munKNEE.com Your Key to Making Money
Batten down the hatches, because a “perfect storm” is coming to global
stock markets in 2016 according to the technical analysis team at UBS.
By Clayton Browne (The following article consists of edited ([ ]) and abbreviated (…) excerpts from the original, as posted on ValueWalk.com, to provide a fast and easy read.)
A new report from UBS analysts Michael Riesner and Marc Müller highlights that all of the charts (and stars) are aligning, and nearly all are pointing to a major bear market in stocks worldwide in 2016.
MSCI World Index vs. MSCI Emerging Market Index vs. the S&P 500 Index
Riesner and Müller explain their perspective in the introduction to their December 5th report: “The 2011 bear market in commodities and Emerging Markets continues to filter through into the Western world.
In May 2015, the MSCI World topped out and a lot of markets globally have fallen into a bear market. The large cap-driven U.S. indices (SPX, NDX, DJI) as well as Japan and European small and mid-caps are the last men standing. In 2016, we expect these markets to top out also and fall into a full size bear market, which we expect to last into worst case early 2017.”
Dow Jones Industrial – Cyclical Bull Markets Since 1900
It is worth noting that the UBS technical team was spot on last year with their call for increased financial market volatility in 2015.
The S&P 500
The UBS analysts undertake a brief Elliott Wave analysis, and suggest that after last summer’s wave 4 correction, the SPX is now trading in a wave 5 of a larger degree, further extending the 7-year cycle. Given that a lot of global markets are already in a bear market, and since the October low in a counter trend rally, they argue the SPX is now trading in the “late stages of its 4th longest and 5th strongest cyclical bull market since 1900.”
In terms of specific numbers, Riesner and Müller suggest after the weak start in trading for the year,
- there is a good chance of a bounce in late Q1 towards 2200 or even 2300 in the S&P 500 index but,
- that said, considering the increasing selectivity/volatility globally, and the fact that the eight-year cycle of a presidential turn has a notably negative track record, expect the S&P index to top out in the second quarter, and begin “a full size bear market, with risk of a 20% to 30% correction into minimum later 2016 and worst case early 2017.”
The analysts also argue that the March 2009 SPX bottom was actually the start of a new secular bull market. They argue this means a 2016/2017 bear market is really the first cyclical bear dip, and the underlying secular bull market will resume from there into the end of the decade.
The Euro Stoxx-50 & STOXX-600
In Europe, Riesner and Müller see the STOXX-600 and the Euro Stoxx-50 moving into major breakout patterns. They elaborate by saying: “Into Q1, we can still see selective overshooting but with most of Europe having topped out in summer 2015, and small and mid-caps (as one of the global boom themes of the last few years) moving into a major top, we expect Europe to negatively surprise and start another significant bear cycle in Q2 2016.”
The U.S. Dollar
The U.S. dollar, however, remains, a very important macroeconomic variable to be considered. The UBS technical team called the major US dollar bottom in 2014, and they argue this bull market will keep running into late 2016/early 2017. They anticipate that the U.S. dollar will retrench in the first quarter before launching a new bull move in the second half of the year. Riesner and Müller emphasize that the “key message is the U.S. Dollar is on the way into a major top, which suggests the AUD and other pairs moving into a multi-year buying opportunity.”
The Nikkei-225
The UBS technical team has also been bullish on the Nikkei-225 stock index since 2012, but now say the summer of 2016 will be the time to sell Japanese stocks. They argue the Nikkei is trading in wave 5 and are calling for a top in the Japanese markets some time this summer, then a short but sharp cyclical bear market into early 2017 before it also resumes a secular bull market trend into the end of the decade.
Commodities
In hindsight it is clear that 2011 was a secular top for commodities and emerging markets. Riesner and Müller argue the the 2011 bear market is maturing and approaching the final act. They suggest we will see a bear market rally in commodities/oil, EMs, and high yields, before a final strong capitulation in late 2016 or early 2017. At that point, they see “commodities and EMs as moving into a multi-year buying opportunity.”
Bull market in gold brewing
Finally, the UBS analysts point out that gold has been stuck in a cyclical bear market since mid-2011. They therefore argue that gold and gold miners are now moving towards an 8-year cycle bottom, which is likely to serve as the basis for the next multi-year bull market. This means that gold could move up this year as a safe haven, and by 2017 could enjoy tailwinds from the U.S. dollar topping out and beginning a long move down.
Related Articles from the munKNEE Vault:
The Stock Market Will Tank In 2016 – Here Are 10 Reasons Why
The top 14 investment banks ALL project that the S&P 500 will go up in 2016 with an average increase of 6.5%…This is understandable. A falling stock market is bad for business and these banks depend and thrive on the bullish excitement and expectations of their clients. However, we at Carden Capital, have adaptive strategies that can handle up and down markets, so we can tell it like it is, and in this case, we are highly confident that the projections of those 14 investment banks are going to be dead wrong. In fact, we are confident that the market will be down in 2016, and will enter into a corrective phase. With that introduction, we present to you the top 10 reasons the stock market will tank in 2016.
2. 1 (or more) of These 6 Things Could Poison Stock Market Returns In 2016
I am convinced that trouble is coming in 2016 that could poison your returns if you are not careful. Here are 6 possibilities.
3. A Reminder Of What Usually Happens to Stocks When the Fed Raises Rates: Ouch!
I know, I know, no one likes the bearer of bad news — especially when it comes to stock prices – but someone needs to remind you what usually happens to stocks when the Fed raises rates so it might as well be me. They drop. Let me explain.
4. Coming Stock Market Crash Will Mirror Debacles Of 2001 & 2008
Given that this imminent recession will begin with the stock market flirting with all-time highs, the next stock market crash should be closer to the 2001 and 2008 debacles that saw the major averages cut in half.
5. If You Own Stocks Then This Article Is a MUST Read
Don’t be one of the people who don’t understand the vital importance of the bond market and what it’s telling you right now. This knowledge could help you avoid a huge hit to your net worth over the next 12-24 months. Here’s why.
6. Get Ready: Stock Market Crash Coming in 3-6 Months – Here’s Why
The deteriorating junk bond market, along with rising credit spreads, is indicating that we will have a stock market correction in about 3-6 months. Here are the details.
7. This Ratio Is An Ugly Warning Sign For the Stock Market
Historically, the performance of the S&P 500 Index relative to the U.S. Dollar Index has been a good indicator of bull and bear markets but it has underperformed the Dollar Index since mid-2014. It’s an ugly warning sign for the market. I see the stock market moving downward from here.
8. Will It Be China That Pricks the Stock Market Bubble?
Let’s imagine the stock market as a whole bunch of balloons. One or two can pop loudly and everyone will jump and then laugh it off but, eventually, enough balloons will pop that the weight of the debris overwhelms the remaining balloons’ ability to keep the string aloft. Then your whole bunch falls down. In like manner, some kind of catalyst sets off every market collapse.The last balloon to pop isn’t any bigger or smaller than the others; it just happens to be last. What are some candidates for that last balloon?