S&P 500
Stocks fell today as we expected, filling the gap around 2,630 and retesting support at the 2,620 to 2,630 region. The pull-back although sharp is not a surprise, given the steep rise we have seen in equity prices over the past week. I expect this type of volatility to only continue as headlines about trade, earnings, and growth roll out.
Could the sell-off continue tomorrow? Well, it seems entirely possible, especially given some of the charts below. Does it mean we are about to retest the lows of December? No.
We retrace to 2,580.
Am I changing my bullish views that stocks are still likely to rise? No, I am not changing my viewpoints, not based on one day of trading.
Russell 2000 (IWM)
The iShares Russell 2000 (NYSE:IWM) did fail today at its downtrend, admittedly not a great sign. Is this a change in trend? At this point, I can’t say that it is a change in the overall direction. We do want to see the index rise above that downtrend soon, but for now be on the lookout for a drop to 1,433, which is the next level of support for the index.
Housing (HGX)
The PHLX Housing sector is also failing at a key resistance level again after it appeared the index might break free.
Semiconductor (SMH)
Another negative sign for stocks is that VanEck Vectors Semiconductor (NYSE:SMH) also failed at its downtrend.
IBM
IBM (NYSE:IBM) is trading higher following its fourth quarter result, why it is trading higher is beyond me? Sure it “beat” its estimates but listen to these numbers:
Cognitive Solution was flat y/y with zero growth. Technology services and cloud platforms fell 3%.
These are supposed to be IBM’s growth engines. How could cloud fall 3%? How can Cognitive Solutions have no growth?
Amazon (AMZN)
Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) fell sharply today, back to support at $1620. A break below $1,620 likely sends the stock to roughly $1525.
Netflix (NFLX)
Netflix Inc (NASDAQ:NFLX) also fell sharply below $330, and now it needs to hold the $310 to $320 support level to avoid a steeper loss back to $290.
Square (SQ)
Square Inc (NYSE:SQ) fell hard today, and the stock needs to hold $65 to keep the trend moving higher, and any hopes of a break out above $74.
Advanced Micro Devices (AMD)
Advanced Micro Devices Inc (NASDAQ:AMD) is looking weak, and a decline below $19 is starting to look more and more likely.
Alibaba (BABA)
Alibaba (NYSE:BABA) is testing support at $151. It is a big level of support that the stock needs to hold to keep its uptrend in place.
Tesla (TSLA)
Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) continues to hold to support around $300. It is a significant level of support for the stock too.
Disclosure: Michael Kramer and the clients of Mott Capital own Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX), Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA)