Market “crashes” are a popular subject for consideration during any period of general market weakness. History has shown, however, that markets in a correction do not typically experience an extreme downside “crash” similar to what was witnessed in 1987. Rather, the correction unfolds as a series of downside moves which increase in volume and reverse after a capitulation or flush-out. Between this series of downside moves are bounces which decrease in volume and reverse as the market hits a key resistance level.
At this point in the current correction, it seems apparent that the very best traders have probably stayed long and calm (with hedges and strategic, calculated sells) while others were building short positions early enough to be deep in the money.
My sense is that the rest of the unwashed have sold indiscriminately and bought randomly and have probably timed(poorly) their dip-buying and shorting in a way that ensures maximum psychological pain. Inevitably, the market will move in the opposite direction.
The differences between the great traders and the rookies is their understanding of what is probable and likely from a historical perspective, and their ability to position themselves, unequivocally, based on their determination that the market is going to behave as it typically has, or whether it is going to do something brand new.
Even during the average pullback of the last 5 years the market has bottomed, bounced, and then made another leg down before a capitulation event occurred. The indexes in the above charts which show the 1998 correction also exhibit the same behavior, except on a larger scale. A trader who believes that “things are different this time” is either looking for a V bottom or a non-stop drop. Neither is likely, although both are possible.
What is likely is that there will be a sustained bounce, followed by more downside. This pattern continues until the market eventually reverses on a high-volume capitulation day.
If future market events unfold similarly to past events, then longs will see higher prices, soon. Shorts who have established positions over the last several days will get squeezed. As prices rise, some longs will believe that the rise will be sustainable and will not sell; they might even add positions. Some shorts will believe that a V bottom is occurring and will cover. Both will likely lose money as their psychology eats away at their convictions, and the market reverses for a second leg down.
This post will cause you much grief, I predict.
’98 was a sweet buying opportunity.
No grief here…
Jake, we are watching the old Santa is Coming to Town. Now I understand, Mr. BurgerMeister.
This bull run was lead by a strong consumer who was siphoning funds from their exploding ATM machines (houses morons) to buy their useless bouncing cars and hummers. That game is over!
Housing values and home ownership rates will mean revert to the downside and cause this bull to fade into a bear.
How many people bought the dips well into 2000 only to see the SP500 cut in half over the following 2 years?
I give this post 5 drunken whiskey bottles.
Before you start any shit about a woodshedder bottom, I have no shorts or puts, and even went long AAPL on Friday.
That means Monday has to be a woodshedder top.
Awesome yet meaningless post.
Testy Fly– ’98 was a 20+% drop. We’ve not seen 10% on this one yet.
Once again, Jake you’re a fucktard.
Okay Burgermeister Meisterburger.
98′ was alot like this …. hugh individual drops on good earnings and for no reason at all other than every day being a good day to sell ….. just when you thought you caught the bottom of a leg down you found that all you realy caught was a falling knife …. there was no place to hide ….. selling winners and reinvesting in stocks that looked to be resusitating from new lows with decent charts proved a losers game …. each leg down got longer than the last and the rallys were short and abrupt ….
I’m still waiting for the Nas and NY composites to confirm the Bear but the trannys and s&p are close enough for me to acknowledge the Dow Theorists are probably right …. I’ll be selling my small & midcaps into rallys and raising cash for long term purchases only and continue to play individual situations as they arise with an intent to go short if the NY and Naz Composites break their August lows ….