|premium|

S&P 500 (SPX) waits for Powell as ADP helps doves and GDP helps hawks

  • S&P 500 remains rangebound as we wait for Powell.
  • ADP employment data shows Fed hikes finally stalling the jobs market.
  • Limited gains likely though before Powell's speech later Wednesday.

Equities snoozed across the finish line on Tuesday with little catalyst. The Dow closed completely flat almost to the tick. The NASDAQ was lower by 0.7%, and the S&P 500 was also barely changed. Energy (XLE) was the biggest winner as oil prices recovered. China reopening is good news for oil. Well, that is the assumption anyway! 

S&P 500 (SPX) news

This morning we wait for Powell later who may give this market some direction. ADP jobs data just out will give the Fed pause argument more wings, and doves are taking flight as we speak. The US Dollar has weakened, and equities moved higher on the data. Powell will have the final say though, and he has been notably unhappy with loosening financial conditions in the past. The second reading of US GDP is higher and confirms the US economy is resilient. This gives Powell plenty of room to hike further.

S&P 500 (SPX) forecast

Powell will drive the market, so we can just identify the key levels to watch for. 3,946 is strong support, and below 3,900 (highlighted) is the medium-term pivot. Resistance sits at 4,502 from the 200-day moving average and 4,095 from the trendline. The extended target reads at 4,218 on any break higher, which comes from the gap on August 19. 3,946 is the short-term pivot, and remaining below leads to 3,900 and a likely extended move lower. 

SPX daily chart

Premium

You have reached your limit of 3 free articles for this month.

Start your subscription and get access to all our original articles.

Subscribe to PremiumSign In

Author

Ivan Brian

Ivan Brian

FXStreet

Ivan Brian started his career with AIB Bank in corporate finance and then worked for seven years at Baxter. He started as a macro analyst before becoming Head of Research and then CFO.

More from Ivan Brian
Share:

Editor's Picks

EUR/USD climbs to daily highs near 1.1820

EUR/USD now picks up pace and advances to the area of daily peaks north of the 1.1800 barrier at the end of the week. The pair’s decent move higher comes against the backdrop of a generalised lack of direction in the FX galaxy and the mild offered stance in the US Dollar.

GBP/USD trims losses, retests 1.3460

After briefly challenging its key 200-day SMA near 1.3440, GBP/USD now manages to regain some balance and revisit the 1.3460 zone on Friday. Cable’s pullback comes as the selling pressure on the Greenback gathers traction, reigniting some recovery in the risk-linked space.

Gold flirts with four-week highs past $5,200

Gold extends its rebound, climbing for a third consecutive session and pushing back above the $5,200 mark per troy ounce on Friday. The move higher continues to draw support from lingering geopolitical tensions and the ongoing uncertainty surrounding US trade policy, both of which are keeping safe-haven demand firmly in play.

Bitcoin, Ethereum and Ripple consolidate with short-term cautious bullish bias

Bitcoin, Ethereum and Ripple are consolidating near key technical areas on Friday, showing mild signs of stabilization after recent volatility. BTC holds above $67,000 despite mild losses so far this week, while ETH hovers around $2,000 after a rejection near its upper consolidation boundary. 

Breaking: US and Israel attack Iran, risk aversion to sweep global markets

Early Saturday, United States (US) President Donald Trump announced that the US had begun “major combat operations” in Iran, following Israel’s pre-emptive missile attacks against Tehran.

Starknet unveils strkBTC, shielded Bitcoin transactions on Ethereum Layer 2

Starknet, the Ethereum Layer 2 network developed by StarkWare, today announced strkBTC, a wrapped Bitcoin asset that introduces optional shielding while preserving full DeFi composability.