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Staying in touch with current events and market action is important for trading success. This blog contains topics of interest that relate to individual stocks, market indices, market sectors/industries, and ETFs. 

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Market Continues to Show Weakness

Charles Schaap -

On Tuesday, the market opened slightly negative and then declined further, never managing to get a strong bounce. By the close, the Nasdaq had fallen -57 points (-1.38%) and the S&P lost -16 points (-0.90%). The Dow finished the day with a loss of -129 points (-0.78%).

Volume increased for all three indices, making this a selling day for the BIGs (big institutional guns). Decliners outpaced advancers by 2-to-1 and down volume led up volume by a 3-to-1 ratio. 

The Nasdaq fell  +29 points (+0.72%), the S&P rose +8 points (+0.48%) and the Dow advanced +86 points (+0.53%). 

Volume was lower today, and less than average for both the Nasdaq and S&P. The Dow's volume was above average. Advancers outpaced decliners by a 3-to-2 margin, and up volume beat down volume by a slightly better 7-to-4 ratio. Market breadth was never positive during the day, and it closed at -1,032. There were few buyers in the market today.

Today's market action formed a daily pivot high in the Nasdaq, essentially causing another rebuff and the 50 EMA. The last 3 tests of the 50 EMA have failed, a bearish sign. The Nasdaq could make a run for its 200 SMA again. 

Meanwhile, the S&P, which looked close to testing new highs, backed off and formed a pivot high on momentum divergence. The S&P is now going to test its 50 EMA (from above, unlike the Nasdaq). 

 

September Could Be Worse than August
Charles Schaap - August 30, 2013

Historically, August is one of the 4 worst performing months for the S&P 500 (source: Stock Trader's Almanac). This year, the S&P's performance in August fit the history, falling -2.8% during a market correction. The large, blue arrow represents the month of August....keep reading