Tight trading near highs keeps momentum bullish for indices

Markets are trading near resistance defined by recent swing highs, reversing eary losses. The S&P opened on resistance and posted a small gain. The Nasdaq had opened at support and has moved to trading range resistance. In process of making today's gains there was a switch in relative strength back in favor of the Tech index. There is still a MACD trigger 'sell' to negotiate, but this signal occurred well above the bullish zero line.

It's a similar picture for the S&P with a 'sell' trigger above the bullish zero line and it has moved to a relative period of underperformance against the Nasdaq and Russell 2000. But of the indices, it has the most room to support, and that's more important than its relative technical underperformance to its peers.

The Russell 2000 ($IWM) has shaped a nice bullish 'flag' after clearing its 200-day MA. I would be looking for a challenge of yesterday's spike high as a minimum, but this is looking good for further gains as the index continues to shape a right-hand-side base.

It's looking good for the indices as we move closer to Santa rally time. I had thought bears were ready to push their reversal yesterday, but they flaked out. So let's see what bulls can do tomorrow.

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

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