What This Blog Is About

This blog is my trading journal. It contains my reasons for entering a trade and if I decide to put the trade on, my entry and exit strategy. My trade results will be recorded on my Yahoo Group site. A link to that site is provided below.
Do Not attempt to trade real money based on anything you see or read on this blog. It is intended only as a learning tool for my readers and myself.
If you are interested in learning to trade the Forex and Options markets, I encourage you to open a “demo” or “practice” account, use this account to follow my trading plans. Remember, Do Not use real money or trade in a real account based on the information in this blog.
All times given are in Hololulu Standard Time (HST) unless otherwise stated. I will sometimes use Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). To convert to your local time, click on the link below located under "World Time Zones".
New: Beginning February 25, 2007 I will edit each post and add the trade results.
If you have any questions or comments, send an email to Mrpipman@yahoo.com or use the "comments" link following each posting.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Is the Market Melting Down?

After Monday’s 500+ drop in the DOW the news referred to the move as “Meltdown” of the stock market. While a 500 point drop is concerning it is by no means a meltdown. To date the market has fallen 3300 points since it made a record high almost 1 year ago. Let’s take a look at a real melt down and compare it to Monday’s price action.

On October 19, 1987 the DOW fell 508 points from the previous day’s close. This was after it had already fallen 500 points from the record high created on August 25, 1987. Add that to the drop of October 20, 1987, the DOW gave up 1,131 points in just over a month.

Looking at the raw numbers is would appear that our current Bear Market is indeed more sever then the crash of 87. However, if we put these numbers into context we will see a more accurate picture.

Monday’s drop of 504 point came after the previous day’s closing price of 11,421.99 resulting in a drop of 4.4%. Today as of 9:45 the DOW had reach a low of 10,660.31 having given up 3,620 points or 25.35% in just under 11 months.

On August 25, 1987 the Dow Jones Industrial Average reached a high of 2,746.65, a new record. On October 20, 1987 the DOW reach a low of 1616.21 having given up more than 41% of its market value in less than 60 days. The 508 point drop which occurred the previous day accounted for a 22.6% drop in 1 day.

Recall from my article almost 1 year ago, I pointed out that the Bernanke would attempt to prevent the market from “melting down” and instead would do what he and the FED could to have a more orderly market correction. So far he has been successful.

So what is the point of this long dissertation? Well, as Curley said in the movie City Slicker when ask “Hey Curley, have you killed anyone today”. Curley responded “The day ain't over yet” And either is this Bear Market.

Price action for all the major indexes continues to break critical support levels on the weekly, daily and intraday time frames. In addition the technicals continue to show considerable weakness.

While the market has not melted down by 1987 standards, in the last 15 minutes of today’s trading, the DOW broke intraday support and closed at 10,609.66 having given up 449 points for the day. The market may not be “melting down” but things are heating up.

At least for now “Cash is King”. The dollar has reversed and is gaining strength against the major world currencies (although a correction is overdue). This strengthening, should it continue, will ultimately lead to lower inflation.

Bob

0 comments: