For those of you who are a bit more steeped in technical analysis, you’ve likely heard of Dow Theory. A set of principles developed from Charles Dow, a journalist/analyst who founded what’s now the Wall Street Journal back in the late 19th century, Dow’s insight was foundational to modern technical analysis.

Here’s a question: How can we view today’s market using Dow Theory’s six core tenets?

The market seems to be turning around, especially after the recent 90-day pause in U.S.-China tariffs. What insights might Dow Theory give us about the current reversal? Let’s dive in.

#1: The Market Discounts All Known Information

Here’s the thing: When tariffs are used as a nimble and adjustable strategy for hardball negotiations, how can anyone possibly price in the data? Too many unknowns are hiding behind the cards played for the market to discount any data driven by fundamentals and geopolitics.

So, this tenet can probably be skipped for now.

#2: The Market Has Three Movements

We’d have to modify this slightly, as markets, several of which are globally accessible 24/5 via futures and digital platforms, have significantly altered the market dynamics since Dow’s time.

Still, his notion of primary and secondary trends is as relevant today as it was then. But increased market access and trading volume have created tertiary or micro-trends on a scale above the Dow’s third movement of daily fluctuations.

Take a look at this 15-year monthly chart of the S&P 500 Large Cap Index ($SPX).

FIGURE 1. MONTHLY CHART OF THE S&P 500. The primary trend is up and is reversing from a deep secondary correction.

According to this tenet, one way to interpret this is that the primary trend is bullish and the corrections and bear markets, highlighted in yellow, are all secondary trends, as dramatic as they were on a smaller time scale.

Key insight: SPX’s primary trend is bullish, but the question is whether it has pulled out of its bearish secondary trend. It’s now trading above its 10-month simple moving average (SMA), which is roughly equivalent to a 200-day SMA, but whether it can hold is something to monitor.

#3: Primary Trends Have Three Phases

Is the broader market in an accumulation phase, where professional investors buy undervalued assets, a public participation phase, where retail investors are jumping in, or a distribution phase, where smart money sells to the euphoric retail crowd?

Take a look at this weekly chart.

FIGURE 2. WEEKLY CHART OF THE S&P 500. These indicators are based on surveys of retail and professional investor sentiment.

Two ways to gauge retail and professional sentiment and participation are by analyzing the American Association of Individual Investors (AAII) and National Association of Active Investment Managers (NAAIM) surveys (respectively). Look at the current week (blue dotted line) and note how the AAII Bull-Bear indicator representing retail sentiment is still net bearish while the NAAIM indicator shows accumulation as the S&P 500 gaps above the 40-day SMA (equivalent to its 200-day counterpart).

In the weeks leading up to the current week, as the NAAIM levels increased while the AAII remained net bearish, the contrast between the two arguably signals the strong likelihood that the broader market is in the accumulation phase. But remain cautious as, with the first tenet on known information, any new information or change in global trade policy can disrupt this picture, sending the $SPX back below the 40-week.

#4: The Averages Must Confirm Each Other

Back in his day, Charles Dow was referring to the Dow Jones Industrial Average ($INDU) and the Dow Jones Transportation Average ($TRAN). Today, most investors look at the $INDU alongside $SPX and the Nasdaq Composite ($COMPQ).

FIGURE 3. CHART OF THE BIG THREE U.S. MARKET INDICES. Visually, the charts look similar, but a closer look is warranted to see the differences in detail.

While the differences in price action are nuanced, a quick scan of all three on the StockCharts Market Summary page will tell you that all three indexes are more or less on even footing. But in the interest of saving space and not zooming in on each chart,at the time of writing, only the $SPX and $COMPQ are trading above their 200-day SMA; $INDU is just right below it.

Another way to measure this is by comparing market breadth, aka participation.

FIGURE 4. MARKET SUMMARY OF BREADTH AND BULLISH PERCENT INDEX. These indicators focus on market participation, something that price alone can’t show.

The window on the left tells you the percentage of stocks in each index trading above their 20-, 50-, 100-, and 200-day moving averages. Given the importance of the 200-day SMA, we’ll focus on that. While this window doesn’t show $INDU, you can see that over 54% of $SPX stocks and only 33% of $COMPQ stocks are trading above their 200-day SMA. However, the Nasdaq 100 Index ($NDX), a more tech-concentrated subgroup of $COMPQ, has the most bullish reading, with 64% of its stocks trading above this key level.

Switching over to the Bullish Percent Index (BPI) window on the right, the $SPX and $INDU have the strongest bullish participation with 74% and 83% of their stocks, respectively, signaling Point & Figure Buy Signals. The $COMPQ, at only 50%, is lagging the two (not the case with $NDX, however, which is also very bullish).

So, do the averages confirm each other? More or less, yes, with $COMPQ as the laggard. This may indicate a bullish turnaround in the secondary trend, but the secondary trend is also extremely vulnerable to sudden shifts in the geopolitical environment.

#5: Volume Confirms the Trend

Volume-based indicators that can help you gauge buying/selling pressure and accumulation and distribution.

FIGURE 5. CHART OF THE BIG THREE US MARKET INDEXES WITH VOLUME INDICATORS. Volume-based indicators like Chaikin Money Flow and Accumulation/Distribution Line give valuable insight into buying/selling pressure and accumulation/distribution.

The Chaikin Money Flow (CMF) is positive in all three indexes, indicating more buying pressure than selling pressure. While the CMF readings are not as strong as they were in January and February, you might expect the levels to rise if the overall market begins to turn. The Accumulation/Distribution Line (ADL) is also exhibiting a steady increase, more so in the $SPX and $COMPQ than in the $INDU, which appears to be flattening.

In summary, volume is confirming the turnaround, but tentatively and cautiously.

#6: A Trend Remains in Effect Until a Clear Reversal Occurs

This is where a close examination of the underlying secondary trend structure is critical. You may have different ways to gauge when a market is trending up or down, or not trending at all.

I usually begin (and sometimes end) by looking at the relationship between price and sequential swing highs and swing lows. For example, take a look at this daily chart of $INDU.

FIGURE 6. DAILY CHART OF THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE INDEX. The index has reversed to the upside, but it’s important to monitor these key levels to determine whether the current reversal will develop into an uptrend.

Note that I’m using the ZigZag line to market the key swing highs and lows on the chart.

$INDU’s downtrend reversed when it broke above 40,750, the two swing high points that marked a key resistance level. Now, $INDU is aiming to challenge the next swing highs (resistance levels), which are situated in the range between 42,500 and 43,000. For the reversal to develop into an uptrend, $INDU must stay above the most recent swing low of 37,750 and eventually break above 43,000.

In short, and according to Dow theory, the downtrend has been broken, but the uptrend has not yet been confirmed by the price action.

At the Close

Dow Theory may be over a century old, but its principles remain surprisingly resilient, especially when viewed through the lens of today’s volatile, information-saturated markets. Right now, we’re seeing a bullish reversal in the markets. However, this reversal is happening on the secondary trend level, which is extremely vulnerable to sudden and severe shifts in today’s volatile geopolitical environment. In short, the trend may be turning, but as Charles Dow himself might suggest, don’t call it an uptrend until it proves itself.

Disclaimer: This blog is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. The ideas and strategies should never be used without first assessing your personal and financial situation, or without consulting a financial professional.

SPY and QQQ crossed above their 200-day SMAs with big moves on Monday, and held above these long-term moving averages the entire week. The V-Reversal was extraordinary and SPY seems short-term overbought, but this cross above the 200 day SMA cross is a bullish signal for the most important market benchmark. Despite a bullish signal, long-term moving averages are trend-following indicators and it is important to set realistic expectations.

***** This is an abbreviated version of a research report covering the 200-day SMA, performance improvements and a twist for QQQ. Recent reports at TrendInvestorPro covered the V-Reversal, the Bottoming Process and an Exit Strategy for the Zweight Breadth Thrust. Click here to take a trial and get immediate access. *****

The chart below shows SPY with the 200-day SMA (blue). This 200-day cross captured two big uptrends since 2020 and foreshadowed the bear market in 2022. Even though these three signals look great, there were plenty of whipsaws along the way. SPY crossed the 200-day SMA 141 times since 2005, which averages 7 crosses per year. Averages can be deceptive because some years have more crosses than others. SPY did not cross its 200-day in 2021 and 2024, but there were 22 crosses between January 2022 and March 2023.

The indicator window shows Percent above MA (1,200,1) to better highlight these crosses. It turns positive (green) with a bullish cross and negative (red) with a bearish cross. The values are the percentage difference between the close and the 200-day SMA.  

There is no such thing as a perfect indicator. Trend-following indicators are great at catching big trends, but they are also prone to whipsaws (failed signals). Whipsaws are simply the price of admission for a trend-following strategy. We must take the good (big trends) with the bad (whipsaws). As the chart above confirms, trend-following works over time because one good trend pays for the whipsaws.

Chartists can improve 200-day SMA signals with a little smoothing. For example, use a 5-day SMA instead of the close. Since 2005, the 5-day SMA crossed its 200-day SMA 55 times, which averages out to 3 per year. Fewer signals means fewer whipsaws. Also note that this smoothing generated higher returns and lower drawdowns.

The chart above shows the SPY with Percent above MA (5,200,1). This indicator captures the percentage difference between the 5 and 200 day SMAs. Instead of 22 crosses between January 2022 and March 2023, the 5-day SMA crossed the 200-day SMA just 8 times. This indicator is part of the TIP Indicator Edge Plugin for StockCharts ACP.

We can reduce whipsaws even more by adding a signal filter. This next section will cover signal filters and performance metrics for SPY. We then show how other ETFs perform and add little twist to improve performance for QQQ signals. This section continues for subscribers to TrendInvestorPro. Click here to take a trial and get immediate access. 

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If you didn’t check in on the stock market the last couple of weeks, you might be surprised to see how strong they were this week.

The three major stock indexes — S&P 500 ($SPX), Nasdaq Composite ($COMPQ), and Dow Jones Industrial Average ($INDU) — broke through their 200-day simple moving averages (SMAs) and are about 3–5% away from their all-time highs.

The Dow took a bit of a hit early this week, mostly because shares of UnitedHealth Group, Inc. (UNH) took a tumble. By Friday, though, the Dow recovered.

A Clearer Outlook Ahead

After dealing with an uncertain market, we’re finally seeing some encouraging signs. Large-cap growth stocks are trying to regain the lead, market breadth is improving (i.e. broader participation), and the Cboe Volatility Index ($VIX) has cooled off significantly.

Another helpful signal — the Bullish Percent Index (BPI) — is above 50% for the major indexes. This suggests that bulls are in control. In the 11 S&P sectors, there’s been a switcheroo. Consumer Staples and Utilities now have a BPI below 50%.

FIGURE 1: BULLISH PERCENT INDEXES FOR THE S&P SECTORS. Consumer Staples and Utilities are below 50%.

Want to dig into this yourself? You can view the full picture on the Market Summary page at StockCharts.com.

Image source: StockCharts.com. For educational purposes.

AI Stocks Back in the Spotlight

If you’ve been following the buzz around artificial intelligence (AI), you know it’s a hot area. This week proved that AI stocks still had their mojo. A mix of headlines, from new global investments in AI to easing tech regulations, gave these stocks a boost.

The VanEck Vectors Semiconductor ETF (SMH) jumped over 10% this week. And NVIDIA Corp. (NVDA), one of the biggest names in AI, surged 16% for the week. The stock is now trading above its 200-day SMA and approaching its February high, which could act as a resistance level. This is the first time NVDA’s stock price broke above its 200-day SMA after breaking below it on February 27.

Other big names like Broadcom Inc. (AVGO) and Taiwan Semiconductor Mfg. (TSM) also saw solid gains.

FIGURE 2. SEMICONDUCTORS MARKETCARPET. Note that NVDA, AVGO, and TSM saw strong gains this week.Image source: StockCharts.com. For educational purposes.

Investors Turning Toward “Offense”

Investors are rotating into offensive sectors such as Technology and Consumer Discretionary and moving away from traditionally “safe” areas like Utilities and Staples. This is an indication that investors are feeling more confident.

News of lower tariffs between the U.S. and China has eased fears, which is reflected in the performance of bellwether industries such as Home Builders, Transportation, and Retail. The SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) took a big hit on the possibility of high tariffs but bounced in early April. This week, the ETF gapped up and is now trading above its 200-day SMA (see chart below).

FIGURE 3. DAILY CHART OF SPDR S&P RETAIL ETF (XRT). After getting hammered, XRT is showing signs of recovery. The stock is now gaining some traction. It’s trading above its 200-day SMA, and momentum is strengthening.Chart source: StockCharts.com. For educational purposes.

XRT’s relative strength index (RSI) is rising above 70 and the percentage price oscillator (PPO) is well above zero. Both indicators suggest a rise in momentum.

A Word of Caution: Consumers Are Still Nervous

Amidst the excitement, we can’t ignore one concerning signal: consumer sentiment.. The latest reading of the University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment index came in at 50.8, which is pretty close to the June 2022 reading of 50, when inflation was over 9%.

Results showed that consumers are worried about inflation — the expectation was a high 7.3%. Walmart (WMT) executives even mentioned during its recent earnings call that higher tariffs might lead to price increases. This is something to keep in the back of your mind because, when consumer sentiment weakens, it could ripple through the stock market.

Inflation expectations are starting to climb higher. The probability of the interest rate cuts has dropped, according to the CME FedWatch tool. Cuts in June and July are off the table now. The chart below is worth adding to one of your ChartLists.

FIGURE 4: INFLATION EXPECTATIONS ARE CREEPING HIGHER. It’s worth monitoring this chart because higher prices lead to less consumer spending and declining consumer confidence. This can be a headwind for equity markets.Chart source: StockCharts.com. For educational purposes.

The Bottom Line

When the stock market reverses course as quickly as it did this week, it doesn’t hurt to be skeptical. Before getting caught up in the euphoria, keep an eye on things like offensive vs defensive sector rotation, market breadth indicators, and key fundamentals such as inflation expectations. If inflation heats up again, the Fed will be reluctant to cut interest rates. This is the kind of thing that can put the brakes on a market rally.

End-of-Week Wrap-Up

• Dow Jones Industrial Average: 42,654 (+ 3.41%)
• S&P 500: 5,958.38 (+ 5.27%)
• Nasdaq Composite: 19,211 (+7.15%)
• $VIX: 17.24 (-21.28%)
• Best performing sector for the week: Technology
• Worst performing sector for the week: Health Care
• Top 5 Large Cap SCTR stocks: Palantir Technologies, Inc. (PLTR); Nebius Group NV (NBIS); NRG Energy, Inc. (NRG); Robinhood Markets Inc. (HOOD); Super Micro Computer, Inc. (SMCI)

On the Radar Next Week

• May PMI Flash
• April Existing Home Sales
• Earnings from Home Depot (HD), Lowe’s Companies (LOW), Toll Brothers, Inc. (TOL), XPeng Inc. (XPEV), Snowflake (SNOW), Baidu Inc. (BIDU), and several others.
• Fed speeches from Bostic, Jefferson, Williams, and others.

Disclaimer: This blog is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. The ideas and strategies should never be used without first assessing your own personal and financial situation, or without consulting a financial professional.

We’ve all heard the classic market maxim, “Sell in May and go away.”  For many investors, that’s the introduction to market seasonality that suggests a six month period where it’s just best to avoid stocks altogether.

Through my own experience, complemented with interviews with seasonality experts like ”  We’ll dig deeper into the history of “Sell in May,” analyze summer trends in recent years, and focus on signs to follow in the weeks and months ahead!  Sign up HERE for this free event!

It turns out that the reason why “sell in May” has often worked out is less about May being super weak, but more about how major lows have usually come in the fall months.  Since the COVID low in early 2020, we’ve experienced major lows in September or October every year except for 2024.

Spring and Early Summer Have Been Crazy Strong

When we focus on the last five years, we can see that the May-June-July period has been consistently strong.  In fact, May and July have seen bullish trends every year since 2019.  So while investors often talk about the “summer doldrums” and weakness into the hot summer months, the recent evidence would suggest otherwise.

The weakest months since the COVID low have actually been January, February, September, and October.  So again, it’s been less about weakness in the spring, and much more about weaker price action into the traditional low in September or October.  Also note the strength in November, where the market is almost always rallying off a major low and setting up for a positive finish to the calendar year!

Will 2025 Follow the Normal Seasonal Pattern?

As I mentioned earlier, I like to think of seasonal patterns as tendencies.  There is no guarantee that July will be strong, and there is no way I can tell you for sure that the market will make yet another major low in September.  Seasonality tells you the general bias to the markets, but mindful investors know the most important evidence is price itself.

Given the extreme rally off the early April low, we’ve seen a rapid rotation from bearish sentiment to more bullish outlooks as investors have started to believe in the new uptrend phase.  This week’s price gap higher for the S&P 500 could provide a perfect support range to monitor in the coming weeks and months.

If the S&P 500 is able to hold 5750, and remain above the support range set from the gap earlier this month, then perhaps the equity markets will follow the same pattern as recent years and remain strong into August.

If, however, the S&P 500 is unable to hold this key support range, and we also confirm that breakdown with weaker momentum readings and deteriorating breadth conditions, then the S&P 500 may be charting a new course through what has become a strong period in the calendar year.

RR#6,

Dave

PS- Ready to upgrade your investment process?  Check out my free behavioral investing course!

David Keller, CMT

President and Chief Strategist

Sierra Alpha Research LLC

marketmisbehavior.com

https://www.youtube.com/c/MarketMisbehavior

Disclaimer: This blog is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice.  The ideas and strategies should never be used without first assessing your own personal and financial situation, or without consulting a financial professional.  

The author does not have a position in mentioned securities at the time of publication.    Any opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author and do not in any way represent the views or opinions of any other person or entity.

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