S&P 500 and NASDAQ technical outlook: bullish view intact after the Fed

The Fed hiked interest rates by 25 basis points to 4.5% - 4.75%, in line with expectations, and said “ongoing increases” to rates would be appropriate. However, the US central bank acknowledged that inflation has eased.

“We can now say for the first time that the disinflationary process has started,” Fed Chair Jerome Powell told reporters, boosting hopes that the Fed is nearing the end of the current rate hiking cycle. The futures market continues to price in rate cuts this year with the fed funds rate seen below 4.50% by the end of December.

S&P 500 technical outlook – bullish

The S&P 500 closed on Thursday above crucial resistance at the early-December high of 4100, reasserting the bullish bias. This follows a rise above another vital barrier on the 200-day moving average and a rebound from quite a strong cushion around the Ichimoku cloud support on the daily chart.

While the upward momentum has improved recently, one closer above Wednesday’s high would cement the view that the index had formed an important base. Moreover, the European Central Bank and the Bank of England interest rate decisions today and US jobs data on Friday could provide further cues.

A decisive close (two daily closing highs) would establish the higher-highs-higher-lows sequence for the first time since January 2022. Such a break could pave the way toward the August high of 4325.

S&P 500 daily chart

NASDAQ technical outlook – bullish

The Nasdaq 100 index, which wrapped the best January performance in 20 years, on Thursday rose above stiff converged hurdle, including the December high of 12166 and the 200-day moving average. This is the first time the index has risen above the multi-week average since January 2022, raising the prospect of a more sustained bounce relative to the corrective rallies in 2022.

However, given the events risks and key US data due tomorrow, it might be prudent to wait for one more close higher. Such a move would raise the odds of a rise toward the August high of 13720 as it would trigger a bullish break from the sideways channel since the end of 2022. Furthermore, if the Nasdaq 100 index manages to close this week above 12166 then it would also imply that the base around the 200-week moving average had been set.

NASDAQ 100 daily chart

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