolio allocations as follows: Long / Cash portfolio: 60% long and 40% cash Long / Short porfolio: 80% long high beta stocks and 20% short the S&P 500 Index (or use an ETF like SH) Volatility Hedged portfolio: 100% long (since 5/7/2018)

Tags: market health

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Risk Warning Cleared

Published on May 7, 2018 by Blair in Featured, Long / Cash Position, Long / Short Position, Volatility Hedge Position

On Friday my market risk indicator cleared its warning. The core market health indicators are usually much slower to clear so they’re still mostly negative. The majority of them look like they’ll take several weeks and maybe a month or two to clear. This indicates that we’re probably in for more sideways consolidation, but not likely to decline significantly from here. The new portfolio allocations are as follows: Long / Cash portfolio: Long 20% and Cash 80% Long / Short portfolio: Long 60% high beta stocks and short the S&P 500 Index (SPX) 40% (or use an ETF like SH) Volatility Hedged portfolio: Long 100% As always, use your own risk tolerance in structuring your portfolio.

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Here We Go Again

Published on March 23, 2018 by Blair in Featured, Long / Cash Position, Long / Short Position, Volatility Hedge Position

My market risk indicator is warning again this week. That means a mid term volatility hedge on all the portfolios or going to cash. Below are the current portfolio allocations. Long / Cash portfolio: 100% cash Long / Short Hedged portfolio: 50% long and 50% hedged with mid term volatility (an ETF/ETN like VXZ) Volatility Hedged portfolio: 50% long and 50% hedged with mid term volatility. My core market risk indicators are also dropping fairly quickly.

Tags: market health, vxz

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Market Risk Warning Clears

Published on March 9, 2018 by Blair in Featured, Long / Cash Position, Long / Short Position, Volatility Hedge Position

My market risk indicator finally cleared its warning that was issued on 2/9/2018. We didn’t get the further downside that I expected (based on the odds), but our longs performed well enough that it blunted the loss from the volatility hedge (which held up relatively well due to a volatile month). My portfolio suffered a .6% loss. I feel it’s money well spent to sleep well at night when the market is in question. Most of my core market health indicators have strengthened since the last update. However, my core measures of risk still haven’t recovered. This measure is longer term in nature than my market risk indicator so it tends to take longer to clear. With everything added up the portfolio allocations are now as follows. Long / Cash portfolio: 80% long and 20% cash Long / Short portfolio: 90% long high beta stocks and 10% short the S&P 500 Index (or use an ETF like SH) Volatility Hedged portfolio: 100% long

Tags: market health, sh

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Warning Still in Effect

Published on February 23, 2018 by Blair in Market Comments

FYI, my market risk indicator is still warning. The bullish percent index is still below 60, but close enough that it could clear soon. The S&P 500 Index (SPX) is consolidating along its 50 day moving average. A significant move above it would almost certainly clear the market risk warning. Another way the warning could clear is a retracement that doesn’t break below the lows posted earlier this month, then a slow steady climb upward. The market is at an inflection point and the market risk indicator is waiting to see which way it breaks so until the warning is cleared the portfolios are in cash or hedged with midterm volatility.

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Market Risk Warning

Published on February 9, 2018 by Blair in Featured, Long / Cash Position, Long / Short Position, Market Comments, Volatility Hedge Position

I mentioned on Monday that my market risk indicator was warning. It still hasn’t cleared and it doesn’t look like it has a chance to clear by the end of the day. As a result, I’m calling a warning signal. Market risk warnings come in two varieties. Ones that last for only a week or two (a false signal) and ones that last for several months (a significant correction or bear market). This signal has the odds tilted to more downside because the Bullish Percent Index (BPSPX) is below 60. When it is below 60 and my market risk indicator is warns the odds increase substantially (3 times more likely) that we’ve still got at least another 10% drop from here before we make an ultimate low. This isn’t a prediction, merely stating the odds based on history. This signal changes the portfolio allocations as follows: Long / Cash portfolio: 100% cash Long / Short portfolio: 50% long high beta stocks and 50% long midterm volatility (an ETF/ETN like VXZ or VIXM) Volatility

Market Risk Rising

Published on February 5, 2018 by Blair in Market Comments, Market Risk

As of this moment, my market risk indicator is signalling. It requires a Friday close with all four components signalling to create a market risk warning. So we’ll have to wait till Friday before we panic with the rest of the market. Here are a couple of things I’m seeing. Two of the four components of my market risk indicator are very oversold. My core market health indicators are still all positive My core market health indicators are falling from overbought levels to more reasonable levels My conclusion is that the selling is due merely to fear and not concern over core market health. It looks to me like everyone knew that the market was overbought and now they’re all taking profit at the same time. As noted above, don’t panic until we see what the market looks like on Friday.

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All Green Again

Published on January 12, 2018 by Blair in Featured, Long / Cash Position, Long / Short Position

Over the last week, I saw broad based strength in my core market health indicator categories. My measures of market quality moved back into positive territory. This means that all of the portfolio allocations are now 100% long.

Tags: market health

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Market Quality and Strength Falter

Market Quality Goes Positive

Strengthening Indicators

Risk Warning Cleared

Here We Go Again

Market Risk Warning Clears

Warning Still in Effect

Market Risk Warning

Market Risk Rising

All Green Again

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