NQ finally broke above the multiweek range last week. Friday price action pulled back to the the break point so this week with either confirm or deny the break of range. Heavy week of Feb speakers ahead. Hawkish tone likely to bring market down. Dovish tone likely to push the market higher. Powell scheduled to speak on Friday.
SUMMARY
• Nasdaq posted a 0.45% gain last week after trading in a range of 290 points.
• NQ made the highest weekly close since Aug 8th
• NQ closed above the 9/21/55 emas & 200 sma.
• Strongest sectors to close the week were XLY & XLC. Weakest was XLE, XLB & XLF
• NQ closed above the recent range high
• Positive reaction to CPI data but neg reaction to Mich. Sentiment on Friday
• Key catalyst this week likely to come from comments by long list of Fed speakers
• Earnings this week include reports from WMT, TGT, BABA, TJX, DE, HD, CSCO, AMAT
• Bearish Harmonic still in play with completion at 13640.
• Sell in May psychological effect in play
• Market balancing hopes of a rate reversal with potential recession stagflation
WEEKLY EVENTS
Monday NY Manufacturing, Fed’s Bostic, Kashkari, Barken & Cook speak
Tuesday US Retail Sales, Can CPI, Industrial Prod. & Fed’s Bostic, Barr, Williams & Logan speak
Wednesday US Housing Starts, EIA Crude & Building Permits
Thursday Initial Jobless Claims, US Home Sales & Fed’s Logan, Barr & Jefferson speak
Friday Fed’s Williams, Bowman & Powell Speak
NOTABLE EARNINGS
Monday Nothing notable
Tuesday BIDU, DOCS, HD, IQ, SE
Wednesday CSCO, TCEHY, TGT, TJX, TTWO, ZTO
Thursday AMAT, BABA, BBWI, FLO, ROST, VIPS, WMT
Friday DE, FL
BULLISH NOTES
Highest weekly close since Aug 8th
NQ above 9/21/55 emas
50 SMA is above the 200 SMA
Bearish harmonic completion zone may act as magnet (13640)
Dropping inflation pressures
Recent bank failures may soften Fed’s hawkish tone
Potential positive reaction to Fed Speakers
Rate pause hopes
Potential strong retail numbers (lowers recession fear)
BEARISH NOTES
Stoch 5.1 is overbought
Potential hard reversal at bearish harmonic completion (13640)
Sell in May psychological effect
Potential negative reaction to Fed speakers
Service & wage inflation is persistent
Potential shock event (more bank failures)
Recession fears may outweigh Fed rate pause hopes