Advertisement
U.S. markets closed
  • S&P Futures

    5,209.75
    -5.00 (-0.10%)
     
  • Dow Futures

    39,207.00
    -16.00 (-0.04%)
     
  • Nasdaq Futures

    18,195.25
    -36.25 (-0.20%)
     
  • Russell 2000 Futures

    2,048.20
    -1.60 (-0.08%)
     
  • Crude Oil

    82.64
    -0.08 (-0.10%)
     
  • Gold

    2,164.90
    +0.60 (+0.03%)
     
  • Silver

    25.34
    +0.08 (+0.30%)
     
  • EUR/USD

    1.0878
    +0.0001 (+0.01%)
     
  • 10-Yr Bond

    4.3400
    +0.0360 (+0.84%)
     
  • Vix

    14.33
    -0.08 (-0.56%)
     
  • GBP/USD

    1.2726
    -0.0003 (-0.02%)
     
  • USD/JPY

    149.2710
    +0.1730 (+0.12%)
     
  • Bitcoin USD

    65,614.43
    -2,299.67 (-3.39%)
     
  • CMC Crypto 200

    885.54
    0.00 (0.00%)
     
  • FTSE 100

    7,722.55
    -4.87 (-0.06%)
     
  • Nikkei 225

    39,596.29
    -144.15 (-0.36%)
     

Jeff Clark’s Market Minute: This Pattern Is Another Warning Sign for Stocks

High-yield bonds are sending the stock market a warning sign.

Source: Shutterstock

Yes, the S&P 500 made a new all-time high on Wednesday. Yes, the Fed’s easy money policy is helping to boost stock prices. Yes, President Trump wants a higher stock market. And yes, we are entering a seasonally bullish period for stocks.

And, if high-yield bonds were making new highs along with stocks this week, then I’d have to wipe the bearish egg off my face and concede that the stock market isn’t in as much trouble as I thought.

InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading Tips

But…

As we’ve pointed out many times before, the action in high-yield bonds tends to precede the action in the stock market by anywhere from two days to two weeks. So, it’s notable that while the S&P was posting a new all-time high on Wednesday, junk bonds were falling.

And, by the look of the following chart of the iShares iBoxx High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (HYG), junk bonds look vulnerable to a much more serious decline.

Take a look…

This chart is forming a rising wedge pattern with negative divergence on the MACD and CCI momentum indicators. In other words, as HYG has been pushing higher and making higher highs over the past few months, the momentum indicators have been making lower highs.

This pattern usually leads to a breakdown – which means a selloff in the high-yield bond market.

That would be bearish for stocks.

And, if we combine this setup with the recent increase in bullish investor sentiment (a contrary indicator), the complacent level of the Volatility Index (VIX), and the huge price difference in VIX call options over VIX put options

Then that gives trades plenty of reason to be cautious – or maybe even bearish – on the short-term prospects of the stock market.

Best regards and good trading,

Jeff Clark

P.S. There’s two ways to react to a bear market.

You can sell everything, sit on your hands, and wait for it to eventually blow over…

Or you can start trading… and find ways to make money no matter what happens.

If you ask me, I choose the latter. And, while it’s true that trading has a bit of a learning curve, I recently designed a program that can help you surpass it… and deliver winning trade recommendations at the same time. Get all the details here.

Reader Mailbag

Today a subscriber shares his satisfaction with Jeff’s recommendations…

Jeff, I have been with you for about five months now and am extremely satisfied with your recommendations (meaning that I have profited from them nicely) and in some weeks no recommendations (meaning I don’t expect a new recommendation when market conditions are such that you cannot give us one).

I have just joined the Breakout Alert and look forward to more of your good work.

– Howard

Thank you, as always, for your thoughtful comments. We look forward to reading them every day. Keep them coming at feedback@jeffclarktrader.com.

In Case You Missed It…

This lumberjack also happens to be a rocket scientist who created an entirely new way to invest in the tech market

Jeff Brown stepped away from the bustle of Silicon Valley to live a quiet life. But that didn’t stop him from becoming a top venture capitalist, or developing an entirely new way to invest in the tech market that anyone can use for the chance to see big, fast, once-in-a-lifetime gains like 494%… 617%… 793%… 884%… 2,293%… even 11,764%.

It’s not too late to find out his secret.

The post Jeff Clark’s Market Minute: This Pattern Is Another Warning Sign for Stocks appeared first on InvestorPlace.

Advertisement