Stock Market Outlook entering the Week of February 20th = Downtrend
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- ADX Directional Indicators: Downtrend
- Price & Volume Action: Downtrend
- Elliott Wave Analysis: Downtrend
ANALYSIS
The stock market outlook remains in a downtrend after another down week for U.S. equities. The S&P500 ($SPX) briefly reclaimed the 200-day moving average mid-week, before plunging back below that level ahead of the long weekend. The index currently sits ~5% below the 50-day moving average and 2.5% below the 200-day.
SPX Price & Volume Chart for the Week of February 20 2022
The ADX signal continues to show a bearish trend in place. A few more distribution days fell off the count, but the price/volume signal still shows a downtrend too.
Elliott Wave also shows a downtrend, with two possible counts depending on your level of bearishness. I discovered a bullish count as well…possible, but not probable as of today.
SPX Elliott Wave Analysis for the Week of February 20 2022
The first bearish count has the market in the 3rd wave ( Minor 3 ) of the first down wave of Primary [2] (Intermediate (A) ). This count implies the downtrend is just getting started. This count would be invalidated if the SPX rises above 4450.
SPX Elliott Wave Analysis for the Week of February 20 2022
The second bearish count has the market in the 3rd wave (Minor 3) of the third down wave of Primary [2] (Intermediate (C) ). This count implies the downtrend is more than halfway complete. This count would be invalidated if the SPX rallies above 4450.
SPX Price & Volume Chart for the Week of February 20 2022
And the bullish count shows the SPX completed the entire Primary [2] back on Jan. 24th, and is currently working through the first correction of the new uptrend (The Minor C wave of Intermediate (2) ). This count would be invalidated if the SPX falls below 4222.
COMMENTARY
The Russia-Ukraine situation continues to drive uncertainty into the markets, with each day seeming to to unearth a new set of will they/won’t they narratives.
Russia’s a global player in the energy market, so it’s no surprise that a potential conflict is driving up energy prices. Terrible for consumers and inflation; great for investments allocated to the energy sector.
No surprise rate hike from the Fed’s emergency meeting last week, which is a good thing. And the hysteria around a potential half point rate hike died down as well.
But the Fed’s job doesn’t get any easier, as each of the next 4 weeks has potentially market moving data releases. First, we’ll have to see what happens on Thursday (24th) when GDP is released. Keep in mind that the change verses last year is the most important number, as it will tell us if growth is starting to slow.
Shortly thereafter is the next jobs report (Friday, March 4), and then the next inflation reading (Thursday, March 10). All of which will need to be digested by the Fed, prior to releasing the actual size of the next interest rate hike on March 15-16th.
Best To Your Week!
The Safe Investing Blog 