Current Stock Market Trends: Buying Fear, Selling Euphoria

Deciphering Market Trends: Mastering the Battle Against Mass Mindset

Updated Jan 3, 2024

Delving into these facets from a historical perspective provides valuable insights and equips investors with actionable intelligence when seamlessly intertwined with current events. This nuanced approach empowers them to seize opportunities and strategically enhance their financial gain. Adding new commentary towards the bottom reinforces the central idea: learning from history is paramount to avoiding its repetition. In the dynamic landscape of financial markets, this comprehensive understanding becomes a guiding light for informed decision-making.

We have said this 100’s of times in the past and will probably have to state it 100’s of times more over the years. The mass mindset is wired to lose; they buy when it’s either time to be cautious or when it’s time to sell. Once again, ask yourself this simple question: why do you feel the urge to jump in when everything looks rosy and the urge to flee when everything appears sour? You will never advance and become a successful trader if you can’t answer that question honestly. Sounds harsh. Well, the market is not a place for traders unwilling to adapt to changing conditions. It takes no prisoners; the only adage that applies to the markets is “adapt or die”. This brings us to an important topic. When determining current stock market trends, the focus should be on sentiment.

Bullish sentiment climbed a bit this week, but it’s trading well of its highs. We don’t expect the markets to let out a hefty dose of steam unless the technical indicators are trading in the insanely overbought ranges. Secondly, bullish sentiment should be trading in the 55 to 57 ranges for several weeks on end. Market Update March 21, 2021

Hence, current stock market trends indicate that the major indices will likely trend higher over the next.

Current stock market trends outlook based on Sentiment readings

Bullish sentiment is trading higher, but it’s still well below 55, and the needle on the anxiety gauge has moved deeper into the severe range. This is somewhat surprising as the markets are putting new highs almost every week. The Nasdaq’s odds of hitting the 14500 to 15000 ranges rise with each week’s passage; the longer bullish sentiment remains below 55, the better the odds are of the Nasdaq trading above 14,500.

An enormous amount of money is still sitting in money market accounts and cash that an entire market segment could get wiped out. It would not impact the overall trend. For example, the whole Reddit crowd could be eliminated. It would virtually not affect the long-term structure of the market, for a ton of money out there can easily replace these investors. By the same token, many significant hedge funds could be wiped out. It would also have no long-term impact on the markets other than providing Tactical investors another mouth-watering opportunity. There is also so much hot money that corporations can create by issuing debt via bonds, etc., to drive this market even higher. One of the ways they can do this is by funding massive share buyback programs.

Only the patient investor makes money. The impatient investor or the one that overtrades would be better served if they put their money in an index fund and allocated their free time to drinking beer or mowing the lawn. Riches don’t come to fools, so while we have received many emails asking us to take a more aggressive stance, our response is no way, Jose. We don’t follow the playbook of the masses, and if we did that, we would not be here 21-plus years later. We will continue to issue entry points on stocks that we deem will make for good long-term plays. These individuals asking us to take a more aggressive stance now were the same ones who panicked when we said it was time to buy during the COVID-19 crash. Once again, ask yourself why you want to buy when it’s time to be more cautious and when it’s time to buy, you panic. The truth will set you free, but it will hurt like hell before it does. And remember, if you add an O to Hell, you get Hello.

Current stock market trends: Expect a correction instead of a crash

V readings are now at 9100, a new all-time high, and therefore, traders should be ready for sudden extreme action. What does this mean? The Dow could shed 2500 points in a heartbeat and then recoup those losses just as fast. A sector that looks robust could suddenly implode while the rest of the market continues to trend higher. Sectors that could implode are Cryptocurrency (especially when the Dollar puts in a long-term bottom), precious metals, specific segments of the Hi-tech sector that experienced unreal moves. Please focus on the word could and not will. Secondly, we do not short the market when the overall trend is positive. If you feel like doing that, make sure you are willing to do some legwork and are fully aware of your risks. Market Update February 14, 2021

It is relatively easy to make money in the markets once you have mastered the art of patience and discipline. Failure to master these two skills will virtually guarantee a negative outcome. The reason most investors lose money is that they have no plan. When things look good, they jump in and vice versa. Now ask them what makes an investment look sound, and they will reward you with the proverbial idiotic answer “because the experts” said so. The simple, time-tested methodology that has never failed over the generations is that one should never buy when the masses are euphoric and vice versa.

Nasdaq Outlook

Our indicators still have room to run, and as bullish sentiment has pulled back strongly, the odds of the Nasdaq trading as high as 14500 have just risen. If bullish sentiment oscillates between the 37 to 48 ranges for an extended period, one could argue that the Nasdaq could trade to 15K before pulling back. Market Update February 14, 2020

This appears to have come to pass. So, what’s next for the Nasdaq? Potentially, it could trade to the 15,500 to 15,800 range, but then a sharp, probably short correction is expected. However, the intensity of the correction is likely to catch almost all the players with their pants down.

Leveraging High Volatility Index Readings for Strategic Advantage

Throughout numerous outbreaks since 1980, each accompanied by severe consequences, historical market data consistently reveals a pattern: after an initial knee-jerk reaction, the markets tend to trend higher. The Tactical Investor’s perspective resonates, emphasizing that “every disaster leads to a hidden opportunity.” Recognizing this, the key lies in avoiding panic and viewing potential sell-offs, such as those prompted by the coronavirus, through a bullish lens.

Understanding the inherent tendency for mass panic is crucial. Historically, waiting for the masses to panic before making strategic moves has led to significant buying opportunities. Conversely, during periods of euphoria, like the dot-com and housing manias of 2008, selling when the masses were overly optimistic proved prudent. Maintaining a trading journal becomes pivotal during market downturns, documenting emotions, media headlines, and societal reactions, providing invaluable insights for future decision-making.

Weekly charts indicate that markets are highly overbought, suggesting a potential need to release some pressure. However, monthly charts are exerting more upward pressure than usual. It’s worth noting that weekly charts move relatively slowly, providing a window for the markets to release steam. Staying vigilant and strategically utilizing high volatility readings can offer a valuable edge in navigating market dynamics.

The Role of Mass Psychology in Predicting Market Trends

Mass psychology, or crowd psychology, significantly influences market trends, studying how large groups of people impact behaviour, especially in the stock market. Understanding this psychological aspect is crucial for successful trading.

Professionals employ two primary methods of stock-picking: fundamental and technical analysis. While fundamental analysis focuses on a company’s financials, technical analysis relies on trends, patterns, and indicators. Market psychology is a vital driver in technical analysis, influencing the principles behind various indicators.

Market psychology reflects overall sentiment steering market trends and price action. Rather than rational actors, people are influenced by cognitive and emotional biases and susceptible to herd instinct. This challenges the notion of markets as logical entities.

The study of mass psychology reveals that the mass mindset finds comfort in aligning with the majority’s views. In times of greed or fear, overreactions can distort prices. Greed may lead to asset bubbles inflating beyond fundamentals, while fear can cause protracted sell-offs, depressing prices below their intrinsic value.

In conclusion, mass psychology is instrumental in predicting market trends. Understanding the psychological state of the market provides valuable insights, aiding investors in making informed decisions during various market conditions.