|

S&P 500 is testing the top of a four-year logarithmic channel

The S&P 500 is now testing the top of a logarithmic rising channel stretching back to 2022, while Stochastic RSI has pushed into overbought territory.

Previous tests of this top has resulted in a bearish divergence on the daily timeframe, where price continued to push higher with weakening momentum. This was eventually followed by a decline.

SPX

So if price pushes higher and forms a bearish divergence now, this technical idea is going to gain more probability for me, personally.

Those pullbacks have repeatedly brought the S&P back towards its 100-week EMA band, which has acted as a pretty reliable trend support since 2023. It currently sits near the channel lows

What would get my attention?

I would want to see something like this:

  • S&P continues pushing higher, potentially even overshooting the channel.
  • Stochastic RSI fails to confirm the new high, creating daily TF bearish divergence.
  • Price then falls back inside the channel.

If that happens, the topping idea becomes much more interesting.

For now, we’re only at the awareness stage.

The setup is there, but the actual reversal signal isn’t.

Bullish scenario

If you’re an Elliott Wave trader, the current move could still be part of Wave 3, which would leave room for the S&P to break above this channel and extend considerably higher before a larger correction develops.

A sustained breakout above the channel would therefore weaken my bearish idea pretty quickly.

Keep in mind, we’re not trying to pick the top here. This is simply a technical structure worth paying attention to as it has produced some pretty useful signals over the last few years.

For now: Channel resistance is being tested. I remain neutral until I see a bearish divergence, or a sustained break above the channel.

Author

Zorrays Junaid

Zorrays Junaid

Alchemy Markets

Zorrays Junaid has extensive combined experience in the financial markets as a portfolio manager and trading coach. More recently, he is an Analyst with Alchemy Markets, and has contributed to DailyFX and Elliott Wave Forecast in the past.

More from Zorrays Junaid
Share:

Editor's Picks

GBP/USD treads water around 1.3400 as Hormuz risks lift USD

GBP/USD trades with caution around 1.3400 in European trading on Monday, away from an over three-week high, or levels just above the 1.3500 psychological mark touched on Friday. The pair faces headwinds from a modest US Dollar rebound as investors rush to safety amid renewed jitters on the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and US-Iran talks.

EUR/USD consolidates below 1.1600 amid Mideast tensions

EUR/USD kicks off the new week on a subdued note and trades below 1.1600 in the European morning on Monday, well within striking distance of a fresh high since June 17, touched in reaction to the disappointing US jobs data on Friday.

Gold climbs back to $4,350; remains below June 17 high

Gold reverses a modest intraday dip, and climbs to the top boundary of its daily range, closer to the $4,350 level heading into the European session. The commodity, however, remains below its highest level since June 17, touched on Friday, following the release of the US Nonfarm Payrolls report.

Cardano: Bulls eye a second leg higher as whales buy

Cardano trades above $0.196 at the start of the week after posting double-digit gains over the past two weeks. ADA’s bullish price action is supported by steady whale accumulation. Meanwhile, derivatives sentiment is showing a slight bullish tilt, suggesting a second leg higher for ADA.

The hottest trade of 2026 has a problem
The carry trade has been one of the biggest winners of the year, helped by low volatility, wide interest-rate gaps, and a relatively stable dollar. But now, parts of that setup are starting to crack.
9-3: Is the Federal Reserve’s vote tally Warsh's new forward guidance?
The rate did not move. Neither did the statement, and that’s the more interesting fact. Set the July 29 Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) statement beside the one issued on June 17, and the two documents are identical apart from a single verb and a paragraph at the bottom naming three dissenters.