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SPY|QQQ Thursday 1PM 12/18/2025

December 18, 2025 3 min read

Market Sentiment Analysis

Overall Market Sentiment:

SPY (S&P 500 ETF):
The recent 13 bars indicate increased activity with significant volume changes. In the latest sessions, there were notable fluctuations—a dip followed by a slight recovery. A break in the 30-minute moving averages suggests potential instability. Volume surged significantly at the session’s drop and moderated at recovery, indicating possible accumulation or short-covering.

QQQ (Nasdaq-100 ETF):
The QQQ mirrored SPY’s volatility with a sharp decline followed by a partial rebound. However, the volume spike wasn’t as pronounced, suggesting less panic. The recent bars placed QQQ in consolidation, with the current price testing short-term moving averages. This dynamic hints at investor hesitation ahead of tech sector news or broader market uncertainty.

VXX (Volatility Index):
The recent VXX activity shows a slight escalation, indicating anxiety rising among investors. While there’s no drastic spike, the uptick in volatility suggests caution. Continued elevations in VXX could weigh on SPY and QQQ, pressuring equities if correlated with external macroeconomic concerns or earnings disappointments.

Sector Analysis:

Sectors like XLP (Consumer Staples), XLV (Health Care), and XLU (Utilities) displayed relative strength, maintaining stability despite broader market volatility, indicating a defensive rotation. Meanwhile, XLY (Consumer Discretionary) and XLK (Technology) saw notable sell-offs, hinting at profit-taking or shifting risk appetites due to seasonal or sector-specific challenges.

Key Levels to Watch:

SPY:
Key support is in the 670 range, with resistance apparent near 685. A breach of the resistance could initiate a new leg higher amid renewed bullish momentum, while a decline under support could signal further downside.

QQQ:
The current support levels are around 605, while resistance is at 615. If QQQ breaks above resistance, it suggests bullish continuation; conversely, a breach of support might open paths to further declines.

Scenarios:

Bullish Scenario:
If upcoming economic data or earnings surprise positively, both SPY and QQQ might break their respective resistances. Such a move would be supported by decreasing VXX levels, indicating renewed investor confidence.

Bearish Scenario:
Negative economic news could lead to breakdowns past support levels, particularly if geopolitical tensions exacerbate market fears, leading to increased VXX, adding pressure to both indices.

Overall Commentary:
The mixed intraday dynamics, coupled with varied sector performance and elevated VXX, present a nuanced landscape. While specific sectors remain in favor, broader market indicators suggest cautious investor sentiment likely influenced by macroeconomic trends. Traders must remain vigilant for key economic releases, maintaining flexibility given the short-term momentum environment.

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

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