Decision Point®: Chart Spotlight 2/5/2010

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CHANGED TO NEUTRAL POSTURE

2/5/2010

Changed To Neutral Posture
by Carl Swenlin
February 5, 2010

On Thursday our mechanical Thrust/Trend Model changed from a buy to neutral, based upon the 20-EMA crossing down through the 50-EMA. Now our hope is that there will be enough continuing decline to cover what may turn out to be a whipsaw signal. No guarantees in that regard, but bull markets typically do not end this cleanly.

The market sold off deeply on Friday, but in the end it rallied and closed up by a small amount. This looks like the beginning of a bounce of at least short-term duration.

The weekly-based chart of the S&P 500 shows that the PMO is very overbought and has crossed down through its 10-EMA. It could take a few months to clear this condition by bringing the PMO back to the zero line. This doesn't mean that there must be a severe correction to accomplish this. Note how in February 2004 the PMO reached similar overbought levels, and how that condition was worked off by sideways (and slightly downward) consolidation.

While I don't weight my cycle studies too heavily, it is worth mentioning that a 9-Month Cycle low is projected for the first part of April, and a 4-Year Cycle low is projected for later this year (July to October time frame). Viewed in this negative cycle context, the market could experience considerable difficulty for several months.

Bottom Line: The mechanical model has moved us to a neutral market posture. I worry about whipsaw when neutral signals generate coming off market highs, but the weekly PMO and the cycle context make me think that the correction has a way to go.

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MECHANICAL MODELS

We rely on our mechanical trend models to determine our market posture. Below is a recent snapshot of our primary trend-following timing model status for the major indexes and sectors we track. Note that we have included the nine Rydex Equal Weight ETF versions of the S&P Spider Sectors. This may seem redundant, but the equal weighted indexes most often do not perform the same as their cap-weighted counterparts, and they provide a way to diversify exposure. Daily tracking of these signals is available to subscribers in the Decision Point Alert Daily Report.

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Technical analysis is a windsock, not a crystal ball. Be prepared to adjust your tactics and strategy if conditions change.

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2009 TIMER DIGEST RANKINGS FOR DECISION POINT

#9 Intermediate-Term Stocks (52-Weeks) (TD Index 129.36 Vs. SPX 123.45)
#8 Intermediate-Term Stocks (5 Years) (TD Index 147.81 Vs. SPX 92.01)

#18 Bond Timer (*TD Index: 87.7 Vs. Bonds 83.86)
#5 Bond Timer (10-Years) (*TD Index: 127.25 Vs. Bonds 127.51)

#9 Gold Timer (TD Index: 115.30 Vs. Gold 124.00)
#3 Gold Timer (3 Years) (TD Index: 181.56 Vs. Gold 169.92)
#3 Gold Timer (10 Years) (TD Index: 322.74 Vs. Gold 375.51)

#6 Long-Term Timer (2 Years) Stocks (TD Index 136.41 Vs. SPX 75.94)
#7 Long-Term Timer (3 Years) Stocks (TD Index 141.22 Vs. SPX 78.62)
#2 Long-Term Timer (5 Years) Stocks (TD Index 165.27 Vs. SPX 92.01
#5 Long-Term Timer (10 Years) Stocks (TD Index 162.51 Vs. SPX 75.90

2008 TIMER DIGEST RANKINGS FOR DECISION POINT

#17 Intermediate-Term Stocks (52-Weeks) (TD Index 111.9 Vs. SPX 61.51)

#4 Bond Timer (*TD Index: 112.32 Vs. Bonds 118.26)

#5 Gold Timer (TD Index: 126.33 Vs. Gold 104.61)

#9 Long-Term Timer (2 Years) Stocks (TD Index: 132.35 Vs. SPX 63.69)
#2 Long-Term Timer (3 Years) Stocks (TD Index: 150.38 Vs. SPX 72.36)
#2 Long-Term Timer (5 Years) Stocks (TD Index: 168.82 Vs. SPX 81.23)
#3 Long-Term Timer (10 Years) Stocks (TD Index: 159.36 Vs. SPX 73.48)

2007 TIMER DIGEST RANKINGS FOR DECISION POINT

#40 Intermediate-Term Stocks (52-Weeks) (TD Index 91.9 Vs. SPX 103.28)

#5 Bond Timer (TD Index: 105.85 Bonds 104.39)

#2 (Tied) Long-Term Timer (2 Years) Stocks (TD Index: 117.63 Vs. SPX 117.63)

2006 TIMER DIGEST RANKINGS FOR DECISION POINT

#11 Intermediate-Term Stocks (52-Weeks) (TD Index 111.3 Vs. SPX 113.6)

#3 Bond Timer (TD Index: 112.32 Vs. Bonds 97.46)

2000 TIMER DIGEST GOLD TIMER of the YEAR

*All timers and the benchmark index are assigned a starting TD Index of 100 at the beginning of the year. The amount above or below the starting index indicates the percentage gain or loss for the year.

Beginning in 2006 we began using mechanical models -- the Trend Model for Bonds, Gold, and Long-Term Stocks, and the Thrust/Trend Model for Intermediate-Term Stocks. Prior to 2006 we used discretionary signals.

Nothing herein should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any security. Past performance does not indicate future results.

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BIO: Carl Swenlin is a self-taught technical analyst, who has been involved in market analysis since 1981. A pioneer in the creation of online technical resources, he is president and founder of DecisionPoint.com, a premier technical analysis website specializing in stock market indicators, charting, and focused research reports. Mr. Swenlin is a Member of the Market Technicians Association.

Caveat: Charts featured in the Chart Spotlight are intended as
examples of how to use technical analysis, not as trading recommendations.

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