The seasonality surrounding the Thanksgiving holiday tends to be modestly favorable. While the indices do tend to advance the day before and the day after Thanksgiving, the size of the gains are not terribly meaningful. However, the historical odds do seem to favor the idea of the bulls continuing the record string of days in which the S&P 500 closed above its 5-day moving - which currently stands at 28 and counting.

It is also worth noting that the advance has not exactly been robust over the last two weeks. While stocks have managed to move higher almost on a daily basis, it would appear that a lack of selling pressure is more to blame for the relentless march to new highs than a stampede of buyers.

Turning to this morning, there is more talk of stimulus and QE from places like China, Japan, and Europe. ECB Vice President Constancio said Wednesday in speech that the central bank will be able to gauge in Q1 whether it needs to get more aggressive by expanding asset purchases to sovereign bonds. So, despite Germany's opposition to the idea, it appears that QE is indeed coming to the Eurozone if the economy continues to stagnate.

In Japan, BoJ officials defended the recent expansion of their QE program, saying that inaction would have been tantamount to breaking the bank's commitment to "do whatever it takes" to get inflation up to the 2% target range.

And in China, headlines indicate that a system-wide rate cut as well as additional stimulus measure aimed at boosting the economy could come soon. China stock markets extended their recent rally to a fifth straight session, with the Shanghai Composite up nearly 5% this week.

Here at home, investors got some economic data to chew on before the bell with Durable Goods, Weekly Jobless Claims, and Personal Income/Spending all coming in below expectations. As such, U.S. stock futures have given up much of their early gains and are now pointing to a modestly higher open on Wall Street.

Current Market Environment

Yesterday's economic data may present a decent summary for the overall stock market environment. First, the GDP growth rate came in at +3.9%, which was well above expectations and the first look. However, the Consumer Confidence numbers continued to disappoint. So, while the backdrop for the overall market continues to be positive, there always seems to be something to fret about. This is starting to show up in our market models as well. For example, while the models remain positive on balance, the momentum components are basically limping along in neutral. Therefore, investors should continue to side with the bulls but remain flexible.

Looking At The Charts

To say the market is overbought and due for a pullback would definitely be an understatement. It has now been 28 days since the S&P 500 closed below its 5-day moving average. As such, traders are likely on high alert for any kind of negative inputs at this time. In other words, should something negative come out of the woodwork, it is likely that all of the millisecond trend following algos will start heading in the same direction. However, traders looking for a pullback to provide an entry point to the traditional year-end rally have been sorely disappointed of late. The bottom line is we would look for a test of the 2050 support level at a minimum at some point in the near term.

S&P 500 - Daily

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Pre-Game Indicators

Here are the Pre-Market indicators we review each morning before the opening bell...

Major Foreign Markets:
    Japan: -0.14%
    Hong Kong: +1.12%
    Shanghai: +1.42%
    London: +0.02%
    Germany: +0.12%
    France: -0.37%
    Italy: -0.42%
    Spain: -0.76%

Crude Oil Futures: -$0.08 to $74.01

Gold: -$2.70 at $1195.10

Dollar: lower against the yen and pound, higher vs. euro

10-Year Bond Yield: Currently trading at 2.251%

Stock Indices in U.S. (relative to fair value):
    S&P 500: +2.92
    Dow Jones Industrial Average: ++17
    NASDAQ Composite: ++8.37

Thought For The Day:

"A safe investment is an investment whose dangers are not at that moment apparent." -Lord Bauer

Current Market Drivers

We strive to identify the driving forces behind the market action on a daily basis. The thinking is that if we can both identify and understand why stocks are doing what they are doing on a short-term basis; we are not likely to be surprised/blind-sided by a big move. Listed below are what we believe to be the driving forces of the current market (Listed in order of importance).

      1. The State of Fed/ECB/BOJ Policy
      2. The Outlook for Global Growth
      3. The Outlook for U.S. Economy

The State of the Trend

We believe it is important to analyze the market using multiple time-frames. We define short-term as 3 days to 3 weeks, intermediate-term as 3 weeks to 3 months, and long-term as 3 months or more. Below are our current ratings of the three primary trends:

Short-Term Trend: Positive
(Chart below is S&P 500 daily over past 1 month)

Intermediate-Term Trend: Positive
(Chart below is S&P 500 daily over past 6 months)

Long-Term Trend: Positive
(Chart below is S&P 500 daily over past 2 years)

Key Technical Areas:

Traders as well as computerized algorithms are generally keenly aware of the important technical levels on the charts from a short-term basis. Below are the levels we deem important to watch today:

• Key Near-Term Support Zone(s) for S&P 500: 2050
• Key Near-Term Resistance Zone(s): 2075

The State of the Tape

Momentum indicators are designed to tell us about the technical health of a trend - I.E. if there is any "oomph" behind the move. Below are a handful of our favorite indicators relating to the market's "mo"...

• Trend and Breadth Confirmation Indicator (Short-Term): Positive
• Price Thrust Indicator: Positive
• Volume Thrust Indicator: Neutral
• Breadth Thrust Indicator: Neutral
• Bull/Bear Volume Relationship: Positive
• Technical Health of 100 Industry Groups: Positive

The Early Warning Indicators

Markets travel in cycles. Thus we must constantly be on the lookout for changes in the direction of the trend. Looking at market sentiment and the overbought/sold conditions can provide "early warning signs" that a trend change may be near.

• S&P 500 Overbought/Oversold Conditions:
        - Short-Term: Overbought
        - Intermediate-Term: Neutral
  
• Market Sentiment: Our primary sentiment model is Positive .

The State of the Market Environment

One of the keys to long-term success in the stock market is stay in tune with the market's "big picture" environment in terms of risk versus reward.

• Weekly Market Environment Model Reading: Positive

Wishing you green screens and all the best for a great day,

David D. Moenning
Founder and Chief Investment Strategist
Heritage Capital Research - A CONCERT Advisor
Be Sure To Check Out the NEW Website!

Indicator Explanations

Trend and Breadth Confirmation Indicator (Short-Term) Explained: History shows the most reliable market moves tend to occur when the breadth indices are in gear with the major market averages. When the breadth measures diverge, investors should take note that a trend reversal may be at hand. This indicator incorporates an All-Cap Dollar Weighted Equity Series and A/D Line. From 1998, when the A/D line is above its 5-day smoothing and the All-Cap Equal Weighted Equity Series is above its 25-day smoothing, the equity index has gained at a rate of +32.5% per year. When one of the indicators is above its smoothing, the equity index has gained at a rate of +13.3% per year. And when both are below, the equity index has lost +23.6% per year.

Price Thrust Indicator Explained: This indicator measures the 3-day rate of change of the Value Line Composite relative to the standard deviation of the 30-day average. When the Value Line's 3-day rate of change have moved above 0.5 standard deviation of the 30-day average ROC, a "thrust" occurs and since 2000, the Value Line Composite has gained ground at a rate of +20.6% per year. When the indicator is below 0.5 standard deviation of the 30-day, the Value Line has lost ground at a rate of -10.0% per year. And when neutral, the Value Line has gained at a rate of +5.9% per year.

Volume Thrust Indicator Explained: This indicator uses NASDAQ volume data to indicate bullish and bearish conditions for the NASDAQ Composite Index. The indicator plots the ratio of the 10-day total of NASDAQ daily advancing volume (i.e., the total volume traded in stocks which rose in price each day) to the 10-day total of daily declining volume (volume traded in stocks which fell each day). This ratio indicates when advancing stocks are attracting the majority of the volume (readings above 1.0) and when declining stocks are seeing the heaviest trading (readings below 1.0). This indicator thus supports the case that a rising market supported by heavier volume in the advancing issues tends to be the most bullish condition, while a declining market with downside volume dominating confirms bearish conditions. When in a positive mode, the NASDAQ Composite has gained at a rate of +38.3% per year, When neutral, the NASDAQ has gained at a rate of +13.3% per year. And when negative, the NASDAQ has lost at a rate of -8.5% per year.

Breadth Thrust Indicator Explained: This indicator uses the number of NASDAQ-listed stocks advancing and declining to indicate bullish or bearish breadth conditions for the NASDAQ Composite. The indicator plots the ratio of the 10-day total of the number of stocks rising on the NASDAQ each day to the 10-day total of the number of stocks declining each day. Using 10-day totals smooths the random daily fluctuations and gives indications on an intermediate-term basis. As expected, the NASDAQ Composite performs much better when the 10-day A/D ratio is high (strong breadth) and worse when the indicator is in its lower mode (weak breadth). The most bullish conditions for the NASDAQ when the 10-day A/D indicator is not only high, but has recently posted an extreme high reading and thus indicated a thrust of upside momentum. Bearish conditions are confirmed when the indicator is low and has recently signaled a downside breadth thrust. In positive mode, the NASDAQ has gained at a rate of +22.1% per year since 1981. In a neutral mode, the NASDAQ has gained at a rate of +14.5% per year. And when in a negative mode, the NASDAQ has lost at a rate of -6.4% per year.

Bull/Bear Volume Relationship Explained: This indicator plots both "supply" and "demand" volume lines. When the Demand Volume line is above the Supply Volume line, the indicator is bullish. From 1981, the stock market has gained at an average annual rate of +11.7% per year when in a bullish mode. When the Demand Volume line is below the Supply Volume line, the indicator is bearish. When the indicator has been bearish, the market has lost ground at a rate of -6.1% per year.

Technical Health of 100 Industry Groups Explained: Designed to provide a reading on the technical health of the overall market, this indicator takes the technical temperature of more than 100 industry sectors each week. Looking back to early 1980, when the model is rated as "positive," the S&P has averaged returns in excess of 23% per year. When the model carries a "neutral" reading, the S&P has returned over 11% per year. But when the model is rated "negative," stocks fall by more than -13% a year on average.

Weekly State of the Market Model Reading Explained:Different market environments require different investing strategies. To help us identify the current environment, we look to our longer-term State of the Market Model. This model is designed to tell us when risk factors are high, low, or uncertain. In short, this longer-term oriented, weekly model tells us whether the odds favor the bulls, bears, or neither team.