All lead indices are net bullish in technical strength as markets consolidated last week's gains.  The S&P has posted a series of doji/hammer after emerging from a bullish 'flag' / downward channel.

It was another quiet day for indices but the Semiconductor index was able to add over 1% on the day. This also helped post gains to the Nasdaq 100, although there was a relative gain for the Semiconductor Index against the latter index.

After two days of gains it was time for consolidation in markets. The Russell 2000 didn't get this memo and added a third day of gains managing a new closing high.

The second day of gains has severely stressed any shorts left in the market.  Volume rose in confirmed accumulation as buyers pushed markets well away from nearest support.  Best of the action belonged to the Dow Jones Industrial average with recovering 'buy' triggers in the MACD and +DI/-DI.

The French election result was greeted as a welcome trigger for breakouts. All indices benefited from the action. Best of the action was in the Russell 2000. The Russell 2000 cleared 1,390 which marked a resistance level of the former bearish consolidation triangle. Technicals are all bullish and an intraday move which pushed below 1,390 but came back by the close would be very healthy for bulls.

Things looking good for the Nasdaq as technicals return net bullish after a brief period of bearishness. This coincided with the index nestled against resistance helped by Friday's tight intraday action.  The index is nicely placed for a breakout on Monday, especially given the relative out-performance of the Nasdaq against its peers.

A positive response to Friday's selling helped erase those losses, but for many indices it wasn't enough to recover support or reverse technical 'sell' triggers. The S&P is on the verge of a 'death cross' between 20-day and 50-day MAs as the rally finished just below the 50-day MA. The consolidation channel remains in play and this should see higher prices in the latter part of the year, but for now, it's drifting down in a relatively controlled manner.