CS Warns Volume & DeMark Raise “Topping Threat” In Stocks

The 1900 target for the S&P 500 that Credit Suisse since the start of the year but are seeing increasing signs of a market top with a meaningful correction lower likely to emerge. Volume divergences, DeMark clusters, and reversal days all point to weakness and, as CS concludes, a break of 1844/34 (for the S&P) could lead to a decline to 1800 and then to 1768.

Via Credit Suisse,

Indeed, not only has the market all but achieved our 1900/10 target (Friday’s high was 1897), but the subsequent rejection from there has seen a bearish “reversal day” complete on increased volume. Below 1863 is needed to keep the immediate risk lower for a test of key price support at 1844/34 – the March lows, rising 63-day average and 38.2% retracement of the February/April rally and “neckline” support. Despite all our fears of a top, only a move below here would see a bearish reversal confirmed. If achieved though, we would look for a decline to 1800/1798 initially, and potentially as far as the mediumterm uptrend and rising 40-week average, currently seen at 1778/68.

While 1844/34 holds, no top will complete, keeping the trend higher.

Volume did not confirm the new high

Whilst market breadth has been trending and continues to trend higher, the volume picture has also shown signs of deterioration over the past few weeks after having previously been steadfast. Not only did Friday see increased volume for the “reversal day”, but cumulative OnBalanceVolume (our favourite volume measure) has been trending lower since early March, and more importantly shows a bearish divergence, again warning of a weakening bull trend.

Exhaustion signals have been present for a while

In addition, as we have highlighted on several occasions, the more aggressive DeMark Combo indicator holds daily, weekly and monthly “13” sell signals. The more widely used sequential indicator also holds a weekly “13” sell signal, although it should be noted, not daily or monthly signals.

With Defensives also starting to show signs of further improvement relative to Cyclicals, and Large Caps completing a base relative to Small Caps, we remain of the view that at the very least a potentially important rotation trade is underway and more realistically a top may be close to constructing.

In summary, our 1900/10 core bull target has been all but achieved, but we need to see a break below 1844/34 to see a top established.