Stocks Too Far Too Quick After Powell?
E-mini S&P (September) / E-mini NQ (September)
S&P, last week’s close: Settled 5652.50, up 58.50 on Friday and 74.25 on the week
NQ, last week’s close: Settled at 19,790.75, up 212.50 on Friday and 185.00 on the week
Fed Chair Powell delivered his keynote speech at Jackson Hole Friday morning. As expected, he gave the nod to a path of interest rate cuts beginning at the September meeting but emphasized the pace is to be determined and data-dependent. Most importantly, there appears to be a transition from an inflation-dependent to a labor-dependent policy trajectory. This was notable in his comments that “confidence has grown inflation is on a sustainable path to 2%,” and “it is unmistakable the labor market is cooling, and further cooling is unwelcome.”
Equity markets, led by small caps (E-mini Russell 2000), had a phenomenal finish to the week. The E-mini S&P and E-mini NQ finished strongly, but merely recovered Thursday’s loss, whereas the E-mini Russell broke out, gaining 3.1% and trading into the highest level since August 1st. It is also gearing to be the last of the big four indices to recover its July 31st close, as the E-mini Dow achieved such on Friday. Speaking of July 31st, stock indices finished that session strongly on the heels of the Fed’s policy meeting but could not hold a bid through the intraday open the following day, before reversing sharply. We are certainly not calling for a repeat of August 1-5, but one must wonder, with Fed Chair Powell merely delivering what was expected, can markets hold this bid. For example, according to the CME Group’s FedWatch Tool, there is a 76.4% probability the Fed will cut rates four times this year, up from 66% before Powell on Friday.
The E-mini S&P settled Friday right at major three-star resistance, a level now defined as our Pivot and point of balance, detailed below. Tech was the laggard on Friday, with the E-mini NQ again failing at the critical 19,925 mark during Fed Chair Powell’s speech. In fact, it may take NVDA’s earnings after the bell Wednesday to clear it. This rare major four-star resistance level, along with strong resistance in the E-mini S&P at 5661.75-5665.25 and 5672.75, will be most crucial as the week gets underway. To the downside, a break below major three-star support in the S&P and NQ at 5632.25-5637.25 and 19,578-19,618 is likely to encourage additional selling.
Bias: Neutral
Resistance: 5661.75-5665.25**, 5672.75***, 5717.25-5721.25****
Pivot: 5652.50-5655.25
Support: 5632.25-5637.25***, 5618.50-5624**, 5614.25**, 5599.25-5603.25****, 5593.25-5594.50***, 5573.50-5582.75***, 5558.50-5560.25**, 5547.50-5551.75***, 5526.75-5536.50***
NQ (September)
Resistance: 19,783-19,790**, 19,832-19,867***, 19,904-19,925****, 19,981-19,995*, 20,025-20,085**, 20,150-20,180***, 20,355-20,371**
Pivot: 19,750-19,770
Support: 19,705**, 19,664-19,680**, 19,578-19,618***, 19,529-19,544**, 19,462-19,495***, 19,394**
Check out CME Group real-time data plans available on TradingView here: tradingview.com/cme/
Disclaimers:
CME Real-time Market Data help identify trading set-ups and express my market views. If you have futures in your trading portfolio, you can check out on CME Group data plans available that suit your trading needs tradingview.com/cme/
*Trade ideas cited above are for illustration only, as an integral part of a case study to demonstrate the fundamental concepts in risk management under the market scenarios being discussed. They shall not be construed as investment recommendations or advice. Nor are they used to promote any specific products, or services.
Futures trading involves substantial risk of loss and may not be suitable for all investors. Trading advice is based on information taken from trade and statistical services and other sources Blue Line Futures, LLC believes are reliable. We do not guarantee that such information is accurate or complete and it should not be relied upon as such. Trading advice reflects our good faith judgment at a specific time and is subject to change without notice. There is no guarantee that the advice we give will result in profitable trades. All trading decisions will be made by the account holder. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results.
S&P, last week’s close: Settled 5652.50, up 58.50 on Friday and 74.25 on the week
NQ, last week’s close: Settled at 19,790.75, up 212.50 on Friday and 185.00 on the week
Fed Chair Powell delivered his keynote speech at Jackson Hole Friday morning. As expected, he gave the nod to a path of interest rate cuts beginning at the September meeting but emphasized the pace is to be determined and data-dependent. Most importantly, there appears to be a transition from an inflation-dependent to a labor-dependent policy trajectory. This was notable in his comments that “confidence has grown inflation is on a sustainable path to 2%,” and “it is unmistakable the labor market is cooling, and further cooling is unwelcome.”
Equity markets, led by small caps (E-mini Russell 2000), had a phenomenal finish to the week. The E-mini S&P and E-mini NQ finished strongly, but merely recovered Thursday’s loss, whereas the E-mini Russell broke out, gaining 3.1% and trading into the highest level since August 1st. It is also gearing to be the last of the big four indices to recover its July 31st close, as the E-mini Dow achieved such on Friday. Speaking of July 31st, stock indices finished that session strongly on the heels of the Fed’s policy meeting but could not hold a bid through the intraday open the following day, before reversing sharply. We are certainly not calling for a repeat of August 1-5, but one must wonder, with Fed Chair Powell merely delivering what was expected, can markets hold this bid. For example, according to the CME Group’s FedWatch Tool, there is a 76.4% probability the Fed will cut rates four times this year, up from 66% before Powell on Friday.
The E-mini S&P settled Friday right at major three-star resistance, a level now defined as our Pivot and point of balance, detailed below. Tech was the laggard on Friday, with the E-mini NQ again failing at the critical 19,925 mark during Fed Chair Powell’s speech. In fact, it may take NVDA’s earnings after the bell Wednesday to clear it. This rare major four-star resistance level, along with strong resistance in the E-mini S&P at 5661.75-5665.25 and 5672.75, will be most crucial as the week gets underway. To the downside, a break below major three-star support in the S&P and NQ at 5632.25-5637.25 and 19,578-19,618 is likely to encourage additional selling.
Bias: Neutral
Resistance: 5661.75-5665.25**, 5672.75***, 5717.25-5721.25****
Pivot: 5652.50-5655.25
Support: 5632.25-5637.25***, 5618.50-5624**, 5614.25**, 5599.25-5603.25****, 5593.25-5594.50***, 5573.50-5582.75***, 5558.50-5560.25**, 5547.50-5551.75***, 5526.75-5536.50***
NQ (September)
Resistance: 19,783-19,790**, 19,832-19,867***, 19,904-19,925****, 19,981-19,995*, 20,025-20,085**, 20,150-20,180***, 20,355-20,371**
Pivot: 19,750-19,770
Support: 19,705**, 19,664-19,680**, 19,578-19,618***, 19,529-19,544**, 19,462-19,495***, 19,394**
Check out CME Group real-time data plans available on TradingView here: tradingview.com/cme/
Disclaimers:
CME Real-time Market Data help identify trading set-ups and express my market views. If you have futures in your trading portfolio, you can check out on CME Group data plans available that suit your trading needs tradingview.com/cme/
*Trade ideas cited above are for illustration only, as an integral part of a case study to demonstrate the fundamental concepts in risk management under the market scenarios being discussed. They shall not be construed as investment recommendations or advice. Nor are they used to promote any specific products, or services.
Futures trading involves substantial risk of loss and may not be suitable for all investors. Trading advice is based on information taken from trade and statistical services and other sources Blue Line Futures, LLC believes are reliable. We do not guarantee that such information is accurate or complete and it should not be relied upon as such. Trading advice reflects our good faith judgment at a specific time and is subject to change without notice. There is no guarantee that the advice we give will result in profitable trades. All trading decisions will be made by the account holder. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results.
Disclaimer
The information and publications are not meant to be, and do not constitute, financial, investment, trading, or other types of advice or recommendations supplied or endorsed by TradingView. Read more in the Terms of Use.