RIA PRO: Market Advance Stalls As Liquidity Begins To Slow

By Lance Roberts | January 25, 2020


  • Market Advance Stalls
  • Portfolio Position Review
  • MacroView: Elites View World Through “Market Colored” Glasses
  • Financial Planning Corner: 2-Things Advisors Shouldn’t Do
  • Sector & Market Analysis
  • 401k Plan Manager

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Catch Up On What You Missed Last Week


Market Advance Stalls

As noted last week, there have only been a few points over the previous 25-years where the market has been so overbought, extended, and bullishly optimistic. To wit:

“This is particularly the case given how extreme positioning by both institutions and individual investors has become. With investor cash and bearish positions, at extreme lows, with prices extremely extended, a reversion to the mean is likely and could lean toward to the 10% range.”

Importantly, this was the repeated message over the last few weeks as the Federal Reserve’s “repo” operations continue to fuel the market’s non-stop advance. As Howard Marks once quipped:

“Being right, but early, is the same as being wrong.” 

Clearly, we were early in reducing some of our long-equity exposure in portfolios two weeks ago, but we tend to lean toward the adage; “you never go broke taking profits.” We remain comfortable with our positioning, given the imbalance of risk and reward currently.

Friday, the market had its first real sell-off since early December. As shown in the chart below, the only other times were in early October before the Fed launched its current “Not QE” program. To put this into some context, since 1970, the market has averaged two 1% declines per month or about every 9-trading days. Since October 2nd, 2018, there have been ZERO days consisting of a 1% decline. Assuming historical averages apply, there should have been nine such events of a 1% decline, or more, by now.

While the media was quick to blame the “coronavirus” in China as the cause for concern, the reality is the markets just needed a reason to sell. As shown in the chart below, the market is so extremely extended, the sell-off barely failed to register. 

There are two critical points to take away from the chart above:

  1. Notice both the overbought/sold indicator (top) and price momentum (bottom) are pegged at market extremes. The previous peak in both indicators was in January 2018.
  2. More importantly, from the 2016 low to the “blow-off” January 2018 high, the market had a 50% Fibonacci retracement. A similar correction from the December 2018 lows to the recent high would correspond with the January 2018 highs.

In other words, a somewhat typical 15% correction from such an extended, overbought, and bullish position would wipe out 100% of the 2019 gains. 

Don’t Fight The Fed

I know, I know. 

Such a correction can’t happen because the Fed is expanding its balance sheet. That is true, except the balance sheet expansion is beginning to slow. As recently noted by BMO (courtesy of Zerohedge):

“BMO expects the monthly sizes of $60 billion, or $30 billion post assumed taper, would be composed of both bills and short coupons, ‘helping to reduce expected pressure in the bill market.'”

BMO is correct in its analysis; the Fed will convert its short-term bill purchases into longer-term notes to maintain the balance sheet at a higher level. However, maintaining the size of the balance sheet, and expanding it are two entirely different things. Moreover, the market has already been incorporating this reduction in liquidity in their positioning as noted by sharply falling bond yields.

As we discuss weekly with our RIAPRO subscribers (30-day Risk-Free Trial), the 10-year Treasury broke out of its downtrend last week and was signaling a “risk-off” market event. Last Monday we wrote:

Bond prices rallied last week, again, and are testing downtrend resistance. For now bonds remain in a bearish channel, suggesting higher yields (lower prices) are still likely short-term. I suspect we are going to get some economic turmoil sooner, rather than later, which will lead to a correction in the equity markets and an uptick in bond prices.”



As noted above, with stocks extremely extended, all participants needed was an excuse to “sell.” With a “risk-off” event materializing, the rotation from “risk” to “safety” was completed. The sharp push higher in the stock/bond ratio also suggested a correction was forthcoming.

If we are correct, the Fed will begin to taper their purchases and move to stabilize its balance sheet, which will leave the market “starved for liquidity.” If economic and earnings growth remains weak, such will lead to concerns over current valuations, making that 10-15% correction more likely. 

While we certainly have no intention of “Fighting the Fed,” do not dismiss changes to the balance sheet given its close correlation to the rise in equity prices as discussed last week. (Note the decline in the balance sheet which foretold of this week’s sell-off)

On Oct. 11, the central bank announced it would begin purchasing $60 billion of Treasury bills a month to keep control over short-term rates. The magnitude of the purchases resembles the quantitative easing program the Fed conducted during and after the financial crisis.”

“The increase in the Fed’s balance sheet has been in near lockstep with the stock market’s climb. The balance sheet has expanded 10% since October, while the S&P 500 shot up 12%, including notching its best fourth quarter since 2013.” – CNBC

Given the extreme extension of the markets currently, it is quite likely we will see some more corrective action over the next week.

In other words, it may not be the time to “buy the dip,” just yet. 

Economic Warnings

There is currently much hope that the economy is about to emerge from its sluggish growth over the past couple of quarters to support lofty earnings expectations and, potentially, a rise in corporate profitability. As noted previously, the last time the S&P 500 was this deviated from a period of “flat” corporate profit growth was from 1995-1999.

There are a few indicators which, by their very nature, should be signaling a surge in economic activity if there was indeed going to be one. Copper, energy prices, commodities in general, and the Baltic Dry index, should all be rising if economic activity is indeed beginning to recover. 

Not surprisingly, as the “trade deal” was agreed to, we DID see a pickup in commodity prices, which was reflected in the stronger economic reports as of late. However, while the media is crowing that “reflation is on the horizon,” the commodity complex is suggesting that whatever bump there was from the “trade deal,” is now over.

If economic data doesn’t significantly improve, the risk to further corporate profit weakness is of concern. It also puts extremely optimistic projections for S&P earnings through 2020 and 2021 at risk. (Estimates for 2020 have already collapsed, and 2021 is lower than initial 2020 estimates.)

Pay attention to the amount of risk in your portfolio. It will matter more than you think and always at the worst possible time.

Portfolio Positioning

After previously reducing exposure “slightly” to equities, we did not make any further changes to portfolios over the last few days. Given we have shortened our duration in our bond holdings and raised cash levels to roughly 10% of the portfolio, we can afford at the moment to allow our existing long positions to ride the market higher. 

This positioning paid off well on Friday, as portfolio drag was about 1/3rd of the market overall. Rate-sensitive holdings (bonds/reits) performed as rates fell, and defensive positions held their ground. 

As we move into next week, the market is still going to be “betting on the Fed” until ultimately “beaten into submission,” so we will use rallies to rebalance equity risk as needed, but also add to our fixed income exposure. 

With respect to bonds, make sure you are focusing on “credit quality,” rather than “chasing yield.” As shown in the chart below, and as discussed this past week, when the recession hits, you want to be in Treasuries, and literally nothing else. 

While that is hard to believe, just remember its happened twice before.



The Macro View

If you need help or have questions, we are always glad to help. Just email me.

See You Next Week

By Lance Roberts, CIO


Financial Planning Corner

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Market & Sector Analysis

Data Analysis Of The Market & Sectors For Traders


S&P 500 Tear Sheet


Performance Analysis


Technical Composite 


ETF Model Relative Performance Analysis


Sector & Market Analysis:

Be sure and catch our updates on Major Markets (Monday) and Major Sectors (Tuesday) with updated buy/stop/sell levels

Sector-by-Sector

Improving – Energy (XLE), Communications (XLC)

The improvement in Energy stalled again this week, as oil prices continued to fall suggesting that economic weakness may be gaining traction. With oil prices failing the 200-dma, as expected, we saw further deterioration across the energy complex. Remain underweight for now.

As recommended two weeks ago, we reduced our weighting in XLC slightly to take in some profits. That action worked out well with the rout to the sector on Friday.

Current Positions: 1/2 weight AMLP, Underweight XLC

Outperforming – Technology (XLK), Healthcare (XLV)

We previously recommended taking profits in Technology and Healthcare, which have not only been leading the market but have gotten extremely overbought. On Friday, both sectors started to correct, and Healthcare is heading back to oversold, so we may get another opportunity to add back to our holdings.

Current Positions:  Reduced from overweight to target weight XLK, XLV

Weakening – Financials (XLF)

We noted previously that Financials have been running hard on Fed rate cuts and more QE and that the sector was extremely overbought and due for a correction. That correction/consolidation started two weeks and continued this week. We recommended taking profits previously, but now the sector is getting back to oversold and is setting up for a potential entry point. The 50-dma needs to hold as support as a short-term sell signal has been registered.

Current Position: No Position

Lagging – Industrials (XLI), Real Estate (XLRE), Staples (XLP), Discretionary (XLY), Materials (XLB), and Utilities (XLU)

Note: LAGGING Sectors are all showing signs of relative improvement to the S&P 500 suggesting a rotation from LEADING to LAGGING may be underway.

Industrials, have been improving performance on a relative basis to the S&P 500 this past week and held up during Friday’s sell off. The sector is working off its overbought condition but is close to triggering a short-term sell signal. We are going to wait for this correction to play out before adding to our current position.

Staples continues to consolidate and hold above its 50-dma. Since taking profits previously, we are just maintaining our stop loss on the sector currently. The sector remains very overbought and there isn’t a good entry point available just yet.

Discretionary, after finally breaking out to new highs, has gotten very extended in the short-term. We reduced our position slightly to take in profits. That was a good move as the sector corrected sharply on Friday. We remain optimistic on the sector for now, but need the overbought condition to be corrected with violating our stop-loss. 

XLRE has been rallying as of late and relative strength is improving. With rates falling, REIT’s remain a solid defensive sector. We will look to add to our holdings if we get a bit of risk rotation next week to give us a bit of a pullback in Real Estate. 

Current Position: Target weight XLY, XLP, XLRE, 1/2 weight XLB and XLI

Market By Market

Small-Cap (SLY) and Mid Cap (MDY) – Small- and Mid-caps broke out to new highs last week, but as I discussed, the extreme overbought suggested a pullback was likely. That occurred this week. With the 50-dma not too far away it is critical the market holds and doesn’t violate out stops. We are holding that position for now, but are tightening up our stops.

Current Position: KGGIX, SLYV

Emerging, International (EEM) & Total International Markets (EFA)

Emerging and International Markets, like small and mid-caps above, had gotten extremely overbought and needed to correct. With support close by, it will be important that international stocks work off the overbought condition without violating our stop levels. 

Current Position: EFV, DEM

Dividends (VYM), Market (IVV), and Equal Weight (RSP) – These positions are our long-term “core” positions for the portfolio given that over the long-term markets do rise with economic growth and inflation. However, with the S&P extremely extended a pullback was likely. Currently, there is nothing to worry about, however, we are watching the market closely. 

Current Position: RSP, VYM, IVV

Gold (GLD) – As noted two weeks ago, Gold was holding support at the $140 level and registered a buy signal. GDX has also held support and turned higher with a triggered buy signal. Over the last two weeks, gold has broken out to highs, but stalled at those levels. We previously took our holdings back to full-weights after taking profits earlier this year. However, we are tightening up our stop levels.

Current Position: GDX (Gold Miners), IAU (Gold)

Bonds (TLT) – 

Bonds rallied back above the 50-dma on Friday as money rotated into bonds for “safety” as the market weakened on Friday. As noted last week: “There is a consolidation with rising bottoms occurring currently, which suggests we may see further weakness in the market with a “risk off” rotation into bonds.” That rotation occurred on Friday.

After previously recommending adding to bonds, hold current positions for now. 

Current Positions: DBLTX, SHY, IEF

Sector / Market Recommendations

The table below shows thoughts on specific actions related to the current market environment. 

(These are not recommendations or solicitations to take any action. This is for informational purposes only related to market extremes and contrarian positioning within portfolios. Use at your own risk and peril.)

Portfolio/Client Update:

In case you haven’t taken the opportunity to watch the Market Outlook presentation with Michael Lebowitz and myself, here is the link. CLICK HERE TO WATCH:

There was no change to portfolios last week as the extremely overbought conditions prohibited us from adding to equity risk currently. 

As noted in the main missive this week, the market did correct on Friday, which will either be a “one-day blip,” or something that may mature into a bigger correction we can add money to. We just need some of the overbought condition to be removed to add money more reasonably into portfolios on a risk/reward basis. 

After previously taking actions to slightly reduce portfolio risk, and raise cash, we have the luxury to wait a bit for a better entry point. 

Let me address accounts that are in the ON-BOARDING process. 

When a new client portfolio arrives, Mike and I have two choices: 1) Sell everything and buy everything in our model, OR 2) sell some, buy what is reasonable, and then be patient to build out the rest of the portfolio. 

The problem with option 2) is that if the market goes into a melt-up phase, as we saw starting in October, the opportunity to safely add money to portfolios is not available. In hindsight, yes, we should have bought all of our overbought positions, which then went to extremely overbought. However, this is not a prudent, or sophisticated manner, in which to manage portfolio risk.

IF this current corrective process continues and brings our positions back to a near-term oversold condition without violating stop-levels or triggering sell signals, we will build out on-boarding models accordingly. 

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email me.

There we no additional portfolio actions this past week.

  • New clients: See note above.
  • Dynamic Model: No actions required
  • Equity Model: No actions required
  • ETF Model: No actions required

Note for new clients:

It is important to understand that when we add to our equity allocations, ALL purchases are initially “trades” that can, and will, be closed out quickly if they fail to work as anticipated. This is why we “step” into positions initially. Once a “trade” begins to work as anticipated, it is then brought to the appropriate portfolio weight and becomes a long-term investment. We will unwind these actions either by reducing, selling, or hedging if the market environment changes for the worse.


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Lance Roberts is a Chief Portfolio Strategist/Economist for RIA Advisors. He is also the host of “The Lance Roberts Podcast” and Chief Editor of the “Real Investment Advice” website and author of “Real Investment Daily” blog and “Real Investment Report“. Follow Lance on Facebook, Twitter, Linked-In and YouTube
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