Lessons from the 2011 Market Top and Bottom

by Erik Grywalski
   

Note:  The following lesson is meant to help you learn from the market and does not serve as investment advice for any specific group or individual.  For more information, please read the HSR Terms of Use.

I'm a big advocate of studying market history to learn how the stock market works.

Why do I feel this way?

One reason why is that history tends to repeat itself because human emotions never change.

Human emotion is one of the major factors that drives stock prices and because of this, it's helpful to understand the human psychology that's behind the market.

By the way, this doesn't mean that it's easy to profit from the stock market.

You still have to manage your own emotions and that can hinder your growth despite your acquired knowledge on how the market works.

If you want to head in the right direction with your stock market education, you should make it a priority to study its history.

The best way to do this is to review historical stock charts because old charts help you to read the market's opinion during a specific period.

If history tends to repeat itself, you'll have a better understanding of what might happen ahead of those who don't use/value stock charts.

Historicalstockresearch.com helps you save time, improve attention to detail and shortens the learning curve for the stock market using historical precedent (historical stock chart models).

The 2011 Market Top (May) and Market Bottom (October) offers some excellent lessons on how human emotion can influence a market high and its eventual low.

2011 Market Top

From September 2010 to mid-February 2011, the market (S&P 500) went up 28% before setting up in a topping phase that lasted until July before price broke down.

At the start of the rally (September 2010), investors were doubtful/bearish because of the market correction that had hit some people hard in May 2010 (May 6th was the Flash Crash and it led to a summer of declining stock prices).

In addition, many people feared the month of September because it has a negative history (the market usually declines in September).

If you're interested in learning more about September, I wrote a detailed article that includes 30+ annotated charts on how to approach September in the stock market here.

Towards late-March 2011 (as the market was rallying off a low), I became concerned that stocks were setting up to top because the market tends to top out after it makes a new high following a correction that occurs after a swift rally (September 2010 to February 2011).

Why might this happen?

One reason is likely because of human emotion/psychology.

During the initial stages of a rally, many skeptical investors who are not participating in the upside of the market talk down a rally because they are not in the stock market (making money).

They come up with reasons why the market shouldn't go up, but they are fighting one very important thing, the market.

To disagree with a market rally without objective market-based facts is equivalent to fighting the opinion of the majority of stock investors.

Remember, the market is driven by stock investors from around the world.

Why would anyone want to fight this crowd and argue with the market?

If stocks are rallying out of bases and powering to new highs, there's no reason not to be bullish because the market is moving higher.

Personal arguments against the market face tough odds for success because they place a minority opinion (individual) against a majority opinion (market).

When a market finally corrects after a steep run higher, most bears feel justified because the market corrected and proved them right.

However, if price goes back to new highs as it did in late-April 2011, it often turns naysayers into outright believers at the wrong time.

Why may this be true?

A new high after a correction that follows a strong rally can be a false move higher to entice those who were out of the stock market to finally get in and participate.

Most skeptics don't want to miss another uptrend after doubting the first advance (September 2010 to February 2011) and missing out.

Therefore, a new high often convinces many into believing in the stock market once again.

Unfortunately, the market has already made its big move higher (September 2010 to February 2011) and the next move to new highs (late-April to early-May 2011) usually won't be as easy.

This is why it's important to always follow the market and consider the psychology of other investors.

When stocks breakdown AND the market goes to new highs after a retracement that followed a sharp rally, be mindful for a correction.

I define a swift/sharp rally as one that rarely retraces back to its 10 Week EMA after it gets going on the upside.

This keeps many out of a move higher because price doesn't correct much and give people a chance to get into the market at lower prices.

I believe that this behavior was a factor in the 2011 Market Top (see chart 1, page 3).

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