Apple Closes Under Both 200-Day Moving Averages

By Richard Suttmeier: I have been tracking the 2011 Santa Claus Rally and the S&P 500 joined the Dow Industrials and Dow Transports with a close on Friday above its 200-day simple moving average at 1259.2. The NASDAQ closed between its 50-day and 200-day SMAs at 2617 and 2661. The 200-day SMA for the Russell 2000 remains a barrier at 763.49. Since the May / July period the major averages have seen lower highs. The Russell 2000 set a new all time high at 868.57on May 2nd.

Doug Short submits: Before the market opens on the last trading day of the month, we can safely assume there will be no monthly-close surprises in our S&P 500 market timing signals. All three monthly moving averages we've been watching continue to signal an equities position.

Paul Price submits: Apple shares have surged since their fake-out bottom just days ago when they shook out technicians by violating their 200-day moving average for the first time since April of 2009. AAPL closed last week at $359.71, up from that recent intra-day low of $310.50. [Click to enlarge]

Scott's Investments submits:Below is a table in order of the sum of the 3, 6, and 12 month returns for individual country ETFs. Each column represents returns for various timeframes and the percent each ETF is above (or below) the 200 day moving averages as of June's close. This list is tracked monthly on the right hand side of my blog Scott's Investments.

Scott's Investments submits:Below is a table in order of the sum of the 3, 6, and 12 month returns for individual country ETFs. Each column represents returns for various timeframes and the percent each ETF is above (or below) the 200 day moving averages as of May's close. This list is tracked monthly on the right hand side of my blog Scott's Investments.

Doug Short submits: I usually post this moving-average preview the night before the market opens on the last trading day of the month. But because of the potential for multiple signals, I'm posting early this month. Two of the three S&P 500 monthly moving averages we've been watching are flashing preliminary sell signals.

Bruce Pile submits:Early this month, the market's leader groups that have been faithfully moving the broad market to higher ground for a year looked as if they were having a change of heart and were leading a charge to the downside. Since then, they have partially straightened up and are flying right again. I say partially because, of the three groups I watch closely (retail, tech and the Baltic Dry Index), one is strongly bullish, one is neutral and one is worrisome.

Jeff Miller submits: A simple yet effective trading rule is to stay on the right side of the 200-day moving average. If you always own a stock when it is above this key indicator, and sell it when it drops below, you will be on the right side of all big moves.