Breakout
Dow Jones Transportation Average (TRAN) has been the weakest link compare to other major indices; this index has been lagging so badly, that some “experts” claimed this was a huge problem in the overall market, and other indices could follow the footsteps of the Transport.
But my thoughts on this issue has been differ: we can’t dispute other indices’ price-action just because Transport is lagging–yes, it is concerning but does NOT mean we throw away and dispute other indices strength, and conclude that the whole thing is going to crash. That would be foolish to put too much weight on one index, that’s why we have five to six indices to study/ascertain from. It does NOT make sense to base your whole analysis just on one index’s weakness, all major indices has to be accounted for also.
The question is then, will Transports drag other indices down or will other indices like Dow Jones Industrial Average drag the Transports up; I have been in the camp of the latter.
As the overall market continues to grind higher and stays put after printing all-time-high records, Transport is finally breaking out today above major-downtrend resistances. I believe Transport is now ready to follow the lead from the Industrial Average (DJIA/INDU) and S&P 500 Index (SPX).
Let’s check out this chart, and talk technicals.
$TRAN Daily-Chart
Reversal
Since the late-September of last year, we have been forming Inv. H&S bullish-reversal pattern as you can see in the chart above. It’s also interesting to note that, on that right shoulder, we have another mini-inverted H&S formation occurring as well. With today’s price-action, slashing through and breaking above the downtrend-resistance (red), I think we are now in a first stage of confirming that Inv. H&S reversal formations.
This could be the major signal that this index is ready to completely turn things around and cultivate brand-new uptrend; and I am not talking about short-term, but the primary-term. I have reasons to believe that the Transport may be getting ready to make new all-time highs in the coming months.
Following
Interesting because Banks (XLF) & the Transports have almost identical price-pattern (see my last article on XLF) as you can compare the two charts below.
Banks broke-out back in August 5th, and ever since then, the sentiment of this sector stayed bullish; and Transport is breaking out almost exact same way here today. I think Transport is preparing to catch up with other major indices such as S&P 500 (SPX), NASDAQ (COMPQ), and Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDU/DJIA).
XLF Daily-Chart
IYT Daily-Chart
Moving On
With today’s action, and the first stage confirmation of the Inv. H&S formation on the Transports, the “concerning” signal of the weakness on this index is starting to diminish, and it is adding more evidences that the overall market is getting healthier and sustainable for much higher.
Yes, Dow Theory suggests that the Industrial Average & Transport Average must confirm each; and they have not been confirming for a while. So, we saw the shakedown (weakness, yes, but there were no signs of CRASH) in the overall market in 2015-2016, but the market shook it off and many indices made new all-time-highs recently.
I believe Transport is now getting ready to do just that; come out and make new all-time-high, and confirm the Industrial Average.
