It was a somewhat bearish week for US equity indexes, with net weekly declines ranging from -1.9% (R2K), -1.0% (sp'500, NYSE comp'), to -0.2% (Transports). With the break under sp'2119 and dow'18k, the door is open to another 3% of downside before the US election in early November.
Lets take our regular look at six of the US indexes
sp'500
A net weekly decline of -20pts (1.0%), settling @ 2132. The Thursday intraday low of 2114 was very notable, as it decisively broke the strong multi-spike floor of 2119. Underlying MACD (blue bar histogram) ticked lower for a tenth consecutive week, and this is the most bearish price momentum since late February.
Rising trend/support from the Feb' low of 1810 has been marginally broken, opening up the lower bollinger, which is currently around 2060 - notably, just 8pts below the 200 day MA.
Best guess: another 2-3% of downside to the 2080/60 zone, but then sharply rebounding, as nothing of significance has changed in the bigger picture. From there, a yearly close in the 2250/75 zone still looks viable.
Alarm bells should loudly ring on any daily close in the sp'2050s or lower, which would be decisively under multiple core aspects of support. By definition, the next support would then be the sp'1925/00 zone.
Nasdaq comp'
The Nasdaq settled -78pts (1.5%) at 5214. It is notable that the Nasdaq came within 2pts of breaking the recent historic high of 5242.Underlying MACD is set for a bearish cross next week, and that does bode bearish in the near term. Equity bulls have a comfortable 4% of downside buffer to the giant psy' level of 5K, before any real technical damage is done. Indeed, the sp'2070/60s - with Nasdaq holding around 5K, would be a very natural low, before renewed upside into year end.
Dow
The mighty Dow declined by a net -0.6%, settling at 18138. However, Thursday did see a break of the 18k threshold, with a low of 17959. Considering the past week's price action, it'd seem more probable than not, that the Dow will trade (if briefly) to the 17600/500s, before the next whipsaw back upward. The June/BREXIT low of 17063 looks well out of range.
NYSE comp'
The master index settled -1.0% @ 10521. There is a clear break of rising trend, and the door is wide open for a move to the lower bollinger around 10300/275. Things would turn exceptionally bearish on any price action under the giant 10k threshold.
R2K
The second market leader - R2K, saw a net decline of -1.9% @ 1212. Rising trend is borderline still intact. Underlying MACD cycle has turned negative for the first time since late February. Any price action <1200 would open up a swift 4% of downside to the lower bollinger - around 1150.
Trans
The 'old leader' - Transports, held up the best this week, lower by just -17pts (0.2%), settling at 8039. Indeed, this was the third consecutive weekly close above the psy' level of 8K. Considering WTIC oil prices holding firm around $50, the tranny is holding together very well indeed. Things only turn broadly bearish on a break of rising trend, which will be around 7500 in early November.
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Summary
Rising trend that stretches back to the Jan/Feb' lows is being provisionally broken, lead lower by the Dow.
There is around 3-4% of downside buffer before the equity bears cause any critical damage to the broader upward trend.
The market's 'old leader' - Transports, is notably holding together, which is especially impressive considering continuing strength in energy prices - which is inherently bearish for transportation companies.
Alarm bells should sound if sp'2050, NYSE comp' <10k, Dow 17400, Nasdaq 4900s, R2K 1140, and Trans <7500. Until then, equity bears need to remain careful they don't get lost in pre-election bearish hysteria.
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Looking ahead
Its a relatively light week for econ-data, but there will of course be an increasing number of corp' earnings.
M - empire state, indust' prod'
T - CPI, housing market index
W - housing starts, EIA report, Fed Beige book
T - weekly jobs, phil' fed, existing home sales
F - *OPEX*
*the only notable fed appearance will be Fischer on Monday.
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Yours truly continues to write intraday. If you think I'm worth around $1 per trading day, then hit the subscribe button!
In any case.... have a good weekend
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*the next post on this page will appear Monday @ 7pm EST.
