Secular stocks bear markets track overall sideways in nominal terms due to inflation, whilst price/earnings valuations gradually fall from expensive to cheap. The shape and development of the current secular bear market, which began in 2000, bears resemblence to the secular bear of the 1970s and the secular bear of the 1940s.

Here is the MSCI world index and the secular bear that began in 2000, compared to the SP500 in the 1970s and the DJIA in the 1940s.

Here are the individual SP500, Dax and FTSE charts overlaid on each other for the current period, showing that they all made the similar pattern.

In the last couple of years of the pentagon patterns in the previous secular bears, the markets contracted into a range and coiled, before breaking out to the upside, then backtested the breakout level before advancing in a secular bull of real momentum. In that pre-breakout phase, the markets were characterised by a loss of appetite for equities – the final washout after a decade long sideways grind.

We see that in the current market environment, through shrinking stock market volume, declining reading/viewing figures for financial media and equity fund flows persistently negative despite the stock market performing fairly well and bonds at extremes of expensiveness paying negative real returns. The chart below shows the difference in fund flows into those two asset classes despite equities yields at record attractiveness compared to bond yields.

This next chart shows that flows into bonds or equities largely followed the fortunes of the two classes, but since 2009 there has been a disconnect, whereby funds have flowed into bonds despite equities’ performance improving in relation to bonds. This also demonstrates a washout in appetite for equities.

Source: JP Morgan

A common way of measuring the end of a secular stocks bear market is by price/earnings valuation, with the rule of thumb that valuations have to reach single digits to become extreme cheap enough to bring about a secular inversion. However, the valuation reached depends upon the measure of inflation used, because, for example, for p/e10 a higher inflation estimate increases average real earnings over the 10-year period, and thus lowers the P/E10 ratio. Official CPI inflation stats calculations have changed since  the 1980s but these form the basis for most p/e calculations.

Nowandfutures generate their own inflation data to compensate for the CPI changes, and the real inflation adjusted long term Dow moves from the blue line to the green line in the chart below. That makes a big difference, as it makes the 2009 low an extreme secular low and our current position still below the long term trend, i.e. a longer term buy rather than a sell.

Source: Nowandfutures

Similarly, Shadowstats provide their own inflation measure that attempts to keep inflation calculations consistent over time. Dshort’s real S&P Composite Index adjusted for Shadowstas inflation paints a similar picture to the one above, which is that 2009 marked a secular low extreme and that equities are still an attractive buy at the current level, 45% below long term trend.

Using the same Shadowstats data, a discontinued Dshort chart reveals that the S&P p/e10 would be currently around 15, having come down from around 35 at the secular 2000 peak. With history as our guide, we should expect this p/e10 to drop again below 10. This can be achieved by stocks falling, by inflation rising, or some combination of both.

A look at price-to-book valuation also shows that both US and European equities are approaching previous secular lows, but could drop a little further yet.

Shiller p/es reveal Europe to be closing in on secular cheapness.

Looking at Japan, the cyclically adjusted p/e shows a similar picture: getting there, almost extreme.

MSCI’s global equity index forward p/e valuation is currently around 11, which is also approaching secular cheapness, but could fall a little further yet.

An alternative view of secular bear progress comes through US consumer confidence, which reveals similar developments in the 1970s and today. A further dip in confidence would complete the pattern and this would probably occur with an economic slowdown or stocks bear.

Underlying source: Sentimentrader

Returning to the secular bear pentagon patterns at the top of the article, after stocks broke upwards out of the pentagon in the 1940s and 1970s, stocks retreated again the following year in a successul backtest of the breakout level, before advancing in earnest in a secular bull of momentum. I suggest we are currently breaking out of the pentagon in the final third of 2012 to complete an overthrow for equities as we move into 2013, before we make that retreat in stocks to retest the breakout. That retreat, accompanied by rising inflation, should provide the drop to single digit valuations for those indices that still haven’t hit extreme cheapness. Bear in mind that not all indices will hit single digits as, for example, Japan ended the last secular bear at CAPE 20.

Following the secular bottom, in this instance 2008/9, there is a gradual process of repair. From financial system meltdown in 2008 to European debt crisis in 2011/12, that’s improvement in terms of global accuteness and that improvement is reflected in stocks moving higher.

Recall how derivatives had mushroomed into a major system threat by 2008. Since then the size of these markets has gradually come under control.

Source: Nowandfutures

Recall the accute sovereign default risks in certain countries in 2011 and earlier this year. The past 6 months has seen reductions in default risks across the globe.

Source: Bespoke

Recall the major real estate bubble into 2005/7. Since then real home prices have been fully deflated (in the US).

Recall household indebtedness, related to the real estate bubble, had reached excessive levels. This too has been repaired with time (US chart again).

Clearly not everything has been repaired. Global economic growth is currently fragile, and leading indicators generally weak. Central banks are still intervening with support and stimulus. However, secular stocks bulls don’t begin with everything repaired, they begin from very dire circumstances. I can argue that the secular stocks bull really begins at the secular nominal bottom, in this case December 2008 / March 2009, which was when things were at their worst. Federated Investors echo this view:

Source: Federated Investors

What secular history shows us is that stocks are unlikely to return to those 2009 lows or get anywhere near them. Our closest historical mirror is the 1940s secular bear because interest rates were kept negligible due to excessive debt. With central banks committed to keeping interest rates low in our current environment until recovery is entrenched (which will by association mean a secular bull is entrenched) we have even more reason to expect stocks to perform well, because their attractiveness strengthens relative to bonds and cash. Stocks dividend yields are at record highs versus treasury bond yields. This could mean that this time round, US equities do not need to drop to single digit p/es, because they are already at secular cheap valuations in terms of comparative yields.

Let’s draw in solar cycles and understand that a recession has always followed a solar maximum, and the solar maximum is forecast for 2013. Based on previous timings, we might expect that recession to come to pass 2014-15. Using the 1940s as our closest historical mirror, the recession could well be mild, as ultra low rates and central bank support are likely to persist through it.

Usually, stocks turn down roughly 6 months before a recession begins, as a leading indicator. This is how I see the price action in equities unfolding:

The topping out in the stocks cyclical bull (since 2009) should be a process – a trading range at the top, as seen in 2007 and 2000 on the chart. A high and then a retest of the high, but with negative divergences telling at the second attempt. I suggest stocks will top out as commodities really take off, with a big move in commodities bringing about an economic slowdown / recession. Stocks should therefore act as a leading indicator of that slowdown. I suggest stocks can reach 1600 on the Sp500 before topping (1600 is not my call for a top but a reachable level), and then retreat in a mild cyclical bear to go with the mild recession. As per the pentagon charts at the top of the article, stocks may pullback to 1300 or so in that cyclical bear, before advancing in earnest in a secular bull as of sometime in 2014.

Let me finish by contrasting my forecast with the very bearish projection that some others are promoting, because it clearly has huge implications for positioning. This is a chart with text from the Financial Tap, but I’m not singling them out – there are several well known sites publishing something similar.

Source: FinancialTap

It looks technically compelling, and the supporting arguments run something like this: despite all the easing and stimulus the world economy can’t get any sustainable growth, and when the penny drops that central banks are impotent, the bottom will fall out of the market. Not only that but excessive debt has not been resolved, and a sovereign is going to default sooner rather than later. Excuse me paraphrasing, but you get the idea.

My argument is this. There is no historical precedent for that major third collapse from previous secular bears. Any ‘third’ low is much higher. The shaping out of the 1940s and 1970s bears from this point is bullish, not bearish. Furthermore the current environment is one of ultra easy monetary policy, together with central bank commitment to stimulate and support like never previously, which really provides great support for yielding asset prices from underneath (cash and bonds are paying guaranteed negative returns, which improves the picture for equities yet further). What is more, equities are historically at cheapness extremes versus bonds, and also cheap in relation to commodities. Some European countries are at absolute secular valuation lows. The Eurozone is committed to staying together and to not allowing a default in any of its members. Their step by step measures, and other repairs in the global economy and the markets since 2008/9, are genuine reasons for equities to be much higher. Sustainable growth will be the last piece: once we are growing sustainably (technological evolution continues its parabolic ascent), the secular bull will be mature and some way higher.

What if this time is different? It is absolutely concerning that exponential trends in population, consumption and debt (brought forward consumption) are unsustainable in a world of finite resources, and our debt-based money system and policies of permanent inflation threaten to eventually accelerate to either system collapse or hyperinflation if no changes are made. However, none of those issues are at crunch point YET – we are just further up the curve. On current trends, humanity faces a true crunching of these issues from around 2030 to 2060. Between now and then things may change and exponential technological evolution has the potential to deliver solutions to some of these issues. Should no solutions be found, then we still have ‘room’ for a secular bull market in stocks before the crunch. An acceleration of the debt parabolic has defined these last few years, but once sustainable growth re-emerges, we will see an end to these large debt accelerations (not a resolution, just a slowing). I predict debt to be maintained at ratcheted-higher levels, and inflation to be permanently ramped higher, with the latter assisting in containing the former.

Coming Next: Forecast 2013 Part 4: New Secular Bonds Bear Market