
Stocks started Wednesday lower. The S&P tried a number of times to build a rally but momentum was unavailable and each rally failed. By the close, the S&P was lower by 20 points to end the day at 4402, just above the 4400 level. 4400 remains resistance.
The NASDAQ rose 19 points for a third straight day of gains.
Let’s review the closing technical indicators from Wednesday to see what to expect for Thursday.
Stock Market Outlook Chart Comments At The Close on Wed Aug 4 2021
On Tuesday the S&P closed lower but still above the 21 day moving average. This left behind a bearish candlestick for Thursday.
The Upper Bollinger Band is back climbing while the Lower Bollinger Band is at the 50 day moving average. Both signals are still somewhat bullish, as a Bollinger Bands Squeeze is starting.
All the major moving averages are still climbing which is bullish. Aside from the closing candlestick, the chart remains dominantly bullish for Thursday.

Stock Market Outlook review of Wed Aug 4 2021
Stock Market Outlook: Technical Indicators Review:
Momentum: Momentum is falling and positive.
- Settings: For momentum I use a 10 period when studying market direction.
MACD Histogram: MACD (Moving Averages Convergence / Divergence) issued a down signal on Mon Aug 2. On Wed Aug 4 2021 the down signal was confirmed.
- Settings: For MACD Histogram, I am using the Fast Points set at 13, Slow Points at 26 and Smoothing at 9.
Ultimate Oscillator: The Ultimate Oscillator is falling.
- Settings: The Ultimate Oscillator settings are: Period 1 is 5, Period 2 is 10, Period 3 is 15, Factor 1 is 4, Factor 2 is 2 and Factor 3 is 1. These are not the default settings but are the settings I use with the S&P 500 chart set for 1 to 3 months.
Slow Stochastic: The Slow Stochastic has an up signal in place and is still overbought.
Settings: For the Slow Stochastic I use the K period of 14 and D period of 3. The Slow Stochastic tries to predict the market direction further out than just one day.
Relative Strength Index: The RSI signal is falling.
- Settings: The relative strength index is set for a period of 5 which gives it 5 days of market movement to monitor. It is often the first indicator to show an overbought or oversold signal.
Rate of Change: The rate of change signal is falling.
- Settings: Rate Of Change is set for a 21 period. This indicator looks back 21 days and compares price action from the past to the present. With the Rate Of Change, prices are rising when signals are positive. Conversely, prices are falling when signals are negative. As an advance rises the Rate Of Change signal should also rise higher, otherwise the rally is suspect. A decline should see the Rate Of Change fall into negative signals. The more negative the signals the stronger the decline.
Support and Resistance Levels To Be Aware Of:
4400 is resistance
4370 is resistance
4350 is light support
4300 is light support
4290 is light support
4270 is light support
4250 is light support
4225 is light support
4200 is light support
4175 is light support
4150 is light support
4100 is good support
4070 is light support
4050 is light support
4000 is good support
3900 is support
3850 is support
3800 is support
3750 is good support
3700 is light support
3680 is light support
3600 is strong support
Stock Market Outlook for Tomorrow – Thu Aug 5 2021
For Thursday we should see another attempt at a bounce sometime in the morning. It could be as early as the open. However the technical indicators are not supportive of the bounce lasting but instead they are pointing to a choppy day on Thursday with a lower close. The most important technical signal from Wednesday was the confirmed down signal was the Moving Average Convergence / Divergence indicator. This tends to have a fairly accurate history of predicting market direction.
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