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SPY|QQQ Tuesday 1PM 8/20/2024

August 20, 2024 3 min read

Market Sentiment Analysis

Overall Market Sentiment

SPY (S&P 500 ETF):
Analyzing the SPY’s 30-minute intraday chart for the past 30 days, particularly focusing on the last 13 bars, we notice some key trends:
Volume Trends: The volume in the recent bars shows moderate trading activity with no significant spikes, implying a steady but cautious market sentiment.
Moving Averages: The short-term moving average seems to be converging with the long-term moving average, suggesting potential indecision in the market.
Price Movements: SPY experienced some fluctuations within a narrow range, showing mixed reactions. The recent close at 557.97 shows relatively strong support within the 558 range.

QQQ (Nasdaq-100 ETF):
Similar to SPY, QQQ’s last 13 bars indicate the following:
Volume Trends: QQQ’s volume has been oscillating but with no significant spikes, highlighting a stable participation rate.
Moving Averages: The short-term and long-term moving averages are showing signs of potential convergence as well, indicating a wait-and-see approach by investors.
Price Movements: Recent closures around 479.30 show that QQQ is attempting to find support near the 479-480 levels, but overall sentiment remains cautious.

VXX (Volatility Index):
Examining the VXX:
Volume Spikes: There were sporadic spikes in the volume, particularly noting the increase from 381,863 to 464,093 between 11:30 am and 12:00 pm.
Price Trends: The VXX moved from a low of 45.00 to a high of 46.26 over the period, suggesting rising concerns about market volatility.
Impact: A rising VXX typically indicates heightened market fears, which could pressure SPY and QQQ lower if this trend continues.

Sector Analysis

  • Strong Sectors:
    • XLC (Communication Services): Holding relatively steady with minor fluctuations, signaling stability.
    • XLY (Consumer Discretionary): Recently experienced some pullback but overall remains resilient.
    • XLP (Consumer Staples): Showing consistent performance with minor intraday variances.
    • XLK (Technology): Similar to XLY, has faced some pullbacks but maintains support levels.
  • Weak or Flat Sectors:
    • XLE (Energy): Shows considerable volatility and potential weakness.
    • XLF (Financials): Largely flat, indicating lack of momentum.

Key Levels to Watch

SPY:
Support: Key support at 557.50 and 556.00.
Resistance: Immediate resistance around 559.50 and major resistance near 561.00.

QQQ:
Support: Watch for support at 479.00 and 477.50.
Resistance: Key resistance levels at 481.50 and 483.00.

Scenarios

Bullish Scenario:
SPY & QQQ: If SPY breaks the 559.50 resistance on increased volume, it could signal buying momentum. For QQQ, surpassing 481.50 with a volume uptick could similarly indicate a bullish run. Factors such as positive economic data or strong earnings announcements could fuel such movements.

Bearish Scenario:
SPY & QQQ: If SPY falls below 557.50, and QQQ breaks 479.00, it could signal a bearish turn. Negative economic news, geopolitical uncertainties, or technical breakdowns could drive these declines.

Overall Commentary

The current market environment reflects a cautious but not overly bearish sentiment. While both SPY and QQQ are trading within tight ranges, there’s noticeable caution as evidenced by the rising VXX. Sector performance varies, with some showing strengths like XLC and XLP, while others like XLE and XLF display less momentum. For short-term traders, close monitoring of support and resistance levels is critical, as any breach could drive significant trading opportunities.

Charts

SPY:
SPY

QQQ:
QQQ

VXX:
VXX

XLC:
XLC

XLY:
XLY

XLP:
XLP

XLE:
XLE

XLF:
XLF

XLV:
XLV

XLI:
XLI

XLK:
XLK

XLB:
XLB

XLRE:
XLRE

XLU:
XLU

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