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Levels to watch: FTSE, DAX and S&P 500

Indices have started the week a touch lower, although both the FTSE 100 and DAX saw new highs last week.

Chris Beauchamp ChrisB_IG
Chief Market Analyst, London

Publication date : 2017-03-20T09:46:53+0000

Wall Street

Source: Bloomberg

FTSE 100 keeps on rallying

A new high last week provides confirmation that a rally on FTSE is still in place here on a daily time frame. Even just taking the late February low as a starting point would mean that we could see a pullback all the way towards 7340 and still be in a short-term rally.

Only a daily close below the 9 March low of 7260 would really signal that a new move lower is underway. On the upside, the 7440 area is where the rally stalled last week and so this is the area to watch for a breakout.

FTSE chart

FTSE chart

FTSE chart

DAX searching for new all-time highs

Attempts to break above 12,080 were slapped down on the DAX, but as with the FTSE 100, the index did create a new high, even if it couldn’t hold on to it. An area of potential support could be 11,927, as it was all the way through the early part of March.

A drop through 11,720 would really suggest the rally is imperiled. The next areas to watch on the upside are 12,200 and then 12,435, with a move above the latter putting the index in new all-time high territory.

DAX chart

DAX chart

DAX chart

S&P 500 with an interesting buying opportunity

Unlike the above two indices, the S&P 500 failed to create a new high last week, but it did find a lot of support in the 2355-2370 zone. Bears would need to break this to signal broader weakness ahead, with further potential support around 2300 and then 2264.

Longer term, it is hard to escape the feeling the index has got ahead of itself, with the 2016 uptrend line far below the current price. A correction of around 8% would take us back to that rising trend. While it would wipe out most of the gains made since December it would provide one of the most interesting buying opportunities.

S&P 500 chart

S&P 500 chart

S&P 500 chart

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This information has been prepared by IG, a trading name of IG Markets Limited and IG Markets South Africa Limited. In addition to the disclaimer below, the material on this page does not contain a record of our trading prices, or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instrument. IG accepts no responsibility for any use that may be made of these comments and for any consequences that result. No representation or warranty is given as to the accuracy or completeness of this information. Consequently any person acting on it does so entirely at their own risk. Any research provided does not have regard to the specific investment objectives, financial situation and needs of any specific person who may receive it. It has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such is considered to be a marketing communication. Although we are not specifically constrained from dealing ahead of our recommendations we do not seek to take advantage of them before they are provided to our clients. International accounts are offered by IG Markets Limited in the UK (FCA Number 195355), a juristic representative of IG Markets South Africa Limited (FSP No 41393). South African residents are required to obtain the necessary tax clearance certificates in line with their foreign investment allowance and may not use credit or debit cards to fund their international account.

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