Two people climbing up the side of a cliff
Image generated with Midjourney.

The Nasdaq Takes a Breather From its Upward Climb

By:Christopher Vecchio - CFA

As the DOW continues higher

  • Both /ES and /NQ have hit fresh yearly highs in recent days, while /YM has started to break out.
  • However, earnings reports and a bump in U.S. Treasury yields have taken some steam out of the rally.
  • Volatility is expected to drop in the run up to the July Federal Reserve meeting on Wednesday, July 26.

Year-to-date price percent change chart for /ES, /NQ, /RTY, and /YM
Year-to-date price percent change chart for /ES, /NQ, /RTY, and /YM

Market update: Nasdaq 100 up +1.65% month-to-date

U.S. equity markets remain on strong technical footing, with each of /ES, /NQ, and /YM hitting fresh yearly highs in recent days. /RTY is not far behind, hovering just below the highs set in February. But markets do not move up in straight lines; even the strongest of bull markets experience ebbs and flows. Tops may or may not be forming, but it’s too soon to tell. The trend remains your friend, for now.

/ES S&P 500 Price Technical Analysis: Daily Chart (July 2022 to July 2023)

/ES S&P 500 Price Technical Analysis: Daily Chart (July 2022 to July 2023)

Last week it was noted that “the technical structure remains bullish, and further gains cannot be ruled out in the near-term.” In a sense, nothing has changed as /ES has reached a fresh yearly high at 4609.25. It remains the case that /ES has not closed below its daily 21-EMA (one month moving average) since May 25. MACD (moving average convergence/divergence) is trending higher while above its signal line, and slow stochastics are still in overbought territory. With measures of volatility still depressed (/ESU3: IV Index – 14%; IVR – +5.4) and the momentum structure holding firm, further gains cannot be ruled out in the near-term.

/NQ Nasdaq 100 Price Technical Analysis: Daily Chart (July 2022 to July 2023)

/NQ Nasdaq 100 Price Technical Analysis: Daily Chart (July 2022 to July 2023)

Like /ES, /NQ traded to fresh yearly highs this week before experiencing a pullback. /NQ’s momentum profile has weakened, however, in closing below its daily 5-EMA (one week moving average) today. Momentum indicators are starting to fade, with MACD close to issuing a sell signal (albeit above its signal line) and slow stochastics nearing a drop out of overbought territory. Nevertheless, the tech-heavy index has closed above its daily 21-EMA every session since May 5. Contextually, a return to the daily 21-EMA—which lines up neatly with the breakout point of the recent symmetrical triangle closer to 15400—can’t be ruled out in the near-term.

/RTY Russell 2000 Price Technical Analysis: Daily Chart (July 2022 to July 2023)

/RTY Russell 2000 Price Technical Analysis: Daily Chart (July 2022 to July 2023)

In our last update of /RTY, it was noted that “until /RTY drops back into the symmetrical triangle (under 1910 over the coming week), any pullback should be eyed as mere profit taking, as the broader technical structure retains its bias for an attempt to return to the yearly highs set in February.” This remains the case: the trend is your friend, for now.

Christopher Vecchio, CFA, tastylive’s head of futures and forex, has been trading for nearly 20 years. He has consulted with multi-national firms on FX hedging and lectured at Duke Law School on FX derivatives. Vecchio searches for high-convexity opportunities at the crossroads of macroeconomics and global politics. He hosts Futures Power Hour Monday-Friday and Let Me Explain on Tuesdays, and co-hosts Overtime, Monday-Thursday. @cvecchiofx 

For live daily programming, market news and commentary, visit tastylive or the YouTube channels tastylive (for options traders), and tastyliveTrending for stocks, futures, forex & macro.

Trade with a better broker, open a tastytrade account today. tastylive, Inc. and tastytrade, Inc. are separate but affiliated companies.


Options involve risk and are not suitable for all investors. Please read Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options before deciding to invest in options.

Related Posts

tastylive content is created, produced, and provided solely by tastylive, Inc. (“tastylive”) and is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not, nor is it intended to be, trading or investment advice or a recommendation that any security, futures contract, digital asset, other product, transaction, or investment strategy is suitable for any person. Trading securities, futures products, and digital assets involve risk and may result in a loss greater than the original amount invested. tastylive, through its content, financial programming or otherwise, does not provide investment or financial advice or make investment recommendations. Investment information provided may not be appropriate for all investors and is provided without respect to individual investor financial sophistication, financial situation, investing time horizon or risk tolerance. tastylive is not in the business of transacting securities trades, nor does it direct client commodity accounts or give commodity trading advice tailored to any particular client’s situation or investment objectives. Supporting documentation for any claims (including claims made on behalf of options programs), comparisons, statistics, or other technical data, if applicable, will be supplied upon request. tastylive is not a licensed financial adviser, registered investment adviser, or a registered broker-dealer.  Options, futures, and futures options are not suitable for all investors.  Prior to trading securities, options, futures, or futures options, please read the applicable risk disclosures, including, but not limited to, the Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options Disclosure and the Futures and Exchange-Traded Options Risk Disclosure found on tastytrade.com/disclosures.

tastytrade, Inc. ("tastytrade”) is a registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA, NFA, and SIPC. tastytrade was previously known as tastyworks, Inc. (“tastyworks”). tastytrade offers self-directed brokerage accounts to its customers. tastytrade does not give financial or trading advice, nor does it make investment recommendations. You alone are responsible for making your investment and trading decisions and for evaluating the merits and risks associated with the use of tastytrade’s systems, services or products. tastytrade is a wholly-owned subsidiary of tastylive, Inc.

tastytrade has entered into a Marketing Agreement with tastylive (“Marketing Agent”) whereby tastytrade pays compensation to Marketing Agent to recommend tastytrade’s brokerage services. The existence of this Marketing Agreement should not be deemed as an endorsement or recommendation of Marketing Agent by tastytrade. tastytrade and Marketing Agent are separate entities with their own products and services. tastylive is the parent company of tastytrade.

tastycrypto is provided solely by tasty Software Solutions, LLC. tasty Software Solutions, LLC is a separate but affiliate company of tastylive, Inc. Neither tastylive nor any of its affiliates are responsible for the products or services provided by tasty Software Solutions, LLC. Cryptocurrency trading is not suitable for all investors due to the number of risks involved. The value of any cryptocurrency, including digital assets pegged to fiat currency, commodities, or any other asset, may go to zero.

© copyright 2013 - 2024 tastylive, Inc. All Rights Reserved.  Applicable portions of the Terms of Use on tastylive.com apply.  Reproduction, adaptation, distribution, public display, exhibition for profit, or storage in any electronic storage media in whole or in part is prohibited under penalty of law, provided that you may download tastylive’s podcasts as necessary to view for personal use. tastylive was previously known as tastytrade, Inc. tastylive is a trademark/servicemark owned by tastylive, Inc.