Sellers hit Nasdaq and S&P 50-day MAs

Perhaps a degree of complacency has crept into the market? Today's selling brought the Nasdaq and S&P back to successful tests of their 50-day MAs. What was concerning was the general lack of volume on what is typically an important support test for the indices.  Both the S&P and Nasdaq were able to stage successful intraday recoveries, but again, volume should have been more to support it. 

What we need to watch for tomorrow are losses - typically from the open - that push down into today's spike low for the aforementioned indices. Particularly if this selling volume picks up relative to today.  I would think any close below today's finish would indicate that today's lows (or the 50-day MAs.) will act as support for long.  The Nasdaq probably did enough to defend trend support, although technically there was a big uptick in ADX, and the bearish MACD accelerated downwards. 

The S&P had to make a larger recovery from its 50-day MA to make it back to trendline support. A day like today would typically be very positive and trading volume was good. It's just a question whether the 'sell' triggers for the MACD, On-Balance-Volume and ADX will be of greater significance. 


The Russell 2000 was not immune as sellers took the index to trendline support, although it remained well above its 50-day MA. Volume climbed in confirmed distribution to go with the 'sell' triggers in the MACD and On-Balance-Volume. Relative performance has also been improving.


The Dow Industrials held support on higher volume accumulation as it successfully defended support. Given the action for other indices it was relatively low key. 


Going forward, we will want to see how strong 50-day MA support and/or trendline support is for the lead indices. Today was a warning sign, but there were still enough latent bulls to bid prices higher.


You've now read my opinion, next read Douglas' blog.

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