U.S. markets snapped 3-session losing streaks on Wednesday following renewed hopes the U.S. and China are moving closer to agreeing on the amount of tariffs that would be rolled back in a phase one trade deal.

People familiar with the talks said that President Donald Trump’s previous comments downplaying the urgency of a deal shouldn’t be understood to mean the talks were stalling.

The on again, off again, trade news helped settle near-term nervousness with the major indexes holding the majority of their gains while pushing prior resistance levels. Volatility simmered after closing below a key level of support but remains at a cautious level.

The Russell 2000 added 0.7% following the opening run to 1,618. Near-term and lower resistance at 1,615-1,625 was cleared but held with a close above the latter getting 1,635-1,650 and last week’s 52-week peak at 1,634 back in focus.

The S&P 500 was up 0.6% with the intraday peak reaching 3,119. Key resistance at 3,125 held with a close above this level leading to a retest towards 3,150-3,175 with the recent all-time record high at 3,154.

The Dow gained 0.5% after testing an intraday high of 27,727. Prior and lower resistance at 27,800-28,000 was challenged but held with continued closes above the latter being a more bullish signal for a retest towards 28,200-28,400 and fresh all-time highs.

The Nasdaq also rose 0.5% with the high reaching 8,584 shortly after the opening bell.

Near-term and lower resistance at 8,550-8,600 was recovered with a close above the latter signaling upside towards 8,650-8,700 with last Wednesday’s all-time top at 8,705.

Energy and Healthcare paced sectors leaders after rallying 0.9% while Consumer Discretionary advanced 0.7%. There were no sector laggards.

Global Economy – European markets rebounded to snap a 4-session slide on revived U.S./ China trade news.

France’s CAC 40 and the Belgium20 rallied 1.3%. The Stoxx 600 and Germany’s DAX 30 jumped 1.2%. UK’s FTSE 100 climbed 0.4%.

Asian markets were weak following President Donald Trump’s previous comments that he may delay a trade deal with China till after the 2020 presidential election.

Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 tumbled 1.6% and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng dropped 1.3%. Japan’s Nikkei gave back 1.1% and South Korea’s Kospi was down 0.7%. China’s Shanghai slipped 0.2%.

China’s services purchasing managers index rose to 53.5 in November from 51.1 in October.

Australian economy grew 1.7% on a seasonally adjusted basis year-on-year in the September quarter.

MBA Mortgage Applications slumped 9.2% last week to wrap up a choppy November, and follows the 1.5% gain in the prior week. All of the weakness was in refinancings, where the index plunged -15.6% versus a prior 4.2% gain. The purchase index edged up 0.9% after slipping -1.2% previously.

On a 12-month basis, applications are up 10.4% year-over-year while refinancings are 61.2% higher, while the purchase index is -24.1% year-over-year lower. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate was steady at 3.97%, and has been below 4% for the 3-straight months. The rate was at 5.08% a year ago.

The 5-year ARM fell to 3.28% versus 3.42%, and was at 4.33% last year.

ADP Employment Report checked in at 67,000 for November, versus forecasts of 156,000, and follows a revised 121,000 October gain. This was a huge disappointment as weakness was in the goods producing sector saw an -18,000 drop. The service sector added 85,000.

PMI Services Index for November rose 1 point to 51.6, matching forecasts, and up from October’s print of 50.6. The employment component improved to 50.5 from 47.5.

The composite index increased 1.1 points to 53 from 50.9 in October. Employment rose to 50.9 from 48.1 previously.

ISM Non-Manufacturing Index fell 0.8 ticks to 53.9 in November, below estimates for a reading of 54.5, after rising 2.1 ticks to 54.7 in October. The employment subindex rose 1.8 points to 55.5 for November versus 53.7 the previous month. New orders increased 1.5 points to 57.1 from 55.6.

New export orders improved to 52 from 50 while imports fell to 45 from 48.5. Prices paid bounced to 58.5 from 56.6.

Market Sentiment – The iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT) was down for the 4th time in 5 sessions after tapping an intraday low of $139.21. Near-term and upper support at $139.50-$139 and the 50-day moving average were breached but held.

A close below the latter reopens downside risk towards $138-$137.50.

Lowered resistance is at $140-$140.50. Continued closes above the former would signal another push towards $141.50-$142.

The Spider Small-Cap 600 ETF (SLY) snapped a 3-session losing streak after trading to a high of $70.39. Near-term and lower resistance at $70-$70.50 was cleared and held.

A close above the latter would signal ongoing strength and a retest towards $71-$71.50 with last week’s 52-week peak at $71.22.

Current support is at $69.50-$69. A close below the latter would be a renewed bearish development with risk towards $68.50-$68 and the 50-day moving average.

RSI is back in an uptrend with lower resistance at 55-60.

A close above the latter would be a more bullish signal for a return run towards 65-70. Support is at 50 with risk towards 45-40 on a close back below this level and the latter representing the October low.

The Financial Select Sector Spiders (XLF) was up for the first time in 4 sessions following the intraday rally to $29.90. Near-term and lower resistance at $30-$30.25 was challenged but held.

There is upside potential towards $30.75-$31 and all-time highs from 2007 on continued closes above $30.25 and Monday’s 52-week high of $30.26.

Near-term support is at $29.50-$29.25. A close below the latter would be a renewed bearish signal with additional risk towards $29-$28.75 and the 50-day moving average.

RSI is back in a slight uptrend with resistance at 60.

A close above this level would signal a return of strength with upside and retest potential towards 65-70.

Support is at 55-50 with a move below the former, and a level that has been holding since mid-October, signaling a continued backtest towards the 45-40 area.

All the best,
Roger Scott.