Nasty set of red candlesticks painted the market, but most of these occurred within the context of trading ranges. It will be a question of balance as Materials and Staples make gains, as Technology suffers. Bitcoin has been on to a hiding, but the retest of the capitulation is coming on modest action and lower volume - the kind of trading you want to see for a tradeable bottom. The Russell 2000 ($IWM) took a 2% hit on higher volume distribution, with the 50-day MA coming into range as a support test. A bullish play would be for a tag of $255 support followed by an end-of-day close above the 50-day MA. Technicals show 'sell' triggers for MACD, On-Balance-Volume and +DI/-DI. Things only get bearish if $255 support is lost. More of a worry is the equal weighted S&P; early gains were quickly reversed, leaving a nasty spike that has a toppy look to it. Technicals are still positive and the 20-day MA has playes as support swing the swing low in November. I think a ...

The S&P and Nasdaq have stalled rallies that haven't yet challenged resistance of their respective trading ranges. There is a case the Nasdaq has come up against resistance, that was once support, of the prior bullish ascending triangle. This level is also near converged 20-day and 50-day MAs. It could be a shorting opportunity with a move to trading range support.

With the tech sell-off clouding action in the S&P and Nasdaq we have to look elsewhere for positivity. And there is no lack of alternatives. The equal weighted S&P kicked on from its 'bull flag' breakout, posting a new high, and is well away from key support of 7,800 - meaning it has room for maneuver should tech weakness expand.

A good start to the week has left indices nicely positioned to kick on with volume rising in accumulation. Best of this is probably the S&P. Today' buying left it on the cusp of a breakout, although it wasn't enough to reverse the 'sell' triggers in On-Balance-Volume and +DI/-DI. However, a breakout would likely turn these technicals net bullish once again.