In
the middle of December 2012, we reported
on the evolution of S&P 500 and decided to sell the index at 1430, which we
had bought at 1352 in November. Due to technical reasons not related to our
investing decisions we were able to sell the whole lot only on December 15 at
1420. The return from November is 4.7%; and from May 2012, when we first
formulated this tactics, we made around 15%. We also decided to buy the S&P
500 at ~1400 whenever it comes. This level was touched on December 28. Then we predicted a rally to 1550 according to
our simple and straightforward investing tactics – we follow the trajectory of
the S&P 500 observed during the rally between 2002 and 2007. In March 2013,
the S&P 500 exceeded 1560 and currently stays to fall to 1450 in a month.
If to follow up our procedure, as explained in Figures 1 through 6, it’s time
to sell and wait for a new short-term rally in June-October 2013. Then a tremendous fall down to 750 in 2015 is
not excluded. Since 2009, the S&P 500 has been exactly following the
previous trajectory. Why should it stay high after October 2013? Currently, I
am in 10-year bonds and look for 1.5% to 1.7% yield to sell them in June.
In
March 2012, we first published
a graph which showed that the S&P 500 index would have a local fall in May
2012 at the level 1300. In a few sessions, we bought S&P 500
index in May/June 2012 at the level 1287 to 1322. The initial idea was to sell by the end of
2013 at 1525 and get a 12% to 14% return. In
September, the S&P was at 1450, which
was far above the expected level, and we decided to sell and wait a negative
correction to 1350 to 1375 to re-enter the index. Selling at ~1460, we obtained
an approximately 10% return in September.
In
October, the S&P 500 fell to 1350 as
had been predicted in September and we re-entered in two sessions at 1348 and
1355. By the end of November the S&P 500 regained 4.5% (1416). Two weeks
ago, we expected the index to rise to 1430 to 1450 in December 2012. This was considered
as the best time to sell before the next negative correction in December 2012/
January 2013. In reality, this correction to 1400 was very short.
Below
we present the evolution of the S&P 500 and the step-by-step assumptions illustrating
the decisions we have made since March 2012.
Figure
1 shows the evolution of the S&P 500 index since 1980. After 1995, the
index behavior reveals some saw teeth with peaks in 2000 and 2007. The current
growth resembles those between 1997 and 2000 and from 2003 and 2007. There are two deep troughs in 2002 and 2009
which are marked by red and green lines.
For the current analysis we assume that the repeated shape of the teeth
is likely induced by a degree of similarity in the evolution of macroeconomic
variables. The intuition behind such an assumption is obvious – in the long run
the stock market depends on the overall economic growth.
Having
two peaks and troughs between 1995 and 2009, what can we say about the current
growth in the S&P 500? Before making any statistical estimates, in Figure 2
we have shifted forward the original curve in Figure 1 in order to match the 2009
trough (blue line). When the 2002 and
2009 troughs are matched, one can see that the current growth path closely
repeats that after 2002. The first big deviation from the blues curve in Figure
2 started in 2011 and had amplitude of 150 units (from 1210 to 1360). The black curve returned to the blue one in
August/September 2011. From December 2011, we observed a middle-size deviation
of about 100 units.
In
April 2012, we predicted
a drop in the S&P 500 to the level of 1300 by the end of May. Figure 2
shows the predicted behavior in April and May 2012, with the predicted segment
shown by red line. We expected that the path observed in the previous rally
would be repeated with the bottom points coinciding. When this prediction realized, we invested at
the average price 1320. In May 2012, the expected exit level was 1500 in October
2013.
Figure 2. The original S&P 500 curve
(black line) and that shifted forward to match the 2009 trough (blue line). Red
line – expected fall in the S&P 500: from 1400 in March to 1300 in May.
Figure 3 shows the evolution of the
S&P 500 monthly closing price between May and August 2012. The S&P 500
closing level for August was 1430 and reached 1469 in the middle of September.
This level provided a ten percent return over approximately 4 months. One can
see that the observed level was far above the expected level (blue line). The
return and the deviation from the expected level both made us think that this
was the best time to exit. We sold the index on September 21 (1460)
anticipating strong turbulence (economic, financial, and political) and an overall
fall to 1375 at a few month horizon.
Figure 3. Same as in Figure 2 with an
extension between May and August.
Figure 4 shows the evolution of the
S&P 500 monthly closing price in September-November 2012. The October’s closing
level was 1411. On October 26, we put the November’s level down to 1375. One
can see that the red line intersects the blue curve. The previous history of
the black and red lines intersection with the blue one made us think that the
time to enter the market (S&P 500 index) was approaching. We expected to buy
at 1350 to 1375.
Figure 4. Same as in Figure 2 with an
extension between September and November 2012.
Figure
5 depicts the state of the S&P 500 on December 15, 2012. The index had a local minimum of 1347 in the
middle of November and recovered to 1416 on November 30. This was 15 points
less than the expected level of 1430 in December 2012. The red line intersects
the blue one in January 2013 and a negative correction to 1400 (or less) was
expected.
Figure 5. Same as in Figure 4 with an
extension into December 2012.
Figure 6 displays the current situation
with the S&P 500. As in a few cases after 2010, the actual index (red line)
leads the expected one (blue) by a month or so. It has reached the (closing)
level 1563 on March 14 and has been falling since then. As in April and November
2012, we expect the index to fall. The level is likely around 1455. Then it
might regain its power and have a final spurt to 1560 in October 2013. Do not
miss this last opportunity.
Figure 6. Same as in Figure 5 with an
extension into March 2013.
