Lets take our regular look at six of the main US indexes
sp'500
The sp'500 broke a new multi-year low of 1812 on Wednesday, decisively breaking the Oct'2014 low (1820). From there, the sp' rallied hard to a Friday close of 1906, making for a net weekly gain of 26pts (1.4%).
Underlying MACD (blue bar histogram) cycle ticked lower for a fourth consecutive week, back to levels last seen in Sept'2015.
It is notable that the MACD itself (black line) is currently at -26. In Oct'2011, the MACD was around -40, whilst in the crash wave of late 2008, the MACD floored around -125.
So, we're still a long way from being as oversold on the bigger weekly cycles as the 2011/2008 declines. The giant monthly cycles are even clearer, offering the equity bears a great deal of viable downside in the months ahead.
Best guess: near term upside to the 1970s, but then renewed downside, with an initial target of the 1750/25 zone - where there are multiple aspects of support. Broadly, the low 1600s look a realistic target within the March-April time frame.
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Nasdaq comp'
The tech was the leader this week, with the most well defined weekly candle, a hyper-spike floor, settling at the highs of the week @ 4591. There will be stiff resistance in the 4700/800 zone. Sustained action back above the 5K threshold looks out of range until Q4.
Dow
The mighty Dow was the weakest index this week, settling net higher by +0.7% @ 16093. The Dow was held back by AXP and GE, both of which had earnings and an outlook that wasn't pretty. Next upside resistance is the 16500/600 zone. Sustained action >17K looks out of range.
In terms of downside, first target is the Aug'2015 low of 15370, then 14k, and 13K. Sustained action <13k looks very difficult, not least as the central banks will more than likely intervene in the coming months.
NYSE comp'
The master index saw a net weekly gain of 1.4%, settling @ 9426. There will be powerful resistance around 9800. Sustained action >10k looks extremely unlikely. Downside to 8K appears due in the late spring.
R2K
The second market leader imploded to 958 on Wednesday (the lowest level since June 2013), but then saw a hyper rebound, settling the week +1.3% @ 1020. Near term resistance is the 1050/60 zone. Sustained action >1100 looks out of range. Target downside for the late spring is 850, and that would likely equate to sp'1600s.
Trans
The old leader broke a new multi-year low of 6403 (lowest level since Oct'2013), but settling +1.3% @ 6778. Near term outlook offers further upside to around 7K. Broader downside to the 5250/4750 zone is then anticipated.
Summary
It sure was another wild week for US equities. The market mood was especially sour, with most indexes breaking new multi-year lows.
The post Wednesday rally of almost 5% has resulted in weekly candles that are offering a spike floor. Typically, such powerful spikes are highly indicative of a key floor that will last many months.. even years.
However, unlike Aug/Sept' 2015 - or Oct'2014, the giant monthly cycles are very bearish. Indeed, by February, the two leaders - Trans/R2K, will be in outright crash mode... with the same technical setup as Sept'2008.
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Remaining bearish into the spring
Bounces are a natural part of any multi-month decline. The bigger issue was the big bear flag that developed from last August to December. The first few weeks of January have already confirmed the flag.
sp'weekly8d
A basic 38% fib retrace (of the 2011/2015 wave) is sp'1730 (I usually round things out to call it the '1750/25' zone) and that remains a very reasonable target. A 50% retrace would take the market to the low 1600s, just above the double top of 2000/2007.
As things are, I still don't see sustained action under 1600, even if WTIC Oil is briefly in the upper teens.
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Looking ahead
The week starts quietly, but builds to the FOMC on Wednesday. Arguably, the highlight though, will be Q4 GDP data on Friday.
M -
T - Case-Schiller HPI, consumer con', Richmond Fed manu'
W - New homes sales, EIA oil report
FOMC announcement @ 2pm. There will NOT be a press conf'.
T - weekly jobs, Durable Goods orders, pending home sales
F - GDP Q4, employment costs, Chicago PMI, consumer sent'
*the only fed official on the loose will be Williams (Friday)
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Back on Monday
