OPTIONS

Friday, October 19, 2007

Book Review: When The Market Moves, Will You Be Ready?

I just finished reading a book: When the Market Moves, Will You Be Ready?, authored by Peter Navarro.
Peter Navarro is the author of "If It's Raining in Brazil, Buy Starbucks", one of the famous books on Sector Rotation.



I found this book to be very well written. It is clear, concise and easy to understand, even for beginners.
Basically, the book introduces a top-down, step-by-step approach of investing, from the basic of fundamental analysis, technical analysis to risk management, money management, trade management, and execution.

Here are the main points what the book is all about:

There are 4 stages of Macrowave investing:

Stage 1: To analyze the 4 dynamic factors that have impacts to the broad market trend:
a) Company earnings: Especially for the big companies. Must take note of their earnings calendar.
b) Macro-economic events, such as government reports on inflation, employment, productivity reports, trade deficit, etc.
c) Fed policy changes (monetary vs. fiscal policy).
d) Exogenous shocks, such as oil price spikes, wars, terrorism, company scandals, etc.

Stage 2: To understand and determine the 3 key cycles that shape the market and sector trend: Business cycle, Stock market cycle and Interest rate cycle

With regards to the stock market & business cycle, Navarro emphasized the importance of Sector Rotation:

It’s well-known that to be successful in investing, one should follow the broad market trend because about 3 out of 4 stocks will follow the broad market. However, that principle only is actually not enough.
At different points of market cycle, there are some sectors that outperform both the general market and the other sectors. Therefore, investors should regularly change sectors as the stock market moves through the patterns of sector rotation.

If you’re in the right sector at the right time, you can make a lot of money very fast.

Peter Lynch

The following are 3 golden rules of Macrowave investing:
1) Buy strong stocks in the strong sectors in an upward trending market.
2) Short weak stocks in the weak sectors in a downward trending market.
3) Stay out of the market and in cash when there is no definable trend

This part of the book explained further the stages of stock market cycle, which sectors that normally outperform the others during each stage of the cycle, and the logics why it is so. Some ways to track the market and sector trend are also discussed.

With regards to the interest rate cycle, the author explained the 4 stages of interest rate cycle, and how interest rates affect stock and bond market.

In addition, Navarro also explained the Yield Curve and how the shapes the curve could possibly signal the possibility of market expansion / boom, or recession.

Stage 3: To screen and pick the strong stocks in the strong sectors or weak stocks in the weak sectors, based on fundamental and technical analysis.
The author offered some ways to screen stocks with strong fundamental and discussed some basics of technical analysis.

Stage 4: To use solid risk management, money management, and trade management as well as the execution itself.

I personally like how the author explained about the basic of money management. Very clear and systematic with a few examples. I think it’s the best explanation on the basic of money management as compared to other books or articles that I ever read on the topic so far. However, he did not explore too much on various money management techniques.

The trade management covers the comparison between market vs. limit order and when to use it, setting trailing stop to prevent a profitable trade from turning into a losing trade, using buying stop order for breakout play, etc.

On the execution, the author discussed the advantages of using Level II quotes as compared to Level I.

You can also take look at the Table of Content as well as excerpt of the book from the link provided above.
I think, it’s really a book worth reading.

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

HARAMI CROSS BULLISH vs. BEARISH

Harami Cross Bullish & Harami Cross Bearish resemble Harami Bullish & Harami Bearish.
Harami Cross can be seen as the variation of Harami pattern.
The difference between Harami & Harami Cross is that for Harami Cross, the 2nd candle is a Doji.

Basically, Harami Cross Bullish & Harami Cross Bearish consist of 2 candles:
The first day is characterized by a long body candle, followed by a Doji candlestick that is completely contained within the range of the previous day's body.

With the appearance of a Doji, these patterns imply market indecision, signaling a possible change of trend.
Harami Cross pattern is usually seen as having higher chances of reversal as compared to Harami pattern.



HARAMI CROSS BULLISH PATTERN
Harami Cross Bullish
is a bottom reversal pattern / bullish reversal pattern.
It may be formed at the end of a downtrend, or during a pullback within an uptrend, or at the support.

When the price is a declining trend for some time, a two-candle pattern forms.
The body of the 1st candle is the same color as the current trend (should be a long black/red candle).
The body of the 2nd candle is a Doji that is completely within the body of previous day's candle.

What does this pattern imply?
The market has been overwhelmed by strong selling pressure for some time. All of a sudden, the buyers (bulls) step in and open the price higher than the previous day's close.
After the strong opening, the price moves only in a small range and is contained within the previous day’s body. At the end of the day, the price closes at the opening level, forming a Doji. The Doji indicates market indecision and a potential trend reversal. The volume of the doji’s day should also dry up, reflecting complete market indecision.
A higher close on the following day (preferably with strong volume) would be needed to ascertain that the trend may be in a reversal.

HARAMI CROSS BEARISH PATTERN
Harami Cross Bearish
is a top reversal pattern / bearish reversal pattern.
It could be formed at the end of an uptrend, or during a bounce within a downtrend, or at the resistance.

When the price has been in a rally mode for some time, a two-candle pattern forms.
The body of the 1st candle is the same color as the current trend (should be a long white candle).
The body of the 2nd candle is a doji that is within the body of previous day's candle.

What does this pattern imply?
The buying pressure has been dominating the market for some time. After a long white candle day, on the next day the sellers (bears) suddenly step in and open the price lower than the previous day's close.
After the weak opening, the price fluctuates only in a small range and is contained within the previous day’s body. Subsequently, the price closes at the opening level at the end of the day, forming a Doji. The Doji indicates market indecision and a potential trend reversal. The volume of the doji’s day should also dry up, reflecting complete market indecision.
A confirmation of the reversal on the following day in terms of a lower close (preferably with high volume) would be needed to prove that the trend may be in a reversal.

To read about other Candlestick Patterns, go to: Learning Candlestick Charts.

Related Topics:
* Learning Charts Patterns
* FREE Trading Educational Resources You Should Not Miss

Monday, October 15, 2007

HARAMI BULLISH vs. BEARISH

Both Harami Bullish & Bearish are reversal patterns.
Whether the pattern is bearish or bullish reversal, it depends upon whether it appears at the end of a downtrend (Harami Bullish Pattern) or an uptrend (Harami Bearish Pattern).

Basically, these patterns consist of 2 candles:
The first day is characterized by a long body candle, followed by a candle whose body is completely contained within the range of the previous day's body.

These patterns imply that the momentum of preceding trend may have ceased or slowed down significantly, signaling a possibility of reversal.

Note:
Don’t confuse this pattern with the Engulfing Pattern. The candles in these patterns are actually just the opposite of the Engulfing Pattern.

HARAMI BULLISH PATTERN

Harami Bullish is a bottom reversal pattern / bullish reversal pattern.
It can be formed at the end of a downtrend, or during a pullback within an uptrend, or at the support.

When the price is a declining trend for some time, a two-candle pattern forms.
The body of the 1st candle is the same color as the current trend (should be a long black/red candle).
The body of the 2nd candle is white, which opens and closes within the body of previous day's candle.

What does this pattern imply?
When the price is in the midst of a strong declining mode, the buyers (bulls) suddenly step in and open the price higher than the previous day's close.
This shocks the sellers (bears), and they start covering their short positions quickly, causing the price to rise further. However, the short-covering rally can sometimes be tempered by the late comers who see this as an opportunity to short the trend they missed the first time, and as a result, a small candle that is still within the previous day’s body could be formed.
A confirmation of the reversal on the next day in terms of a higher close (preferably with high volume) would be needed to ascertain that the trend may be in a reversal.

HARAMI BEARISH PATTERN

Harami Bearish is a top reversal pattern / bearish reversal pattern.
It could be formed at the end of an uptrend, or during a bounce within a downtrend, or at the resistance.

When the price has been in a rally mode for some time, a two-candle pattern forms.
The body of the 1st candle is the same color as the current trend (should be a long white candle).
The body of the 2nd candle is black/red, which opens and closes within the body of previous day's candle.

What does this pattern imply?
During an increasing price trend, after a long white candle day, the next day, the sellers (bears) suddenly step in and open the price lower than the previous day's close.
Shocked by the sudden appearance of sellers (bears) that causes some deterioration on the existing increasing trend, the buyers (bulls) become cautious and begin taking their profits by selling their long position, causing the price to drop further. However, on the other hand, some late buyers might see this as an opportunity to buy the trend missed previously. As a result, the price may stay in a small range throughout the day, forming a small candle but it’s still within the previous day's body.
A lower close on the next day would be needed to prove that the trend may be in a reversal.

To read about other Candlestick Patterns, go to: Learning Candlestick Charts.

Related Posts:
* Learn Technical Analysis from Linda Raschke for FREE
* Learning Charts Patterns