Market Commentary
Equity index futures balance, struggle in discovering higher prices.
- Bipartisan agreement on infrastructure.
- Ahead is income, spending, sentiment.
- SPX struggles. NDX weak at key level.
What Happened: U.S. stock index futures auctioned sideways to higher alongside some positive economic and political developments.
President Biden announced an agreement on infrastructure which still faces opposition in Congress. Additionally, Federal Reserve bank stress tests went well, a boon for financials.
Today, participants will receive data on U.S. personal income and spending, Core PCE, as well as University of Michigan sentiment. Also, please be aware that Fed’s Mester, Rosengren, and Williams will speak later today.
What To Expect: Friday’s regular session (9:30 AM – 4:00 PM EST) in the S&P 500 will likely open inside of prior-range and -value, suggesting a limited potential for immediate directional opportunity.
Adding, during the prior day’s regular trade, the best case outcome occurred, evidenced by sideways trade above the $4,251.25 high volume area (HVNode), up to the prior overnight high (ONH) at $4,258.00.
Volume Areas: A structurally sound market will build on past areas of high volume. Should the market trend for long periods of time, it will lack sound structure (identified as a low volume area which denotes directional conviction and ought to offer support on any test). If participants were to auction and find acceptance into areas of prior low volume, then future discovery ought to be volatile and quick as participants look to areas of high volume for favorable entry or exit. Overnight Highs (Lows): Typically, there is a low historical probability associated with overnight rally-highs (lows) ending the upside (downside) discovery process.
Further, earlier in the week, participants saw strong initiative activity to the upside. Later, the S&P 500 took out its all-time-high (ATH) at $4,258.00, and the Nasdaq 100 found responsive sellers at a zone of overlapping Fibonacci-derived price targets.
That said, this price action comes alongside narrow breadth; according to Bloomberg, while the broader market is near ATHs, the “[l]owest % of stocks above 50-dma since 1999, when S&P hits record.”
With those dynamics in mind, in conjunction with potentially unsupportive market liquidity metrics and trade in the options market, participants can expect more of the same: pinning, or sideways chop.
Moreover, for today, participants can trade from the following frameworks.
In the best case, the S&P 500 trades sideways or higher; activity above $4,257.25 – yesterday’s fairest price, or Point Of Control (POC) – puts in play the $4,264.25 ONH. Initiative trade beyond the ONH could reach as high as the $4,277.00 and $4,294.75 Fibonacci-derived price targets.
Point of Control (POCs): POCs are valuable as they denote areas where two-sided trade was most prevalent. Participants will respond to future tests of value as they offer favorable entry and exit.
In the worst case, the S&P 500 trades lower; activity below $4,257.25 puts in play the $4,239.75 HVNode. Thereafter, if lower, participants ought to look for a response near the untested POC at $4,229.00. Below that level, caution. Odds could favor a move as low as the HVNode at $4,213.00.
News And Analysis
Economy | Biden infrastructure win ramps fight on economic agenda. (BBG)
Markets | Major European banks’ 2H21 earnings: structural challenges. (Fitch)
Markets | U.S. banks gear up for buyback bonanza after passing tests. (FT)
Travel | The U.K. expands ‘Green’ list as German urges more caution. (BBG)
Politics | Senior NATO officer warns of China’s ‘shocking’ military moves. (FT)
Markets | Visa to acquire open banking platform Tink for more than $2B. (TC)
Markets | Virgin Galactic cleared by FAA to fly customers into space. (BBG)
Markets | SCOTUS has decided not to light the housing market on fire. (Vox)
Markets | U.S. ban to have only limited impact on China’s solar industry. (BBG)
Trade | More container ships score ‘astronomical’ $100,000/day rates. (FW)
Markets | SpotGamma: Finding your next gamma squeeze candidate. (SG)
What People Are Saying
Innovation And Emerging Trends
FinTech | China crushed Jack Ma, and his fintech rivals are up next. (BBG)
Markets | Citi: Global investment is becoming less reliant on China. (BBG)
Politics | Polls unpack America’s continued move toward socialism. (Axios)
Economy | Hyun Song Shin on CBDCs and future of central banking. (BBG)
Mobility | Apple’s car obsession is all about taking eyes off the road. (BBG)
About
Renato founded Physik Invest after going through years of self-education, strategy development, and trial-and-error. His work reporting in the finance and technology space, interviewing leaders such as John Chambers, founder, and CEO, JC2 Ventures, Kevin O’Leary, businessman and Shark Tank host, Catherine Wood, CEO and CIO, ARK Invest, among others, afforded him the perspective and know-how very few come by.
Having worked in engineering and majored in economics, Renato is very detailed and analytical. His approach to the markets isn’t built on hope or guessing. Instead, he leverages the unique dynamics of time and volatility to efficiently act on opportunity.
Disclaimer
At this time, Physik Invest does not manage outside capital and is not licensed. In no way should the materials herein be construed as advice. Derivatives carry a substantial risk of loss. All content is for informational purposes only.