Saturday 19 March 2016

Weekend update - US weekly indexes

It was another bullish week for US equity indexes, with net weekly gains ranging from 5.0% (Trans), 1.3% (sp'500, R2K), to 1.0% (Nasdaq comp'). Near term outlook threatens WTIC Oil in the $44/45s, and that will probably equate to sp'2070/80, before cooling into end month. The broader bearish outlook is... borderline intact.


Lets take our regular look at six of the US indexes

sp'500


A net weekly gain of 27pts (1.3%), with a new cycle high of 2052. It is notable that the key price gap of 2038/43 has been filled, next resistance is the 2070/80 zone.

Underlying MACD (blue bar histogram) cycle ticked higher for a fifth week, and is now on the high side. Even if the market maxes out next week, it will likely be another four weeks before the next bearish cross.

Best guess: further upside to the 2070/80 zone, with no daily closes above the late Dec'2015 high of 2081. First soft downside target before end month is the 1950/40 zone. A break of the Feb'11th low of 1810 looks possible in late April, but more viable in May.
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Nasdaq comp'


The tech was the laggard this week, with a net gain of 47pts (1.0%) at 4795. Next key resistance is the 4900 threshold. As things are, sustained action above the giant 5K threshold still looks out of range until Q4 at the earliest. Clearly, any monthly close >5K will absolutely negate the broader bearish outlook for this year.


Dow


The mighty Dow gained 388pts (2.3%) @ 17602, the highest level since late Dec'2015. Next resistance is the 17800/18000 zone. Any daily closes >18K would entirely negate the current bearish outlook.


NYSE comp'


The master index saw a net gain of 1.2% in the 10200s. Next resistance is the 10400/500 zone. Any price action much above 10700, would bode powerfully in favour of the equity bulls.


R2K


The second market leader - R2K, climbed for a fifth week, settling +1.3% @ 1101. Next key resistance is the 1150/60 zone.. where the 200dma is lurking. 


Trans


The 'old leader' - Trans, climbed for a ninth consecutive week, +5.0% @ 8075 - equaling the run of March-May 2009. Next resistance are the 8400/500s.


Summary

The equity bulls are seeing yet another powerful rally. Indeed, the current up wave is very similar to that seen last Sept-Nov'2015.

The late Dec'2015 high of sp'2081 is pretty important.

As many would agree, the market rally since Feb'11th has primarily been inspired via a hyper ramp in Oil prices, with WTIC swinging from the $26s to the $40s.

If Oil becomes stuck around $45 before end month, and then starts to cool (as the over supply issue remains entirely unresolved), the broader equity market will likely be dragged back lower.


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Looking ahead

It will be a shortened holiday week, as the US (and almost all other world markets) will be closed for 'Good Friday'.

M - Existing home sales
T - PMI manu', Richmond Fed'
W - New home sales, EIA report
T - Durable Goods Orders, weekly jobs, PMI serv'
F - CLOSED, however GDP (rev'2) and Corp' profits data will still be published.

*there are a sprinkling of Fed officials, notably, Bullard late Monday and Thursday.
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Back on Monday