World stock market: more sizeable trend reversal likely in February/March 2010
Based on our "finance-prediction-oriented" methodology which involves such elements as log-periodic self-similarity, the universal preferred scaling factor lambda=2, and allows a phenomenon of the "super-bubble" we analyze the 2009 world stock market (here represented by the SP500, Hang Seng and WIG) development. We identify elements that indicate the third decade of September 2009 as a time limit for the present bull market phase which is thus to be followed by a significant correction. In this context we also interpret the Chinese stock market index SSE. The third decade of September 2009 was accompanied with a stock market correction typically within the range of 4-5% worldwide. Taking into account the market patterns that followed the time of delivering the previous scenario we present an updated scenario whose critical time corresponds to October 28, 2009. Assuming quite evident (as of November 12, 2009) termination of the correction due to the above critical time we extend - consistently with our methodology - the stock market forecasting scenario. The corresponding expected SP500 future trend is shown in Fig. 5 and it supports a potential average continuation of increases to as far into the future as the turn of February/March 2010. We also indicate the log-periodic patterns on the gold market and they point to the end of November 2009 as the time when the trend reversal - likely local however - is expected to begin.
Criticality Characteristics of Current Oil Price Dynamics
Methodology that recently lead us to predict to an amazing accuracy the date (July 11, 2008) of reverse of the oil price up trend is briefly summarized and some further aspects of the related oil price dynamics elaborated. This methodology is based on the concept of discrete scale invariance whose finance-prediction-oriented variant involves such elements as log-periodic self-similarity, the universal preferred scaling factor lambda=2, and allows a phenomenon of the "super-bubble". From this perspective the present (as of August 22, 2008) violent - but still log-periodically decelerating - decrease of the oil prices is associated with the decay of such a "super- bubble" that has started developing about one year ago on top of the longer-term oil price increasing phase (normal bubble) whose ultimate termination is evaluated to occur in around mid 2010.
Prediction oriented variant of financial log-periodicity and speculating about the stock market development until 2010
A phenomenon of the financial log-periodicity is discussed and the characteristics that amplify its predictive potential are elaborated. The principal one is self-similarity that obeys across all the time scales. Furthermore the same preferred scaling factor appears to provide the most consistent description of the market dynamics on all these scales both in the bull as well as in the bear market phases and is common to all the major markets. These ingredients set very desirable and useful constraints for understanding the past market behavior as well as in designing forecasting scenarios. One novel speculative example of a more detailed S$&$P500 development until 2010 is presented.