Janet Yellen promised that the Fed would keep the interest rates low, or at least that it would not rush to hike the rates. This helped the stocks to rally to levels that we are interested in selling should the price action justify that. We are already seeing momentum reversal and it seem that this is a low risk area to take a contrarian view to the latest rally. Yes, the US economy is doing better than the rest of the world but a quick rally to levels that in the recent past have not been attractive enough for investors to keep buying could very well be followed by a technical correction lower. Let’s see what the charts are telling about the current market activity.
S&P 500, Weekly
After a long term trend higher the S&P 500 futures market is experiencing a higher volatility with the price taking back the ground lost during the previous week’s sell off. This move has taken the market to a weekly pivot high between 2063 (open) and 2079 (high). This looks like a return move, meaning that the chances are it gets sold right at the current levels. This weekly pivot high has been an area that I have called a no demand zone earlier this month and judging from the price action in the four hour chart we might get another move lower from here.
S&P 500, Daily:
The Stochastics Oscillator is getting into the overbought territory and the daily candle looks like it is forming into a shooting star. This will happen if the price cannot close much higher than the current levels. If the market cannot penetrate this (weekly pivot) resistance level but moves lower from here, then the risk of price actually moving much further down increases. The potential support levels are as follows: 2011.25, 1961 and 1883.25.
S&P 500, 240 min
The 240 min chart has already a Doji candle (open and close near to each other) with the Stochastics about to roll over. Both of these signal momentum slowdown and quite possibly momentum reversal taking place. With the price being close to a recent market high, inside a weekly pivot high and very close to a long term (weekly) channel top, I would not be looking to buy at these levels. Rather it makes sense to sell against the recent intraday highs with a view of taking partial profits when price approaches the former intraday resistance (now a potential support) at 2011.25. This is the very same level that provided us with two nice short setups until on the third attempt the price went through. This could be the target one for short trades opened at the current levels.
S&P 500, 60 min
We have already had a 60 min Shooting Star inside this weekly pivot high. This implies that the momentum reversal is actually taking place. There is some minor support at the current levels which might mean that there will be another attempt to take the market slightly higher intraday. This could provide a great short entry level at (or inside) the 60 min pivot candle, therefore my preference would be to short between 2068 and 2073.75 with the first target near to the previous resistance at or around 2011.25, and should the price action justify then I would look to close the rest of the shorts at either 1961 or close to the daily pivot from 15th November at 1883.25.
Conclusion:
Price is inside a recent weekly pivot high and close to the long term channel top. This has been a no demand zone in the past. The 240 and 60 min charts have signs of momentum reversal. I would look to short against the current levels with an aim to close some the short positions at or close to 2011.25 or should there be no signs of momentum reversing, then the next target would be at 1961 or area close to the 1883.25 pivot.
Disclaimer: Nothing in this communication contains, or should be considered as containing, an investment advice or an investment recommendation or a solicitation for the purpose of purchase or sale of any financial instrument.
Janne Muta
Chief Market Analyst
HotForex