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SPY|QQQ Thursday 4PM 12/18/2025

December 18, 2025 4 min read

Market Sentiment Analysis

Overall Market Sentiment:

SPY (S&P 500 ETF):
The recent 13-bar price-volume analysis suggests a neutral to slightly bearish sentiment. The SPY has been showing some volatility, with noticeable fluctuations in volume. Price movement has been relatively constrained within a narrow range, indicating potential indecision among traders. The 30-minute chart for the past 30 days shows SPY oscillating around key moving averages, with no clear breakout. The recent reduction in volume compared to previous high-volume sessions indicates a lack of strong momentum, either bullish or bearish.

QQQ (Nasdaq-100 ETF):
Similar to SPY, QQQ exhibits a neutral sentiment with slight bearish undertones. The recent volume trends show a spike followed by a tapering off, suggesting reduced buying pressure. Price fluctuations are also mild, with QQQ struggling to maintain upward momentum past recent highs.

VXX (Volatility Index):
The VXX has shown a slight uptick, indicating a modest increase in market volatility, which could hint at growing investor uncertainty. Major spikes or drops can impact SPY and QQQ by influencing risk sentiment, where a rising VXX might correlate with pressure on equity prices.

Sector Analysis:

The sector ETFs indicate varying degrees of performance:

  • XLC (Communication Services) and XLK (Technology): Both sectors show resilience with minor positive trends, suggesting they could be relative outperformers if the market turns bullish.

  • XLY (Consumer Discretionary): Demonstrates slight weakness, reflecting consumer sentiment that might be cautious amid economic uncertainties.

  • XLE (Energy) and XLF (Financials): Both sectors seem trapped in a narrow trading range, indicating no strong directional bias and possible sector rotation away from traditional energy and financials.

  • XLV (Health Care): Shows mixed signals, with no major moves, suggesting integration with broader market trends.

  • XLI (Industrials), XLB (Materials), XLRE (Real Estate), XLU (Utilities): These sectors currently present a stable but uncertain market position, with no major bullish or bearish signals, reflective of a diversified approach by investors.

Key Levels to Watch:

SPY:
Resistance: 677.85, 678.55
Support: 675.32, 675.60
Breaking past resistance could signal bullish momentum, whereas slipping below support may indicate further downside pressure.

QQQ:
Resistance: 610.63, 611.28
Support: 607.75, 608.00
Similarly, QQQ’s path is contingent on breaking through these technical levels to establish a new trend.

Scenarios:

Bullish Scenario:
A bullish market could be driven by positive economic data, such as strong GDP growth or improved employment figures. Earnings surprises may also elevate SPY and QQQ, particularly if tech giants or financial institutions report strong results. Similarly, technical breakouts beyond established resistance levels in SPY and QQQ could attract momentum traders.

Bearish Scenario:
Conversely, negative economic reports, increased geopolitical tensions, or a rise in interest rates could drive SPY and QQQ lower. Technical breakdowns below key support levels, coupled with rising VXX levels, might lead to an accelerated sell-off.

Overall Commentary:

Currently, the market exhibits caution with hints of instability. Despite the lack of strong directional cues in ETFs like SPY and QQQ, sector performances highlight potential opportunities, particularly in communication services and tech. With the VXX revealing heightened volatility, investors remain wary of sudden shifts, keeping an eye on economic indicators and global news. Traders might do well to maintain flexibility, prepared to pivot strategies based on unfolding scenarios.

Charts:

  • 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 insights are tailored for a short-term swing trading strategy, focusing on momentum and technical levels that could sway market behavior within the immediate time horizon.

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