Finding Support

End of Day Analysis:

Volatility crept back into the market as early trade gave back all of Tuesday’s gains. It was a gut-check for bulls when prices slid nearly non-stop through the first two hours. But just like it was supposed to, prior resistance at 2,040 turned into support and we bounced right off of 2,040. While we still finished in the red, the midday rebound was clearly bullish.

With fresh memories of October’s demoralizing plunge, traders still have a hard time warming up to this relentless assault on record highs. The lack of enthusiasm is clearly evident through the low volume rally. Everyone automatically assumes the market has to be wildly bullish as it sets new high after new high, but burned traders remain far more skeptical than they were earlier in the summer. This doubt and worry is the fuel that keeps pushing the market higher.

Big money was patting themselves on the back when they took profits this summer, but countless all-time highs later, these same managers are under intense pressure to buy back in at higher levels, else they risk being left even further behind. It is this pressure to chase that keeps a bid under the rally and why every ten-point dip keeps getting bought. Owners that don’t want to sell and managers that need to buy is a recipe for higher prices.

Jani