Is T2108 Already Indicating a Bottom?

by Michael on July 26, 2007

So I was looking through my charts today and was shocked when I got to T2108 (Worden’s indicator for % of NYSE stocks above their 40-day moving averages). While the indices have been steadily hitting new highs (notably excluding the Russell 2000 and financials) T2108 has been trending down. In other words, a greater percentage of NYSE stocks were slipping below their 40-day moving average as the indices were climbing to new highs. Bulls might choose to call that a stock picker’s market. Others, like me, refer to it as unhealthy.

Here are charts of T2108 and the NYSE Composite Index:

Aside from the glaring negative divergence in T2108 what really struck me about T2108′s chart is that it’s already below its *magical* 20. As I’ve posted many times before, 20 on T2108 is typically a sign a of a decent bottom and a buy signal. Usually T2108 hits 20 after an ugly slide and the indices are at multi-month lows. This time we’re just off of fresh multi-year and all-time highs on many indices. My gut tells me that there’s still a lot of air under the indices but T2108 indicates that we’re near a bottom. Interesting times…

Note: Non-Worden subscribers may want to look at similar indicators at StockCharts.com, like $SPXA50R, $NYA50R and $NAA50R.

{ 12 comments }

Dr. Duru July 26, 2007 at 2:16 pm

Sure, NOW you alert us to the divergence! :-w
I haven’t looked at T2108 (or its cousin T2107)in a very long time. You just reminded us of the importance!

Michael July 26, 2007 at 2:21 pm

I also hadn’t looked at it in a long time. But I whined about the weak upside/strong downside volume for weeks.

Keith Shepard July 26, 2007 at 2:22 pm

Buy now? You first. :d

Is this going to be a record volume day? (SPY) is over 303,000,000. I don’t have all my historical data available, but I think that’s record volume on the (SPY).

Keith Shepard July 26, 2007 at 2:54 pm

Holy smokes…my short portfolio is in 7th heaven and my long portfolio was knocked out early. Woof. $TRIN just shot to the moon and back in the past 10 minutes. Someone hit the “big red” button.

~o)

Michael July 26, 2007 at 3:04 pm

yeah man, it’s fugly out there. Brokers look like death

howard lindzon July 26, 2007 at 4:42 pm

you buy financials when blood is on the street and cash flow matters. cant believe people held on to those pigs this long.

i love when you post this stuff. took down some smh calls at $38 tick.

you generally rally or crash from these type of readings. betting on a crash is fun but rather bet on the bounce

Dr. Duru July 26, 2007 at 6:26 pm

I’m with you Howard. [-o<

Tim July 26, 2007 at 10:57 pm

T2108 reading of 20 or below usually at least leads to a bounce of some type. T2107 still has more room on the downside before it gets below 30 which usually indicates a longer term bottom.

downtowntrader July 26, 2007 at 11:32 pm

Hey Mike,
I posted on T2108 a couple of nights ago noting the same thing. I think the rotation into large caps has held the NDX and Dow up, while the broader markets (especially mid and small caps) were slipping into a correction. Hence the divergence with the Indices. Either way, I totally agree that it is unhealthy, although probably a sign of a bounce coming.

Joey

Deborah July 28, 2007 at 3:06 pm

Interesting indeed…

I’m choosing to watch…

pat mccarroll July 29, 2007 at 6:00 pm

Mike, how do I get a plot of T2108 from Bloomberg? Thanks, Pat.

Michael July 30, 2007 at 9:23 am

Pat,

I don’t know, I’ve never used a Bloomberg terminal.

Comments on this entry are closed.

{ 3 trackbacks }

Previous post:

Next post: