Recording of an hour-long session with Steve Hill, CEO of AIQ Systems. It’s one of the longest-running AI-based systems in the world. Like any AI it isn’t perfect. In this session, Steve covered leveraging these ratings for effective trading decisions. Includes an EDS file that scans for unusual rating patterns of 11-59, 16-56, and 76-5.
The importable AIQ EDS file based on Markos Katsanos’ article in the April issue of Stocks & Commodities, “Detecting High-Volume Breakouts,” can be obtained on request via email to info@TradersEdgeSystems.com.
Excerpt “Is there anything more satisfying for a trader than capturing a huge breakout? The usual practice for breakout entries is to simply buy new highs. This method, when used in isolation, will often result in false breakouts. It is, therefore, better to wait for volume confirmation before entering the trade, as high-volume breakouts usually last much longer. In this article, I will show you how to detect breakouts using only volume, sometimes even before price breaks out, by introducing a new volume breakout indicator. “
The code is also available here:
!Detecting High-Volume Breakouts !Author: Markos Katsanos, TASC April 2021 !Coded by: Richard Denning, 02/18/2021 !INPUTS: period is 30. smoLen is 3. vpnCrit is 10. maLen is 30. V is [volume].
!FORMULAS: MAVol is simpleavg(V,period). MAV is iff(MAVol>0,MAVol,1). Avg is ([High]+[Low]+[Close])/3. MF is Avg - valresult(Avg,1). ATR is simpleavg(max( [high]-[low],max(val([close],1)-[low],[high]-val([close],1))),period). MC is 0.1*ATR. VMP is iff(MF > MC, V, 0). VP is sum(VMP,period). VMN is iff(MF < -MC, V, 0). VN is sum(VMN,period). VPN is (expavg(((VP - VN) / MAV / period),smoLen))*100. MAVPN is simpleavg(VPN,maLen).
Code for the VPN indicator is set up in the AIQ code file. Figure 9 shows the indicator on a chart of Tesla Motors Inc (TSLA).
FIGURE 9: AIQ. The VPN indicator is shown on a chart of Tesla Motors Inc. (TSLA).
The bond market was very quiet in the 3rd quarter. Figure 1 displays ticker IEF (7-10 year treasuries ETF) in the to clip and ticker AGG (Aggregate Bond Index ETF) in the bottom clip.
Essentially the entire bond market has been flat since early June. The market seems to be assuming that “the Fed will take of everything” and keep interest rates low and stable for the foreseeable future so…..ZZZZZZZZ.
But this type of activity often breeds complacency. I am not making any predictions here but I do want to raise a question that investors might wish to ponder, i.e., “what would be more shocking that a spike in interest rates?” OK, yes, I realize it is 2020 and it is pretty much hard to be shocked by anything anymore. But still, on a relative basis how many investors are even thinking about the potential risk of higher interest rates at the moment?
Could it Happen?
The Bond Market VIX (ticker MOVE) recently fell to its lowest level ever (before spiking sharply higher on 10/5/20). As you can see in Figure 2 this type of “quietness” often precedes a significant move in the bond market. For the record, low readings in MOVE can be followed by large up moves in price as easily as large down moves in price. So, a low MOVE reading is not “bearish” per se, but rather merely suggests that we are experiencing the “calm before the storm.”
So why is my “Spidey sense” tingling? Figure 3 displays the yield on 30-year treasuries (ticker TYX) on the bottom and an indicator I refer to as VFAA on the bottom (the calculation appears at the end of this piece). VFAA is a derivative on a Larry William’s indicator he calls VixFix.
Figure 3 – 30-year treasury yields with VFAA suggesting a potential bottoming area (Courtesy AIQ TradingExpert)
As you can see in Figure 3, peaks in the VFAA indicator often occur near intermediate term lows in bond yields (reminder: bond prices move inversely to yield, so a bottom in interest rates indicates a top in bond prices). As you can also see on the far-right hand side, the stage clearly appears to be set for “the next go round.”
Why does this matter? If interest rates do rise in the months ahead bond prices – particularly long-term bond prices can get hit hard. To illustrate the potential risks, Figure 4 displays the action of treasury security ETFs of various maturity during a 5-month rise in rates back in 2016.
Figure 4 – Bond ETF action during rate rise in 2016
Summary
It is possible for long and short-term bonds to “de-couple”. In other words, the possibilities are:
*Short-term rates remain stable (as the Fed keeps pumping) while long-term rates rise (as inflation fears arise as a result of all the Fed pumping)
*Short-term rates remain stable while long-term rates plummet (if the economy appears to be weakening). This would result in gains for long-term bonds only
*None of the above
The bottom line: Bonds have fallen asleep – but DO NOT fall asleep on bonds.
VFAA Formula
Below is the code for VFAA
VixFix is an indicator developed many years ago by Larry Williams which essentially compares the latest low to the highest close in the latest 22 periods (then divides the difference by the highest close in the latest 22 periods). I then multiply this result by 100 and add 50 to get VixFix.
*Next is a 3-period exponential average of VixFix
*Then VFAA is arrived at by calculating a 7-period exponential average of the previous result (essentially, we are “double-smoothing” VixFix)
Are we having fun yet? See code below:
hivalclose is hival([close],22).
vixfix is (((hivalclose-[low])/hivalclose)*100)+50.
vixfixaverage is Expavg(vixfix,3).
vixfixaverageave is Expavg(vixfixaverage,7).
VFAA = vixfixaverageave
Jay Kaeppel
Disclaimer: The information, opinions and ideas expressed herein are for informational and educational purposes only and are based on research conducted and presented solely by the author. The information presented represents the views of the author only and does not constitute a complete description of any investment service. In addition, nothing presented herein should be construed as investment advice, as an advertisement or offering of investment advisory services, or as an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy any security. The data presented herein were obtained from various third-party sources. While the data is believed to be reliable, no representation is made as to, and no responsibility, warranty or liability is accepted for the accuracy or completeness of such information. International investments are subject to additional risks such as currency fluctuations, political instability and the potential for illiquid markets. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. There is risk of loss in all trading. Back tested performance does not represent actual performance and should not be interpreted as an indication of such performance. Also, back tested performance results have certain inherent limitations and differs from actual performance because it is achieved with the benefit of hindsight.
OK, first off a true confession. I hate it when some wise acre analyst acts like they are so smart and that everyone else is an idiot. Its offensive and off-putting – not to mention arrogant. And still in this case, all I can say is “Hi, my name is Jay.”
A lot of attention has been paid lately to the fact that AAPL is essentially swallowing up the whole world in terms of market capitalization. As you can see in Figure 1, no single S&P 500 Index stock has ever had a higher market cap relative to the market cap of the entire Russell 2000 small-cap index.
Figure 1 – Largest S&P 500 Index stock as a % of entire Russell 200 Index (Courtesy Sentimentrader.com)
So of course, the easiest thing in the world to do is to be an offensive, off-putting and arrogant wise acre and say “Well, this can’t last.” There, I said it. With the caveat that I have no idea how far AAPL can run “before the deluge”, as a student of (more) market history (than I care to admit) I cannot ignore this gnawing feeling that this eventually “ends badly.” Of course, I have been wrong plenty of times before and maybe things (Offensive, Off-Putting and Arrogant Trigger Warning!) “really will be different this time around.” To get a sense of why I bring this all up, please keep reading.
In Figure 1 we also see some previous instances of a stock becoming “really large” in terms of market cap. Let’s take a closer look at these instances.
Could AAPL continue to run to much higher levels? Absolutely
Do I still have that offensive, off-putting and slightly arrogant gut feeling that somewhere along the way AAPL takes a huge whack?
Sorry. It’s just my nature.
Jay Kaeppel
Disclaimer: The information, opinions and ideas expressed herein are for informational and educational purposes only and are based on research conducted and presented solely by the author. The information presented represents the views of the author only and does not constitute a complete description of any investment service. In addition, nothing presented herein should be construed as investment advice, as an advertisement or offering of investment advisory services, or as an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy any security. The data presented herein were obtained from various third-party sources. While the data is believed to be reliable, no representation is made as to, and no responsibility, warranty or liability is accepted for the accuracy or completeness of such information. International investments are subject to additional risks such as currency fluctuations, political instability and the potential for illiquid markets. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. There is risk of loss in all trading. Back tested performance does not represent actual performance and should not be interpreted as an indication of such performance. Also, back tested performance results have certain inherent limitations and differs from actual performance because it is achieved with the benefit of hindsight.
In this article, dated 7/10/2020, I noted that my “Stuff” Index was coming on strong and that its performance may be a “shot across the bow” that some changes may be coming to the financial markets. Since then, the trend has accelerated.
STUFF vs. FANG vs. QQQ
Figure 1 displays the performance of STUFF components since 7/10
Figure 2 displays the performance of FANG components since 7/10
Figure 1 – Price performance of Jay’s STUFF Index components since 7/10
Figure 2 – Price performance of FANG stocks since 7/10
For the record, the “high-flying” Nasdaq 100 Index (using ticker QQQ as a proxy investment) is up +4.0% during the same time.
Is this a trend – or a blip? Unfortunately, I can’t answer that question. But it certainly appears that there is something afoot in “Stuff”, particularly the metals. Figure 3 displays the weekly charts for ETFs tracking Silver, Gold, Palladium and Platinum (clockwise from upper left).
When it comes bull markets in metals, the typical pattern historically goes something like this:
*Gold leads the way (check)
*Eventually silver comes on strong and often ends up outperforming gold (check)
*The other metals rise significantly “under the radar” as everyone focus on – literally in this case, ironically – the “shiny objects” (gold and silver)
Again, while I had inklings that a bull market in metals was forming (and have held positions in them for several years, and still hold them), I certainly did not “predict” the recent explosion in gold and silver prices.
Two things to note:
*Gold and silver are obviously very “overbought”, so buying a large position here entails significant risk
*Still it should be noted that both SLV and PPLT would have to double in price from their current levels just to get back to their previous all-time highs of 2011
So, don’t be surprised if “Stuff” enjoys a continued resurgence. Note in Figure 4 that a number of commodity related ETFs are way, way beaten down and could have a lot of upside potential if a resurgence actually does unfold.
What is interesting – and almost not visible to the naked eye – is the action in the lower right hand corner of these four charts. To highlight what is “hiding in plain sight”, Figure 5 “zooms in” on the recent action of same four tickers as Figure 4, but in a daily price format rather than a monthly price format.
Despite the ugly pictures painted in Figure 4, it is interesting to note in Figure 5 that all four of these commodity related ETFs have rallied sharply of late. There is of course, no guarantee this will continue. But if the rally in “Stuff” – currently led by metals – spreads to the commodity sector as a whole, another glance in Figures 3 and 4 reveals a lot of potential upside opportunity.
Time will tell. In the meantime, keep an eye on the “shiny objects” (gold and silver) for clues as to whether or not the rally in “Stuff” has staying power.
See also Jay Kaeppel Interviewin July 2020 issue of Technical Analysis of Stocks and Commodities magazine
Disclaimer: The information, opinions and ideas expressed herein are for informational and educational purposes only and are based on research conducted and presented solely by the author. The information presented represents the views of the author only and does not constitute a complete description of any investment service. In addition, nothing presented herein should be construed as investment advice, as an advertisement or offering of investment advisory services, or as an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy any security. The data presented herein were obtained from various third-party sources. While the data is believed to be reliable, no representation is made as to, and no responsibility, warranty or liability is accepted for the accuracy or completeness of such information. International investments are subject to additional risks such as currency fluctuations, political instability and the potential for illiquid markets. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. There is risk of loss in all trading. Back tested performance does not represent actual performance and should not be interpreted as an indication of such performance. Also, back tested performance results have certain inherent limitations and differs from actual performance because it is achieved with the benefit of hindsight.
