Mid-day signs show improvement

The mid-day signs do signal an improvement over recent market softness but please don't panic and let your emotions rule over your mind. I just want to remind you that panic buying is just as bad as panic selling. Let's see where we stand.

Value Line Index -- 1700 stocks so it's more representative than the narrow S&P 500 or very narrow Dow 30 -- mixed signals

Bad News

• Still down 7.73% in the last 30 days
• Still down 4.15% for the last 5 days
• 60% Barchart short term sell signal

Good news

• Up 2.29% at noon
• Although the Barchart sell signals are there; they are showing a weakening

Barchart Market Momentum - mixed signals

Bad News

• only 37.26% of the stocks are trading above their 20 day moving average -- I like to see 50%+

Good News

• Momentum up 1.73%
• Advances of 5035 vs, declines of 772

Ratio of stocks hitting new 20 day highs/new 20 day lows -- 1.0+ bullish, 1.0 neutral , under .99 bearish -- right now bullish

• new 20 day highs 217/ new 20 day lows 209 = 1.03 first bullish sign in awhile

Summary and Investing Strategy -- Right now the market is beginning to recover but I'm waiting until the majority of the stocks trade above their 20 day moving average then I'll slowly buy back in.

Jim Van Meerten is an investor who writes on investing on Financial Tides. Please leave a comment below or email JimVanMeerten@gmail.com

Disclosure: No positions mentioned

What I'm reading:

The Average Investor Is His Own Worst Enemy by David K Randall on Forbes

Stocks Flirt With Bear Market, But Investors Aren't Panicking by Jeff Cox on CNBC

Who will sit in judgment? by staff on The Economist

Time to Buy BP, Transocean, Or Halliburton? by Wall Street Cheat Sheet on Seeking Alpha

The Deals Are Getting Good Again by Todd Weening on Motley Fool