Will the coronavirus halt Apple's surge higher after sales warning?
Apple shares stunned the market on 17 February warning they will miss their revenue targets in the second quarter due to the impact of the coronavirus. The iPhone maker's share price dropped nearly 2% when markets opened for trading the next day. With the share price already up 10% for the year already (at the time of writing), we discuss the trading opportunities happening right now.
Apple's coronavirus-related sales warning
On Monday 17 February, Apple said that it does not expect to meet its second-quarter revenue forecast because of lower iPhone supply around the world, as well as lower Chinese demand due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Most of Apple's products are made in China. The coronavirus outbreak has led to the closure of Apple stores and manufacturing plants of its suppliers. Even though the country extended the Lunar New Year holiday, resulting in all iPhone manufacturing facilities reopening, Apple still expects shortages globally.
It's a big deal for Apple, as China accounts for around 15% of its overall revenue. The situation has led some analysts to cut price targets on Apple stock. Barclays reduced its price target from $304 to $297 which represents some significant downside from the opening price on Tuesday 18 February of $315.
While these may cause investors to think twice about buying at current levels it is worthwhile remembering that much of Apple's recent stock price rise is due to the company diversifying its business into growing services and wearables. So while the long-term fundamentals are still in tact, any weakness from further spreading of the coronavirus may be 'dip-buying' opportunities. Let's take a look at the charts.
How to Trade Apple
Below is the long-term, monthly price chart of Apple's share price:
Source: Admiral Markets MetaTrader 5 SE, AAPL, Monthly - Data range: from 1 July 2006 to 20 February 2020, accessed on 20 February 2020 at 10:15 am GMT. Please note: Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.
With Admiral Markets you can speculate on the price direction of Apple's share price by using a CFD (Contract for Difference). This allows traders to go long and short on the market, using leverage. You can learn more about leverage in the 'What is Leverage in Forex Trading?' article.
While the monthly chart above shows a clear trend higher, the lower time frame daily chart pattern is showing a price consolidation, known as a wedge pattern, as shown below:
Source: Admiral Markets MetaTrader 5, AAPL, Daily - Data range: from 8 October 2019 to 20 February 2020, accessed on 20 February 2020 at 10:45 am GMT. Please note: Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.
The recent consolidation in Apple's share price is highlighted between the two black lines in the chart above. This type of chart pattern is known as an ascending triangle formation or wedge pattern. It is known as a bullish chart pattern as the market makes a series of swing higher low cycle formations before breaking through an identifiable horizontal resistance line.
The question now for traders is which way Apple's share price is going to break. Until it breaks outside of the consolidation pattern traders should be careful with targeting as price trades sideways. There are mixed signals among analysts with some having lower and higher price targets from where price is. This means that price action will be the most important factor in making trading decisions while still in this consolidation.
However, the ascending triangle pattern is a well-known chart pattern which suggests further upside is likely, provided price can break above the horizontal resistance line. If this does occur, many traders would then work their way through the lower time frames such as the daily, four-hour, one-hour and thirty-minute chart to find suitable long, or buy entries.
Finding price levels on where to enter and exit and how to risk manage the trade are dependent on the type of trading strategy used by individual traders and the indicators used for technical analysis. For example, on the four-hour chart below, Apple's share price has continue to push higher, as long as the 20-period exponential moving average (blue line) is above the 50-period exponential moving average (red line). This combination of identifying a fast moving average trading above a slow moving average is very common among discretionary and algorithmic traders.
Source: Admiral Markets MetaTrader 5, AAPL, H4 - Data range: from 9 October 2019 to 20 February 2020, accessed on 20 February 2020 at 10:55 am GMT. Please note: Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.
Traders will often use indicators like moving averages to help identify the trend, as well as levels of support and resistance which could lead to turning points in the market. To learn more about techniques for different types of strategies like swing trading and day trading read the 'Trading Strategies' guide.
It's clear that the coronavirus has kept many traders and investors on the sidelines, as shown by the recent price consolidation. However, with bullish chart patterns forming and solid long-term fundamentals, it seems like traders are now just waiting for news that the coronavirus has reached its peak before buying once again. This period of quietness is an opportunity e to make sure you are prepared for whatever happens next!
One way is to make sure you have access to the best trading products available to you. Did you know Admiral Markets provides a supercharged version of MetaTrader 5 called the MetaTrader Supreme Edition? This provides traders with additional trading features such as the correlation matrix, Admiral Pivot, a mini-terminal for quick and advanced order functionality and much, much more!
Did you know that you can also access the MetaTrader Supreme Edition completely free?! To start your free download simply click on the banner below:
INFORMATION ABOUT ANALYTICAL MATERIALS:
The given data provides additional information regarding all analysis, estimates, prognosis, forecasts, market reviews, weekly outlooks or other similar assessments or information (hereinafter "Analysis") published on the website of Admiral Markets. Before making any investment decisions please pay close attention to the following:
1.This is a marketing communication. The content is published for informative purposes only and is in no way to be construed as investment advice or recommendation. It has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research, and that it is not subject to any prohibition on dealing ahead of the dissemination of investment research.
2.Any investment decision is made by each client alone whereas Admiral Markets AS (Admiral Markets) shall not be responsible for any loss or damage arising from any such decision, whether or not based on the content.
3.With view to protecting the interests of our clients and the objectivity of the Analysis, Admiral Markets has established relevant internal procedures for prevention and management of conflicts of interest.
4.The Analysis is prepared by an independent analyst Jitan Solanki, Freelance Contributor (hereinafter "Author") based on personal estimations.
5.Whilst every reasonable effort is taken to ensure that all sources of the content are reliable and that all information is presented, as much as possible, in an understandable, timely, precise and complete manner, Admiral Markets does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any information contained within the Analysis.
6.Any kind of past or modeled performance of financial instruments indicated within the content should not be construed as an express or implied promise, guarantee or implication by Admiral Markets for any future performance. The value of the financial instrument may both increase and decrease and the preservation of the asset value is not guaranteed.
7.Leveraged products (including contracts for difference) are speculative in nature and may result in losses or profit. Before you start trading, please ensure that you fully understand the risks involved.
