Mish's Market Minute

Did Jerome Powell Jump Scare the Major Stock Indices?

Mish Schneider

Mish Schneider

Director of Trading Education, MarketGauge.com

Friday, the chair of the Federal Reserve –Jerome Powell spooked the market when he announced that the Fed would keep rates near zero and continue with its tapering schedule. Though the market cannot blame Powell for stating already well-known information, it was enough to help create an intra-day selloff.

While the market steadied itself in the latter half of the day, the selloff reveals how nervous the market is at its current price level.

So far, both the S&P 500 (SPY) and the Dow Jones (DIA) cleared all-time highs on Friday but only the DIA was able to hold them.

On the other hand, the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 (QQQ) and the small-cap Russell 2000 (IWM) traded within their weekly range showing consolidative price action.

Commonly watched market strength indicators such as High Yield Corporate Debt (JNK) and the Transportation sector ETF (IYT) are also giving mixed points of view with JNK breaking underneath its 10-DMA at $108.69 while IYT continues its rally.

Watching the demand side of the economy through IYT's strength is a bullish sign while investors' selling high yield debt indicates a risk-off scenario. However, JNK does have more support to watch at $108.06.

Furthermore, traders will need to stay frosty as the market continues to sit in a pivotal area and monitor both JNK and IYT along with the major indices for any potential shift in sentiment come Monday.


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ETF Summary

  • S&P 500 (SPY) 454.05 resistance area.
  • Russell 2000 (IWM) 229.84 to clear.
  • Dow (DIA) 356.60 needs to hold as new support.
  • Nasdaq (QQQ) 369.92 support the 50-DMA.
  • KRE (Regional Banks) 71.60 new support area.
  • SMH (Semiconductors) 264.46 support the 50-DMA.
  • IYT (Transportation) 270 next resistance area.
  • IBB (Biotechnology) 160.13 resistance. 153.38 support.
  • XRT (Retail) 93.47 support from 50-DMA.

Forrest Crist-Ruiz

MarketGauge.com

Assistant Director of Trading Research and Education

Mish Schneider
About the author: serves as Director of Trading Education at MarketGauge.com. For nearly 20 years, MarketGauge.com has provided financial information and education to thousands of individuals, as well as to large financial institutions and publications such as Barron’s, Fidelity, ILX Systems, Thomson Reuters and Bank of America. In 2017, MarketWatch, owned by Dow Jones, named Mish one of the top 50 financial people to follow on Twitter. In 2018, Mish was the winner of the Top Stock Pick of the year for RealVision. Learn More