Banking panic cracks support in the indices

A potential area for support and buyers was quickly undone by the panic generated by the collapse of the Silicon Valley Bank. While I tend to go with technicals over fundamentals, this looks to be a case where the fundamentals did override the technicals.

Unfortunately, the tentative situation indices were in is now a different space.

For the S&P, there was a fresh break of support with an undercut of the 200-day MA on confirmed distribution. Technicals are net bearish, although relative performance has moved sharply in the indices favor. 


The Nasdaq has slipped below support defined by the November/December highs, but it has lots of room before it reaches the next level of support.  The flip side of this, is given the loss of breakout support - and the undercut of the 'bull trap' - the likelihood here is that this will slip all the way back to 10,700 support, which in itself, may not be enough. There was confirmed distribution to go with net bearish technicals.  The index is also outperforming the S&P.


The index which suffered most is the Russell 2000. Last week saw a wave of selling on a big uptick in volume (confirmed distribution).  Relative performance of the index was kicked to the curb as 50-day and 200-day MAs were quickly breached. The index has finished on a support level, but given the speed of descent it's hard to see this holding, but watch for doji or 'hammer'; anything with a long spike low, this would suggest buyers are willing to defend.


The Dow Industrials was looking good to break to new highs, but since the middle of February it has drifted lower until last week's acceleration. Technicals are net negative, including a long standing relative underperformance to the Nasdaq 100.  Next support is down at 30,000, and there is a long way to go before we get there.


If there is a point of optimism, it's the Semicondcutor Index.  Where othere indices were quick to give up on their breakouts, and in many cases, drift down to the low end of previous trading ranges, the semiconductor index is still holding on to breakout support. Technicals are mixed, but stochastics are still above the bullish mid-line. 


For next week, we will want to see some stall in the selling, but there is likely more to comes from the banking crisis.  Watch for reversal candlesticks, this will give a spike low and a place to measure risk (marked by a loss of reversal candlestick lows).  Traders can focus on the Semiconductor Index.  Investors can hang on to existing positions, any maybe look to add. 

Get a 50% discount on my Roth IRA with a 14-day free trial. Use coupon code fallondpicks at Get My Trades to get the discount.

---

Follow Me on Twitter


Investments are held in a pension fund on a buy-and-hold strategy.

Popular posts from this blog

Round 2 for the bearish "black" candlestick in S&P and Nasdaq

Friday's gap downs bring indices close to support. Semiconductor Index at 200-day MA.

Big bearish engulfing patterns as positive start negated

Archive

Show more