Index uptrend intact?

For fun, let's validate if the runup of the PSE index is still intact based on one Technical Analysis (TA) concept that's fairly easy to follow.

The check is through MACD analysis. The requirement is actually just a quick glance to see whether or not the short term moving average (orange macd in the most bottom graph below) is above the intermediate moving ave (violet) and long term (green). If the orange is above the other two, that's good, the uptrend is suppose to be "holding."

Further in TA parlance when any of these lines cross, it is an important event.

This means we should have bought some time end-December when orange line crossed intermediate-term (violet) and bought even ore when orange crossed green (long-term). 

Same principle applies when lately orange crossed below violet when you should have sold the index, if you are trading only for the short and medium term. You should have gained minimum 7.5% through this system. If you are in it for the longer term, you should still be holding because the orange line is still above the green, and moreover, orange is threatening once again to cross above intermediate just last Friday.

Not that hard to follow, aint it? It is also not that hard to do as well given that BPI and most other banks have UITF anchored on index today that you can quickly invest in online. FMETF also exists and can be traded in the PSE. Youre not any more relying on bogus fund managers who pick speculative LC, DMPL, and the likes that can deplete your hard earned money.

But among the problems in using this method is 1) when the index breaks down too fast and too hard. You might not have the time to pull out. 2) You wont have the chance as well to "beat the market" (beat the index) on the basis of your own belief on companies and strength of your own research. It also doesnt take into account how expensive (can be interpreted as how 'scary' in terms of risk/reward) already is the market, and 3) the lines might be crossing too often in a volatile market, every investment just becomes virtually casino bets.

As Ive written elsewhere, Im not a full believer in TA. Im more into the value of the company (I wont call it pure value investing yet a la Buffett) and the caliber of the people that run the company. I also get a bit of 'entertainment'--I get fulfilment and satisfaction in managing my money myself rather than just allowing the market or another fund manager to do it for me.

To compensate, I invest in UITF that is based on index invested on the side, but the bulk of the funds are still divided between a nimble 'short-term' traded portfolio (brokerage under BPI), and intermediate and longer-term under Firstmetrosec. It works for me. Although Im not beating the index year to date, it brings me fulfilment to pick and put money where my talk is.