US 500 – Preparing for the Pivotal US Non-Farm Payrolls ReleaseAfter a slow start to trading in September due to the US Labour Day bank holiday on Monday, volatility for US indices has picked up across the week as traders react to multiple drivers, including concerns about the sustainability of government debt in the US, Europe and the UK which weighed on sentiment Tuesday, big tech getting a key win in one of the biggest anti-trust cases for years which provided support off the lows, and updates on the current health of the US economy and labour market, including a slightly disappointing ISM Manufacturing PMI Survey on Tuesday, and a weaker than expected JOLTs Job Openings report on Wednesday afternoon.
Unsurprisingly, the different responses to these drivers has seen the US 500 index trade from a Monday high of 6483 to a low of 6363 on Tuesday and then move back higher again to current levels around 6450 (0700 BST), as traders cautiously initiate fresh risk positions to kick off the start of September.
However, it could be said that the two biggest data releases of the week for traders to digest may still be to come. The first is the US ISM Services PMI which is released later today at 1500 BST. This reading surprised markets last month by falling below expectations to 50.1, just above the 50 level which separates economic expansion and contraction. Traders will be looking to see whether this new print confirms a trend of weaker service activity or if the July reading was just a one-off blip.
Then on Friday, it’s the release that potentially every trader has been waiting for since Federal Reserve Chairman Powell mentioned concerns about the strength of the US labour market in his keynote speech from Jackson Hole, and noted how policymakers will be watching employment data closely to determine whether a rate cut at their meeting on September 17th would be appropriate to help support the economy. The outcome of the components of this release, including the unemployment rate and average hourly earnings could determine not only the direction of the US 500 into the weekend but how it performs across the early part of September, a month which is historically one of the worst for US 500 performance.
Technical Update: Trend Extension or Trend Reversal?
A bullish uptrend is defined by higher price highs and higher price lows, reflecting positive sentiment. Traders within this backdrop are seen to buy dips in price at a higher level each time and are able to push prices above the previous high.
As the chart above shows, the US 500 index appears a classic example of an uptrend, with a pattern of higher highs and higher lows emerging since the April 7th low.
While the US 500 index may currently be tracing out a bullish trend, further price strength isn’t guaranteed, especially with Friday’s payrolls data looming. This release has the potential to shift investor sentiment in either direction, so traders could find it useful to monitor key support and resistance levels closely.
Potential Resistance Levels to Monitor:
The recovery from the September 2nd low of 6363, which was above the prior August 20th low of 6347, suggests the uptrend remains intact, keeping the focus on the August 28th all-time high at 6512. A close above this level could signal further price strength.
While no guarantee of continued upside, a break above 6512 may open a path towards 6775, which is the 100% Fibonacci extension, and potentially higher.
Potential Support Levels to Monitor:
If the US 500 index is maintaining an uptrend in price, the potentially important support focus is the August 20th low at 6347. A close below 6347 could see a negative shift in sentiment and increase the risk of a deeper decline.
A close below 6347 might well be a trigger for renewed weakness, with potential then to test 6214, the August 1st low, and possibly further.
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