
Welcome to the home for real-time coverage of markets brought to you by Reuters reporters. You can share your thoughts with us at markets.research@thomsonreuters.com
S&P 500 INDEX BACK UP TO BATTLE 50-DMA
The S&P 500 index .SPX ended Wednesday at 5,569.06. However, with e-mini S&P 500 futures EScv1 rallying more than 50 points, or around 1%, the benchmark index appears poised to vault above its descending 50-day moving average (DMA) at the open:
The 50-DMA ended Wednesday at 5,602.17, and should dip to around 5,592 on Thursday.
The SPX last closed above its 50-DMA on February 21, which was two trading days after its record highs. Thus, the benchmark index has ended below this closely followed intermediate-term moving average for 47 straight trading days.
Holding above this moving average can suggest the S&P 500's recovery is gaining steam with the next hurdle at the April 2 high at 5,695.31.
The 233-DMA, a long-term Fibonacci-based moving average, and the closely-eyed 200-DMA are now around 5,700 and 5,750 respectively. The March 25 high was at 5,786.95.
In terms of support, a reversal below Wednesday's 5,433.24 low and a weekly Gann Line, which now resides around 5,412, can see downside pressure intensify. The April 23 gap requires a fall to 5,309.61 for a fill.
The April 21 low was at 5,101.63. It protects against a potential slide to, and below, the 4,835.04 April 7 trough.
Meanwhile, of note, after tumbling to just 5.2% on April 8, which was the date of the SPX's low close in the wake of its February record high, the percentage of S&P 500 stocks above their 50-DMA continues to improve. This measure ended Wednesday at just over 42%:
(Terence Gabriel)
EARLIER ON LIVE MARKETS:
AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR 'UNDULY SOLD OFF' - UBS CLICK HERE
VAGUE GUIDANCE SHIELDS STOCKS FROM TARIFF TUMBLE CLICK HERE
'THE SOONER, THE BETTER' FOR BOE TO CUT BASE RATE TO 3.5% CLICK HERE
FTSE 100 STEADY CLICK HERE
BEFORE THE BELL: LONDON GAINS AFTER STRONG US TECH RESULTS CLICK HERE