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Technically Speaking, May 2023

Hello readers, and welcome to another edition of Technically Speaking!

 

I have a question, and I’d like some perspective.  

 

How do you measure progress? 

 

There are aspects of life where progress is quantifiable and can be tracked based on numerous metrics. It is straightforward to calculate progress in those cases. But what about the aspects where the calculations are absent? For instance, how would you figure out if you are growing as an individual? Or how would you decipher your preparedness for uncertainties? Worst still, what do you do when you’re working towards your goal and the quantifiable aspect doesn’t reflect any change in terms of output? That feels personal, doesn’t it? 

 

Human beings, by nature, are bound to work towards a desired goal with greater motivation when the output reflects progress. But when that quantifiable progress is elusive, it is imperative to maintain sight of the goal and continue working towards it by making little changes to your processes. Most often, our schedules have room for improvement, however small they may be. Focus on making little changes that lead to exponential changes in the output. I read somewhere that we have 5 seconds between thinking and executing a particular activity before the brain comes up with completely justifiable reasons for you not to do them. Never underestimate the brain. It’s the best attorney in town when procrastination is up for grabs, even with something as simple as waking up when the alarm goes off. For all the market participants struggling to identify the signs of progress, the fact that you’re keeping at it is a big deal too! Take some time to look at your processes as if they belonged to somebody else, and be objective about the improvements you can incorporate. In fact, that is a good practice even when you can see positive results.  

The market, however, is the torch-bearer of quantifying outputs. And this is precisely why we can see that the S&P500 is moving sideways, the Nasdaq 100 traded at new 52-week highs, and the US Dollar Index is range-bound between 100 and 105. So much so that we can also look at volatility shrinking, Copper trading at 6-month lows, and the evident strength coming out of the European Union with DAX and CAC40 making new highs. This loosely translates to there are always opportunities in the market. You might have to expand your horizon a little.  

 

The Symposium fever is still around, as we bring you an exceptional speaker’s session as a blog! Read on to know more! 

 

Editor 

Rashmi Bhatnagar 

What's Inside...

President's Letter

“Vote early…and vote often,” said the notorious gangster Al Capone.  Of course, the joke is based on the understanding that one should only vote once. But the hidden premise in this famous...

Transitioning from Secular Bull to Bear? We Present, You Decide!

by Martin J. Pring

Secular trends in inflation adjusted equities average between 15 and 20 years. Since such price movements embrace a number of business cycles, identification of a reversal usually requires several...

Position Sizing in Futures Trading: A Key to Risk Management and Profitability

by Dhwani Patel

Futures trading is a dynamic and potentially lucrative arena for investors seeking exposure to various financial instruments, including commodities, currencies, and stock indices. While market...

Tighten Your Seat Belts; Equity Market Volatality Likely to Increase

by Vinay Rajani, CMT

Volatality Index has reached to the historical low levels in India and it is expected that it is likely to revert to its mean. India VIX refers to the India Volatility Index. It measures the amount...

Professional analysis of markets via charts: CMT50

by Richard Brath

I had the honour to attend, and present, at the 50th annual conference of the CMT: Chartered Market Technicians. While everyone in finance uses charts, Market Technicians are the pinnacle of...

Assistant Director Position

by Stanley Dash, CMT

The CMT Association seeks to fill a newly created position for an Assistant Director of the CMT Program to work directly with the CMT Program Director on all aspects of the CMT Program. The person to...

President's Letter

President's Letter

“Vote early…and vote often,” said the notorious gangster Al Capone.  Of course, the joke is based on the understanding that one should only vote once. But the hidden premise in this famous quip is the acceptance of the idea that you actually vote!  This month’s President’s Letter provides a brief introduction to the nominees on this year’s slate of incoming Directors.  The CMT Association annual member meeting is scheduled to take place online on June 21, 2023 at 10:00 AM Eastern Time. You should have received an email from the CMT Association with the meeting information, how to access it, and a link to vote.  We are an association of members, and as such we are self-governed and rely on volunteers to manage and oversee the strategic direction and operations of the CMT Association.   Importantly, you should vote for the incoming Directors and new Board Officers.  There are LOTS of volunteers in our Association who serve

To view this content you must be an active member of the CMT Association.
Not a member? Join the CMT Association and unlock access to hundreds of hours of written and video technical analysis content, including the Journal of Technical Analysis and the Video Archives. Learn more about Membership here.

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Transitioning from Secular Bull to Bear? We Present, You Decide!

Transitioning from Secular Bull to Bear? We Present, You Decide!

Secular trends in inflation adjusted equities average between 15 and 20 years. Since such price movements embrace a number of business cycles, identification of a reversal usually requires several years. If 2022 was the zenith of the post financial crisis bull market, the intervening year and a quarter is a relatively short period from which to conclude that a turn in the secular tide has taken place. That said, several indicators have already begun to signal a change in trend. Our guess is that the odds favoring a secular peak are greater than 50/50, possibly as high as 60/40. Since the average inflation adjusted loss for a secular bear is around 65%, this is no small matter. Our first task is to outline why we think the odds narrowly favor a secular bear and then to outline what we might expect going forward. The Case for a Secular Bear One of the characteristics of secular

To view this content you must be an active member of the CMT Association.
Not a member? Join the CMT Association and unlock access to hundreds of hours of written and video technical analysis content, including the Journal of Technical Analysis and the Video Archives. Learn more about Membership here.

Contributor(s)

Martin J. Pring - 2023

Martin J. Pring

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Position Sizing in Futures Trading: A Key to Risk Management and Profitability

Position Sizing in Futures Trading: A Key to Risk Management and Profitability

Futures trading is a dynamic and potentially lucrative arena for investors seeking exposure to various financial instruments, including commodities, currencies, and stock indices. While market analysis, timing, and risk management are essential components of a successful trading strategy, one crucial aspect often overlooked is position sizing. Determining the appropriate size of a futures contract is a critical decision that can significantly impact profitability and risk exposure. In this article, we will delve into the importance of position sizing and explore various methodologies that can help traders optimize their risk-reward balance. 

Position sizing refers to the process of determining the number of futures contracts to trade based on factors such as account size, risk tolerance, and market conditions. It involves striking a balance between the potential for profit and the potential for loss. In essence, position sizing provides a framework for managing risk and capital allocation within a trading strategy. 

Effective position sizing begins with a clear understanding of risk management. Before entering a trade, traders must define their risk tolerance and establish a predetermined stop-loss level. The position size should be adjusted accordingly to limit potential losses within an acceptable range. 

Volatility is a critical factor in futures trading, as it determines the potential price swings and associated risks. Highly volatile markets require smaller position sizes to account for larger price fluctuations, reducing the risk of significant losses. Conversely, less volatile markets may allow for larger position sizes to capitalize on smaller price movements. 

The size of an individual’s trading account plays a vital role in position sizing. It is generally advisable to limit the exposure of each trade to a small percentage of the total account balance. This ensures diversification and protects against catastrophic losses. As the account grows, position sizes can be adjusted accordingly to maintain an appropriate risk-to-reward ratio. 

Different trading strategies may require varying position sizes. For example, a day trader who aims to profit from short-term price fluctuations may take larger positions with tighter stop-loss levels. On the other hand, a swing trader focusing on capturing more significant market moves over a longer time horizon may opt for smaller positions with wider stop-loss levels. 

One of the most common approaches to position sizing in futures trading is the fixed fractional method. This strategy involves determining the percentage of trading capital that traders are willing to risk on any given trade. For example, if a trader has Rs. 1,00,000 in trading capital and decides to risk 2% on each trade, they would be willing to risk Rs. 2,000 on a single trade. 

The fixed fractional method ensures that traders are not risking too much of their capital on any single trade, which can help protect their account from significant losses. By keeping their risk exposure in check, traders can also avoid the emotional highs and lows that can come with large losses or gains. 

Another approach to position sizing in futures trading is the volatility-based method. This strategy involves adjusting the size of the trade based on the market’s volatility. When markets are more volatile, traders may opt to reduce their position size to limit their risk exposure. Conversely, when markets are less volatile, traders may choose to increase their position size to maximize their potential returns. 

The volatility-based method can be highly effective when trading in highly volatile markets like commodities or currencies. However, it requires traders to have a good understanding of market volatility and to adjust their position sizes accordingly. 

Position sizing is a vital component of a comprehensive futures trading strategy. By carefully considering factors such as risk management, volatility, account size, and trading strategy, traders can determine the appropriate position size for each trade. Whether using fixed-ratio position sizing, volatility-based approaches, or the Kelly Criterion, the goal is to strike a balance between maximizing potential gains and minimizing potential losses. By adopting a disciplined and calculated approach to position sizing, traders can enhance their overall profitability and achieve long-term success in the challenging world of futures trading. 

 

Contributor(s)

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Tighten Your Seat Belts; Equity Market Volatality Likely to Increase

Tighten Your Seat Belts; Equity Market Volatality Likely to Increase

Volatality Index has reached to the historical low levels in India and it is expected that it is likely to revert to its mean. India VIX refers to the India Volatility Index. It measures the amount of volatility that traders expect over the next thirty days in the Nifty Index. It is also called the Fear Index since a higher level of VIX represents a high level of fear in the market and a low level of VIX indicates a high level of confidence in the markets. A lower VIX signifies low volatility and a stable range for the asset price. India VIX at a multi-year low is good for the bulls, as India VIX has a negative correlation with Nifty. In general, Lower India VIX = Lower Risk of Falling. India VIX is currently placed just below 12, which is near historical lows. Lower VIX could mean that the market is not

To view this content you must be an active member of the CMT Association.
Not a member? Join the CMT Association and unlock access to hundreds of hours of written and video technical analysis content, including the Journal of Technical Analysis and the Video Archives. Learn more about Membership here.

Contributor(s)

Vinay Rajani, CMT - 2023

Vinay Rajani, CMT

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Professional analysis of markets via charts: CMT50

Professional analysis of markets via charts: CMT50

I had the honour to attend, and present, at the 50th annual conference of the CMT: Chartered Market Technicians. While everyone in finance uses charts, Market Technicians are the pinnacle of professional financial chart users: charts are core to their analyses, recommendations, actions and trading strategies.

Here’s a few comments on some of the sessions. There’s a few snapshots too: visualization people who aren’t financial professionals may be interested to see some differences and perhaps a few insights.

To start, technical analysis is the notion that price patterns in markets result from changes in supply and demand. But demand isn’t necessarily rational: people have fear of losses, fear of missing out, fear of not following trends that all their neighbours are talking about at dinner parties. We’re social, we tend to have herd behaviour in markets, whether bitcoin, meme stocks, houses (2007), railroads (1840), tulips (1634), etc. While these examples are market bubbles, there are other similar patterns in stock prices, bond prices, house prices and so forth. Patterns may similarly exist in inflation and other economic data too. The notion of trends and patterns are a feature of markets, and these trends and patterns can be observed, analyzed, communicated and traded. The Chartered Market Technicians (CMT) is the association that formalizes technical analysis and provides training and certification for professionals.

 

 

Many timeseries

 

David Keller – chief market strategist at Stockcharts.com – hosts a daily TV show on technical analysis. I’ve had the opportunity to work with Dave in the past, and one thing of note is that timeseries analysis is rarely done in isolation: timeseries are compared to other timeseries, events, derivations and so on. Here’s one of Dave’s charts from his show which he broadcast live at the CMT event:

Dave’s chart with many different timeseries indicators to analyze the current level of the S&P500.

 

Hand-drawn charts

David had an opportunity to interview legends of technical analysis Ralph Acampora (who painted a 70 foot chart of the Dow Jones Industrial Average on his barn), and Louise Yamada (who pulled out a paper chart during Dave’s interview). Both talked about their early careers when they had to manually calculate averages, plot their charts by hand and learned to get a sense of the markets from the physical charts.

Ralph Acampora and Louise Yamada both spoke about physical charts.

 

Annotated charts

Many technical analysts annotate charts: drawing trend lines, support and resistance lines, indicating peaks and troughs (sharp or gradual), other patterns (head and shoulders, wedges) and textual notes such as prices or key events. Whereas the visualization community is questioning whether or not 2-4 annotations are too many, the technical analysis community is well inclined to have 10 or more annotations (such as Ralph’s barn, or Louise’s markup on her charts).

Paul Ciana – chief of fixed income, commodity and currency technical analysis at Bank of America – presented some work analyzing trends in unemployment. Here’s a fantastic chart looking at employment filled with annotations explaining unemployment trends:

Many annotated explanations on an unemployment rate chart by Paul Ciana.

 

Statistical analysis

Many technical analyses use statistical approaches to assess data. A simple example is Ned Davis use of overlaying a mean or regression line on a timeseries chart. In a trending chart, whether economics data or price data, it can be clearly seen when a series is above below the regression. A significant divergence from the regression line indicates at a minimum a warning. Here’s a sample of one of Ned’s charts, from his book:

Ned Davis, and charts with mean overlay and regression overlays.

 

John Bollinger – inventor of Bollinger bands – provided a historical perspective on bands in timeseries charts going back to the 1800’s. John made a special point that these financial calculations are no longer technically difficult to implement – he provided Python code for each historic example, and commented on ChatGPT’s ability to generate code. Here’s one of the charts, with Python code. More importantly, John stressed how these technical analysis studies are used, for example, a trivial understanding of a Bollinger band is to derive a signal when the raw data (price), crosses the band. John explained that a signal on a Bollinger band is created when the trend weakens, the price crosses to the opposite side of the band, touches the band, then fails to break back across the moving average line (I’m paraphrasing, my notes might not be exactly right on that).

John Bollinger explains the code, the bands, their use.

 

Trading

Technical analysis can be used to understand markets, and also to underpin trading strategies used to make money in the markets. To use technical approaches to trade markets requires backtesting the technical analysis model against historic data to validate the model’s effectiveness. In addition to making a profit and other metrics, one key metric is max drawdown, an indication of how much money a model might lose at any time. In at least two presentations I saw models that had drawdowns of greater than 50% — which will require a significant commitment on the part of the trader to believe in the model and have confidence that the original model was not overfit to the test data.

There were a couple of great interviews interviews, including Jerry Parker. Parker’s story goes beyond backtesting to one of the gutsiest validation tests ever done. Parker was one of 20 people without a trading background, trained in a trading system, given a $1million to trade, and succeeded. It’s an incredible story, here’s a basic outline.

Contributor(s)

Richard Brath - 2023

Richard Brath

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Assistant Director Position

Assistant Director Position

The CMT Association seeks to fill a newly created position for an Assistant Director of the CMT Program to work directly with the CMT Program Director on all aspects of the CMT Program. The person to fill this position must be either a current CMT Charterholder, or a member who is a candidate for the charter who has successfully completed all three levels of the CMT exams and is awaiting only the professional work experience to earn the charter. This is a full-time position that will require availability for calls and meetings during US hours.  In addition, there may be some restrictions on the Assistant Director’s activities outside the CMT Association that conflict with the security standards necessary for a credentialing program or otherwise conflict with the mission, standing, or credibility of the CMT Association and the CMT Program. The work of managing the CMT Program falls broadly into three categories: Policies, Texts,

To view this content you must be an active member of the CMT Association.
Not a member? Join the CMT Association and unlock access to hundreds of hours of written and video technical analysis content, including the Journal of Technical Analysis and the Video Archives. Learn more about Membership here.

Contributor(s)

Stanley Dash, CMT - 2023

Stanley Dash, CMT

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New Educational Content This Month

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