BTIG market technician cautious on Apple heading into January

BTIG Chief Market Technician Jonathan Krinsky thinks the market can “continue to make upside progress” into year-end and sees a new all-time high for the S&P 500 (SPX) above 6,100. However, volatility will reemerge in January, the technician tells investors in a research note. The firm says there has been “massive dispersion below the surface coinciding” with a surging dollar and rates, and last week’s drawdown was likely a “shot across the bow.” In addition, the world’s largest company, Apple (AAPL), closed up 2.56% last week, its fifth consecutive weekly gain of 2% or more, and one-month forward returns following such streaks “have been quite negative for the name,” contends BTIG. The firm notes Apple’s average and median returns four-weeks later have been negative 5.97% and negative 5.37%, respectively, with the only gain coming in 2009. With Apple nearing a $4 trillion dollar market capitalization, BTIG would be cautious on the stock heading into January.