Lowry has identified that market tops are deceiving and very
difficult to pinpoint for the average investor. The reason for this is that the
major indexes such as the S&P 500 are typically not crumbling and showing
signs of deterioration even though such deterioration is brewing underneath the
surface, and is not visible within the raw data of the indexes. What I mean by
this is that a recurring pattern that develops through the making of a market
top is that the price of the index is being upheld by fewer and fewer companies.
Although the S&P 500 ended modestly down for the 2015 calendar year, so
much of the index was supported by merely four stocks-Facebook, Apple, Netflix,
and Google, (the so-called FANG stocks because of the acronym). For example,
Netflix increased a whopping 134.38% in 2015 and Google "A" surged
46.61%. Also, the index was down a lot earlier in the year than where it ended
after the Santa Claus rally.
Although the U.S. stock market indexes have not yet evidenced
significant price losses, Lowry's measurements of the forces of supply and
demand are demonstrating a very different picture. From December 31, 2014 to
December 31, 2015, Buying Power decreased from 255 to 175, resulting in a loss
of 80 points. Selling Pressure also significantly increased over the year. The
established pattern in the formation of market tops is that price changes first
impact stocks in the small-cap space. Then they move to the mid-cap. And then
finally they are experienced amongst the large-cap players. True to form, Lowry
calculated that the number of small-cap stocks that were trading within 2% from
their highs at the end of 2015 moved from 14.38% to 3.33%. For mid-cap stocks
this percentage deceased from 23.24% to 15.53%. And for large-cap stocks the
percentage fell from 27.10% to 17.45%.
Furthermore, a bear market correction is commonly defined as a
loss of 20% or greater. In 2015, the percentage of small-cap stocks that were
in bear market territory increased from 39.05% to 61.71%. For mid-caps, this
number increased from 18.06% to 34.36%. And for the large-caps this percentage
moved from 8.87% to 19.81%.
All of this is to say that you can't judge a book by its cover,
and that there is more going on underneath the surface than most of the
prognosticators or talking heads realize. The bull market that has been fed
with easy money, low interest rates, and major credit expansion has become
exhausted. The strategies and types of investments that have been conducive
during the bull market cycle emerging from the depths of the financial crisis
are unlikely to prevail over the next cycle. Moreover, bond funds which have
ameliorated returns even during bear market cycles over the last 35 years will
also likely contribute to losses during this cycle as interest rates reverse their
nearly 35 year pattern and now increase. I do not feel that this is a time for
long-only stock and/or bond fund investing. Different market conditions demand
various game plans. Let me know if you'd like access to our plays.
The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. To determine which investment(s) may be appropriate for you, consult your financial advisor prior to investing. All performance referenced is historical and is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and may not be invested into directly. There is no assurance any of the trends mentioned will continue in the future.
