S&P 500: Small caps diverge

The S&P 500 ($INX) remains bullish, with Trend Index holding above zero for over a year indicating tremendous buying pressure.

S&P 500

Narrow breadth is our main concern, with the Russell 2000 small caps ETF (IWM) diverging from the S&P 500 ($INX).

S&P 500 & Russell 2000 Small Caps

Conclusion

The market is growing risk-averse as the Fed starts to taper. But financial markets are still awash with cash.

M2/GDP

Buying is likely to be concentrated in the heavyweights.

Apple (AAPL), Alphabet (GOOGL), Amazon (AMZN), Meta Platforms (FB), and Microsoft (MSFT)

Small caps could possibly accelerate into a down-trend but reversal of large cap indices is unlikely with so much liquidity.

Small caps lead US recovery

Russell 2000 Small Caps Index is leading the US recovery. The iShares Russell 2000 Small Caps ETF broke through resistance at 160, signaling a primary advance with a target of 175. According to Dow Theory, small capitalization stocks typically lead the advance in stage 3 of a bull market, with large caps having exhausted their gains.

iShares Russell 2000 Small Caps ETF

But Charles Dow did not have to contend with technology stocks which are a law unto themselves. The Nasdaq 100 broke through resistance at 7000 and is currently retracing to test the new support level. Respect is likely and would signal a primary advance with a target of 7700.

Nasdaq 100

The S&P 500 is further behind, headed for a test of resistance at 2800. Breakout would signal a primary advance with a target of 3000.

S&P 500

Bellwether transport stock Fedex is also recovering, having broken resistance at 256. A bullish sign for the broad economy. Expect a test of resistance at 274/275.

Fedex