Archive for December, 2009
Some Useful Advice For Traders
Posted by: | CommentsBefore the new years, I noticed that there is a trend of a ” SELL OFF “. What I suggest all traders to do is look for a target buy price. Example, so if the sell off is active and say a stock drops from $3.00 to $0.70, put a buy price in the mid $0.70. You’ll see your portfolio jump in the next 3 weeks.
Happy Holidays Everyone! I’ll see you after the New Years!
Merry Christmas!
Posted by: | CommentsI would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. Hope all of your holidays are safe and fun.
Materials (USA)
Posted by: | CommentsThe materials (U.S.) sector typically does well from January 29th to May 6th. From 1990 to 2008 the materials sector has produced an average gain of 8.0% and has been positive fourteen out of twenty times.
Currently the technical pattern on the U.S. materials sector, as represented by the ETF, XLB, is positive – the sector has recently broken out of its trading range.
The U.S. materials sector is substantially different than the Canadian materials sector as the U.S. sector has very little gold and approximately 60% chemical companies.
Because of the relatively weak seasonal opportunities for the Canadian materials sector in January, investors should consider reducing their position in the Canadian materials sector over the short-term and increasing their position in the U.S. materials sector in January.
Metals and Mining
Posted by: | CommentsThe metals and mining sector typically outperforms from November 19th to May 5th. Last year this sector produced a 61% return. Recently it has been trading in a rising channel and has pulled back to mid-channel. Within the seasonal period of strength the materials sector can have a short period of strength at the end of December and then “soften” in the first week or two of January. Investors should consider adding this sector to their portfolio before its next run in January.
Platinum
Posted by: | CommentsThe period of seasonal strength for platinum is from January 1st to May 31st. The primary driver for this period of seasonal strength is the auto industry ordering platinum for catalytic converters and investors optimistically anticipating increased car sales at the beginning of the year. Last year platinum increased 29% during its seasonally strong period. Unlike gold, platinum is still well below its high set in 2008. Platinum has been increasing and has recently broken out of its trading channel, which is a positive indication.
Platinum is shaping up to be a good opportunity for the end of the year/beginning of the next year.
Small-Cap Effect (Small Cap Sector)
Posted by: | CommentsLarge companies (large caps) have been outperforming in the stock market recently, but that might all change very shortly. Small companies (small caps) have on average outperformed from December 19th to March 7th. From 1979/80 to 2008/09, the Russell 2000, the venerable index of small companies in the stock market, has produced a return of 5.4% during its seasonally strong period. This compares with a return of 2.1% for the Russell 1000 (large cap index) during the same time period.
The Small Cap Effect is a modified January Effect strategy, which is one of the most researched seasonal anomalies in the stock market. This traditional strategy is based upon small companies outperforming in the month of January because of tax loss selling in December.
The premise of this strategy is that investors sell their small caps in December to generate losses in order to offset any capital gains that they created during the year. Investors are more likely to sell their small companies that are trading at a loss, rather than their large companies
because they typically see their large companies as longterm holdings. The net result is small company stocks are often beaten down in price and end up representing good value for an astute investor.
This strategy has worked well, but the entry date has shifted from December 31st to December 19th. The shift has been caused by the popularity of the strategy. As more and more investors have tried to capitalize on this strategy, the date has shifted. Seasonal investors take advantage of the “earlier” January Effect by getting into the sector before the other investors who are still operating under the old paradigm of the trade starting at the beginning of January.
Future Seasonal Opportunities / Considerations
Posted by: | CommentsIn the next few days, I will write the highlights of approaching seasonal opportunities for investors.
