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SPY|QQQ Friday 1PM 8/22/2025

August 22, 2025 4 min read

Market Sentiment Analysis:

Overall Market Sentiment:

SPY (S&P 500 ETF):
The recent development in SPY over the past 13 bars shows a slight downtrend, with volumes revealing modest activity with the highest being 5,682,026 in early trading. Notably, the close price fell from 646.00 to 645.41, then to 644.72 before showing a slight rebound. The declining volume, particularly in the middle of the series, suggests a potential exhaustion of selling pressure, but the volume did see a spike at specific candles, indicating intermittent buying interest possibly from institutional players. Considering a 30-minute intraday chart analysis over the past 30 days, recent price actions have struggled to break above key moving averages, indicating a cautious sentiment in the short term.

QQQ (Nasdaq-100 ETF):
The QQQ reflected a similar pattern with more pronounced volatility. Initial trades showed higher volume but softened as the day progressed, indicative of reduced trading enthusiasm or directionless movement among traders. The close at 572.580 after a low of 570.970 signals a slight recovery; however, the general trend remains sideways with slight bearish undertones prevailing. The movement below key moving averages points to a sentiment that remains mixed but slightly tilted towards caution.

VXX (Volatility Index):
VXX indicative of market volatility, showed a decline in recent prices from 37.230 to 36.310 despite an initial spike, reflecting a period of waning volatility expectations. This suggests a general investor sentiment that leans towards a stabilizing market, or at least lacks the fear of imminent downside risks. This can potentially provide a base for minor bullish sentiment in SPY and QQQ as volatility appears to dampen.

Sector Analysis:

Among the sector ETFs, XLE (Energy) showed strength with a modest upside inclination, reflecting positive momentum possibly from shifts in energy prices or geopolitical news affecting energy markets. In contrast, sectors like XLI (Industrials) and XLY (Consumer Discretionary) appear more static, indicating limited enthusiasm or possibly awaiting economic indicators or earnings for further direction. Sector rotation into XLE could imply investor confidence in cyclical stocks amid current global economic narratives.

Key Levels to Watch:

SPY:
Support: 643.50 – Crucial zone before potential panic selling.
Resistance: 648.00 – A breakout above could indicate stronger upward momentum.

QQQ:
Support: 570.00 – A significant hold level to prevent further declines.
Resistance: 574.00 – Breaking above this could spark bullish bets.

Scenarios:

Bullish Scenario:
For SPY and QQQ, positive economic data, such as strong employment numbers or better-than-expected earnings from key tech stocks, could catalyze a breakout above recent resistance levels. Technical breakouts above key moving averages could attract momentum trading, supported by reduced volatility as indicated by VXX.

Bearish Scenario:
Economic setbacks or escalating geopolitical tensions could disrupt current financial optimism, pushing SPY and QQQ below their immediate support levels. A technical breakdown, particularly with rising volumes, can exacerbate selling pressures, leading to pronounced market corrections.

Overall Commentary:

The market sentiment tilts towards caution yet bears signs of subtle bullish inclinations, evidenced by dampening volatility and sector rotations favoring energy. Traders might experience choppy markets, with potential for mild rallies tempered by economic data releases. Sectors like energy provide possible refuges amidst uncertainty, with attention on key index levels to dictate short-term directional bias.

Charts:

For visual representation, you can find supporting charts here:

  • SPY: finviz dynamic chart for  SPY
  • QQQ: finviz dynamic chart for  QQQ
  • VXX: finviz dynamic chart for  VXX
  • XLC: finviz dynamic chart for  XLC
  • XLY: finviz dynamic chart for  XLY
  • XLP: finviz dynamic chart for  XLP
  • XLE: finviz dynamic chart for  XLE
  • XLF: finviz dynamic chart for  XLF
  • XLV: finviz dynamic chart for  XLV
  • XLI: finviz dynamic chart for  XLI
  • XLK: finviz dynamic chart for  XLK
  • XLB: finviz dynamic chart for  XLB
  • XLRE: finviz dynamic chart for  XLRE
  • XLU: finviz dynamic chart for  XLU

These charts will provide additional insight into the current patterns and will be beneficial for a short-term momentum swing trading strategy.

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