The Standard and Poors 500 index (SPX) closed today at 4071, up 10 points on the day or +0.25%. Today’s modest gain was a bit misleading since the S&P 500 gained a full four percent this week. SPX broke out above the 50-day moving average (dma) last week and broke out above the 200 dma this week. We have a solid resistance level defined by the failed recoveries in December around 4100. SPX threatened those highs with an intraday high at 4094, but it then pulled back into the close. If the S&P 500 index runs out of gas next week as the FOMC meeting comes into view, we have intermediate support levels with the 50 dma, then 3900 and 3775. With few exceptions, trading volume has run below the 50 dma since November. In my opinion, that is evidence of the large institutional players cautiously waiting on the sideline. Fed watching will be the principal activity through the announcement on Wednesday.

VIX, the volatility index for the S&P 500 options, steadily declined this week, opening Monday at 20.2% and closing today at 18.5%.

I track the Russell 2000 index with the IWM ETF. IWM closed today at 190, up one point on the day or about one half of one percent. However, IWM posted a strong week, up 2.7% and, most significantly, breaking through 188 on Thursday and trading up to 190 today. That IWM level of 188 is equivalent to 4100 on the S&P 500. That was the resistance level set by the failed recoveries in December. IWM and NASDAQ are the only broad market indices to break out above those December highs.

The NASDAQ Composite index closed at 11,622 today with a gain of 109 points or one percent. NASDAQ broke out above its 200 dma today and also solidly broke out above the highs of the failed recoveries in December. NASDAQ’s trading volume has been running above the 50 dma for the past twelve trading sessions with only one exception. It appears the bulls are bargain hunting among the beat-up high-tech stocks of the NASDAQ.

I have previously discussed the January Trifecta, developed by Yale Hirsch of the Stock Trader’s Almanac. The S&P 500 would have to drop over 5% by the close of trading on Tuesday for the January Barometer, and hence, the January Trifecta, to fail. This month and consequently the year, are looking more positive, but I am still licking my wounds from last year.
 
My trading is off to an excellent start this year with the trading group up over 19% and our two open trades are both posting gains. The Flying With The Condor™ service is up eleven percent. The hobgoblin worrying me is the FOMC announcement on Wednesday. That could easily kill this bullish recovery.



Make fun of me if you wish, but I remain cautious.