Where have all of the AAII bulls gone? Europe and emerging markets apparently...

Despite the S&P500 being only 24 points from all time highs, AAII investor bullish sentiment has reached unusually low levels.  Fund flow data indicates that over the past 2 weeks a lot of money has left US equity ETFs and flowed into developed international and emerging market ETFs.  The Fast Pitch blog indicated recently that fund manager US equity allocation is currently at a 9 year low.

From a contrarian perspective one must view this as positive.  With cash balances of the top companies in the S&P500 at record levels, corporate tax reform on the horizon combined with sound corporate and economic fundamentals, it makes sense to be a buyer of US equities.  I think the majority of investors are being distracted by the negative media and the recent Trump political drama.

Nasdaq 2017 = Dow Jones Industrial Average 1950s? Ultra bull market ahead?

Looking back it wasn't surprising that the US stock market would enter a correction at the Nasdaq 5000 range.  This was the previous year 2000 top (~5200).  Breaking through this level required more conviction on behalf of the market as it signified the Nasdaq was finally leaving the dot.com bubble top behind it.  Market watchers have been focusing on Dow 20000 and S&P500 2400 but I think the Nasdaq is the index to watch.

After the 1929 top, the Dow finally reached new ATHs in the early 1950s AFTER which a 18 year bull market followed until concluding in 1968.  The post 2000 Nasdaq has a very similar chart to the post 1929 Dow.  Some differences being that consolidation in the Nasdaq post 2000 was more constructive and shorter in duration than Dow consolidation during the Great Depression.  From absolute top to bottom the Nasdaq corrected less than the Dow and reached new ATHs sooner.  One can suggest that the modern Nasdaq has shown more resilience than the 1930s Dow.  If the Nasdaq follows a similar pattern of Dow 1950 we can expect a long and powerful bull market ahead.

Bearish sentiment is reaching extremes in some areas of the market. Is it time to be contrarian?

Sentiment on StockTwits is often telling.  Currently traders are bullish on defensive sectors such as utilities, consumer staples and healthcare.  Traders are very bearish on the broad S&P 500, Nasdaq and especially small caps.  This is after a huge rally of the Feb lows.  I think it's best to be contrarian at this juncture.

Small Cap Stocks To Lead Long Term

Everyone knows that small cap stocks are the canary-in-the-coal mine for the economy.  One can assess the strength of the overall global economy based on the performance of small cap stocks relative to large cap stocks.  They tend to outperform when business conditions are good (i.e. consumers are spending, fear is moderate, lenders are lending, interest rates are low, etc.)  During bear markets, small cap stocks underperform.  During bull markets, they outperform.  We are currently witnessing the beginning of long term small cap stock outperformance.

From a technical perspective, IWM which tracks the Russell 2000 small cap index, has broken out of a large ascending triangle pattern and is on its way to new highs.  We're just getting started...

Akamai breaks out. Tech leadership expands.

What began as market leadership in biotechnology stocks quickly spread to internet stocks and is now perpetuating in the NASDAQ 100 mega cap stocks.  We are entering a period of broad based tech market leadership which may continue for the duration of this bull market that began in 2009.  It is important to note that both the biotechnology and the internet index has doubled in a 2 year time frame.

Apple Price Chart Showing Positive Developments

Something's going on with Apple.  On recent days when the market has been down or flat, Apple has undergone accumulation.  It is about to complete a well formed multi-month base similar to the one formed in 2009.  Apple's weekly chart is exhibiting bullish positive price/momentum divergence in addition to early outperformance when compared to the S&P 500.  The P&F chart is also showing a positive trend change.  It will likely find resistance at its 200-day moving average (~$462).  If it can break out from here, that would be extremely bullish.

I can't speak for new products in Apple's pipeline or how it may "change the world" again.  However, I can say that there have been recent notable bullish developments in its chart.

(Weekly price chart and P&F chart courtesy of stockcharts.com.  Visit stockcharts.com for more great charts.)