Friday's action saw a small loss against what was a positive week for indices. Volume was light, reflecting a lack of conviction on the part of holders to want to take profits.  Although it was probably more a case of a break in buyer activity, for what was a gradual increase in trading volume for 2020  as Traders work their way back from holidays. The S&P remains in good shape as relative performance picks up the pace. The MACD is a little flat but other technicals are looking good.

Overall, it was a good day for indices despite Middle East tensions.  The margins are small, but the S&P is moving nicely along rising trendline support, while the Nasdaq is running along upper resistance. The S&P is enjoying a relative performance advantage although the MACD has drifted into a 'sell' trigger. Other technicals are good and price action is strong. Volume inched higher as accumulation.

Markets were able to make up some of the lost ground from New Year's early losses. There was no great damage done up to today, but today's action did register as accumulation. For the S&P, the latest rally is from an adjusted rising trendline which was used as support today. However, today's rally wasn't enough to prevent a MACD trigger 'sell'.

It sounds worse than it probably is, but the Russell 2000 dropped from its prior rising support trend but still managed to hold above $162.33 ($IWM) and in all likelihood is moving to a new sideways consolidation pattern - but for now, must be considered a breakdown until price action can be determined. Technicals show a MACD trigger 'sell' and a relative performance loss.

Getting back into the swing of things. I offered a yearly outlook here  but this post will focus on the daily charts.  It has been more of the same for indices since the pre-Christmas break. Small gains have helped maintain the breakouts established in early December. Volume has been typically light and should pick up into next week. The S&P has continued to hold to its bullish technicals with relative performance now in the ascendancy (versus the Russell 2000).

Volume surged heading into Christmas week as Triple Witching for options expiration kicked in. Things are likely to quieten in the next couple of weeks as holiday season kicks in. The S&P added less than 0.5% but it did mean a new high for the index. The technical picture hasn't changed with all technicals bar relative performance in the green. The Nasdaq kept its rally going with an over 1% gain. Unlike the S&P, technicals are all positive along with relative performance  (vs the S&P). The Russell 2000 chugged along as it added new near term highs but hasn't yet made it to challenge 2018 highs. It doesn't look like it will do this before the year is out so this is something to look forward to for 2020. The Dow Jones has managed a little mini-breakout from the December consolidation. The only downside was the black candlestick, which is often a bearish marker at the top of a rally; for this to hold true we will need to see a gap down tomorrow.

Volume will lighten as Christmas approaches making it easier to push larger than normal gains or losses. Now that indices have pushed past 2018 highs (with the exception of the Russell 2000), stockholders which are holding long positions will be largely in profit - and those with shorts, holding loses. This makes it easier for markets to push more gains and allow value buyers fish around the Russell 2000. The S&P posted a small gain with technicals pointing in the right direction. The index is still losing ground against the Russell 2000 but this is no bad thing for the broader market.