Dow Theory: How Institutions Move The Price?

• The Dow theory is a financial theory stating the market is in an upward trend if all its averages are in sync.
• For example, the industrials average should move coherently to the transportation average.

The Dow Theory is one of the oldest theories of technical analysis with its remarkable presence of almost 100 years. Charles Dow first developed the theory and proposed its principles. Dow also proposed the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) and Dow Jones Transportation Average (DJTA). The theory is based on a few important principles. The theory proposes that there will be an uptrend when one of its averages, either DJIA or DJTA, goes beyond a previous important high, and the other average also follows or accompany the advance of the first average. Despite the exceptional advancements in the field of financial technical analysis, Dow Theory stood the test time and is still making its mark.

Charles Dow was analyzing market price action in the late 19th century and developed Dow Theory. Although Dow developed this theory, it was not as refined as we find it today. It was the courtesy of S.A. Nelson and William Hamilton who refined Dow Theory. It was Nelson who actually named this theory as Dow Theory in his famous The ABC of Stock Speculation. Through a series of articles written in the Wall Street Journal from 1902 to 1929, Hamilton further refined the Theory. He further explained and elaborated on the theory in his commendable piece of writing The Stock Market Barometer in 1922. Robert Rhea also contributed to the Dow Theory when he further refined the Dow and Hamilton’s analysis in 1932.

Basic principles of Dow Theory 

Dow Theory has the following basic principles. 

• There are certain pieces of information that have the potential to impact the demand and supply of securities in the market. Dow Theory works on the assumption that averages can discount every piece of such information except natural calamities. As soon as any such event occurs, the theory immediately analyze its impact, price in, and reflect it in the average.
• Charles Dow also assumed that averages can move in trends.

There are 3 parts of trends

According to the Dow Theory, a trend has three parts:

Primary trend

The overall trend of the market is the primary trend and it can last anywhere between one year and many years. When each high goes beyond the prior high and each low cannot cross the previous low, it is a primary uptrend. It occurs in the bullish market. The uptrend continues as long as this pattern continues. Similarly, when each low goes down than the prior low and each high fails to go beyond the previous high, it is a primary downtrend. It occurs in a bear market. This downtrend continues as long as this pattern continues. 

Secondary trend

Secondary trend is a correction of the primary trend. During a primary uptrend, it is a kind of very crucial downfall resulting in the retracement of the prior up wave. It is known as a bull market correction. On the other hand, during a primary downtrend, it is a kind of crucial uprising resulting in the recoup part of the previous down wave. It is also known as the bear market rally. Anywhere in between, three weeks and three months is the lasting period of the secondary trend and it can retrace between one-third to two-thirds of the previous uptrend or downtrend. 

Minor trend

Day to day fluctuations impacting the secondary trend but not the primary trend constitutes a minor trend. Dow Theory assumes that only the minor trend can be manipulated. From an investor’s point of view, it is the least important trend of all the three types of trends. The minor trend has a period of a few days to three weeks.

Trends occur in three distinct phases

Dow Theory proposes that the major trends occur in three distinct phases. 

Accumulation phase

Accumulation phase means the phase of a trend where informed buying takes place by the most genius traders or investors. At this point, investors may realize the assimilation of all the so-called bad news if the previous trend was a downtrend. 

Public participation phase

The most technical trend-followers join the market in the public participation phase when the business news improves gradually and prices begin to increase rapidly. 

Distribution phase

The distribution by the informed traders who once accumulated is the mark of the final phase, the distribution phase. They become the frontrunners to distribute before anyone else starts selling.

Overall Dow Theory assumptions

• Dow Theory assumes that no bullish or bearish market signal can appear before the signal of both averages. The theory proposes that both averages have to exceed a previous secondary high to confirm the start or continuation of a bull market. The theory doesn’t require both signals to occur simultaneously. It proposes that a shorter period of time between the two signals provide stronger confirmation. The theory also assumes that the prior trend maintains itself when both averages diverge from one another. 
• Dow Theory holds that volume is another very crucial factor for the confirmation of price signals. Volume needs to expand or increase in accordance with the trend. During an uptrend, the volume must increase with rising prices and the volume should decrease as the price falls. During a downtrend, the volume must increase as prices fall and should decrease with rising prices. Volume was a secondary indicator for Dow Jones as he based his actual trading signals on closing prices. Traders have multiple volume indicators nowadays to determine the volume and then traders can analyze this information in accordance with price action to see whether they confirm each other or do not.
• Just like Newton’s law, a trend will continue until it gives clear reversal signals. Dow Theory assumes that current trends should be considered active until it is clear that it has reversed. There are various indicators that can help traders to determine whether a trend is continuing or has it reversed. 

How does Dow Theory work?

Dow Theory works on a very simple idea. In Dow’s time, industry and rail were the two averages. Industries manufactured the goods and shipped them through rails. Both of them had to work together to achieve. Similarly, when one average records a new price level, it is important for the other average to do the same to provide a valid signal. The price action is only confirmed when both averages work in harmony with each other and reach highs or lows around the same time period. 

Conclusion 

Dow Theory is one of the most reliable trading theories despite being more than 100 years old. Dow Theory and its underlying principles are still applicable and crucial today. Many astute traders and technical analysts consider Dow Theory a very valuable trading strategy. It is interesting as well as astonishing to realize that many ideas we currently know about the technical analysis have its origin from Dow Theory. That is the prime reason that all financial technical analysts need to have in-depth knowledge of the Theory or at least, they must know about the basic principles of the Theory. 

• thedowtheory.com
• school.stockcharts.com
• marketrealist.com