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SOFTWARE HOLDRS HEADED LOWER

Chip Anderson

Chip Anderson

President, StockCharts.com

With the peak at 45.78 in January 2004, the Semiconductor HOLDRS (SMH) came relatively close to its high at 50.19. However, the Software HOLDRS (SWH) peaked at 40.20 and fell well short of its 2002 high at 50.91. SWH only retraced 62% of its prior decline and formed a classic rising wedge (magenta trendlines). Not only did SWH underpeform SMH, but the retracement and the pattern are also typical for bear market rallies. This suggest that the current decline is impulsive and SWH is headed lower.

At the very least, the current outlook is decidedly bearish and the stock appears headed for a bout with support around 30. This support level is confirmed by broken resistance (turned support), the 50% retracement mark and the lower trendline extension of a falling price channel (blue trendlines). It would take a move above the upper price channel trendline (37.5) to start thinking bull again.

Chip Anderson
About the author: is the founder and president of StockCharts.com. He founded the company after working as a Windows developer and corporate consultant at Microsoft from 1987 to 1997. Since 1999, Chip has guided the growth and development of StockCharts.com into a trusted financial enterprise and highly-valued resource in the industry. In this blog, Chip shares his tips and tricks on how to maximize the tools and resources available at StockCharts.com, and provides updates about new features or additions to the site. Learn More