Given the ongoing spread of the Coronavirus, nobody should be surprised to see the selling that came into the market yesterday. Over the weekend, we reviewed some of the early warning signs the market had already signaled.
For example, junk bonds and regional banks sold off. Interest rate yields fell sharply, and gold had a sizeable rally. The focus coming into yesterday, however, was the Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) or our Granddad of the Economic Modern Family.
But before we get into the analysis and what we might expect next, I’d like to share with you a question I received about the Economic Modern Family and how it measures market breadth.
The basis of the Family is to gauge the key cyclicals and non-cyclicals of the US economy. Each member serves a distinct role in helping us determine these key cycles. Yet, it’s the phases that help us see easily, the aggregate of the market’s breadth.
Once Regional Banks, via SPDR® S&P Regional Banking ETF (NYSE:KRE), deteriorated in phase, that threw up a red flag. From there, we prepared for a diminishing overall market breadth.
Lo and behold, four more Family members saw deteriorating phases:
Granny SPDR® S&P Retail ETF (NYSE:XRT), representing brick and mortar retail, Big Brother iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology ETF (NASDAQ:IBB) and iShares Transportation Average ETF (NYSE:IYT) not only broke their 50-DMAs, but did so with a significant gap down.
Interestingly, Grandpa Russell held the 50-DMA until the final minutes of the trading day yesterday. Hence, he broke the 50-DMA and the bullish phase, but only marginally so.
Yet with his sword help up high, it may not necessarily have been the lethal blow.
Here are the weekly and daily charts of the Russell 2000 IWM.
Though we broke the inside week pattern we came into yesterday with IWM only slightly having broken the 50-DMA.
As 164.07 was the low the week ending January 17th, that now becomes a key pivotal area. Moreover, IWM must clear/hold the 50-daily moving average or 163.67.
This support between 163.67-164.07 becomes critical for this entire week.
Even if it breaks down under there moreso today or Wednesday, where IWM closes out the week and the month should set the stage for the bigger move that happens thereafter.
The breadth of the Economic Modern Family phases, should all including Sister Semiconductors, via VanEck Vectors Semiconductor ETF (NYSE:SMH) remain in caution phases, will lead to a bigger down move.
Then, we will see if the bulls live to fight another day.
If IWM can pull out his sword and strike back at the bears, then with earnings season in full swing, this correction could also become a very welcomed buy opportunity.
S&P 500 (NYSE:SPY): A weekly close under 320 will not look healthy. So that is the area to hold.
Russell 2000 (IWM): Support between 163.67-164.07 to hold
Dow (NYSE:DIA): 283.93 is the 50-DMA
NASDAQ (NASDAQ:QQQ): A weekly close under 212.24 will not look healthy. So that is the area to hold.
KRE (Regional Banks): 54.00 is the 200-DMA
SMH (Semiconductors): A weekly close under 139.77 will not look healthy. So that is the area to hold.
IYT (Transportation): 190 next support. 195.50 resistance
IBB (Biotechnology): Confirmed caution phase with 115.40 support
XRT (Retail): Confirmed caution phase with 43 support