Category Archives: Coppock Curve

Coppock Curve: April 2016

The Dow Jones Industrial average rose +0.5% in April. After flashing a buy signal the previous month, the indicator turned negative which is a flash signal. We noted that the pattern was similar to the one that occurred in 2001. Although this may be a false signal, we're standing pat on our investments and would continue to allocate additional funds if and when the indicator flags another buy signal. Continue reading

Coppock Curve: March 2016

The Dow Jones Industrial average had an outstanding gain in the month of March. The blue chip index rose +7%. Continue reading

Coppock Curve: February 2016

The Dow Jones Industrial average gained ground in February.   However, that didn’t change the direction of the Coppock Curve which dipped to –23.4.  Below is the current chart of the curve. Continue reading

Coppock Curve: January 2016

We started the year off on with a big market selloff.  The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell -5.4% in January.  For the first time since June 2008, the Coppock Curve dipped into negative territory.  This is a welcoming sign for our team and any long-term investors.  Below is the current chart of the Coppock Curve. Continue reading

Coppock Curve: November 2015

The market was flat for the month of November. However, it didn't stop the Coppock indicator to fall another -20% or 6.2 points. As always, we remind our readers that the Coppock Curve serves as a buy signal when they it turns upward after moving into negative territory. Continue reading

Coppock Curve: October 2015

The market reversed a recent declining trend in October by increasing +8%.  Despite the reversal of the trend, the Coppock indicator continued its downward path.  The index fell 9.8 points and is only 32 points away from approaching negative territory.  As always, we remind our readers that the Coppock Curve serves as a buy signal when they it turns upward after moving into negative territory. Continue reading

Coppock Curve: September 2015

The market continued its down draft in September.  Long-term investors should be very excited to see the market pull back.  Our Coppock indicator is approaching a level we haven’t seen since 2008.  As a reminder, the Coppock Curve serves as a buy signal when they it turns upward after moving into negative territory.

Continue reading

Coppock Curve: August 2015

It didn't take long for the market to cave in after our July post on the Coppock Curve. The Dow Jones Industrial Average shed -6.5% in August alone. Immediately, we were curious what type of damage this decline did to the indicator and how close are we to that negative territory. As a reminder, the Coppock Curve serves as a buy signals only. Continue reading

Coppock Curve: July 2015

It's been quite sometime since we've updated our readers on Coppock Curve.  We've gotten more excited to see this indicator approach zero because it would point to a major opportunity to be long equities. While the indicator provides buy signals it doesn't offer any sell indication. As such, one can only take this as a buy only indicator.

Coppock July 2015

About Coppock Curve

The Coppock Curve is one of the technical indicators that we focus on for long-term buy signals for the stock market. The Coppock Curve is only useful as a BUY indicator when the chart goes from positive territory to the negative territory then turns decidedly upward. As previously indicated, the Coppock Curve does not provide SELL signals in any way.

Coppock Curve: March 2015

The Coppock Curve is one of the technical indicators that we focus on for long-term buy signals for the stock market. The Coppock Curve is only useful as a BUY indicator when the chart goes from positive territory to the negative territory then turns decidedly upward. As previously indicated, the Coppock Curve does not provide SELL signals in any way.

Once the signal turns upward (while in the negative territory), investors should consider buying stocks at the beginning of the month. Our last “buy” indication came at the end of April 2009. Anyone who purchased the Dow Jones Industrial ETF (DIA) on the first trading day of May 2009, they would have gained +109% in the process (based on the closing price of March 2015).

While the curve remain positive, the direction and the slope is negative.  We would get excited if and when this indicator reach the negative zone.  We will certainly update our readers when that time comes.

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Coppock Curve: May 2014

The Coppock Curve is one of the technical indicators that we focus on for long-term buy signals for the stock market. The Coppock Curve is only useful as a BUY indicator when the chart goes from positive territory to the negative territory then turns decidedly upward. As previously indicated, the Coppock Curve does not provide SELL signals in any way.

Once the signal turns upward (while in the negative territory), investors should consider buying stocks at the beginning of the month. Our last “buy” indication came at the end of April 2009. Anyone who purchased the Dow Jones Industrial ETF (DIA) on the first trading day of May 2009, they would have gained +104% in the process (based on the closing price of May 2014).

Continue reading

Coppock Curve: March 2013

The Coppock Curve is one of the technical indicators that we focus on for long-term buy signals for the stock market. The Coppock Curve is only useful as a BUY indicator when the chart goes from positive territory to the negative territory and then starts to turn decidedly upwards. As previously indicated, the Coppock Curve does not provide SELL signals in any way.

Continue reading

Coppock Curve: July 2012

The Coppock Curve is one of the technical indicators that we focus on for long-term buying signals. The Coppock Curve is only useful as a BUY indicator when the chart goes from positive territory to the negative territory and then starts to turn decidedly upwards. As previously indicated, the Coppock Curve does not provide SELL signals in any way.

Once the signal starts to turn up, investors should consider buying stocks at the beginning of the month after the indicator turns upward. Our last "buy" indication came at the end of April 2009. Anyone who purchased the Dow Jones Industrial ETF (DIA) on the first trading day of May 2009, they would have gained +59% in the process.

After July 2012, the Coppock Curve remains far from the negative zone. This suggests that, overall, the market is not considered a "buy."

More about the Coppock Curve.

Market Review and Analysis

As the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DIA) approaches the 12,000 level, we believe it is necessary to review our analysis leading up to this point. There have been indications that the market would knock on the door of 12,000. And we’ve been at the forefront of this analysis very early on.
Starting as early as February 12, 2009 (article here), we warned that despite the declining trend in the markets, history has proven that declines of 40% or more tend to retrace 60% to 100% of the previous decline.
In September 2009, after reviewing the Coppock Curve (article here), we pointed out that if the market held up in October 2009 that 12,000 on the Dow would not be an unrealistic price target.
In January 2010, we mistakenly thought that the Dow had a good chance to reach 12,000 by February 2010 (article here). Although we were woefully inaccurate in the timing of our estimate, we were convinced that 12,000 as an upside target was not unreasonable.
On March 23, 2010, we came out with an article that highlighted what we thought was confirmation of a cycle low in the market on February 8th (article here). In retrospect, although it was a major low for the year 2010, it was not as significant as the July 2010 low. However, we reiterated 12,000 as the target for the Dow.
Our eyes are now trained on the next target for the market. This is where our “analysis” is put to the test. All along we’ve thought that a rise from 6,400 to 12,000 would not be very unusual. However, getting back to even, or 14,164, will be very challenging. There are many who feel that external forces have falsified the markets rise.
As far as we’re concerned, we’ve accomplished the target that was long since projected and is now upon us. As we’ve indicated in a recent article, the Dow Industrials’ upward trend has less to do with the actions of the Federal Reserve and more to do with the corrective nature of markets after a significant plunge like in the period from October 2007 to March 2009 (article here).
We’ve noted in the article titled “Diversification Doesn’t Matter” that declines in the Dow will be amplified in the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite Index (article here). Exposure to these diversified indexes through the use of index funds and ETFs will result in surprising losses that defy the theory of diversification as was the case in 2008.
We believe that as long as the price of gold keeps moving higher in conjunction with the Philadelphia Gold and Silver Index (XAU) and Dow Theory confirmations of the bullish trend continue, there is a good chance that the market will retrace 100% of the previous decline from 2007 to 2009. At times like these, the rise and fall of the price of gold may be a leading indicator for where the market might be headed. Our numerous articles on the correlation between gold and the stock market have proven to be correct for those willing to accept the data from an unemotional standpoint (article link).
Although it is not unusual for markets to retrace 100% of a prior decline of 40% or more, we’re more than willing to figuratively step aside and watch what happens next. However, we cannot help taking another stab at when, and not at what exact level, the Dow Industrials will peak. Two prior articles on the topic are the basis for our thoughts on the prospects for where the top may occur.
On June 14, 2010, we wrote an article titled, “A Market Cycle Worth Observing” (article here). In that article, we reminded readers of the consistency of 4-year cycles to provide key markers for tops and bottoms in the market. We included referenced from Charles H. Dow’s era, founder of the Wall Street Journal, from 1901 and prior. We gave examples as provide by Richard Russell from 1953 to 1979. We were even able to provide examples from the period between 1987 and 2009.
If there really are 4-year cycles, as we contend, then October 2007 would stand as the marker for the last peak in the cycle. In theory, the mid-point for the peak would be some point in 2009. For us, March 9, 2009 represents the low or mid-point for the 4-year cycle. Our estimate is that the full 4-year cycle should be completed with the Dow Jones Industrial Average peaking at some point in 2011.
According to Dow Theory, the downside target is set at 9,273.50. If this level is breached in conjunction with the Dow Transports, then we could consider a bear market has been initiated.
The second article that we derived our view of the market is dated April 11, 2010 on the topic of Dow Theory (located here). In that market analysis, we proposed, in addition to the fact that the Dow Industrials “…could go to 11,574.59 with no problem,” we outlined three hypothetical scenarios under which the Dow Industrials would reach 14,164.
In retrospect, and upon further analysis, we realized that those projections were really indications for when the market would top irrespective of the exact level that the top would occur. It seems to us that the period from January 31, 2011 to June 18, 2011 is the timeframe for when the completion of the cycle should take place.
Despite our concerns for an eminent top in the market, we will continue to buy and sell individual stocks. From our experience in 2008, gains can be obtained from individual stocks within the context of a declining trend in the market. In fact, during 2008 there were only three months where losses were registered which were June, October and November. Although these months incurred substantial losses, 2008 ended with overall gains of 14% in our portfolio (article link).

 

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Coppock Curve Q & A

A reader asks:
"Isn't it possible to determine good times to sell stocks using the Coppock Curve?"
Touc's reply:
My understanding of the Coppock Curve is that it is strictly for the purpose of giving buy signals. Sell signals are purely coincidental if they occur at all.
Drawing from Mr. Coppock's own words in Barron's October 15, 1962 article, Mr. Coppock states that,"It [Coppock Curve] gives a so-called buy signal."(page 5) Mr. Coppock goes even further to state that, "Because well-timed buying is far more difficult for the nonprofessional investor than timely selling, it is best to think of the curve as a very long-term buying guide. Its formula was devised for that type of use." (page 5,16)

In James Dines' book Technical Analysis (page 377, 1972), there is no mention of the Coppock Curve as being able to provide a sell signal or eminent market slumps. Any mention of the Coppock Curve was with the ability of the Curve to "pinpoint the start of new trends and enable investors to select future market leaders." (page 378)
There seems to be no evidence that would suggest that the Coppock Curve should be used to determine potential declines. Instead, the Curve should only be tested on its ability to accurately call the bottom in a given stock or index.
Best regards.
Email our team here.