The moment of truth is at hand

When I last covered the Dow on 12 December, the market was rallying towards the crossing of a major tramline and the up-sloping trendline:

(Click on the chart for a larger version)

Since then, the market collapsed just before Christmas, but is now in strong rally mode (see below chart).

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Following my post, the market did hit my upper tramline (red arrow), backed off for a couple of days, and then poked above the line.

It then fell sharply down to the 12,800 area prior to the fiscal cliff' denouement on 1 January.

I had taken short positions in the 13,300 area in the region of the second red arrow and was enjoying the ride down over the holidays.

(Click on the chart for a larger version)

But my enjoyment was short-lived when the market suddenly reversed to stop me out at break-even. I was certainly glad I was using my break-even rule, as no damage was done to my account.

My win-win strategy

In fact, I had an ace up my sleeve just in case the market did reverse.

That ace was the 30-year T-Bond market. Before Christmas, I had taken a short position in the bonds as a hedge. I felt that if the fiscal cliff drama would be bullish for stocks, then it wouldprobably be bearish for bonds particularly now that T-Bond yields were near record lows. That would be the classic risk-on scenario.

Sometime in January, I hope to cover the T-Bonds, as I believe this market is ripe for some major moves.

T-Bond yields have been driven down by the flight to safety as well as the huge Fed purchase programme. But with bonds yielding less than the current inflation rate, it was only a matter of time before investors woke up and realised they held instruments of mass confiscation!

That meant my break-even result in the Dow was compensated by a major gain on my short T-Bond trade. That was a win-win strategy.

But note that every time the market has hit the underside of the up-sloping trendline,has hita brick wall. This line is the trendline joining the major lows on 4 June 2012 and the October 2012 lows.

(Click on the chart for a larger version)

This line is very significant! The market has hit it three times (red arrows) and is currently challenging it again.

As for my original tramlines, because of the messy action in late December, when the market appeared to ignore the upper line, I am searching for a better fit. I have one suggestion in the above chart.

Two potential scenarios

If my up-sloping trendline holds, I would expect the market to back off inside the upper tramline. This is a realistic scenario given the potential negative momentum divergence (red line on the momentum chart).

And if the market does top out here, that would make the rally off the mid-November low a clear A-B-C.

The alternative scenario is that the upward break of the upper tramline is genuine and the market continues upwards.

Here is an interesting tramline picture:

(Click on the chart for a larger version)

I have a terrific upper tramline and the lower one is pretty good with the June 2012 low just overshooting a touch.

If these are operating, then my target is the upper tramline in the 13,800 area another 400 pips from current.

Of course, if this does occur, imagine where my T-Bonds will be trading!

But first, the major resistance at the up-sloping trendline in the second chart must be overcome.

Today the market was watching the Non-Farm Payroll data, which the bulls hope will reinforce the generally bullish recent US employment picture.

The moment of truth is at hand!

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

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