Markets

Market Technicals: QQQ Choppy, SPY Strong

QQQ trades in a 617-627 range with EMAs stacked bullishly (5:622.68 > 9:621.24 > 20:619.57 > 50:616.46), but price hasn't cleared the critical 625.52 breakout level. SPY shows stronger momentum, setting new record highs while EMAs remain in

Markets

US Jobless Claims Edge Higher but Remain Historically Low

* Initial claims rose 8,000 to 208,000 for the week ending January 3rd, just under the 210,000 forecast * Continuing claims climbed 56,000 to 1.914 million, topping expectations of 1.9 million * Pattern suggests employers are slow to hire but also slow to fire, keeping the labor

Markets

QQQ/SPY: Early Jan Tech

The first trading days of 2026 show QQQ drifting lower, closing $613.12 (‑1.73%) on Jan 2 after a narrow range. The ETF remains below its recent peak (~$625) and sits just under the 5‑day EMA at $620.80, indicating a modest bearish bias. EMAs: 5‑day 620.

Near-Term Upside, Longer-Term Caution

Short term (1 week): Bullish * S&P 500 set a new record; breadth and tech leadership improving. * QQQ approaching breakout (needs 625.52; above 629 for confirmation), with price above key EMAs. * Low VIX (~14.9) supports risk-on flow; SPY cleared minor downtrend. * ISM services beat; Fed easing

Markets

The October to January Window: A Historical Warning Sign

The period from October 27th to January 18th is historically the most bullish stretch for the S&P 500. Over the last 75 years, the index has closed higher during this window 66 times (88%).

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Trade What You See, Not What You Think

There's a cognitive bias that affects nearly every trader at some point: we form a hypothesis about what the market will do, and then we act on that hypothesis as if it were fact.

Markets

QQQ, SPY Dip, VIX Low

The Santa Claus rally fizzled, with QQQ and SPY posting three straight days of declines. Technical snapshot: QQQ closed 613.12 on Jan 2, slipping below its 20‑day EMA (617.15) after briefly trading above it; SPY closed 683.21, falling under its 20‑day EMA (683.87). Both

Tech

I Built a Road Conditions Monitor Using n8n

My family was planning a trip from Boise to Seattle. The day before leaving, I checked the roads and found a mess: an interstate in Oregon was completely closed, and a Washington route was shut down due to a landslide.

Markets

QQQ & SPY: 2025 Snapshot

The final week of 2025 saw both QQQ and SPY retreat modestly. QQQ opened at 621.99 on Dec 25, rallied to a high of 624.28, but closed the period at 614.31—a decline of roughly 1.5%. SPY began at 687.95, peaked at 690.83, and

Markets

2025 Market Year-in-Review

Asset ClassTicker2025 ReturnPrecious MetalsGoldGLD+63.4%SilverSLV+141.0%Equities - USS&P 500SPY+15.7%Nasdaq-100QQQ+19.4%Dow JonesDIA+12.2%Russell 2000IWM+10.5%InternationalEAFE (Developed)EFA+26.9%Emerging MarketsEEM+30.7%EuropeVGK+31.6%JapanEWJ+20.3%IndiaINDA+0.7%Bonds20Y+ TreasuryTLT-0.7%

Markets

QQQ, SPY, VIX: Week Wrap

QQQ and SPY closed the week on a bearish note, slipping below their short‑term EMAs after a modest rally. QQQ fell from 623.9 on Dec 25 to 614.3 on Dec 31, slipping under EMA5 (618.36) and EMA9 (618.40) by the final day, while still hovering

Markets

GDP Up, Confidence Down

GDP accelerated to 4.3% in Q3, driven by consumer spending and exports, but inflation rose (PCE 2.8%, Core 2.9%). Consumer confidence fell to 89.1 in December, with present situation sentiment weakening despite stable expectations. Durable goods orders declined (-2.2%) in October, though shipments and core

Markets

Market Consolidation Update

Both QQQ and SPY traded in tight ranges this week as the Santa Claus rally stalled. QQQ settled near 623.93, just above its clustered EMAs (5: 619.64, 9: 619.16, 20: 618.03), indicating sideways consolidation. SPY closed at 686.95, also above its EMAs (5: 686.95,

Markets

QQQ, SPY: EMA Analysis

QQQ’s price action from Dec 23‑29 shows a steady uptrend. The close on Dec 23 (622.11) sits well above the short‑term EMAs (EMA5 620.83, EMA9 619.68) and the longer‑term EMAs (EMA20 618.15, EMA50 614.87). The peak on Dec 24 (623.93)

QQQ & SPY Technical Recap

On Dec 22‑26, QQQ moved from 619.17 to 623.93, staying just above the flat EMA5 (620.60) and EMA20 (617.76) while still below the 627/637 resistance zones. The EMAs are unchanged across the snapshot, suggesting a pause in the short‑term trend. By contrast, SPY

Markets

2026 Analyst Expectations

Here's a detailed outlook for the market heading into 2026, characterized by high earnings expectations, elevated valuations, and a shift in market leadership. * S&P 500 Price Targets and Expected Returns: Wall Street strategists have set year-end 2026 price targets for the S&P 500

Markets

QQQ, SPY, VIX Tech

QQQ remains below key resistance levels at 627 and 637, despite holding near its EMA5 (~620.9) and EMA9 (~619.1). The price has hovered around these short‑term moving averages for three sessions, suggesting a consolidation phase. EMA20 (~617.5) is now below price, reinforcing a near‑term bullish

Week of Dec 22‑26

The market closed out the holiday week with mixed signals. QQQ remained under pressure, moving from a 619.17 close on Dec 22 to a 623.87 finish on Dec 26—still well below the first resistance cluster around 627 and the secondary ceiling near 637. The low of the

Growth Strong, Sentiment Soft: QQQ & Macro Snapshot

Short‑term (1 week) – Bullish - QQQ rose from 609.1 to 623.9 in four days, pushing above its 20‑ and 50‑day EMAs and approaching the 627/637 resistance zones. - VIX at 14.00 signals low‑volatility, risk‑on sentiment. - Fresh GDP print of 4.3 % (annualized) driven by

Markets

Dec Jobless Claims 👍

US jobless claims fell to their lowest level in nearly a year, beating expectations, while continuing claims edged higher. The data suggests a labor market that's holding steady with modest hiring and firing activity. * Initial jobless claims dropped by 10,000 to 214,000 for the week ending

Markets

Late-December Bounce as Low VIX Meets CPI/GDP Relief

Short-term (1 week): Bullish. VIX at 14.91 signals low stress; QQQ reclaimed EMAs and posted a clean rebound after midweek dip, while sector breadth improved and tech rallied. Support near 600.40 (QQQ) and 6714 (SPX) looks firm for a continued drift higher into year-end. Longer-term

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2026 Bullish or Bearish?

The Bull Case The AI Supercycle and Technological Dominance The optimistic outlook is centered on the belief that we are only in the third year of an 8- to 10-year AI buildout. Proponents argue that the massive capital expenditures currently seen are just the beginning of a multi-trillion-

YoY Inflation Nov 2025 👍

US inflation continued to cool in December, falling to 2.7% and beating expectations of 3.1%. Core inflation also declined to 2.6%, its lowest since early 2021. Energy costs rose notably while apparel and new vehicles saw minimal increases. October data remains unavailable due to a government shutdown.

👍 CPI November

Core inflation in the US cooled more than expected in November, hitting its lowest level in over four years at 2.6%. Shelter costs remain elevated while other categories show mixed pricing pressures. October data was unavailable due to a government shutdown. * Core inflation (excluding food and energy) fell to

Divergence in Opinion

TB is ST bearish... The short-term outlook (the next few weeks to a few months, possibly the first half of 2026) is bearish. The speaker explicitly states that risks are elevated and that Wall Street is "not exactly betting that this market's going to keep going