Nasdaq 100 Index - outlook for Q1 2025Since the beginning of 2024, the Nasdaq 100 Index jumped 28.83%, leaving the broader market, like the S&P 500, in the dust. In the long term, the chart screams bullish, with the one-month view suggesting a strong buy. Yet, the recent trading sessions have seen some cooling off, a typical holiday lull as traders and investors take a break. The Nasdaq peaked at 22,174 on December 16, 2024, and since then, making higher highs has been a struggle. This hesitation can be chalked up to uncertainty around the U.S. interest rate policy for 2025.
At the same time, there was a flurry of buying activity when the Nasdaq hovered near its 50-day moving average, around the 21,000 mark. This suggests that investors see this level as a sweet spot for picking up shares, possibly viewing it as a solid support line amidst all the market noise.
Currently, I see no clarity in the Index's direction for the near term. If we hear hawkish news from the Fed and Trump's policy in January, the stock market could deepen. At the same time, earnings reports from the MAG7 and their guidance for the year 2025 will play a pivotal role in the Index's direction.
