Investors Hold Record Allocations Despite Rising Warnings

Authored by Lance Roberts via RealInvestmentAdvice.com,

Market Starts A Correction Right On Cue

As noted last week:

“However, in the meantime, the “stairstep” advance continues with fundamentally weak companies making substantial gains as speculation displaces investment in the market. Thus, while prices remain elevated, money flows weaken, suggesting the next downturn is roughly one to two weeks away. So far, those corrections remain limited to the 50-dma, which is approximately 3% lower than Friday’s close, but a 10% correction to the 200-dma remains a possibility.”

That correction started on Monday with the week ending in 5-straight down days which is the worse slide since February.

However, while that sounds terrible, the total decline for the week was just -1.69%. Yes, that’s it, less than 2%. While CNBC probably ran their “Markets In Turmoil” segment, traders huddled over candles and incense chanting incantations at the Fed for more accommodation.

With sell signals in place, volume rising, and breadth weak, a retest of the 50-dma early next week will not be a surprise. The question will be whether traders show up again, as they have done every other time over the last 6-months to “buy the dip.”

As shown, the market remains well confined to its rising trend with support sitting at the 50-dma. Volatility did pick up late last week as volume spiked suggesting more selling pressure on Monday.

The question is “this time different.” Will the market hold the 50-dma again, or has the risk of a more substantial correction finally caught up with investors.

As noted previously, 5-10% corrections are absolutely normal in any given market year. However, if you didn’t like the 1.69% correction this week, a 10% correction will feel like an all-out “crash.”

Such is why we have repeatedly suggested taking some actions in advance.

Macro Conditions Continue To Deteriorate

Over the last couple of weeks, I noted the deterioration of underlying market conditions. Weakening breadth, lower participation, and negative divergences all suggest risks of a correction. On Thursday, Sentiment Trader provided some additional commentary supporting our concern.

“To differentiate temporary slowdowns from real problems, we look for significant macro deterioration. The Macro Index Model combines 11-diverse indicators to determine the state of the U.S. economy. Stock market investors should be bullish when the Macro Index is above 0.7 and bearish when below or equal to 0.7.

Once the final reports were in for August, the model plunged below 46%, the 2nd-lowest reading of the past decade.“

At the same time, Sentiment Trader noted their Bear Market Probability Indicator also jumped. This model has 5-inputs, namely the unemployment rate, ISM Manufacturing index, yield curve, inflation, and valuations.

“The higher the score, the higher the probability of a bear market in the months ahead. Last May, the model was in the bottom 10% of all months since 1950. This month, it jumped into the top 10% of all months.“

So, what does all of this mean? According to Sentiment Trader, the combination of these two measures should not be overlooked. To wit:

“The chart below shows the spread between the Bear Market Probability and Macro Index models. The higher the spread, the higher the probability of a bear market. The chart shows that the S&P 500’s annualized return is a horrid -17.6% when the spread is above 20% like it is now.”

The point here is that while the market remains exceedingly bullish, there are signs of trouble brewing beneath the surface. Such is why we suggested raising cash levels, adding non-correlated assets, and reducing overall risk.

But as Paul Harvey used to say: “There is more to this story.”

Investor Record Allocations

As noted, there is certainly cause for concern. However, investors aren’t.

Such should be of no surprise after an extended bull market advance with very low volatility. Without any concern for corrections, individuals have increased equity risk levels relative to their overall net worth.

Or, we see the same when we analyze their equity allocations as a percentage of their overall financial assets.

Regardless of the calculations, the message is the same. As we noted in Thursday’s Daily Market Commentary:

“Bob Farrell’s rule #5 states: “The public buys the most at the top and least at the bottom.”

The two charts above speak volumes as to the wisdom of Bob Farrell’s rules. Previous peaks in equity ownership have corresponded with peaks in financial markets.

As the old Wall Street axiom states: “If everyone has already bought, who is left to buy?”

At the moment, however, investors are incredibly confident that markets can only go higher as long as the “Fed” remains accommodative. While there is undoubtedly a substantial argument as to the ability of the Fed to keep markets inflated, there are other “risks” present that could lead to a short-term correction.

An Increasing Number Of Correction Warnings

While investors are carrying record allocations, some of the largest Wall Street banks are worrying. A recent article on Zero Hedge compiled their outlooks. To wit:

“Andrew Sheets warns that equity market internals has continued to follow a “midcycle transition.” That process usually ends with quality stocks, like the FAAMGs, getting hit and poses an outsized risk to the S&P 500 through October.” – Morgan Stanley

“Suvita Subramanian, warned that ‘downside risks remain’ and asking ‘what good news is left?’ Sentiment is all but euphoric with our Sell Side Indicator (see SSI) closer to a sell signal than at any point since 2007.” – Bank of America

Deutsche Bank‘s strategists ‘expect an imminent correction‘ even though they see the S&P 500 rising back around current levels by year-end. Some more details on the coming pullback in markets which DB believes will see the S&P drop 6%-10%:

Christian Mueller-Glissmann stated that high valuations have increased market fragility. If there is a new negative development, it could generate growth shocks that lead to rapid de-risking. As such, there is very little buffer left if you get large negative surprises.” – Goldman Sachs

You get the idea. Between the leverage in the market, economic growth slowing, and rising inflationary pressures, numerous issues could disrupt the high levels of market complacency.

The bullish argument is that such a correction will force the Fed’s hand. As Zerohedge aptly concluded:

“Even the smallest market hiccup will prompt a furious response at the Marriner Eccles building, because we are now well beyond the point of no return and Jerome Powell and company simply can not afford even the smallest drop in stocks without risking a full-blown market meltdown, much to the chagrin of the banks above who are predicting just that.”

Beige Book Reveals The Fed’s Biggest Problem

The most significant risk for the market is a change in investor psychology. As long as nothing disrupts that bullish bias, investors will continue to aggressively “buy dips.” However, that psychology is directly linked to the Fed’s ongoing balance sheet expansion. Thus, the potential problem for investors is inflation.

The Fed’s Beige Bookis a summary of economic conditions in the 12 Federal Reserve Districts.

• Boston: “Inability to get supplies and to hire workers.”

• New York: “Businesses reporting widespread labor shortages.”

• Philadelphia: “Labor shortages and supply chain disruptions continued apace.”

• Cleveland: “Staff levels increased modestly amid intense labor shortages.”

• Richmond: “Many firms faced shortages and higher costs for labor and non-labor inputs.”

• Atlanta: “Wage pressures more widespread.”

• Chicago: “Wages and prices increased strongly”

• St. Louis: “Contacts continued to report labor and material shortages.”

• Minneapolis: “Hiring demand outstriped labor response by a wide margin.”

• Kansas City: “Wages grew at a robust pace.”

• Dallas: “Wage and price growth remained elevated amid widespread labor and supply chain shortages.”

• San Francisco: “Hiring activity intensified further, as did upward pressures on wages and inflation.”

Inflation is becoming problematic for the Fed mainly if these pressures are not as “transient” as hoped. Higher wages are corrosive to both earnings and margins. As shown below, strongly rising producer prices are initially good for profit margins until inflation can not get passed along to consumers. Such is the case currently, with the most significant historical spread between PPI and CPI.

With supply chain disruptions looking to last longer than expected, the Fed is trapped between supporting a slowing economy and fighting inflation.

It’s a battle they are likely going to lose, no matter what they choose.

*  *  *

This past week was a bit rougher for markets than usual. However, while the market did violate its 20-dma, it remains well-entrenched above the 50-dma. Moreover, with the market having sold off every day last week, a rally next week will not be surprising heading into options expiration.

The one thing to watch for is a violation of the 50-dma, which will most likely indicate we are starting a bit larger correction between 5-10%. Given the Fed looks to be aggressively moving towards tapering their balance sheet purchases, we may have seen the peak in the market for now. However, the bullish bias remains very strong, so it is still too early to get overly defensive.

In the meantime, we can take some actions to reduce portfolio risk accordingly. First, continue to move all new contributions to either money market or stable value funds for now. Also, rebalance your equities and bonds back to weightings as equities are likely now out of tolerance.

International and small-cap stocks continue to underperform as of late as the momentum chase has turned back to the growth trade. Remain underweight these sectors.

There is no need to be aggressive here.