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Trading Outlook – S&P 500, Dow, Nasdaq, Crude Oil, Gold/Silver & More

Trading Outlook – S&P 500, Dow, Nasdaq, Crude Oil, Gold/Silver & More

What's on this page

Today, we looked at the short-term price action of U.S. indices nearing wedge breaks. Crude oil at risk of dropping below prior highs, if it does more weakness to follow. Gold and silver remain in range-trading mode.

Technical Highlights:

  • S&P 500, Dow, Nasdaq 100 wedges near breaking points
  • Crude oil on the verge of dropping below twin peaks
  • Gold/silver range-trading mentality remains

For in-depth fundamental and technical analysis for your favorite market or currency, check out the recently released DailyFX Q2 Forecasts.

S&P 500, Dow, Nasdaq 100 wedges near breaking points

The Dow is currently trading at the top of a large descending wedge pattern, which if it is to remain ‘clean’ needs to turn down very, very soon (like today/tomorrow soon). Even if it were to break the top-side trend-line of the pattern a series of lower-highs and a flat bottom could remain in place, but the pattern won’t be as clear. In any event, for the broader topping formation to trigger the double-bottom in the mid-23300s along with the 200-day MA needs to break.

Dow Daily Chart (Descending wedge still intact)

dow daily with wedges

All the U.S. indices are currently putting in ascending wedges (best seen on the hourly time-frame), which should break this week. A downside break would keep the aforementioned Dow structure in place. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 have the cleanest ascending wedges when looking at the hourly.

The wedges look corrective in nature after the March decline, but could break to the top-side too, which is why we need to wait for them to trigger. An upside breakout would be at greater risk of failing, but we’ll run with what the market presents, and should it fail we’ll reverse course. In the S&P 500 a downside breakout would likely have the 200-day MA and Feb ’16 trend-line quickly back in focus.

S&P 500 Daily Chart

s&p 500 daily with wedge, support levels below

S&P 500 Hourly Chart (Wedge)

s&p 500 hourly with wedge

Turning to the Nasdaq 100 daily, a breakdown could cement a right shoulder of a head-and-shoulders top. Even if the 100 were to rally further from here, though, the H&S topping scenario will still be on the table.

Nasdaq 100 Daily Chart (Possible H&S)

Nasdaq 100 daily with possible head-and-shoulders pattern

Nasdaq 100 Hourly Chart (Ascending wedge)

Nasdaq 100 hourly with ascending wedge

For the intermediate-term fundamental/technical outlook, check out the Q2 Forecast for Global Equity Indices

Crude oil on the verge of dropping below twin peaks

After last week’s breakout above the January and March peaks, crude oil is on the verge of failing back below. It’s currently sitting at support, but a close down into the 65s is seen as opening up a path for a larger pullback.

For now, it will be viewed as only a pullback given the broader bullish trend with the Feb trend-line as a possible target on a deep retracement. Large swings with limited progress has been oil’s path the past few months, so that would be in line with how its been ‘behaving’ even if it is to continue to new heights.

US Oil Daily Chart (watch for break below peaks)

crude oil daily, watch for break below peaks

For the intermediate-term fundamental/technical outlook, check out the Q2 Forecast for Crude Oil

Gold/silver range-trading mentality remains

Gold and silver remain contained by resistance, and generally warrant a range-traders mentality. The approach is still to look to the perimeter of the range for fades until one side or the other gives way. Silver is stuck below a thicket of resistance below 16.90 and is viewed as the better candidate for shorts of the two major precious metals.

Gold Daily Chart

gold daily chart in range

Silver Daily Chart (thicket of resistance)

silver daily chart with resistance

For the intermediate-term fundamental/technical outlook, check out the Q2 Forecast for Gold

Resources for Index & Commodity Traders

Whether you are a new or an experienced trader, DailyFX has several resources available to help you; indicator for tracking trader sentiment, quarterly trading forecasts, analytical and educational webinars held daily, trading guides to help you improve trading performance, and one specifically for those who are new to forex.

---Written by Paul Robinson, Market Analyst

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DailyFX provides forex news and technical analysis on the trends that influence the global currency markets.

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