by In yesterday’s post, I pointed out that, according to FactSet, consensus S&P 500 EPS estimates had dropped about -0.50 across the board over the last three weeks (see 2020 is over, what’s the next pain trade?). The decline turned out to be a data anomaly. A closer examination of the evolution of consensus estimates revealed a sudden drop in EPS estimates three weeks ago. Discontinuous changes like that are highly unusual, and it was traced to the inclusion of heavyweight Tesla in the S&P 500. In this case, analyzing the evolution of consensus earnings before and after the Tesla inclusion was not an apples-to-apples comparison. My previous bearish conclusion should therefore be discounted. Nevertheless, I am becoming tactically cautious about the stock market despite resolving
Topics:
Cam Hui considers the following as important: equity markets, Free Posts, sentiment analysis, Technical analysis
This could be interesting, too:
Ibrahim Anifowoshe writes Bitcoin May Make a Bull Run Towards ,000, TradingShot Analyst Says
Andriy Moraru writes Commodities Technical Analysis, March 1st — March 5th
Lance Roberts writes Despite The Fed, The Bond Market Is Hiking Rates 02-26-21
Lance Roberts writes The Markets May Be Starting To Worry About Rates 02-19-21
In yesterday’s post, I pointed out that, according to FactSet, consensus S&P 500 EPS estimates had dropped about -0.50 across the board over the last three weeks (see 2020 is over, what’s the next pain trade?).
The decline turned out to be a data anomaly. A closer examination of the evolution of consensus estimates revealed a sudden drop in EPS estimates three weeks ago. Discontinuous changes like that are highly unusual, and it was traced to the inclusion of heavyweight Tesla in the S&P 500. In this case, analyzing the evolution of consensus earnings before and after the Tesla inclusion was not an apples-to-apples comparison. My previous bearish conclusion should therefore be discounted.
Nevertheless, I am becoming tactically cautious about the stock market despite resolving this data anomaly.
Negative seasonality
The first and least important reason is seasonality. Seasonality is a factor I pay attention to, but technical and fundamental factors tend to dominate price action more. We are entering a period of negative seasonality for the markets, and the January-March period tends to be choppy with a flat to down bias.
Extended sentiment
Sentiment models are still extended, though readings have come off the boil. The Citigroup Panic-Euphoria Model remains in euphoric territory and at historic highs.
Michael Hartnett’s BoA Bull-Bear Indicator is rising rapidly and nearing a sell signal.
I previously observed that the Fear & Greed Index displays a double peak pattern before the market actually tops out (see Time for another year-end FOMO stampede?). This was one of my bearish tripwires that haven’t triggered yet, though it may well be on its way to a sell signal.
Bearish tripwires
However, a number of my other bearish tripwires have triggered warnings. The low quality (junk) factor has spiked. In the past, low-quality factor surges have foreshadowed short-term tops in past strong market advances.
As well, the NYSE McClellan Summation Index (NYSI) reached 1000. which indicates a strong advance, and rolled over. There have been 16 similar episodes in the last 20 years, and the market has declined in 11 of the 16 instances.
I also warned that a rising 10-year Treasury yield could put downward pressure on stock prices. Bloomberg reported that trend following funds could sell T-Note and T-Bond futures and push rates upward.
Quantitative hedge funds are busy liquidating loss-making long Treasuries positions and could begin to establish new short ones if the 10-year yield breaches 1.10%, according to market participants.
Momentum funds known as Commodity Trading Advisors likely drove the initial move upward in yields on Wednesday, based on activity in futures markets, Citigroup Inc.’s Edward Acton wrote in a note to clients. The funds have been cutting losses since 10-year yields reached around 1.02%, said Nomura Holdings Inc.’s Masanari Takada.
CTA funds “appear likely to keep closing out long positions with yields at 1.02% or higher,” Takada wrote in a note Thursday. “We cannot rule out the possibility that CTAs could turn short,” at yields of 1.10% or higher, he said.
Vulnerable to a correction
