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The Standard & Poor's (S&P) 500 equity index shed 36.60 points to close down 0.85% at $4,278 on Thursday after stock traders were snubbed by Federal Reserve (Fed) Chairman Jerome Powell, who failed to meet dovish expectations on the Fed's rate outlook, while US Treasury yields continue to climb into highs not seen in over a decade.

The 10-year Treasury note hit a yield of 4.996%, its highest in sixteen years since last crossing the 5% yield mark back in February of 2007.

Fed head Jerome Powell gave moderately dovish comments while speaking at the Economic Club of New York, noting that policy remains tight but the Fed remains ready to act if inflationary pressures reappear. The policy-based statements threw a wrench into equity markets as investors were hoping for a firmly dovish showing from the Fed.

Money markets are pricing in a 97% chance of no rate hikes from the Fed at their next rate call, but Wall Street is hoping for indications that the US central bank will accelerate future rate cuts, currently expected sometime in the second half of 2024.

Across the US equity boards, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) fell 250.91 points to close down 0.75% at $33,414.17, while the tech-heavy NASDAQ Composite tumbled just shy of a full percent, losing 128.13 points to close at $13,186.18, down 0.96%.

S&P 500 Technical Outlook

The S&P's Thursday slide extends a bearish turnaround from the $4,400 level, and setting up for a near-term challenge of the 200-day Simple Moving Average (SMA) currently rising into the $4,250 chart region.

With the 50-day SMA descending on price action from above, technical charts are set to be constrained until sufficient momentum can be built up for a significant break in either direction.

The S&P remains incredibly well-bid for 2023, but downside pressure is mounting as successive lower highs drag down upside potential.

S&P 500 Daily Chart

(Click on image to enlarge)

S&P 500 Technical Levels

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