Since the beginning of July, 52-week new highs have been contracting with each new NYSE Composite price high, demonstrating that fewer and fewer stocks are participating in the rally. Contracting new highs by themselves are not always problematic, and can merely be a sign of an approaching correction in an ongoing bull market; however, when they are accompanied by expanding 52-week new lows, a darker picture begins to emerge.
You will note that spikes in the number of new lows usually occur at the end of corrections, giving notice that the correction is near an end. Unfortunately, the recent spike in new lows has occurred just as the NYSE Composite Index has pulled back from an all-time high, and this is an indication that, not only is upside participation fading, but the tide may be shifting to the downside as well.
