Warning! Potential 'Bull Traps' across Indices

A couple of days ago we were looking at breakouts, now we need to be watchful for 'bull traps'. We had the first triggers for one with the undercut of breakout support. The next few days will be critical as to whether these undercuts end as 'bull traps', but for now, consider these short signals with stops above the breakout highs.

For the Nasdaq, the 'bull trap' came with 'sell' triggers in the MACD, On-Balance-Volume and relative performance to the S&P.

The Russell 2000 ($IWM) didn't suffer the same technical breakdown as the Nasdaq, but it did experience heavier volume distribution (although the volume itself wasn't that heavy). The index is still outperforming the Nasdaq and S&P despite the loss.

The S&P is caught a little in the middle with a 'sell' trigger in a MACD that has effectively flatlined, but other technicals are still positive.

Up until now, rallies have been honoring support on subsequent tests. Today marks the first real failing of such support. However, there remains support to be found at 20-day MAs, and these moving averages are likely to see such tests tomorrow or Thursday at the latest.

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

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