Get 40% Off
🚨 Volatile Markets? Find Hidden Gems for Serious Outperformance
Find Stocks Now

Did Small Caps Suffer Irreparable Near-Term Damage?

Published 02/14/2024, 01:59 AM

Over the weekend I wrote about junk bonds) (HYG) as our clue as to when the market might stop rallying.

IWM-Daily Chart

HYG gapped lower today breaking beneath its 50-DMA.

And worse, also fell right to the January 6-month calendar range low (red horizontal line).HYG-Daily Chart

Momentum also fell as per our Real Motion Indicator.

For junk bonds and small caps, the next day or two will be very telling on whether this is a buyable dip, or the start of a bigger correction.

Small caps, or IWM AKA Granddad Russell 2000, also broke the 50-DMA, yet remain well above the January 6-month calendar range low.

We will watch for these scenarios before planning our next trades or exit plans on existing ones with good profits.

  1. HYG holds these lows and works its way back to 77.00 or the 50-DMA. A close above would be considered strong.
  2. A move under today’s lows in HYG, regardless of what IWM is doing, we would think a bigger correction is coming.
  3. IWM, which failed to hold above the January calendar range high and is not that far under the 50-DMA, clears and holds back above 195. Even if HYG just consolidates, we would consider this a positive for the small caps and market.
  4. IWM cannot clear back above 195 and confirms a caution phase, which will lead us to wait for a test of 185 before buying anything new.

In the triad of the Family, also note that Granny Retail XRT did better and has to hold 70.00.

3rd party Ad. Not an offer or recommendation by Investing.com. See disclosure here or remove ads .

Transportation, IYT held 266, which is the area it broke out from.

Hopefully, watching these four instruments will help determine whether today was an overreaction or a new buy opportunity.

ETF Summary

  • S&P 500 (SPY) 500 now the pivotal point-490 near-term support
  • Russell 2000 (IWM) 185 the underlying support
  • Dow (DIA) 385 now resistance
  • Nasdaq (QQQ) 430 now resistance
  • Regional banks (KRE) Back to the 45-50 range
  • Semiconductors (SMH) Support 196
  • Transportation (IYT 266 support
  • Biotechnology (IBB) 135 pivotal
  • Retail (XRT) The Jan calendar range high at 73 now back to resistance with 70.00 support

Latest comments

All indices reached their all time high and beyond in the last few months except for the russel. It is still off about 15% from all time high around 2400. I believe it will catch up with the broader market sooner rather than later. The trigger might be the first rate cut since small r the most sensitive to interest rate. Thank u for ur inputs michele
I've told people to step back until we get a good read on retail/PPI. Super core was blazing hot. BLS is laughable now on jobs reports (see ZeroHedge and other articles) vs household survey. Shipping and WTI numbers won't weigh in until May changing any thoughts of a rate cut by June. IWM came from $167.81 and leaped to $210 so it was due for more selling. Can you post volumes +/- also? Light volume/heavy volume on your articles as well? As always, thank you for your work!
Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.