The Secular Position For Equities

Posted on April 19, 2013 Posted in Macro, Solar Cycles, Stocks22 Comments

I wrote last year about secular equities bear market progression in this post (click to view). I suggested that a pentagon was a typical formation based on history, and that based on pattern repetition what should occur next was an upwards breakout, followed by a retrace to the nose level, then secular bull momentum after that.

This is how the MSCI World Stock Index now looks:

Underlying Source: MSCI

A breakout has occurred. This pentagon shape and breakout can be found on the same timeframe for FTSE, Dax, SP500, Dow, Hang Seng and other indices. The action represented by the black arrow is what I suggested could happen next, with the momentum go point potentially coming in 2014/2015. This idea was based around my primary scenario of commodities making a secular top ahead in 2013/2014, helping to tip the world into a mild recession with stocks falling into a mild bear accordingly, before they charge – rather than the alternative that commodities peaked in 2011 and secular stocks bull momentum is already underway.

Here are the SP500 and Dow technical shapes during the last two secular bears:

In addition to the pentagon formation, I have highlighted on these charts and the top MSCI world chart above what is in effect a large W formation followed by a small W formation (in red). OK, we are operating on a fairly meagre sampling from history here, due to many country stock indices only having recent history, so perhaps don’t read too much into either of the formations that I am picking out. However, the message from both the pentagon and the WW formation would be that secular bears typically end with a coiling, a narrowing of volatility, and based on that we might not expect another major cyclical bear market ahead.

However, these charts are nominal. The inflation adjusted picture is very much a down-sloping pentagon, rather than the relatively benign-looking sideways range that the above charts show. The true secular bear progression can also be revealed through a gradual wash out in the stocks to gold ratio, and a similar gradual demolition in the price/earnings ratio in equities. In the last secular bear, US stocks began with a p/e of 24.1 and ended on a p/e of 6.6, shown here:

Source: Zealllc

Also note the bottoming p/e of the 1940s secular bear reached around 9. What I have tried to highlight with boxes on the above chart is that both the last secular bears ended with overall sideways action whilst p/es fell significantly to reach their secular low. This was because they both ended with an inflationary peak (circa 1947, 1980). High inflation will pull down the p/e ratio as stocks trade sideways, because they are cheapening in real terms.

So, in our current times, if stocks are to end with a similar final washout in p/es before new secular bull momentum, then there are two ways to achieve it. The first would be in line with history and this would be a period of peak inflation, where p/es shrink as stocks trade overall sideways. The second would be an absence of inflation (commodity slack and low money velocity continue), whereby stocks fall hard in nominal terms to achieve the p/e washout. This second scenario perhaps has a rhyme with Japan’s secular bear from 1989, which made a series of lower lows as it progressed, in the clutches of deflation. So, like I posed yesterday, is the US the new Japan, or is inflation still dominating and peak inflation a likely possibility? I suggest the shaping of the secular bear to date (we are currently at all time highs despite being in a secular bear) and the undoctored picture of inflation reveal that inflation is in play in the US, rather than deflation.

I don’t subcribe to a hyperinflationary outcome, but I think a pick up in yields and in money velocity and an inflationary feedback looping with stocks moving overall sideways is more likely than a deflationary end to the secular bear, whereby stocks fall hard to reach a washout in p/es. But have stocks already washed out enough by p/e?

I believe there is a reason why US stocks bottomed at a p/e of 9 in the 1940s bear, compared to 6.6 at the bottom of the 1970s bear, and that’s the difference in yields and rates, which were at opposite extremes in the two periods. In the current enviroment, and back in the 1940s, bonds and cash are earning little or even negative returns. Dividends are higher on many stocks than the yields on bonds. The p/e alone then doesn’t tell the whole story, because stocks are relatively more ‘valuable’ if bonds and cash are paying you a guaranteed loss. I suggest therefore that, generally speaking, a bottoming p/e of 9, rather than 6, may be more appropriate for this secular bear.

The Dow, SP500, Dax, FTSE, Singapore Straits and Hang Seng all already reached either p/e of 9 or below in this secular bear, not to mention much lower p/es for the PIIGS. Plus equities in general began this secular bear in 2000 from a much higher p/e (44) than the previous bears began. This begs the question as to whether we are going to see higher secular p/e bottoms and tops now and in the future as stocks capture exponential technological evolution or human progress. This question aside, perhaps we could doubt that US equities have washed out enough when we look at CAPE (at its lowest 12 so far) or the Q ratio (0.6 so far versus 0.3 historically). However, not all stock indices necessarily have to washout to single CAPEs (Japan ended the last secular bear at CAPE 20), and the Q ratio perhaps has a long term trend towards higher values, as shown by the narrowing of its two components over time here:

Source: Dshort

In short, I don’t see a compelling case that equities need to wash out more than they have by valuation in this secular bear so far. Meanwhile, the Dow-gold or SP500-gold ratio has also washed out ‘sufficiently’ in this secular bear, if not to record extremes.

So could secular stock bull momentum already be underway and commodities flipped into a secular bear in 2011? Much of what I wrote in The Alternative Scenario (here) to support this alternative possibility is still valid, with the added developments that gold has since broken down and NASA say perhaps the solar maximum already occurred in February 2012. It will become clearer as developments unfold with time, but until then, perhaps my best case against this having happened would be a lack of pick up in yields or velocity by now.

So these are my current conclusions. I don’t see a massive case to wash out valuations further, but will assume that some last drag-down is ahead because of historical secular bear ending patterns and perhaps CAPE and Q ratio. I don’t see a deflationary case for equities to tumble in nominal terms to achieve this, as the secular bear has proceeded against an inflationary backdrop with stocks currently at all time highs, so any such washout, if it is to occur, I’d expect to be overall sideways against an inflationary backdrop. The environment of low yields and rates is pertinent: it perhaps means stocks do not need to wash out ultra low by valuation, and that bid support would be higher. And there is also the potential that we have a permanent shift higher in Q ratio and p/e bottoms. In summary, I don’t expect a major drawdown in equity prices. but something milder.

So, I want to buy into a significant pullback in stocks with a secular bull view. Ideally something that looks like the pullback to the pentagon nose level. Ideally with a few more countries dropping under p/e 10, and ideally on the back of an escalation in commodities and inflation. Until I can rule out that a secular bull in stocks began already, I will likely adopt the strategy of layering in to any pullbacks that I consider deep ‘enough’, perhaps 10% off or more. However, if stocks were to mount such a pullback, then the action in commodities would likely be telling as to whether they have a peak left ahead, and in turn shed more light on the secular equities position, which which to further navigate.

Velocity, Yields, Inflation, Growth And Commodities

Posted on April 18, 2013April 18, 2013 Posted in Bonds, Commodities, Indicators, Inflation, Macro, Solar Cycles, Stocks39 Comments

I maintain the late 1940s is our closest historical mirror, as per this chart:

Then, as now, they had a problem with money velocity. But it reversed course and took off as of 1946.

Source: Hoisington

Yields also reversed course as of 1946.

Source: Milton Friedman

As per my last post on money velocity, there is a historical relationship between the two. Here we see it clearly:

Source: BNVInsight

Essentially, expectations of rates, inflation and growth determine the path of yields and velocity. In 1945, like now, there were very low expectations in these three areas due to excessive post-war government debt, government controls and growth that would not stick. But then in 1946 yields and velocity began to increase and inflation took off and peaked in 1947. The picture changed.

In my recent post on money velocity I showed a selection of charts that show a current potential bottoming out of both velocity and yields, though only tentative at this stage. If this is the case, then we could also be set to see inflation take off and potentially reach a peak within a year in line with the historical mirror. If the solar peak is ahead later in 2013, this is a very good fit with 1947 which was also a solar maximum.

Here are 5 year treasury yields versus core inflation (excludes food and energy). We can see yields are overdue a catch up. Money is parked in bonds paying a negative real return. The divergence captures a lag in belief and sentiment that is overdue a reversal.

Source: Scott Grannis

Yes the Fed is manipulating this market, but it is not the difference since 2011 – it was doing this before. Rather it is the mired perception of unsustainable growth. However, since mid-2012 we have seen a sustained positive picture in leading indicators that still persists at the time of writing. Unless leading indicators turn down again sharply soon, then I give good odds to a belated change in perception, a belief in growth, that should generate an upturn in yields, velocity and inflation.

What would that mean for commodities and stocks? Using the late 1940s historical mirror, we can see that commodities were the beneficiary, with corn and copper charted here:

Both accelerated as of the turn up in yields and velocity of 1946, and had made the bulk of their parabolic rises within a year. Oats and wheat performed similarly, crude oil escalated in price by 50% from 1946 to 1947, and the CCI index as a whole made its peak by late 1947.

If we turn to the Dow-gold ratio, we can see that by 1947 the ratio was already in an uptrend, because stocks had been on a tear, much like now.

Source: Macrotrends

Here is the Dow Jones chart from the period in question:

Source: Stockcharts

Stocks rose fairly steeply into a 1946 peak. That stocks perform well in an environment of low rates and low growth was in evidence then, as it has been into 2013. In 1946 stocks made a pullback and then traded sideways, before the secular stocks bull momentum ‘go’ point as of 1949. So whilst stocks consolidated around 1947, commodities esclatated.

But let’s not get too carried away with the historical rhyme. Back in 1946 in the US, price controls, that had been implemented during the world war, were lifted, which along with weather-related bad harvests, helped drive up commodity prices. There are no such price controls today. The government also abolished the buying rate it had set for treasury bills, which helped free yields. In short, the government took several measures at the time to reduce its controls over the economy. Clearly there is a chime with today: the US government has supressed yields and taken controls over the economy in terms of ZIRP and QE and other policy actions. What we do not yet see is the relinquishing of such controls. However, if the US government were to announce it was stepping back from QE or eyeing an end to zero interest rates in the future, then this could have the same effect as in 1946 of yields rising, which would be accompanied by velocity, and inflation could then logically follow. Perhaps then an end to QE would not be a nail in the coffin for gold, but the opposite.

What 1946/7 and 2012/13 do have in common is the solar maximum. If you subscribe to the theory that sunspots drive human excitement and this manifests itself as speculation, buying and inflation, then we have another angle. This alone should encourage money velocity, bullish policy actions, and drive money into pro-risk.

Now if you don’t buy into the solar idea, or maybe the solar maximum passed already in Feb 2012, and you don’t buy into the historical correlation with the late 1940s either, the we nonetheless still have an unsustainable situation of negative real rates and yields, and money supply and velocity at opposite historical extremes. Unless the system is broken, then at some point growth is going to stick and accelerate, and these extremes will mean revert. Is it broken? Is the US the new Japan? Unable going forward to get growth and inflation to entrench? As it is by far the largest contributor to world GDP, this would be felt globally for some time. Well, the US was keen to avoid Japan’s errors, i.e. being slow to react to deflation until it was set in. It was aggressive in response to the 2008 crisis. We also have an exponential trend in technological evolution, which at an even faster rate of paradigm shifts going forward, should be the fuel for a new secular stocks bull. The US remains a world leader in technology. Plus, through natural gas disoveries and shale oil the US has its own ample energy resources again to power growth, which Japan lacked. So time will tell, but there are reasons to believe that the US can make a normal transition into a new K-spring, and so likewise the global economy.

I suggest the natural cleansing cycle, a regular secular bear, a K-winter, has worked through within normal parameters, and we are in the realm of a secular transition. Unless you do believe the system / the US is broken, then a new cycle of growth should be emerging, and yields and velocity should be undergoing a reversal. As that occurs, it would be normal to see the fresh circulating of the parked money bring about inflation, and for commodities to enjoy another leg up. If you draw in solar cycles (assuming the solar max is ahead not behind) and the 1946/7 historical mirror to this, then the prediction is refined further: we should see stocks pull back and give way to commodities outperforming, for yields and velocity and inflaton to rise up, all around now. The Dow-gold ratio having bottomed should not be the death knell for gold, but instead reflects the environment being positive for equities as it was into 1946, and such a pullback on equities (as occurred then) would be a buying opportunity for a forthcoming momentum ‘go’ point in stocks.

In the worst case scenario, the current status quo would persist for some years longer. Yields and rates and velocity would remain trapped at ultra low levels as sustained, entrenched growth remains elusive. Therefore, I continue to watch leading indicators closely. I believe that if they can remain positive and healthy into mid-2013 then we would have a long enough run behind us to change perception, and this should inspire the moves I am imagining.

State Of The Markets

Posted on April 17, 2013April 17, 2013 Posted in Bonds, Commodities, Currencies, Indicators, Macro, Solar Cycles, Stocks50 Comments

Starting with leading indicators, the latest Conference Board table is a sea of green:

Source: Conference Board

Global money supply suggests a flattening out of industrial output in mid-year, but at good growth levels:

Source: Moneymovesmarkets

US leading indicators remain positive:

Source: Dshort/ECRI

In short, the global picture looking out on the horizon is good.

However, with coincident data, things look different. Economic surprises have tumbled of late:

Source: Brokenmarkets

If we look at relations between the CCI commodities index, the MSCI World stock index and major economy economic surprises, then we see they generally move together, but typically economic surprises lead the turn:

Underlying source: Brokenmarkets

What is notable is that equities have diverged over the last 6 months, whilst relative weakness in commodities has been more in line with the trend in economic surprises. It suggests equities may be overdue a correction.

If we aggregate 10 year treasury yields, Euro-USD, the CCI Commodities and MSCI World Equities indices, then the collective trend changes over the last 12 months appear like this:

Source: Bloomberg

We see a notable downtrend in pro-risk since the start of February but with equities diverging. To be specific, it is the US and Japanese stock indices that have diverged, as we see corrections more clearly over the last couple of months in the Hang Seng, STI, Dax, FTSE. And a result of outperformance in US and Japanese stocks is more expensive valuations, with both now having p/es of around 17 (compared to the other country indices listed which are between 11 and 14 p/e). So are US and Japanese stocks due a period of underperformance, a belated correction? Or do the two biggest QE programmes in the world make for a difference that will endure until those policies are reigned in?

There is a potential topping pattern in the Dow Jones currently, as shown by the historical mirror below:

Source: HubertMoolman

The overthrow out of the wedge could be reversed. Monday’s action – when gold toppled 10% – added to the likelihood of this topping pattern. However, yesterday we saw a partial retrace. The trend in economic surprises suggests they are overdue a proper pullback, however on the flip side the geomagnetism trend has resumed upwards. If I remove lunar phasing and show the short term geomagnetic trend only versus the SP500 it looks like this:

A correction has given way to a new uptrend which currently extends out to mid-May. This could imply that the pro-risk chart aggregate above is due a turn into a new uptrend, in line.

If equities were to make a proper pullback, then the question is whether commodities would outperform, as they historically tend to as late cyclicals. Below we see this occurring in both 2000 and 2008.

There is a distinct gap between stocks and commodities formed over the last 12 months. If there remains a secular bull in commodities, then we should see that close again and commodities to perform well despite a pullback in equities. On the other hand, if the secular bull in commodities is over, then we should see that divergence continue. The CCI commodities index remains tantalisingly in a triangle, as shown:

Source MRCI

The breakdown in precious metals has pulled it to the support line, which makes the next move in commodities the key.

So imagine commodities made their secular peak in 2011 and the sharp breakdown in gold is to be followed by general steep commodity falls that take the CCI into a breakdown. Resource stocks would get hit hard, and we would see a pullback in equities accordingly. Equities would fall, commodities would fall harder, treasuries would be a likely beneficiary. However, I can’t square this scenario with the positive picture in leading indicators. Unless we see a rapid deterioration in the general picture of growth ahead then I see it as more likely that commodities will hold up, and at worse continue to build out the triangle sideways. To add to this, from my recent post on money velocity, we see a potential bottoming out in progress in money velocity and treasury yields, that I suggest could have begun in 2012. We similarly see a potential bottoming out in UK gilt and Geman bund yields below, as of mid-2012:

Source: Fxthoughts

If the wall of parked money begins to circulate a little in the economy, based on a more entrenched picture of growth, then we ought to see a pick up in pro-risk asset inflation and a pick up in price inflation. So I continue to watch leading indicators for evidence that growth is becoming entrenched or for evidence that we are cycling down into danger again, to be met by another central bank response. Right now the evidence is for the former, and so I have my doubts that the commodities secular bull is quite over. Below we see the secular bull progression in commodities since around 2000, in terms of relative expensiveness versus other assets:

Source: Nowandfutures

It is clear that there has been a large relative repricing of commodities in that period, but it is also clear by the various measures that we have not seen levels reached in the 10s, 40s or 70s. That said, we saw a much more extended repricing of equities into 2000. So my question would be: has the exponential rate of technological evolution brought about a change whereby we see future Dow-gold ratio tops and bottoms at ever higher levels (as human progress is captured in equities)? Or is this offset by increasing scarcity of commodities and increasing demand (more humans chasing fewer resources), which means the secular commodities bull still has work to be done to drag those ratios to normal historic levels?

Below we see the Dow-gold ratio and the author (not me) questions whether what we just saw in gold was the equivalent of a 1987 event for stocks, namely a crash that appeared to spell the end of the bull market in stocks and a breakout for gold, but was swiftly reversed.

Source: Goldversuspaper

If that is so, then we should see buyers step back in on precious metals and retake the breakdown level of 1550 in due course.

A look at gold monthly in log scale shows the crash so far like this:

As things stand this is a correction that does not violate the secular bull market. UBS echo Chris Puplava’s view that the correction in gold will turn out the start of a new up phase:

Source: UBS

And a reminder of real yields globally is still a positive environment for gold:

However, I maintain the picture for gold – and commodities – is very much in the balance. As you know I can write a broad-based case for commodities having peaked in 2011, aligned with a sunspot maximum in 2012, as well as a broad-based case for the secular commodities peak being ahead, in line with a sunspot maximum in late 2013. The breakdown in gold adds weight to the former. Piece by piece we will see the clear winner, and right now I look to see if buyers step in on gold to reveal a weak-hand shake-out whilst retaining its log support and whether commodities attract interest here to prevent a CCI breakdown. Sunspots have picked up, but not to new highs, and so it remains in the balance as to whether the solar maximum was in Feb 2012 or is ahead.

If gold did make its secular peak in 2011, then we could point to similar technical shaping at the end of the last secular bull:

Since that chart was produced, gold dropped to a low of 1320, which would be equivalent to around 350 in 1981. Looking at what happened next in the 1980s, gold was then not far off a bounce, which retraced half the falls before failing again.

In summary, I still think it remains in the balance as to whether the secular bull market in commodities and gold is still in play and has one final (biggest) leg up still to come. Since selling my stock indices longs, my positions consist of short treasuries, long multiple commodities, and long gold, silver and gold miners. I doubled up on these last three into the sharp falls. My exposure is significant, and it is going to get expensive if the secular bull market is over and more falls are ahead. However, if this was the last correction before a bull market finale, then those positions would conversely turn out highly profitable. It’s a risky business, but I am leaning towards staying put and watching developments for further clues, rather than lightening up.

Gold

Posted on April 15, 2013April 15, 2013 Posted in Commodities, Indicators, Solar Cycles50 Comments

As per comments I have attacked this morning into further selling. Added to gold and silver, and will add to miners later. Chart at end of Friday shows gold miners bullish percent hit zero and high volume day which previously correlated with bottoms:

Source: Stockcharts / CobraMV

I am playing for the mean reversion rally, the snapback, pending resolution of whether gold remains in a secular bull or topped out in 2011. See the last secular bull for possible echoes – both green circle triangle breakdowns could apply here, with the higher the termination of the secular bull:

Source: ActingMan / Fred

However, regarding the lower green circle, I maintain that we are not in 1975 by mirror, but 1979 or 1981, depending on whether we remain in the secular bull or not. There is a history of assets shaking out weak hands in a final flush before going on to make a parabolic peak. Gold also did this in late 1978, just over 12 months before making its secular parabolic peak:

Source: SeekingAlpha

Gold has now dropped just over 20% from its 2011 peak.

So three possible scenarios for you:

1. Are we in 1975, at the start of a mid-bull cyclical bear? I don’t believe so, as it does not fit with solar cycle timing. That mid-70s correction was the half-way point for the gold secular bull, but by gold-stocks and gold-real estate ratios we are close to the end, and the gold secular bull is a good 5 years older in duration at this point.

2. Are we at the turn of 1978 into 1979, just over a year from the secular top? I still rate this as the most likely, but it is very much in the balance. If this is so, then we should quickly see a recovery in gold, now that the weak hands have been shaken out and the key technical levels broken. A large and final move up to a peak in 2014 would fit very well with my solar cycling.

3. Lastly, are we in 1981, breaking down from a secular bull that in this case ended in 2011? I rate this as higher probabilty than 1. and less than 2. There is the possibility that the smoothed solar max already occurred, plus most stock indices hit secular low valutations. Stocks-commodities and real estate-commodities ratios hit low enough by secular history, if not absolute extremes.

If the third scenario is correct, then the danger is that gold falls long and hard before recovering. Although I previously showed the CCI to have already corrected a large amount from its 2011 peak versus its likely secular bottom, gold has been the commodity that has held up the best, and thus has potentially the furthest to fall. Nonetheless, nothing goes down in a straight line, and with overbearish/oversold extremes already in play, I am attacking for a bounce and will attack lower from here.

More In The Balance

Posted on April 9, 2013 Posted in Commodities, Indicators, Inflation, Macro, Solar Cycles, Stocks19 Comments

Secular commodities peak behind or ahead? Here we go again.

The last secular bear in commodities, circa 1980-2000, lost 50% in nominal value from top to bottom. The previous secular bear, circa 1948-1968 lost a third of its value top to bottom. Assume a secular bear in commodities began following the peak in 2011, then drawing on those past events we could estimate a secular bear bottom in the zone shown:

Source: MCRI

We could go further back in time to average in more secular commodity bears, but I suggest the evironment was different, pre fiat capital era, pre free globalised markets, and pre inflationary government policies. The 1980-2000 secular commodities bear has a sideways bias, that is also shared by the 1948-1968 secular bear, and we see overall sideways action in secular equities bears too – and these are all because of modern government policies of inflation. In real inflation-adjusted terms, we see more of a downward bias, compared to the nominal.

The 1980-2000 commodities bear proceeded in waves, i.e. cyclical bulls and bears within an overall secular bear, and this too is similar to progress in secular stocks bears. If the secular bull peak for commodities is already in, back in 2011, then the chart above shows that we would already be getting towards around half way between secular bear top and bottom. Given that the secular bear progresses in waves, then a wave up ought to be soon due, perhaps like the 1982-1984 cyclical bull, post 1980 peak. As it happens, multiple commodities are currently at levels of extreme bearish sentiment, including corn, silver, copper, soybean meal and sugar, which would provide the fuel for such a potential rally. That said, overbearish or oversold increases the likelihood of a mean reversion or relief rally, but on occasion these extremes can persist and test patience, until the evironment becomes more supportive. So how does demand and supply look currently in some key commodities?

Natural gas shows a recent tightening of demand and supply, as inventories are dipping beneath the historic average. Nothing extreme though:

Crude oil inventories are plentiful, which is a depressant on price:

Source: Bespoke

Both zinc and copper show increasing inventories. Both in notably different positions to 2008 when commodities made a big interim peak.

Cereals, i.e. wheat, rice, maize, show a fairly steady position, with inventories largely tracking sideways over the last 5 years:

Source: FAO

And lastly to gold. Demand decreased last year on the year before, but remains high, with central bank and investor demand the main areas of growth the last few years:

Source: Moneygame

Whilst supply has been growing since a bottom in 2008, to a now all time high:

Source: ZealLLC

In summary, the overall demand-supply situation in these key commodities is no backdrop to a major rally, at least not as things currently stand. But to return to the opening question of whether a secular commodities peak is behind or ahead of us, the clues may still be in gold. If the period since 2000 is a K-winter then gold should be the leading asset. If demand slack in other commodities reflects recent weak economic growth, then the picture for gold is more complicated, as it is less a commodity and more a hard currency. Gold can thrive in conditions of negative real interest rates and money printing (or currency dilution). That said, it is also an inflation hedge and depressed commodity prices are doing nothing to convey troubling inflation expectations. As gold is sensitive to investor interest, were there to be a shift in stance from central bank away from negligible rates and currency diluting policy action, we might have conditions in place for an enduring secular bear. Indeed, this is what I predict will happen, the question is when? Does gold have a parabolic rise left in it yet, to end its secular bull, or did that occur in 2011 with silver making such a blow-off move?

This next chart shows how we are into the region of a secular transition in stocks and real estate versus gold. Gold is relatively expensive versus both and a rounded bottoming in the ratios could be in progress:

Source: Sharelynx

The ratios are low enough to justify a secular reversal, or they could yet break lower to around 1980’s levels to complete the secular extreme relative valuation. The curiosity is the Q ratio, which together with CAPE for US stocks, leads some analysts to expect steep falls in US equities from here, such as to 450 on the SP500 ( Russell Napier) to rectify it. I doubt it because of secular low valuations reached already on other stock indices around the world in this secular bear: such as Japan sub p/b 1, PIIGS p/es between 2 and 7, Germany, UK and Hong Kong all reaching below 10. In the last secular stocks bear, Japan only reached a low of p/e 20, so not all indices necessarily have to wash out, as long as most do.

Add in treasury bonds, due a reversal out of a 3 decade secular bull market and potentially bottoming around now along with money velocity, and consider the rounded bottoming in progress in many real estate markets around the world, and we have a window, and evidence, here for a broad secular transition, out of a K-winter and into a K-spring, switching from a secular commodities bull to a secular stocks bull, to a new secular treasuries bear and a new bull market in real estate.

The US dollar also appears primed for a new bull market, following a decade long bear. Interestingly, although the perception is that commodities generally advance when the US dollar is declining, in fact the last secular commodities bull peak took place against a sideways dollar, and the previous two commodities peaks against a rising dollar. In the secular commodities bull since 2000 we have seen more periods of commodities rising whilst the dollar has been falling, but we have also seen periods of them moving together. In summary, it does not appear that the fortunes of the USD particularly correlate to the fortunes of commodities. So what other clues can we use to assess if commodities made a secular peak in 2011 instead of biding time before a secular peak erupts ahead?

Well, I’ve left out solar cycles until now so time to bring them in. My analysis shows commodities making secular tops close to solar maximums. Danny suggested that food and metal peaks tend to occur at different times. It is true that historically individual commodities have peaked at different times. Here is a brief summary of previous secular commodities bull peaks:

1917 solar peak: copper peaked 5 months before, wheat 4 months before, corn dead on the solar peak, silver not until 27 months after.

1947 solar peak: oats peaked 6 months after, wheat 6 months after, corn 7 months after, copper 15 months after.

1979/80 solar peak: copper peaked dead on, gold peaked 1 month after, oil 4 months after, sugar 9 months after.

There is the possibility that the tighter packing to the solar peak in 1979/80 could be related to the free-est, fast-est, most globalised conditions to enable solar-related speculation to be at its most potent, but if we exclude that then we are left between the historic examples to expect commodities to make individual peaks at various times around the solar peak window. That peak is currently anticipated for Autumn/Fall 2013. Could the peaks in copper, silver, and cotton in 2011 be near enough to be within range for solar validation? Possibly, but a little stretched, and when we consider the likes of oil and wheat made their peaks back in 2008, that becomes then too far away.

What I have previously explained is that secular asset peaks around solar maximums are speculative. The solar activity brings about buying and speculation behaviours in humans through biological changes. Spikes in inflation occur at each solar maximum as shown, within a range of about a year either side:

Therefore I suggest it is possible through a feedback looping of commodity speculation and inflation to bring about a secular commodities peak ahead, even with looser inventories. Once demand increases and the perception is of a change in trend in inventories (rather than accute inventories) then the status quo can quickly change. However, there is no doubt that the looser inventories and weaker Chinese / global growth are a headwind. After all, there is nothing magical about the solar influence, it is just one influence in sentiment. I have also argued that the secular asset of the time becomes the target of the solar-influenced speculation, and if the perception is currently that commodities and equities have already switched secular position, then could stocks become the target of the speculative frenzy? I can’t rule it out. However, it remains that oil and other commodities tend to be late cyclicals, making a peak after stocks, so when stocks make their swing or cyclical peak, we could then see a move into commodities. As gold has built out a sideways range near its secular highs, it could then potentially break out, giving the technical break into clear air to inspire a speculative frenzy.

In conclusion, the call as to whether a secular commodities peak is ahead or behind us remains a tough one, very much in the balance. But it comes down to how to trade this, until evidence aligns more decisively one way or the other (gold breaks up or down, CCI breaks up or down, sunspots make a new high, commodities take over as the outperforming class or equities roar away). I am already positioned long a basket of commodities. Because of the uncertainty I do not wish to add here, despite the overbearish extremes. However, if commodities did peak in 2011 then as per the first chart the CCI is reaching towards a price level and time point where it is due a cyclical bull rally soon. I therefore believe that I can likely make a profitable trade out of commodities regardless of their secular position, with a little patience.

Money Velocity

Posted on April 8, 2013April 8, 2013 Posted in Bonds, Commodities, Indicators, Macro, Solar Cycles14 Comments

The Fed, BOE and BOJ have all been busy creating money out of thin air to make purchases in the bond market. The institutions selling the bonds then have new money in their accounts and so this produces an increase in the money supply. The intention is to stimulate the economy by increasing the money supply, once interest rate cuts have been exhausted. The ECB has this kind of direct action on standby. The BOJ has just doubled its purchases. The result of these policies is that we have seen a large and unprecedented increase in the world’s money supply over the last few years:

Source: Maomoney-maoproblems

As more money chases the same amount of goods and services, this clearly has the potential for massive inflation. Yet, so far, the banks and institutions have largely sat on their increased reserves. The new money is parked, rather than circulating in the economy. This shows the lack of confidence in growth and a persistence of fear. So the increase in the money supply has been offset by a lack of money velocity. Here are money velocity charts for Japan, the Eurozone and the US, in order:

Source: Nowandfutures

On the US chart, which is longer term, we see the same long term cycling in money velocity as in treasury yields: This perhaps makes sense as money velocity would tend to be lower when money is being parked into treasury bonds in an enduring trend, and vice versa. So, are we going to see money velocity about to turn upwards, at the same time as treasuries starting a new long term bear market? Certainly, with treasury bonds up to 20 years in duration paying negative real returns (using official CPI), the potential is there. Purchasers of treasuries are buying something offering a guaranteed loss, and the main reason for that is capital preservation: they expect equities, real estate and commodities to do worse. If confidence is restored in growth and pro-risk assets then we could expect a significant reversal in money flows, out of bonds. Aggregating the US money velocity measures and zooming in on the last few years we see have seen a gradual flattening out, which raises the potential this could begin to rise in 2013: By my solar cycles work, this is indeed what should occur. Growthflation, money bidding up the secular pro-risk asset into a peak, money reversing out of treasury bonds. But we need to see velocity start to pick up, rather than flatline. If we look back at our closest historical mirror, 1947, then in the US longer term velocity chart further up we can see that velocity just reversed out of its downtrend with about a year to go before the solar/secular commodities peak. Treasury bonds also topped around a year before the solar peak, which confirms the correlation between the bonds and velocity. So, with the solar peak expected around Fall / Autumn 2013, did treasury bonds top out and yields bottom some time last year? They potentially did, subject to where they go from here:

Source: stockcharts

And using the money multiplier measure of velocity, we also see potential this bottomed too:

Source: St Louis Fed

Now let’s say I’m wrong about the solar maximum correlation. Unless you believe the system is broken and/or not cleansed in the cleansing cycle since 2000, then a natural cycle of growth should still take hold at some point – only the timing would differ. Once the entrenched growth becomes clear then the wall of money will be rapidly tempted out of cash reserves and bonds as it remains that they are paying negative real returns. Unless central banks then very swiftly neutralise all the new money and the easy conditions – and with history as our guide this is unlikely – then there is a high risk of major inflation in the prices of goods and in pro-risk assets. If we get such an inflationary episode, we should see the feedback looping with commodities (as hard asset inflation hedges) to deliver the secular parabolic finale that I anticipate. The alternative scenarios would be these. One, we continue to only muster low and spotty growth, nothing entrenched or sustained, which keeps the wall of money largely parked, central banks on the accelerator, and stocks gently rising. Two, all the central bank interference has prevented the cleansing cycle from doing its work, and we need a big deflationary episode before any genuine growth can be mustered. I don’t rate either of these scenarios as likely. I believe we have seen a normal cleansing cycle, with equities and real estate valuation sufficiently washed out, and private sector balance sheets significantly repaired (public sector clearly not – but it is the private sector that is the engine of growth – and public debt should not reach crunch point in the major economies until later this century on current trends). Plus the cleansing cycle has been of normal duration and characteristics. The central bank action did not succeed in restoring natural growth in this period – the cycle was king – but rather their actions are likely to supercharge what happens next. With history as our guide, it is likely that central banks will be behind the curve as inflation and speculation rapidly escalate, and with little appetite to reverse or neutralise all the new money supply. Bring back in my solar cycling theory, and we are primed for that to occur 2013 into 2014, before excessive commodity prices and belated central bank tightening tip us into a global recession again. If leading economic indicators start to turn down again, then central banks are likely to respond again, with yet more stimulus. Perhaps the ECB would join the QEers. But another cycle of indicators and asset prices falling over the next few months would start to stretch the solar timing. So I’m keen to see if the current growth is the one that sticks, and that leading indicators stay in the positive. The next chart suggests that this may be so:

Source: Moneymovesmarkets

The leading indicator of leading indicator has just lately strengthened again instead of tumbling. If the growth can stick here, then I expect the rest to fall into place: money flows out of treasury bonds, money velocity to pick up, commodity price escalation and inflation, and all to the timing of the solar maximum. Here’s a final chart that may be predicting this:

Source: Nowandfutures

In The Balance

Posted on April 4, 2013 Posted in Bonds, Commodities, Currencies, Indicators, Inflation, Macro, Real Estate, Solar Cycles, Stocks51 Comments

Time for an updated look at the big picture: is a secular commodities peak ahead or behind us?

Here is the equally weighted commodities index. It remains in the nose of a large triangle. A decisive break down through the twin supports will add weight to a secular commodities peak having already occurred in 2011, whereas an upwards break beyond down sloping resistance will add weight to a secular bull still in tact.

Source: MCRI

By solar/secular history, a secular commodities peak normally occurs around or closely following a solar maximum. However, that too remains in the balance as shown by the alternate predictions in the SIDC chart below – either a solar peak occurred at the turn of 2012 or a solar peak is ahead later this year.

Source: SIDC

The most common consensus remains that the solar peak is rather ahead than behind us, with the median forecast for Autumn/Fall 2013. Planetary models predict a spike in sunspot action around Sept/Oct 2013 and some physicists also predict a burst in activity later this year, which would fulfil the NOAA red line prediction below:

However, until such a flurry is seen, it remains unresolved.

Danny challenged the 33 year secular commodities peak and solar peak correlation with this chart:

It is an ultra long term modelling of commodity prices, to which I have added the markers to show when the industrial revolution began and when the gold standard was abolished. It can be seen that the correlation in solar peaks and commodities peaks largely failed prior to the industrial revolution. Understand that prior to this time there were only localised markets for commodities, little storage, and almost nothing in the way of demand and supply matching. Farmers tended to grow their usual crop, bring it to market, get the best price they could for it, and anything unsold went to waste. For a natural cycle that influences collective human behaviour to manifest itself, I suggest optimum conditions are instant, globalised, free markets, like we have in the current day and age. In pre-revolution conditions, it would have been impossible to draw out real cycles from slow, localised, restricted and fragmented markets. I don’t see that part of the chart as valid therefore. See also below how the solar/secular oscillation in the Dow-gold ratio became pronounced after the freeing of gold and paper:

Source: Sharelynx

So, returning to the ultra long term commodities price chart above, we see an broken success rate (as shown by the circles) in the fiat era and between the industrial revolution and fiat era two successes and a potential inversion or double failure. However we classify that anomaly, such a failure could potentially reoccur in the future – unless it was the result of a non-free, slow, localised era. But a failure amongst a majority of successes would be in line with all other ‘real’ trading disciplines, i.e. there is no holy grail, nothing that works all the time, just things that work most of the time. To sum up, the solar peak is probably ahead, and the secular commodities peak is probably ahead in line with that.

Turning to climate and agricultural commodities, are we going to see another year of extreme temperatures and natural disasters, which would drive up commodity prices? The next chart reveals that the last two years have not been as severe as a cluster before that. However, they were both La Nina years, which has a cooling effect.

Source: NOAA

This year, a largely neutral year is expected (no dominance of La Nina – or El Nino either) so there is the potential for a bigger bar – unless the long term trend is now reversing.

Global warming is one factor, global wierding (rate of natural disasters) another, and in the US, drought conditions at the start of 2013 are displaying patterns that could unfold into the equivalent of the worst drought years in history. Grains took a big hit in price this last week due to higher than expected plantings and stockpiles, but there remains the potential that climate developments could drive agricultural commodities higher again in the remainder of the year.

Rising commodity prices and inflation together make a mutually reinforcing feedback loop. Escalating commodity prices drive up inflation and escalating inflation attracts money into commodities as an inflation hedge. So how do inflation expectations look, aside any climate developments? The next chart shows expectations have been on the rise since Q3 2012, with a divergence in gold that we might expect will be rectified:

Source: M Boesler

If gold is not to make up that ground, then we might expect inflation expectations to fall instead – i.e. a period of deflation would be ahead.

Turning to valuations, gold is historically expensive here versus stocks and real estate, but could yet become more extreme expensive before reversing.

Source: Fred

Source: Approximity

All 3 charts reveal gold’s meteoric relative rise in price to stocks and real estate since 2000. The question is, does it have a parabolic finale yet to come in which it reaches the obvious zones, or is going to stop short and is already in relative decline?

If gold has already made its secular top (in 2011), then we would expect stocks to be now in a new secular bull. So did stocks wash out sufficiently, in terms of price/earnings and price/book valuations, to make it likely the secular bear is over? So far in the secular bear, the FTSE reached a p/e of 7, the Dax 9, the Hang Seng 8, the SP500 and Dow 9. The Nikkei only reached 13, but it made a p/b ratio of under 1. Broadly speaking, they are all low enough to satisfy secular bear cleansing, and we can add to that the extreme low p/es reached in the PIIGS at the height of the Eurozone crisis. If we look at other valuation measures in relation to the SP500 then we get a different picture:

Source: Dshort

These four valuations combined suggest the secular bear has not washed through sufficiently, and that current valuations are closer to a top than a bottom. However, we ought to note the much higher top in 2000 and question whether central bank policies of unprecedented easing and stimulus have dragged all these measures permanently higher.

US indices aside, we have reasonable evidence from around the world that secular cleansing could be largely complete in terms of valuations reached at the bottom of the falls in 2011. Plus this year we have what appears to be a new secular bull break out in the Japanese indices.

What about treasuries? This secular transition should also be accompanied by a secular transition in treasuries from a long term bull market to a new long term bear. Did treauries top – and yields bottom – in 2012? It remains to be seen as it is currently too technically ambiguous to say with confidence.

Source: Stockcharts

Using history as our guide, if a secular commodities peak is ahead later this year (and potentially into H1 2014), then we should see a topping process in equities by around mid-year whilst commodities take over as the outperforming class. A feedback looping between inflation and commodities should occur, until too expensive commodity prices and tightening yields help push the economy into recession. That recession should be fairly mild, with stocks making a shallow bear market, whilst commodities plunge harder, in the mirror of their preceding parabolic escalation. The bottom of that shallow stocks bear would be the momentum ‘go’ point for the new secular stocks bull.

Alternatively, if a secular commodities peak already occurred in 2011, then secular bull momentum in stocks should already be underway, and we might point to action in the Nikkei or SP500 in 2013 as supporting evidence. The recession that should follow the secular commodities peak occurred then in 2011-12, with the Eurozone and the UK two notable areas that experienced this. It was not a world recession however, and we did not see typical cyclical stocks bull topping bells ringing preceding it. If we look at an overlay of the CCI commodities index on the MSCI World stock index, we can see that they topped together in April/May 2011:

Source: Bloomberg

We did see outperformance in commodities, but not to the degree of 2008, or the last secular commodities bull peak of 1980. But silver did make a suitable parabolic blow-off in price.

To sum up, a case can be made for both competing scenarios: a secular commodities peak ahead or behind us in 2011. It remains in the balance, but not indefinitely. The CCI commodities index will break one way or the other. Gold will catch up to inflation expectations, or inflation expectations will fall. Sunspot evidence will come in more definitely in favour of a solar peak ahead or behind. Climate evidence as 2013 unfolds will drive agricultural commodities to escalating or plummeting prices. Equities will maintain secular bull momentum and outperformance of equities, or they will begin to make a topping process whilst commodities outperform.

What about a third scenario: both equities and commodities drop here into a bear market, with treasuries the beneficiary? For that to occur, we should still need to see a topping process in stocks whilst leading indicators and internals deteriorate. Currently, we do not see major warning flags in either, with leading indicators and breadth supportive. However, we have lately seen changes in trend in economic surprises, both in the US and Europe:

This coincides with the change in geomagnetism trend, and perhaps provides fuel for a pullback. I do not believe, however, that we have evidence for more than a swing pullback at this point, but it could become part of a more significant topping process that lasts several months.

If we pull back and look at the wider environment for assets, we largely/generally have ultra low rates, central bank support, money supply growth, cash and bonds paying negligible or negative real returns, stock yields exceeding bond yields, low/spotty economic growth and not excessive inflation, and historically below average valuations for stocks and real estate. This is a fairly positive environment in which equities and housing can attract money flows, and that is what we are seeing. It would take another sharp slowdown in the world or another debt-related crisis coming to the fore somewhere, for this to change. The question is whether we have seen a sufficient cycle of cleansing since 2000 and sufficient foot-on-the-accelerator central bank action to now sustain growth. If growth can stick and even accelerate, then we have better chances of reaching growthlationary froth and the commodities/inflation feedback loop, as all the inflationary stimulus and easing could quickly become problematic, with faster money flows out of bonds.

Finally, a few more potential clues as to the likely winner in the scenarios. Crude oil inventories are approaching a record, which has the potential to pull the rug from under crude prices if growth stumbles. Inflation should make a bigger peak 5 years after 2008, which would be this year, based on secular/solar history. Emerging markets manufacturing surveys (a leading indicator) picked up to 52.6 in March (over 50 is growth), of which China is the biggest commodity consumer. Commodities generally move opposite to the US dollar, as they are priced in US dollars, and the US dollar could be ripe for a sustained decline as speculator positions hit a record and this has previously led a swing top.

In conclusion, there remains no clear winner, with good evidence supporting a secular commodities peak ahead, or that it occurred already in 2011 and a new secular stocks bull is in progress. I maintain that the balance of probability lies with the secular commodities peak being ahead in H2 2013 – H1 2014, which should mean a cyclical stocks bull top occurring by mid-year 2013. However, if that is the case, then it should only give rise to a shallow stocks bear before new secular bull momentum. I am positioned for a secular commodities bull finale ahead, with significant exposure to precious metals, energy and agricultural commodities. I have only a position in Russia by way of equities exposure. So there is my concern: if the alternative scenario is the correct one, then my current portfolio will perform badly. However, if commodities did top in 2011, there should be an ‘echo’ bounce around 3-4 years later in line with history (as the commodities supply-demand story is not resolved overnight), which would be a belated opportunity to make some profits on those positions, with correct timing. In the meantime, evidence would increase in favour of a new secular stocks bull being underway and I would add trades there.

I will continue to weigh this up as developments come to light. Your views and any additional evidence very welcome. I have personally found that we have reached a period of time in the markets, and perhaps in my progress, where I don’t really feel there are any ‘experts’ out there I can rely on. I believe this is the difficulty of trying to navigate a secular transition, which in effect takes several years.

As Things Stand

Posted on March 28, 2013 Posted in Commodities, Currencies, Indicators, Lunar Cycles, Macro, Solar Cycles, Stocks33 Comments

The latest CB leading indicator summary looks unequivocally strong:

Source: Conference Board

US economic surprises are also positive and in an uptrend:

Source: Ed Yardeni

However Eurozone economic surprises are conversely in a downtrend, and the relationship shown below suggests this disparity is the dominant factor in the declining Euro v USD FX.

Source: Beleggenopdegolven

If we look at Eur-USD together with other specific pro-risk proxies, namely the MSCI World Stock Index, the CCI Commodities index and 30 Year Treasury Yields, this is the picture:

Source: Bloomberg

The collective trend was up from November to the end of January. Since then it would appear that we have been in consolidation/correction mode – and this is a fit with the 5-models-in-alignment (see my Tools For 2013 post).

Currently, cheap and unloved assets are Euro, coffee, sugar and gold miners, whilst those reaching into overbought and overbullish zones include the US Dollar, Dow Transports and SP500. If we look at the bullish percent over call/put ratio for the SP500 we can see that we have been recently oscillating in the frothy zone which led to a swing top twice in 2012. However, 2010 and 2011 show things could potentially get frothier, with spikes up to 150.

The CCI Commodities Index and crude oil are both into the noses of large triangles, suggesting an imminent break out one way or the other. Here is crude:

Crude has accelerated this last week with good momentum, but now encounters resistance. It does not have fundamental support from stockpiles, as they continue to be above seasonal average, but I suggest it is the global growth story that is the main reason for the advance.

Meanwhile, coffee, sugar and some other agricultural commodities are at secular bull rising support, which also puts them at a key decision point – either a break down or the start of a new upleg. I still believe the greatest likelihood is of commodities taking off and becoming the outperforming class going forward (based on sunspots, secular history, late cyclicals), and I am positioned accordingly. However, I continue to wait for specific supporting evidence to confirm this, namely a new high in sunspots, a technical break out in the CCI, and for any pullback in stocks to be counter-accompanied by an advance in commodities.

This Saturday is the start of the lunar positive period. Is there a ‘highest probability’ stock index trade on offer? Well, there is now a clear change in the geomagnetism trend, as shown here:

A lower low and a lower high means the geomagnetic trend can no longer be classed as up. In addition, there is some frothiness in stocks as identified above. Therefore, as per the make up of my highest probability trading analysis, I am not going to take this one.

I am now back in England.

Highest Probability Trading

Posted on March 23, 2013March 23, 2013 Posted in Indicators, Lunar Cycles, Solar Cycles, Stocks6 Comments

There are no dead certs in the markets, only probabilities. No discipline or indicator works all the time, but some things work most of the time. Draw those together, and I believe we get somewhere towards highest probability trading. I am sure different successful traders would have varying views on what would make up trades of highest probability, but this is how I see it:

Equities are the best performing asset class over time by far, see here:

So, broadly speaking, long equities is the trade. This is backed up by stats showing that stocks are in a bull market 80% of the time. Bull cycles in stocks have an average duration of 5.4 years and an average gain of 74%. Bear cycles average a duration of 1.5 years with an average loss of -12.7%. If we also include the fact that secular stocks bulls go upwards whilst secular stocks bears go sideways – rather than down – then a naturally bearish bias is an impediment in playing the markets.

I also suggest the trade is to be long a stock index rather than an individual stock. Roughly speaking, 50% of a stock’s movement is attributable to the overall stock index, 30% to its sector, and just 20% its own. Individual stocks can go bust, or plummet on surprise bad news.

I believe that the shorter the trading timescale, the more randomness and noise there is. Many people (and machines) buy and sell specific assets at many different times for many different reasons. The longer the trading timescale, the clearer the trends. However, trades left on for years will be profit-diluted by counter cycles within an overall trend. So, if we can identify when cyclical stocks bulls begin and end, we could go long the stock index for the duration, or we might look just to capture the significant upwards swings within that.

How can we identify the beginnings and ends of cyclical stocks bulls? Well, there are no hard and fast rules and it is not easy, but history, as always, is our guide. Cyclical stocks bulls normally end with yields rising, inflation rising, and tightening that chokes off growth. They end with a topping process, a price range lasting several months, with divergences in breadth and leading indicators. They end with overly-bullish sentiment and valuations. In contrast, cyclical stocks bulls begin with overly-bearish sentiment, a capitulation in breadth, positive divergence in leading indicators, and often a V-bounce price bottom. We can also draw on solar-secular history to gauge likely timings of starts and ends.

Within cyclical stocks bull markets, there are ‘swings’ which I suggest are largely sentiment-driven by levels of geomagnetism. The SP500 v. geomagnetism for the cyclical bull of last 4 years is shown below:

So, we might refine the highest probability trade and suggest the trade is long the stock index during cyclical stocks bulls whilst the cumulative geomagnetic trend is upward. We can identify a likely change in geomagnetic trend using the 3 week geomagnetism forecast and the typical seasonality of geomagnetism, both of which I model.

Within that, there is lunar phase oscillation. The period into and around full moons is largely one of poorer returns than the period into and around new moons. So, we might go long the stock index at the start of each positive lunar period and close at the end of the positive lunar period, during cyclical stocks bulls whilst the cumulative geomagnetic trend is upward. These trades would last around 2 weeks each.

So which stock index might we use? Dichev and Janes showed that all the major stock indices around the world show better returns around new moons than full moons, but two of those showing the biggest differentials were the German Dax and the Singapore Straits Times. Whether this is something cultural that produces greater sensitivity to lunar phasing, or whether this is because more traders use moon-phasing in these countries, would perhaps be another paper in itself. But the German Dax and Singapore Straits might offer the best returns if we are to trade the positive lunar fortnights only.

Source: Dichev/Janes

What about geomagnetism sensitivity? Krivelyova and Robotti revealed that most major country stock indices perform worse following geomagnetic disturbances. However, Germany and South Africa were the exceptions. My cumulative geomagnetism chart above calls into question their assessment of Dax non-sensitivity (I suggest this is because of method – they only looked at performance up to 6 days following a geomagnetic storm rather than using a cumulative trend in geomagnetism). Nonetheless, by their research, the stock indices with the biggest differentials for geomagnetism were the US indices.

I suggest, then, that we might trade the German Dax, the Singapore Straits Times and the US SP500, and this has the benefit of diversification, with stakes in America, Europe and Asia.

Lastly, rather than mechanically trading this idea, I would like to look at each such opportunity and assess whether the stock indices are overbought or overbullish, and how they stand technically (at support or resistance or in bullish or bearish patterns). I would be keener to take the trade if stock indices are not overly frothy, not bumping up against key resistance or carving out potentially bearish formations.

So let me sum up. My suggestion for trading of the highest probability is to go long (i.e. buy) the German Dax, the Singapore Straits and the US SP500 (for diversification and natural sensitivity) at the start of each positive lunar period and close (sell) both at the end of the positive lunar period (roughly a fortnight), during geomagnetic uptrends within cyclical stocks bull markets, repeating these trades each lunar month where the stock indices are not overly bullish or overbought or suffering bearish technicals.

What’s your take on this, and what would you consider trades of highest probability?

In the next post I will delve deeper into this idea, and offer supporting statistical evidence.

S O L A R C Y C L E S

Category: Solar Cycles

The Secular Position For Equities

Velocity, Yields, Inflation, Growth And Commodities

State Of The Markets

Gold

More In The Balance

Money Velocity

In The Balance

As Things Stand

Highest Probability Trading