Are Stocks Headed for a Breakout?

1844

We’ve written a lot about the S&P 500 holding a bullish trend line. Now another potentially key level could be at play for the index.

A resistance level around 2800 has been in play since mid-March as equities rebounded from their violent swoon in February. Now that same line is getting challenged, and the index may be forming a bullish ascending triangle.

Here are two interesting factoids:

  1. The S&P 500 has pushed above June’s high of 2791.5 and is now back to its highest level since peaking at 2802 on March 13. Those gains failed to hold and the benchmark closed 36 points lower.
  2. What if the market simply holds its current level around 2793 as of 11:15 a.m. ET? In that case it would be the highest close since February 1.

Let’s be clear, we’re not making a bullish call right now. And there are still some uncertainties surrounding trade. But the positives may outnumber the risks when you consider the still-improving economy and the prospect of an historically strong earnings season right around the corner.

Stay tuned for more on both the earnings calendar and recent strategist work as we move into July.

S&P 500 index with parts of bullish triangle and 50-day moving average.
Advertisement
Trade in milliseconds

Explore the most actively traded options

Trade 600+ futures products on an advanced platform

Previous articleHeadlines Keep Pressuring Oil Higher
Next articleRetail & Railroads: Options Recap
David Russell is VP of Market Intelligence at TradeStation Group. Drawing on two decades of experience as a financial journalist and analyst, his background includes equities, emerging markets, fixed-income and derivatives. He previously worked at Bloomberg News, CNBC and E*TRADE Financial. Russell systematically reviews countless global financial headlines and indicators in search of broad tradable trends that present opportunities repeatedly over time. Customers can expect him to keep them apprised of sector leadership, relative strength and the big stories – especially those overlooked by other commentators. He’s also a big fan of generating leverage with options to limit capital at risk.