After the Second World War, the investment industry felt the need for an index to measure and quantify the “market risk “. Consequently, in 1955, Mr. Abe Cohen developed the concept of “Bullish Percent” and introduced the Bullish Percent Index (BPI). This index is designed to evaluate and measure the “market risk” and help the investors to deal with all kind of market situations. It is vastly used in the “P&F” technical analysis methodology to plan the market entries and investment strategies.
As an example, if the Bullish Percent for “S&P500” is 36%, it means only 180 (500*0.36) stocks in this index are having a buy signal in the “P&F” technical analysis system, and the 320 stocks remaining have sell signals. Scary?!
The first step to a successful investment is to evaluate the market condition. Studies have shown that three-quarters of investment risks are hidden in the general market conditions and the active industries in the market. In other words, good stock selection accounts for 25% of risk involved with our investments. So watching the BPI as a market risk indicator will definitely enhance our investment return and keep the market risk in control during the volatile markets in the coming months. The Bullish Percent Index (BPI) shows us that the market is bullish or bearish and its extent of bearish or bullishness. So in order to appraise and measure the current market risk, let us look at the “BPI” for three US major Indices:
Dow Jones Bullish Percent
The BPI for Dow Jones Industrial Average ($BPINDU) is 30% as of today Monday, April the 2nd of 2018. It means that only 30% of the Dow Jones stocks show buy signal in “P&F” technical methodology and the remaining 70% are carrying sell signals. According to this “P&F” chart, the Dow Jones average BP has gone to Bear Confirmed signal since March 20th, and since then it has been falling without showing any sustainable strength and rebounding signs
S&P500 Bullish Percent
The S&P500 Bullish Percent ($BPSPX) is standing at 36% as of today Monday, April the 2nd of 2018. It means that only 36% of the 500 stocks in S&P maintain the buy signal in “P&F” technical methodology and the remaining 64% are carrying sell signals. According to this “P&F” chart, the S&P Bullish Percent has gone to Bear Confirmed signal since March 23rd, and since then it has been falling without showing any sign of strength and recovery.
NASDAQ Composite Bullish Percent
The Nasdaq Composite Bullish Percent Index ($BPCOMPQ) is standing at 54% as of today Monday, April the 2nd of 2018. It means that 54% of the 2500 stocks in Nasdaq Composite show buy signal in “P&F” technical methodology and the remaining 46% are carrying sell signals. According to this “P&F” chart, the Nasdaq Composite Bullish Percent has gone to Bear Confirmed signal since March 29, and since then it has been falling without showing any sustainable sign of strength and rebounding.
So when the Bullish Percent for all the three major US indexes signaling that the markets are falling, the investors should be alerted and take these bear sell signals as a serious warning of a possible crash or deep correction in the coming months. Stay Alert and good luck.
