|

Micro E-Mini Nasdaq 100 futures crack rising wedge – Loss of 21,820 support signals drop toward 21,370

Hawkish Fed outlook and mixed tech earnings compound technical breakdown, as bulls must defend January–February 2025 lows at 21,370 or risk a deeper pullback into the 20,000 region.

Executive summary

  • Three-Month Rising Wedge Breach: July–June ascending trend cracked below support at 21,820 after multiple failures to clear the 22,000 zone.
  • Critical Support Levels:
    • 21,370 (Jan–Feb 2025 lows) must hold to prevent extension toward lower demand zones.
    • 21,117 → 20,919 → 20,640 → 20,468 → 20,190 are successive downside inflection points.
  • Key Resistance: 21,820 now acts as the first barrier; reclaiming it is necessary to rechallenge 22,000.

Fundamental context

  • Federal Reserve Sentiment: Minutes highlight ongoing rate-holding bias amid sticky inflation, keeping U.S. yields elevated and dampening growth-sensitive tech stocks.
  • Tech Sector Earnings: Mixed guidance from mega-caps has increased downside volatility, undermining confidence in extended breakouts.
  • Global Growth Headwinds: Soft manufacturing PMIs in Europe and China, alongside weaker trade data, contribute to risk-off flows against high-beta indices.
  • Inflation Data: May CPI and PPI prints surprised to the upside, reinforcing hawkish rate expectations and pressuring equity valuations.

Technical levels and price structure

22,000 - Major supply zone - Multiple rejections in June; trend pivot area

21,820 - Broken rising-wedge support → resistance - Bulls must recapture to validate any near-term reversal

21,370 - Jan–Feb 2025 demand base - Critical pivot; defended before 22% collapse; first major support

21,117 - Fib retracement & volume-profile confluence - Potential bounce area if 21,370 fails

20,919 - Prior swing lows (Mar–Apr 2025) - Secondary demand cluster

20,640 - Daily VWAP confluence - Reinforced by high-volume node

20,468 - April swing low - Minor support zone

20,190 - Structural support & psychological area - Key fib level and round number; major long-term inflection

Outlook and next moves

  • Bearish Bias: With the wedge broken and 21,820 acting as resistance, downside momentum is likely to target 21,370.
  • Key Defend Zone: 21,370 must hold to avoid deeper slides into the low-20,000s.
  • Bullish Scenario: Only a sustained recapture of 21,820 clears the path back toward 22,000–22,297 resistance.

Conclusion

The recent breakdown of the three-month rising wedge and loss of the 21,820 pivot mark a decisive shift in MNQ September futures. From a technical standpoint, the market is vulnerable to a slide toward 21,370—an area that encapsulates the January–February 2025 lows and acts as the base for the prior 22% correction. Fundamental headwinds from a persistently hawkish Fed, mixed tech earnings, and global growth concerns bolster the bearish view. Traders should monitor 21,370 closely: its defence will dictate whether a deeper pullback into the 20,000 region unfolds or if a recovery back above 21,820 can spark a retest of 22,000.

Author

Denis Joeli Fatiaki

Denis Joeli Fatiaki

Independent Analyst

Denis Joeli Fatiaki possesses over a decade of extensive experience as a multi-asset trader and Market Strategist.

More from Denis Joeli Fatiaki
Share:

Editor's Picks

EUR/USD stabilizes near 1.1800 as markets focus on geopolitics

EUR/USD stays defensive around 1.1800 in the second half of the day on Thursday. The US Dollar stabilizes, following the recent decline led by tariff uncertainty, capping the pair's upside. All eyes now remain on the US-Iran nuclear talks after ECB President Lagarde's testimony failed to impress Euro bulls. 

GBP/USD drops toward 1.3500 as USD finds fresh demand

GBP/USD falls back toward 1.3500 in the European session on Thursday, snapping its recovery momentum. The pair loses traction as the US Dollar finds fresh demand, as markets turn cautious ahead of the US-Iran nuclear talks. The US trade policy uncertainty also remains a drag on risk sentiment. 

Gold clings to gains amid sustained safe-haven flows ahead of US-Iran talks

Gold sticks to its modest intraday gains through the first half of the European session on Thursday, with bulls still awaiting a sustained move and acceptance above the $5,200 mark before placing fresh bets. 

Stellar: Relief bounce fades as bearish undertone persists

Stellar is trading around $0.16 at the time of writing on Thursday after rebounding more than 8% in the previous day. Derivatives data paints a negative picture as XLM’s short bets hit a monthly high while Open Interest continues to decline.

The one thing everyone is on the lookout for is US action of some sort against Iran

The FX market is minestrone soup these days. It is befuddled by conflicting data, rumors and small stories exaggerated out of proportion, and Trump-generated uncertainty. 

Solana strikes key resistance with double-digit gains

Solana trades at $88 at press time on Thursday, after an 11% upswing the previous day within a broader consolidation range of roughly three weeks. Institutional demand for Solana heightens as US spot SOL Exchange Traded Funds record $30 million of inflow on Wednesday.