S&P 500 Update – What Will Follow the Fasted Drop and Pop Ever?

It’s been kind of quiet the last 2 weeks, but lets not forget stocks distinctive performance prior to this relative calm.

For some perspective, the chart below compares the first 48 days of the 2020 bear market with the first 48 days of the 1929, 1987 and 2007 bear markets. By day 12, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) showed it was intent on carving out its own path. By day 29, it was down 37.09% an destroyed any correlation to prior crashes.

It was around the crash low, on March 26, when the Profit Radar Report stated that: “We anticipate a recovery towards 3,000 for the S&P 500 over the next couple months,” which implied a 36% rally from the low.

Barron’s rates iSPYETF as “trader with a good track record” and Investor’s Business Daily says: “When Simon says, the market listens.” Find out why Barron’s and IBD endorse Simon Maierhofer’s Profit Radar Report.

Such a strong rally would be quite unusual. How unusual?

The April 7 Profit Radar Report pointed out that: “It took the S&P 500 just 11 days to retrace more than a Fibonacci 38.2% of the previous losses. This is a very quick retracement. Since 1970, there were only 5 other times where the S&P retraced more than 34% that quickly. The chart below shows the forward performance of those 5 times along with the average. As you can see, returns were rock solid.”

Below is an updated version of the chart first published on April 7. The red graph represents the 2020 rally, which has been even more ‘fast and furious’ than the previous set of ‘most furious rallies from a 52-week low.’

In a nutshell, we just witnessed the fastest ever drop and pop in history. What’s next?

The S&P 500 is nearing 3,000, the up side target mentioned in the March 26 Profit Radar Report, and the April 15 Profit Radar Report warned that: “The S&P 500 has almost reached our target and up side potential has become less attractive.”

Here is one reason why: At 2,885, wave C equaled wave A, which is natural resistance. There are many different ways to interpret the structure (according to Elliott Wave Theory), but at this point the rally from the March low appears to be 3 waves.

We’ll have to see if it stays at 3 waves (usually indicative of a counter trend move) or turns into 5 waves (usually indicative of a directional change, in this instance from down to up).

Regardless, a break below support shown at 2,730 – 2,700 is needed to unlock more down side risk.

A break above 2,900 could lead to 3,000+, but such a rally may not stick.

Continued updates, projections, buy/sell recommendations are available via the Profit Radar Report.

Simon Maierhofer is the founder of iSPYETF and the publisher of the Profit Radar Report. Barron’s rated iSPYETF as a “trader with a good track record” (click here for Barron’s evaluation of the Profit Radar Report). The Profit Radar Report presents complex market analysis (S&P 500, Dow Jones, gold, silver, euro and bonds) in an easy format. Technical analysis, sentiment indicators, seasonal patterns and common sense are all wrapped up into two or more easy-to-read weekly updates. All Profit Radar Report recommendations resulted in a 59.51% net gain in 2013, 17.59% in 2014, 24.52% in 2015, 52.26% in 2016, and 23.39% in 2017.

Follow Simon on Twitter @ iSPYETF or sign up for the FREE iSPYETF e-Newsletter to get actionable ETF trade ideas delivered for free.

Nasdaq-100 QQQ near Triple Support/Resistance

The February 19, 2020 PRR highlighted the Nasdaq-100 and QQQ wedge (purple lines) and stated: “The QQQ chart shows a rising wedge (ascending purple lines), subsequent breakout, and measured target (242.06). Fibonacci projection resistance is at 243.46 (red line), Those levels are 2 – 2.5% above today’s close.”

Barron’s rates iSPYETF as “trader with a good track record” and Investor’s Business Daily says: “When Simon says, the market listens.” Find out why Barron’s and IBD endorse Simon Maierhofer’s Profit Radar Report.

QQQ missed the measured target for the wedge breakout by a couple percent before falling hard. More interestingly, QQQ is now back at original wedge resistance (around 201), which is reinforced by the 200-day SMA and the 50% Fibonacci retracement level (February 19 high – March 23 low).

Just a couple of weeks ago, QQQ traded 17% below its 200-day SMA, and now it’s above the 200-day SMA, the quickest such recovery ever.

There’ve been 11 other times when QQQ clawed back from a 10% or more drop below its 200-day SMA to above the 200-day SMA rather quickly. The forward returns were inconsistent, but if QQQ relapsed, it tended to happen fairly quickly after the initial bounce back above the 200-day SMA.

In summary, there is a triple support/resistance zone at 200-202 for the QQQ, and how price behaves around this zone may set the stage for the coming days and weeks.

Continued updates, projections, buy/sell recommendations are available via the Profit Radar Report.

Simon Maierhofer is the founder of iSPYETF and the publisher of the Profit Radar Report. Barron’s rated iSPYETF as a “trader with a good track record” (click here for Barron’s evaluation of the Profit Radar Report). The Profit Radar Report presents complex market analysis (S&P 500, Dow Jones, gold, silver, euro and bonds) in an easy format. Technical analysis, sentiment indicators, seasonal patterns and common sense are all wrapped up into two or more easy-to-read weekly updates. All Profit Radar Report recommendations resulted in a 59.51% net gain in 2013, 17.59% in 2014, 24.52% in 2015, 52.26% in 2016, and 23.39% in 2017.

Follow Simon on Twitter @ iSPYETF or sign up for the FREE iSPYETF e-Newsletter to get actionable ETF trade ideas delivered for free.