Russell 2000 continues to Flash Negative Divergences

Not that it has made the least bit of difference to the continuing price rise over the last year, but each new weekly high in this very risk sensitive index, has come with a lower reading in the RSI. Note that I have smoothed the indicator a bit to weed out a bit of the "roughness". That being said, the RSI reading has not once in the last year, surpassed its high reading made in March 2013 and again in August 2013. Upside momentum is waning but it does not yet seem to matter. The index has relentlessly powered higher.

I do not believe one can call a definitive top in this market until, at the very least, the support level near 1080 might give way on a weekly closing basis. One should however note these negative or bearish divergences and at least exercise some caution.

Traders who are long with large open profits might want to get a bit of downside protection in the form of puts or covered calls on a portion of their positions just in case this index were to finally confirm any of these divergences.

The problem for the bears has been the ultra low interest rate environment. It has essentially made stocks the only game in town as far as obtaining a decent rate of return on invested money. Until that changes, bulls will more than likely continue with their heretofore successful practice of buying dips. Eventually the music will stop but timing that over the last year has been a fool's errand. All a trader/investor can do is to go with the money flow until something changes technically to indicate that the party is over. For now, in spite of the divergence warnings, the good times continue to roll for the bulls.