The macro economy is weakening. What this means for stocks

by Troy

Not much has changed with the S&P 500 hovering around its 50% retracement. We will have a flood of macro data over the next few weeks to digest now that the government shutdown is over. This is very important when it comes to understanding whether or not this bull market will have 1 last leg up or not.

Go here to understand our fundamentals-driven long term outlook.

Let’s determine the stock market’s most probable medium term direction by objectively quantifying technical analysis. For reference, here’s the random probability of the U.S. stock market going up on any given day.

*Probability ≠ certainty. Past performance ≠ future performance. But if you don’t use the past as a guide, you are blindly “guessing” the future.

Macro deterioration: Consumer Confidence

Consumer Confidence has fallen significantly over the past 4 months. This is not good for the economy and stocks, especially considering that Consumer Confidence was very high in 2018 (economy was “as good as it gets”).

Here’s what happens next to the S&P 500 when Consumer Confidence falls by more than -18 over the past 4 months, while still above 100 (i.e. late-cycle)

As you can see, the only similar cases were:

1. 2001
2. 1998
3. *I ommitted 1970 because this data series only started in 1970. We have no idea what the data was like in 1969, 1968, etc. But remember: the stock market also tanked in 1970 and the economy was in a recession.

This lays out the framework:

1. The bull market had 1 more year left after 1998. This is the most optimistic scenario
2. The bull market was already over by early-2001

Either way, this is a late-cycle sign. The only question is whether this is like 1998 or 2001

Macro deterioration: ECRI

ECRI publishes a Weekly Leading Index for the economy. The year-over-year growth in the Weekly Leading Index has remained significantly negative for a while.

Here’s what happens next to the S&P 500 when the ECRI Weekly Leading Index’s year-over-year % change is under 5% for 4 consecutive weeks

As you can see, the stock market’s long term forward returns are worse than random.

Macro Context

Crazy rally

The S&P 500 has rallied vigorously without any meaningful pullback over the past month. So when’s the pullback coming? (Most traders are looking for a pullback by now).

Here’s what happens next to the S&P when it is above its 10 day moving average for 17 consecutive days (steady rally), while under its 200 dma

As you can see, the S&P 500’s forward returns over the next 2 weeks lean bearish.

Macro Context

Price action

Some traders like to use “price action” for trading the S&P 500 (how price responds to support/resistance).

The S&P has remained above its 50 dma for 8 consecutive days. This is the first sustained breakout since September 2018. Is this a sign of “bullish price action”?

Here’s what happens next to the S&P when the S&P is above its 50 dma for 8 consecutive days, while under its 200 dma

As you can see, the stock market’s 2 month forward returns lean bearish. A lot of the “first sustained breakouts” eventually fail.

Macro Context

Fed meeting

Tomorrow concludes the Federal Reserve’s meeting. Perhaps the Fed’s meeting will trigger a pullback/retest. (Who knows. Trying to guess and time short term movements is very hard, which is why we focus on the medium-long term).

So far, Fed meeting days under chair Jerome Powell have not been good for the stock market

Click here for yesterday’s market study

Conclusion

Here is our discretionary market outlook:

1. The U.S. stock market’s long term risk:reward is no longer bullish. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the bull market is over. We’re merely talking about long term risk:reward. Long term risk:reward is more important than trying to predict exact tops and bottoms.
2. The medium term direction (i.e. next 3-6 months) is neutral. Some market studies are medium term bullish while others are medium term bearish
3. The stock market’s short term has a bearish lean due to the large probability of a pullback/retest. Focus on the medium-long term (and especially the long term) because the short term is extremely hard to predict.

Goldman Sachs’ Bull/Bear Indicator demonstrates that while the bull market’s top isn’t necessarily in, risk:reward does favor long term bears.