Is a Pullback Coming?
The S&P 500 has advanced steadily since late 2023, but now some traders may expect a pause or pullback.
The first pattern on today’s chart is the December 20 low of 5,832 -- slightly below the mid-November trough. That contrasts with the previous bounce, which featured a higher low.
Next is last week’s zenith below 6,050 -- also shy of the December 6 record.
In other words, the index made a lower low and now a lower high. That could mark a disruption of its uptrend. It also creates a potential falling channel.
Second, prices tested but never closed below the 50-day simple moving average (SMA) in early November. This month, on the other hand, they broke the SMA before bouncing. They’ve also returned to the line more quickly (and without making a new record high). Is the intermediate-term trend fading?
Third, shorter-term signals may have turned bearish. MACD is falling and the 8-day exponential moving average (EMA) has dipped below the 21-day EMA. (See our 2 MA Ratio custom script in the lower study.)
Finally, the S&P 500 has gone more than a year without a full 10 percent correction. Investors looking for such a pullback may expect a move toward 5,500 based on the recent high.
TradeStation has, for decades, advanced the trading industry, providing access to stocks, options and futures. If you're born to trade, we could be for you. See our Overview for more.
Past performance, whether actual or indicated by historical tests of strategies, is no guarantee of future performance or success. There is a possibility that you may sustain a loss equal to or greater than your entire investment regardless of which asset class you trade (equities, options or futures); therefore, you should not invest or risk money that you cannot afford to lose. Online trading is not suitable for all investors. View the document titled Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options at https://www.TradeStation.com/DisclosureOptions. Before trading any asset class, customers must read the relevant risk disclosure statements on https://www.TradeStation.com/Important-Information/. System access and trade placement and execution may be delayed or fail due to market volatility and volume, quote delays, system and software errors, Internet traffic, outages and other factors.
Securities and futures trading is offered to self-directed customers by TradeStation Securities, Inc., a broker-dealer registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and a futures commission merchant licensed with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission). TradeStation Securities is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, the National Futures Association, and a number of exchanges.
TradeStation Securities, Inc. and TradeStation Technologies, Inc. are each wholly owned subsidiaries of TradeStation Group, Inc., both operating, and providing products and services, under the TradeStation brand and trademark. When applying for, or purchasing, accounts, subscriptions, products and services, it is important that you know which company you will be dealing with. Visit https://www.TradeStation.com/DisclosureTSCompanies for further important information explaining what this means.
The first pattern on today’s chart is the December 20 low of 5,832 -- slightly below the mid-November trough. That contrasts with the previous bounce, which featured a higher low.
Next is last week’s zenith below 6,050 -- also shy of the December 6 record.
In other words, the index made a lower low and now a lower high. That could mark a disruption of its uptrend. It also creates a potential falling channel.
Second, prices tested but never closed below the 50-day simple moving average (SMA) in early November. This month, on the other hand, they broke the SMA before bouncing. They’ve also returned to the line more quickly (and without making a new record high). Is the intermediate-term trend fading?
Third, shorter-term signals may have turned bearish. MACD is falling and the 8-day exponential moving average (EMA) has dipped below the 21-day EMA. (See our 2 MA Ratio custom script in the lower study.)
Finally, the S&P 500 has gone more than a year without a full 10 percent correction. Investors looking for such a pullback may expect a move toward 5,500 based on the recent high.
TradeStation has, for decades, advanced the trading industry, providing access to stocks, options and futures. If you're born to trade, we could be for you. See our Overview for more.
Past performance, whether actual or indicated by historical tests of strategies, is no guarantee of future performance or success. There is a possibility that you may sustain a loss equal to or greater than your entire investment regardless of which asset class you trade (equities, options or futures); therefore, you should not invest or risk money that you cannot afford to lose. Online trading is not suitable for all investors. View the document titled Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options at https://www.TradeStation.com/DisclosureOptions. Before trading any asset class, customers must read the relevant risk disclosure statements on https://www.TradeStation.com/Important-Information/. System access and trade placement and execution may be delayed or fail due to market volatility and volume, quote delays, system and software errors, Internet traffic, outages and other factors.
Securities and futures trading is offered to self-directed customers by TradeStation Securities, Inc., a broker-dealer registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and a futures commission merchant licensed with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission). TradeStation Securities is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, the National Futures Association, and a number of exchanges.
TradeStation Securities, Inc. and TradeStation Technologies, Inc. are each wholly owned subsidiaries of TradeStation Group, Inc., both operating, and providing products and services, under the TradeStation brand and trademark. When applying for, or purchasing, accounts, subscriptions, products and services, it is important that you know which company you will be dealing with. Visit https://www.TradeStation.com/DisclosureTSCompanies for further important information explaining what this means.
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.