Just yesterday I shared the observation in The value of technical analysis of stock market trends that the stock indexes were in a tight range the past month and we’d likely see a breakout, up or down.

I didn’t mention possible macroeconomic or geopolitical factors, I just pointed it out saying the market does what it does., and something or someone gets the blame.

Today, the stock market has shifted from being positive after the open, shaking off news of China imposing new tariffs on the U.S., to a waterfall decline down -2% at this point. Below is the up-close trend of today’s action so far.

Some probably believe the stock market is falling because of the new China Tariffs on the U.S, Trump Tweet about China, Jackson Hole Comments, or The Federal Reserve.

The reality is, it’s just the market, doing what it does.

I focus on that. The price trend and volatility.

Here is the trend looking at the tight range I observed yesterday. As you can see, the price is still within the range, but it’s trending toward the lower range.

In the meantime, the CBOE S&P 500 Volatility Index (VIX) has spiked up 25% today on the new enthusiasm for expected future volatility.

Wikipedia defines Technical Analysis as:

In finance, technical analysis is an analysis methodology for forecasting the direction of prices through the study of past market data, primarily price and volume.

By that definition, what I’m sharing here isn’t Technical Analysis, I guess.

Investopedia defines it as:

Technical analysis is a popular trading method that analyzes past price action, usually on charts, to help predict future price movements in financial markets.

But, I am analyzing past price action on charts, but not necessarily to predict future price movements.

I’ll just call it charting.

I hope you find it helpful.

Let’s see how it closes. 

Mike Shell is the Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Shell Capital Management, LLC, and the portfolio manager of ASYMMETRY® Global Tactical.

Mike Shell and Shell Capital Management, LLC is a registered investment advisor and provides investment advice and portfolio management exclusively to clients with a signed and executed investment management agreement. The observations shared on this website are for general information only and should not be construed as advice to buy or sell any security. Securities reflected are not intended to represent any client holdings or any recommendations made by the firm. Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal an investor must be willing to bear. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. All information and data is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified. The presence of this website on the Internet shall in no direct or indirect way raise an implication that Shell Capital Management, LLC is offering to sell or soliciting to sell advisory services to residents of any state in which the firm is not registered as an investment advisor. Use of this website is subject to its terms and conditions.