Saturday, September 12, 2020

Sensex, Nifty charts (Sep 11, 2020): consolidating after sharp rallies from Mar '20 lows

FIIs were net sellers of equity during the first three days of the week, but were net buyers on Thu. and Fri. (Sep 10 and 11). Their total net selling was worth Rs 83.6 Million. DIIs were net buyers of equity on Tue. (Sep 8), but net sellers on the other four days. Their total net selling was worth Rs 15.01 Billion.

India's Index of Industrial Production (IIP) contracted 10.4% YoY in Jul '20, against an expansion of 4.9% in Jul '19. It was the fifth straight month of contraction. IIP had contracted 15.7%, 33.8%, 57.3% and 16.7% in Jun '20, May '20, Apr '20 and Mar '20 respectively. 

Rapid spread of the Covid 19 pandemic is likely to affect recovery of industrial production for much longer than expected earlier. There is no sign of the 'V' shaped recovery touted by the CEA and Finance Ministry.

BSE Sensex index chart pattern

The 335 points downward 'gap' (formed on Feb 28) on the daily bar chart pattern of Sensex continued to act as a strong resistance for bulls. The index spent the first three days of the week below its 20 day EMA, the next two days above its 20 day EMA, but all five days below the 'gap'.

After the previous week's trend line breach, bears were able to hold back charging bulls for a second straight week. However, the chart structure remains bullish. The 20 day EMA is above the 50 day EMA and the 50 day EMA is above the 200 day EMA. Both the 50 day and 200 day EMAs are rising. The index is trading above all three EMAs in a bull market.

A convincing move above the Feb 28 'gap' is required if the bulls are to wrest back control. Bears will try to ensure that does not happen before a proper correction.

Daily technical indicators are looking neutral to bearish. MACD is moving sideways below its signal line in bullish zone. ROC is sliding down below its 10 day MA in neutral zone. RSI is seeking support from its 50% level. Slow stochastic has bounced up from its oversold zone.

The index may consolidate some more before making a clear directional move. Most of the good news have already been 'discounted'. The bad news have been kept hidden or camouflaged - whether it is the current state of the economy or the actual on-ground situation at the Chinese border.

Pliant TV stations have been used to raucously divert attention of the public from real issues like unemployment, farmer suicides, clampdown on any form of dissent and inept handling of a raging pandemic by focussing on the dark underbelly of Bollywood.

By now, it is clear that a combination of easy liquidity and several hundred thousand first-time traders are behind the sharp index rally from the Mar '20 low. For the rally to sustain, corporate earnings will need to catch up fast. Otherwise, the high index valuation will revert to mean. 

In such a market, small investors need to be extremely stock specific - preferably in defensive sectors like pharma, IT, FMCG. Quick profits have a tendency of disappearing like a mirage.

NSE Nifty index chart pattern

After touching a high of 11794 in the previous week, the weekly bar chart pattern of Nifty had formed a large weekly 'reversal' bar (higher high, lower close) and closed well below the (purple) up trend line drawn from the Mar '20 low. The index bounced up after dropping inside the 'support-resistance zone' between 11000-11250. (The possibility was mentioned in last week's post.)

Convincing breach of an up trend line is often a sign of trend reversal. The pullback from a 'support-resistance zone' may provide bears with a selling opportunity. Note that all three weekly EMAs are moving up and the index is trading above them in long-term bull territory. 

Weekly technical indicators are in bullish zones but not showing any upward momentum. MACD is above its signal line inside its overbought zone. RSI is moving sideways above its 50% level. Slow stochastic is sliding down inside its overbought zone


Nifty's TTM P/E has moved up to 32.86, which is well above its long-term average and deep inside its overbought zone. The breadth indicator NSE TRIN (not shown) has moved up to the edge of its oversold zone. Some near-term index upside or consolidation is likely
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Bottomline? After breaching 5 months long up trend lines on Sensex and Nifty charts in the previous week, both indices consolidated near resistance zones. Some more consolidation or correction is likely. Avoid the urge to buy. Better entry levels may be available for those who are patient.

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