Media sources blamed increasing Covid19 cases for today's selling but this is hardly news. Up to now, the selling has been consistent but today saw things accelerate to the downside which left difficult breakdown gaps behind.  What this means in broader terms is of instead of looking at a rally continuation we need to look at a broader consolidation.  The Nasdaq is on course to testing the September low but the gap now establishes a break to prior action. In real terms, today's action is not as damaging as headlines might suggest, but we are looking at a shift to a sideways consolidation. Even with that, there is a long way to go before long term support of the 200-day MA is tested - but it's not a buyers market.

With the weekend to stew over things, sellers began the week pushing markets below 20-day and 50-day MAs. No index escaped the selling but whatever bullishness was there from Friday was quickly dissipated on Monday's action.   The Nasdaq wasn't the worst hit, but it was enough to expand on the 'sell' trigger in the MACD and bearish crossover in the ADX. The index is underperforming the Russell 2000, which also suffered a loss today. 

Watching the (Covid19) World Series so will be keeping this post short. The main thing from Friday is the solid bullish handle taking shape in the Russell 2000.  The breakout hasn't occurred yet, but the setup is looking good for the coming week. Technicals are all bullish. A stop would go on a loss of handle support and/or the trailing 20-day MA. 

Monday's selling in itself wasn't too damaging, but Tuesday and today's action managed to suppress attempts by buyers to claw back those losses.  With indices finishing near Monday's lows I would now be of the opinion we are going to see further losses.  The biggest worry is the Russell 2000. The bullish handle is still intact, but with today's close right on support I would be looking for this to break tomorrow. On a more positive note, selling volume was light and the index is still managing to outperform both the S&P and Nasdaq. Technicals are approaching a fresh MACD 'sell' trigger.

There was a pick up to Friday's selling, but while the one-day loss approached 2% for the Nasdaq and S&P it wasn't accompanied with the kind of volume such selling can typically scare up.  The concern is that last week's peak for the Nasdaq morphs into a double top, but for this to be true there would need to be an undercut of the September swing low - and that could take well into November. Until then, we are looking at a sideways consolidation. 

This week saw markets challenge September's highs, beginning a process of base formation across indices. Volume fell across the week, fitting with a consolidation and not active selling. This action is bullish for indices - only if selling continues on a pick up of volume should one become concerned.  While Nasdaq selling volume fell over the course of the week, but with four consecutive days of selling the index is close to a 'sell' trigger in On-Balance-Volume. The index is still underperforming relative to the Russell 2000. 

We started to see a little easing as indices approach September highs. Ideally, we would like to see some sideways action or 'handle' to consolidate gains from the reactive rally off September lows, so if things go quiet here I wouldn't be too concerned.   For the Nasdaq, selling volume eased in contrast to yesterday's higher volume accumulation. Technicals are all net positive, including an uptick in relative performance against Small Caps.  Tech stocks are looking to regain their mojo, which is good news for Tech stock holders looking for new all-time highs.

Base development continued across the board as all lead indices posted gains. The biggest gain came with the Nasdaq as it moved ever closer to its last swing high in September. Technicals for this index are all bullish, with the index making relative gain inroads versus Small Caps. 

Another day when Small Caps maintained their run of good form by closing above the August swing high, but buying volume was down on Thursdays. Technicals remain net bullish and have been since before the mini breakout in October. The only downside was the 'black' candlestick - a higher open but lower close; a close above prior day's close - 'black' candlesticks at a swing high typically mark reversals, so it will be important for buyers on Monday to make a close above the high of this candlestick to negate its potentially bearish implications. 

Yesterday's selling was a flash in the pan quickly undone by today's trading. The Russell 2000 sharply advanced, taking out the August swing high with technicals all firmly in the green. The only negative was the lower volume, but this is a marked advance after the successful test of the 200-day MA.

The Russell 2000 had shown the most promise into last week's close and followed that with a move past the most recent swing high - albeit on light volume. In doing so, it returned above its 50-day MA and brings into play the August high as the next challenge. Technicals are all net bullish, including relative performance. This is perhaps the best indication we have for a trade worthy rally as it looks to return above the all-time highs of 2018. 

All indices suffered selling on Friday, although selling volume was light, but given the Trump announcement after the Friday close it's hard to see anything but selling on Monday. The context to the selling will be a bounce that has struggled to reach the highs of August. Traders who were waiting for a retest of August highs before selling may find themselves doing this sooner. The lead in candlesticks to Monday will not help the mood. The Nasdaq looks to have finished with a bearish 'evening' start reversal. The 'buy' signal in the MACD, On-Balance-Volume and ADX are still intact, but I doubt all will survive by Monday's close. The 50-day MA is also support (for now). Stochatics are firmly on the bearish side of the divide (anything below 50 is bear market land). The index has also returned to a period of underpeformance relative to the Russell 2000.