Within the last few months, the ‘Death Cross’ had been touted all over the Internet; it finally happened on Tuesday, when the 50-day moving average crossed below the 200-day moving average.

This chart signal sounds like some medieval weapon or pact that signals a fight that ends horribly.  This has  been the case at times for the stock market.

Technicians or traders who use charts to make quick buy and sell decisions think this is the point when a market that’s moving lower morphs into a proverbial boulder from a snowball.  In other words, hold onto your hats boys and girls.  The very fact this is occurring means that there is more than a dollop of angst in the market.

I am mostly a fundamental investor, but there are valid uses for charts. It is not voodoo or superstition like crossing the path of a black cat or walking under a ladder. However, it is a great measure of the resolve or fear of investors.

Nevertheless, it’s also not guaranteed.

Back on January 3, 2008, the ‘Death Cross’ ushered in a sell-off that lasted 14 months, and when the dust settled, the Dow was down 50%. Since then, death crosses have actually been “buy” signals pointing to climatic sell-offs that cleaned out weaker hands.

Look at the July 7th ‘Death Cross’ in 2010, it was time to back up the truck, but not run for the hills.

In the end, there is something about death cross signals. It does underscore current weaknesses and vulnerabilities. That said, I actually would have liked to have seen more fear and more downside volume.

We are in the midst of the perfect test of investor resolve, especially with yesterday’s 276-point intra- day reversal for the Dow Jones Industrial Average. The chart still points to a downside bias, but it is near a key resistance point that could get the ball rolling in the other direction.

Somehow, stocks must make a stand now or traders will make the death prophecy a self-fulfilling event.

Today’s Session

Maybe, just maybe, we're seeing the impact of cheaper gas as retail sales came in as expected +0.6% month to month and 2.4% from a year earlier. The news was good for motor vehicles, furniture, sporting goods and restaurants.

The overall number isn't a gangbuster, however, the street thinks it is enough to keep the Fed leaning toward a September rate hike.

In the meantime, China's dramatic currency intervention continues with the Yuan now peg to the dollar at 6.401. The third nudge is not as much as the previous two, so it may be a sign that China is finding its sweet spot. In the meantime, Japan has lowered the Yen, so all eyes on the rest of Asia to see just how much this all escalates.