Take a look at this key level on the Dow

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We spent all last week and most of the week before following the Aussie dollar. It's not one of my staple markets. But as I hope you saw, it threw up some excellent examples of how you can use my tramline methods.

And in fact, when you get the hang of these techniques, you'll see that you can use them on a wide range of markets. If you're having some success in any markets I don't normally cover, I'd love to hear about them.

Today though, I want to return to one of my old favourites: the Dow. There are some terrific tramlines building up here as well.

On 14 September I talked about my line in the sand for the Dow, where the market was trading around the 13,550 region. And as I glance at my screen this morning, the market is trading at 13,550, having been slightly higher than this to last week's high just above the 13,600 level.

The market is playing with me and my line in the sand!

Dow still tracking my long-term tramline

After such a vigorous rally in recent months, can I find any clues that the Dow rally is approaching the end of the road?

First, let's update my daily chart showing the long-term tramlines I am working to:

(Click on image above for larger version)

I am retaining the November 2011 touch-point (blue arrow) to base my main tramline, which the market has been running up alongside since early summer.

So, this tramline has not yet been penetrated to the upside. That is point number one. The rally is still on borrowed time – and crucially, is getting long in the tooth without a major set-back.

As an aside, the VIX reading is near its all-time low, indicating high levels of complacency among option traders.

Point number two is my upper tramline. This is by no means perfect, but is a good working line, as it has many touch-points. Meanwhile, my lowest tramline is new and is, of course, equidistant from the centre line.

That is my main first target if the effort to break above the centre tramline fails.

Traders are overwhelmingly bullish

The big question is: with the rally firmly established, can I expect a reversal near current levels?

For another clue, let's see what the latest Commitments of Traders (COT) data can give us:

Non-commercial			Commercial		Total		Non-reportable positions
Long	Short	Spreads	Long	Short	Long	Short	Long	Short
OPEN INTEREST: 151,710
COMMITMENTS
51,001	11,944	3,262	78,299	122,798	132,562	138,004	19,148	13,706
CHANGES FROM 09/11/12 (CHANGE IN OPEN INTEREST: 25,762)
7,319	163	1,484	16,679	22,341	25,482	23,988	280	1,774
PERCENT OF OPEN INTEREST FOR EACH CATEGORY OF TRADERS
33.6	7.9	2.2	51.6	80.9	87.4	91.0	12.6	9.0
NUMBER OF TRADERS IN EACH CATEGORY (TOTAL TRADERS: 105)
33	13	8	44	35	82	52

I find this data staggering – just focus on the changes for the previous week.

The large non-commercials (hedge funds) are holding more than four long contracts for every one short. And the increase of 7,300 in longs (as the rally progressed) is a large 17%.

That is herding in action. The professionals are making the classic error of getting more bullish as the market rallies.

Remember, markets always make major tops when sentiment becomes too bullish amongst the speculators (non-commercials and non-reportables).

At my workshop, I show how this works and how it can tell you when a trend is likely to turn, based on sentiment readings. This is valuable information to have as a trader.

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The market is ripe for a reversal

Note also that the commercials (banks and genuine hedgers) increased their shorts more than their longs. These are the strong hands.

But the non-reportables – ie, 'small traders' (you and me) – were getting cold feet holding so many longs, and some even went net short.

This is backing up what I have been saying – the market professionals are hugely bullish, while 'moms and pops' are much more ambivalent. Maybe they see what is happening on the ground in the real economy – weak growth and high unemployment – while the professionals only see a rising market and don't want to be left out, especially at bonus time.

Also, remember that there is massive quantitative easing (QE) liquidity at the disposal of the professionals with no place to go, except into asset markets, such as stocks. Private investors have no such funds to play with!

Conclusion: the market is ripe for a reversal at any time.

So now, let's look at the short-term picture on the hourly:

(Click on image above for larger version)

I can draw a lovely tramline pair enclosing the rally from the 4 September low. My upper tramline of this pair is not so great, as the start of it is rather messy. But don't blame me – that is the market's fault! It gets better later.

The first important point is that when my upper tramline met the shallower long-term daily tramline (see first chart above), it hit a brick wall and the market retreated back down to T1.

Another attempt to break up through was repelled, and crucially, the market broke below T1 on Thursday – my second important point. 

This was the first sign of a possible turn.

On Friday, we had the classic rally to kiss the underside of T1 – and now what looks suspiciously like a scalded cat bounce down. Hmm.

So now my confidence in my line in the sand is enhanced at around current levels. It is put up or shut up time for the bulls.

Why 13,500 could be a crucial level

So, which way will the market break out of its current trading range between 13,650 and 13,500 (pink bars)?

(Click on image above for larger version)

Good question! But note the 13,500 area (where my third tramline and the lower pink support bar meet). If the market breaks below that, the selling should be intense, as hedge funds liquidate positions (remember, they have four longs for every short).

I expect the 13,500 level to be challenged very soon (later today?). I will be watching it with eagle eyes.

• If you’re a new reader, or need a reminder about some of the methods I refer to in my trades, then do have a look at my introductory videos:

• The essentials of tramline trading
• Advanced tramline trading
• An introduction to Elliott wave theory
• Advanced trading with Elliott waves
• Trading with Fibonacci levels
• Trading with 'momentum'
• Putting it all together

• Don't miss my next trading insight. To receive all my spread betting blog posts by email, as soon as I've written them, just sign up here . If you have any queries regarding MoneyWeek Trader, please contact us here.

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Published in Spread betting blog More articles by John C Burford