An Up trendline has supported a popular consumer staples ETF without fail on several occasions since the 2009 low; it is under attack again at the moment.

We can glean a lot about the state of the overall stock market during a correction and its reaction. One interesting observation from the current correction comes from an inspection of the market segments and sectors that are breaking down vis-a-vis their longer-term uptrends. Or perhaps I should more accurately say not breaking down.

As far as sectors go, obviously energy has had its challenges in recent years. Outside of that sector, however, probably the only one that we can say has really broken down is the utility sector. Given that minimal longer-term damage, we can reasonably suggest that, despite the recent rout, the longer-term bull market remains substantially intact. Obviously that characterization would change should we start seeing more sectors break down. As it happens, one steady bull market climber is seeing its uptrend being tested at the moment.

We mentioned in October that the Consumer Staples SPDR ETF (ticker, XLP) was testing an Up trendline that had been in place since the 2011 low and that had supported the ETF the several times that it was tested over the past half dozen years. Well, as it turns out, one could have extended the trendline back further and it would have intersected right at the low in March 2009. Thus, the trendline also held in 2011, and it held again in October. So, we are talking about a pretty well established trendline, and an important one in the context of the post-2009 bull market.

We bring it up again because XLP is testing the trendline presently once again.

This trendline may not be life or death for the broad stock market. It may not even be life or death for the XLP, though a decisive break certainly would not be a positive for the ETF. But a break would be one of the first subtle red flags in a market that has done very little wrong, as far as the longer-term uptrend is concerned, over the past 2 years.

It may not be flashy, but it is a development that bears watching.

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Disclaimer: JLFMI’s actual investment decisions are based on our proprietary models. The conclusions based on the study in this letter may or may not be consistent with JLFMI’s actual investment posture at any given time. Additionally, the commentary provided here is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as a recommendation to invest in any specific securities or according to any specific methodologies. Proper due diligence should be performed before investing in any investment vehicle. There is a risk of loss involved in all investments.