Buyers worked the bullish harami as a swing low with a second day of buying yesterday, this time on higher volume accumulation. Biggest winner of the lead indices was the Russell 2000, but all indices benefited.
The gains in the NASDAQ counted as a breakout on Tuesday, but volume was light. Yesterday's gain registered as a bearish black candlestick, with the index closing below its open price. Despite the opening loss, it didn't reverse the breakout. If prices can stay above 9,400 it would complete a return to net bullish technicals with a MACD trigger 'buy'.
The S&P enjoyed higher buying volume accumulation yesterday, building on Tuesday's gain. The rally off the 50-day MA counts as a 'bear trap', which if it plays to form typical of this pattern should see a rally to channel resistance.
The Russell 2000 gained 1.5% but it had fallen out of its channel and has a long way to make it back. Relative performance is still falling off a cliff but the buying in the iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:IWM) did enough to deliver a new 'buy' trigger in On-Balance-Volume.
On a final note, the Semiconductor Index added over 2% as it saw a return to the middle of its rising channel and finished with a close above its 20-day MA.
Today will be about holding on to the gains of the last two days. I still think this bounce has come a little early, but with the Russell 2000 breaking higher, any chance of an A-B-C, zig-zag style correction is looking more unlikely with each passing day.
Any big drop later today will only open up for another run at the bullish harami swing low; indeed, a short attack in the opening hour of trading could set up an intermediate term short play, lasting a few days.