(MENAFN- DailyFX) S & P 500, NIKKEI 225, HANG SENG INDEX OUTLOOK:
- S & P 500 index climbed 0.77% on Friday, boosted by favourable tech earnings
- Nikkei 225 index risks breaking below 21,900 – a key support level
- Hang Seng index extends its consolidation, eyeing key support at 24,130
S & P 500 Index Outlook:
The S & P 500 index stock benchmark ended the month of July with a 4% gain – its best monthly performance since April. Upbeat earnings from the major US technology firms - Apple, Amazon, Facebook and Alphabet - boosted market sentiment, sending the technology sector 2.37% higher on Friday. Now, investors and traders are probably looking at probably what's next to support the rally of the US stock benchmark after its astonishing 49% gain from the trough seen in March.
Headwinds seems to be around the corner - rating agency Fitch has revised the credit outlook of the United States to negative from stable, citing 'the ongoing deterioration in US public finance and the absence of a credible fiscal consolidation plan'. This may serve to boost demand for precious metals as it highlights credit risk against the backdrop of booming debt levels.
Sector-wise, information technology (+2.37%), consumer discretionary (+2.36%) and communication services (+1.15%) were doing the heavy lifting. However, less than half of the companies ended higher in even those best-performing sectors. This suggests the rally was perhaps lifted by a few big companies, whereas the vast majority have probably run out of steam.
S & P 500 Sector performance 31-7-2020
Technically, the S & P 500 index has reached a minor resistance at 3,270 – the previous high seen on 23rd July. Failing to break this level would probably result in a pullback towards support at 3,180– the 161.8% Fibonacci extension. The overall trend remains bullish as suggested by the 20-, 50- and 100-Day Simple Moving Averages (SMAs). The 200% Fibonacci extension level – at 3,358 – is a major resistance ahead.
S & P 500 Index – Daily Chart
Nikkei 225 Outlook:
Japan's Nikkei 225 index stock benchmark fell sharply on Friday as more than 400 new Covid-19 cases were reported in Tokyo. Virus concerns are undermining market sentiment, and are likely to remain the theme in the near term.
Technically, Nikkei 225 has fallen to a key support level at 21,900 after two months of consolidation. Breaking below this level would probably open room for more downside towards its 100-Day SMA at 21,400, and then a key Fibonacci support at 20,700.
Nikkei 225 Index – Daily Chart
Hang Seng Index Outlook:
Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index stock benchmark (HSI) extended its consolidation last week, testing its 100-Day SMA at 24,400. The index was adversely hurt by rising Covid-19 infections, a deep economic contraction and rising US-China tensions. This rendered Hang Seng one of the worst performing stock benchmark across the Asia-Pacific region. The outlook remains cloudy as there seems to be no quick solution to the above-mentioned topics.
In Shanghai, the stock markets have likely stabilized after a deep correction in July. Outstanding balance on Chinese margin trading has climbed to its highest level seen in more than a year (chart below), suggesting that investors are still in a 'risk on' mood. The margin trading balance has shown strong positive correlation with the Shanghai Composite.
Source: Bloomberg, DailyFX
Technically, Hang Seng is finding support at 24,400, breaking which will probably open room to more downside towards the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement at 24,130. The overall trend remains bearish in the near term.
Hang Seng Index – Daily Chart
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--- Written by Margaret Yang, Strategist for DailyFX.com
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