Stocks Remain Close To Record Highs - Top Or Just Pause Before Another Leg Up?

Briefly: In our opinion, speculative short positions are favored (with stop-loss at 2,210, and profit target at 2,050, S&P 500 index).

Our intraday outlook is bearish, and our short-term outlook is bearish. Our medium-term outlook is now neutral, following S&P 500 index breakout above last year's all-time high:

Intraday outlook (next 24 hours): bearish
Short-term outlook (next 1-2 weeks): bearish
Medium-term outlook (next 1-3 months): neutral
Long-term outlook (next year): neutral

The U.S. stock market indexes lost 0.1-0.2% on Friday, extending their short-term uncertainty, as investors continued to hesitate following June - July rally. The S&P 500 index remains close to its last Monday's new record high of 2,193.81. The nearest important level of resistance is at around 2,190-2,200. On the other hand, support level is at 2,165-2,170, marked by short-term local lows. The next support level remains at 2,150. Will the market continue higher? Or is this some kind of a topping pattern before downward reversal? There have been no confirmed negative signals so far:

Expectations before the opening of today's trading session are slightly negative, with index futures currently down 0.2%. The European stock market indexes have lost 0.2-0.5% so far. The S&P 500 futures contract trades within an intraday consolidation, as it fluctuates along the level of 2,180. The nearest important level of resistance is at around 2,185-2,190, marked by local highs. On the other hand, support level remains at 2,165-2,170, among others, as we can see on the 15-minute chart:

The technology Nasdaq 100 futures contract follows a similar path, as it currently trades close to the level of 4,800. The nearest important level of resistance is at around 4,810-4,820, and support level remains at 4,770-4,780, as the 15-minute chart shows:

Concluding, the broad stock market remains within a short term consolidation, as the S&P 500 index trades along its new record high. We still can see overbought conditions accompanied by negative technical divergences. Therefore, we continue to maintain our speculative short position (opened on July 18th at 2,162, S&P 500 index). Stop-loss level is at 2,210 and potential profit target is at 2,050 (S&P 500 index). You can trade S&P 500 index using futures contracts (S&P 500 futures contract - SP, E-mini S&P 500 futures contract - ES) or an ETF like the SPDR S&P 500 ETF - SPY. It is always important to set some exit price level in case some events cause the price to move in the unlikely direction. Having safety measures in place helps limit potential losses while letting the gains grow.