OTM Market Update — Watching things carefully

Yes the market dropped today but you have to look at it in the grand scheme.  Below are graphs going back to 2005.  Technically the S&P will need some more confirming sideways or downward action to be material to an intermediate or long term investor.  Additionally the asset allocation has shifted slightly (200 basis points) away from equities but not decidedly. read more

OTM Market Update – Consolidation

The asset/bond ratios of 52%/27% has not changed, but the market is in a consolidation, sideways phase.  Now would not be the time to put a lot of new money in this market.  Small caps continue bruised, midcaps a bit less so, and large caps largely sideways.  This is the beginning of a classic breakdown but it has not proceeded much further in the past few weeks. read more

OTM Market Update – Greek Version

This is a snapshot of some pictures from the technical model after the past few days of Greek-related uncertainty.

The Short Term is a sell for the large and mid-cap markets, but things still look ok in the small and micro-cap elements of the market, likely due to the lack of overseas exposure.  Long bonds continue to drag — the market continues to believe that rates will rise later in the year and that the Fed is serious. read more

OTM Market Update – A Change in Tone

Prior Week Market Performance:

  • The S&P large caps lost 0.4% last week to 2108.29.
  • The Russell 2000 small caps lost 3.1% last week to 1228.11.
  • Long Bonds (TLT) lost 3.9% last week to 124.00.
  • Asset Allocation Model: Stocks – 52.5%; Bonds 27.5%; Discretionary 20%

 Two Week’s Ago Commentary:  Right now the market technical direction is unchanged.  Still looks good in the intermediate and long term.

Current Technical Model Indicators (Short, Med, Long periods): read more

OTM Market Update –

Prior Week Market Performance:

  • The S&P large caps lost 1.0% last week to 2081.18.
  • The Russell 2000 small caps lost 1.0% last week to 1251.86.
  • Long Bonds (TLT) gained 1.4% last week to 131.45.
  • Asset Allocation Model: Stocks (gained to 47.25% from 42%); Bonds (dropped to 34.25% from 41%); Discretionary (19.50%)

 Last Week’s Commentary:  The long and medium term trends are still intact, but I would expect this upcoming week to be a down week in the market.  If you are strictly intermediate or long term, there is nothing to see here, although if you are heavily weighted in equities you may want to hedge a bit into bonds. read more