Higher Volume Buying Doesn't Negate Russell 2000 Bull Trap
Options expiraton will have clouded Friday's volume, but Friday's buying in the Russell 2000 (IWM) did not do enough to challenge the "bull trap" or the loss of the 20-day MA. The index is having to deal with 'sell' triggers in the MACD, On-Balance-Volume and relative performance against the Nasdaq. The expected result of the 'bull trap' is a move back to - then below - support defining the trading range off which the original breakout emerged. For the the Russell 2000 this means a move back to $188s.
The Nasdaq has just drifted below breakout support and its 20-day MA, enough to count as a "bull trap". If there isn't a return above 16,055 tomorrow it will effectively confirm the "bull trap", but there is still time for the index to get out of this.
The S&P was the one index not to flag a 'bull trap' and has the potential to lead a recovery off its 20-day MA. If there is a long-play tomorrow it will be in this index.
On Monday, we will want to see a positive open, especially in the S&P. Given the vulnerabilities of the Nasdaq and Russell 2000, a gap higher on the open would likely lead to more selling, so a slow-and-steady approach is perhaps preferred. As the Russell 2000 is furthest away from prior breakout resistance, it's the one most likely to see a shorts-attack on a return to this level.
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Disclaimer: Investors should not act on any information in this article without obtaining specific advice from their financial advisors and should not rely on information herein as the primary ...
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