Bulls Enjoy Volume Buying

While most of the work was done premarket there was enough demand in Market morning gaps to register higher volume accumulation.

Best of the action came in Small Caps.  The Russell 2000 had looked like it was going to drift back to 1,420 and maybe the 50-day MA but instead, buyers took the breakout further from this support level (further squeezing shorts). There is no defined upside target but February's rally pushed the index 10% above the 200-day MA; a similar move would see a test of 1,500.

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Tech Gaining Momentum. Small Caps Recover.

Tech markets continued the good work from Friday as buyers continued to bid up the Nasdaq and Nasdaq 100. Large Caps posted small losses but this was more about attention elsewhere than any Large Cap specifics.

The Nasdaq experienced a mini-breakout from the consolidation over the last 3 days (traders on the hourly time frame may find some joy here) which keeps the index on course to test larger upper channel resistance. Technicals are net bullish but its relative performance against peer indices which is doing particularly well; Large Caps in particular.

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Good Close For Markets Bar Small Caps

Bulls were not to give up the breakout gains from earlier in the week and with the exception of the Russell 2000 it was a decent finish for markets.

Action in the Russell 2000 was only disappointing because it was unable to hold on to early day gains.  The spike high may mark resistance over the coming days as Friday's candlestick was a typical reversal marker. Technicals are healthy, although the index is underperforming relative to Tech and Large Caps.

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Small Caps Breakout

It has taken a few days for Small Caps to make their move but today was the day the Russell 2000 joined other indices in mounting a breakout. It was a clean breakout supported by positive technical strength - putting to bed the June 'bull trap'. Watch for the second round of stop-whips with an intraday move (and recovery) below 1,430.

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