3 Things: Fed Late, Rate Review, Pricing In “R”

The Fed Is Behind The Curve…Again

Over the last couple of months, I have been discussing the technical deterioration of the market that is occurring beneath the surface of the major indices. I have also suggested there is more than sufficient evidence to suggest we may be entering into a more protracted “bear market cycle.”

The caveat to this, of course, has been the potential for a renewed round of Central Bank interventions that would theoretically once again postpone the onset of such a decline. To wit:

“The top section of the chart is a basic ‘overbought / oversold’ indicator with extreme levels of ‘oversold’ conditions circled. The shaded area on the main part of the chart represents 2-standard deviations of price movement above and below the short-term moving average.”

“There a couple of very important things to take away from this chart.

• When markets begin a ‘bear market’ cycle [which is identified by a moving average crossover (red circles) combined with a MACD sell-signal (lower part of chart)], the market remains in an oversold condition for extended periods (yellow highlighted areas.)

• More importantly, during these corrective cycles, market rallies fail to reach higher levels than the previous rally as the negative trend is reinforced.

Both of these conditions currently exist.

Could I be wrong? Absolutely.

This entire outlook could literally change overnight if the Federal Reserve leaps into action with a rate cut, another liquidity program or direct market intervention.”

This is just the most recent observation. I begin discussing the deterioration in the markets beginning last summer as early signs of the topping process began and I lowered portfolio model exposures to 50% of normal allocations.

However, despite the fact that interest rates have continued to trend lower, economic data and corporate profits have deteriorated, and inflationary pressures non-existent; most Fed speakers have sounded consistently hawkish and steadfast in their views of 4-rate hikes in 2016.