By Rev Shark
Street.com Contributor
2/15/2011 8:43 AM EST
Recent market action reflects little fear or worry. We just keep on climbing as the pattern of early weakness, aggressive dip-buying and strong finishes continue. Over the last 11 days of trading, we closed higher than we opened nine times and were just about flat the other two. The dip-buyers haven't had many big pullbacks during that time frame, but they have wasted no time at all rushing in on any slight softness.
What is most striking about the market now is the very high level of complacency. While everyone seems to be looking for a top, no one seems to expect one to really occur. That is not too surprising when the market is at its highs, but it's interesting that there is so little interest in profit-taking even though there are a slew of stocks that are extended and badly in need of some consolidation.
With any and all dips being immediately bought, it would be surprising if market players weren't at least a little complacent. Why should we worry about stocks going down when it almost never happens? Taking profits has proved to be a very foolish strategy in this market with such a steady uptrend.
At some point the complacency will prove to be a problem and the market will sell off, but we will likely need some sort of good excuse to get the ball rolling. We never see the media talk about the market going down because too many people are unworried and there isn't much buying power left on the sidelines. There almost always is some sort of news that is used to explain what happens.
We have to watch for some sort of intraday reversal and news that will serve as a convenient excuse for some selling. The pattern of buying early weakness and a strong finish needs to be broken if the bears are ever going to have any success.
My strategy for dealing with this market remains the same: I'm going to keep on looking for new buys and will keep riding this uptrend, but I'll also continue to sell into strength and will be very watchful for any sort of intraday reversal.
The character of this market has not shifted for quite some time, and there aren't any signs that we are about to see a change. On the other hand, a market that is this extended and has such a high level of complacency is vulnerable, and we have to be mentally prepared to deal with any quick shift.
The good news this morning is that China CPI came in below expectations, which is helping to alleviate concerns of more tightening by the China central bank. However, outside of food there were still plenty of signs of inflationary pressures, so the positive reaction may be short-lived.
The lack of volatility in this market has made it quite frustrating for active traders lately, but we have to play the hand that is dealt. That means navigating many very extended charts and a high level of complacency. There is obviously plenty of danger, but that has been the case for a while and has not mattered at all. Watch for a change in the price pattern of early weakness and a strong finish, but don't be too anxious to anticipate it.

