Happy New Year S&P 500: Why I am BULLISH on Stocks for 2026.Hello There,
in the recent year, the S&P 500 has formed historical volatilities to the upside and downside while still sustaining the underlying trend. Several important factors drove the major price moves seen in the past year. Considering these fundamentals, I have detected important fundamental and technical signs that should be considered when preparing potential market participation for 2026.
In 2025, the major price moves that were recorded in the price actions resulted from crucial fiscal decisions. The main decline right at the beginning of the year due to tariff increases resulted in a drop of over -20% for the index. While this seemed to be a doomsday scenario for the whole market and a potential setup of a year-long bear market, the markets could quickly recover again and form several new highs.
The major price move that resulted from the market recovery gave the implication that the bull market won't be over so far, as prices reached far beyond the previous all-time high already. What is important here is that this price move was also supported by increased bullish volume, making it a fundamentally strong price action that is also likely to continue within 2026.
FUNDAMENTAL PERSPECTIVE
There are also several fundamental signs that are main implications for my consideration of a huge bull market continuation in 2026. These factors determine the underlying bullishness of the market from an economic perspective, supporting also the technical factors seen in my chart. There I am pointing out the most determining fundamental factors to consider here.
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Sustained GDP Growth and All-Time-High Demand
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Considering the important macroeconomic dynamics of the underlying fundamentals. The year 2025 has shown great increases within the U.S. GDP, continuing with the main uptrend of GDP growth. This has been supported by subsequent interest rate decreases. It is important to note here that the U.S. volume share of the S&P 500 accounts for almost 72% of the total volume of the index, making the U.S. volume entering from the economy the most important factor of price growth.
Also, the expectations of interest rate drops as well as inflation declines create a main bullish environment, which is offering an underlying bullishness from a fundamental perspective. With decreasing inflationary pressures, the interest rates are also likely to decrease, creating a dynamic that is supporting further investments into the index. Considering the forecasts, this will create a bullish dynamic, especially in Q2 and Q3, when the forecasted expectations turn out in reality.
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Nominal Interest Rate Decreases
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The decreasing nominal interest rates are a strong sign of the market turning more and more bullish. In the past year, the FED lowered the interest rates subsequently to lower levels. Creating a strong demand for money and investments in the market. These drivers were also particularly important for the price action holding to the upside and not declining more after the major drop at the beginning of the year.
It is highly likely that interest rates will decline further in 2026, creating further bullish underlying fundamental factors, increasing money demand and investment. This adds to the overall bullish expectations and considerations of forecasts for 2026. It will also be an interesting indication to follow for Q1 and Q2 and see how the FED considers further rate declines.
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An Bullish Sentiment Determined by the VIX Index
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This is an indicator especially important for the S&P 500 Index. It measures the market expectations of volatility derived from options prices. A low VIX index signals a bullish sentiment with a high risk tolerance, and firms are likely to invest more. A high VIX index signals a bearish sentiment with a high risk aversion, and the firms are not likely to invest more than necessary.
Throughout the year of 2025, the index was, the vast majority of the time, below the 15 threshold. With an average VIX of 15, this is a very bullish base that has built up in the year 2025. Especially in Q3 and Q4 of 2025, the index kept several times below the 15 threshold. This dynamic signals firms and investors willingness to invest more in the market and get ready for further bullish moves in 2026.
TECHNICAL PERSPECTIVE
Major Historical Ascending Trend Channel
As seen in my chart, the S&P 500 index is still trading within this huge and sustained uptrend channel. Within this channel, the index already bounced several times in this massively important and crucial lower bullish accumulation zone, especially followed by many famous investors pointing out supporting facts about the bullish dynamics. This channel is not yet broken, and the index already had the ability to visit the middle line of the channel, making it highly likely that the index will also bounce till the upper boundary of the channel again.
Bollinger Bands Tightening and Breakout Expectations
The Bollinger Bands indication is very interesting to consider. Because this constellation is now actually tightening above the middle line of the historical accelerating channel. Also, the index is bouncing above the middle line of the Bollinger Bands. As the bands tighten, they get ready for a major breakout and expansion of the bands towards the upside. What is also important here is that they follow the overall uptrend and EMA structure. An upthrust within this Bollinger Band dynamic is very likely to occur.
Substantial and Sustained Fibonacci Extensions
The index is still trading within a major Fibonacci extension. With the major waves 1 and 2 already completed. Now the index moves forward with expanding the wave 3 towards the upside. Within this dynamic, it is very interesting to see that the first 1.618 Fibonacci extension level of the first wave has already been reached. After this level is reached, the next target is the next higher Fibonacci level of 2.618. As the uptrend is still going on and the Fibonacci extension is holding, this is the next reasonable target. The target also matches with the huge ascending uptrend.
Strong Volume Supporting Bounces in the Channel
The bounces from the lower boundary of the uptrend channel were severely supported by major volume spikes. This is very important in an uptrend; the volume spikes have to correspondingly support the uptrend dynamics. The spikes were always conducted when a major bottom and the following uptrend bounce had been formed. As the substantial volume is holding on, it will be an important driver for further bullish price action throughout the year. Therefore, especially if volume should increase in the next term, it will offer additional support.
EMA-Support and Overall Trend Dynamics
The whole uptrend is still holding above the whole main EMA structure. Also greatly to consider here is that the EMA bounce occurred in March 2023, as also the market was able to recover from the inherent dynamic. The trend is still holding above the EMAs, and if a pullback should occur, the EMAs will be strong supports, likely holding the trend to the upside. Therefore, there are two possible scenarios that are most likely. The first is the uptrend just goes on, and the second is a pullback into support zones happens from where a stabilizing bullish price action can establish the further bullish uptrend.
CONCLUSION AND PROJECTIONS
Taking all of these important considerations into account, Q1 will be very decisive. Especially in price action, Q1 will set up how the rest of the year will move forward in price action. Therefore, there are two main scenarios that should be highly necessarily considered. The first is the uptrend dynamic as it currently established just goes on till the upper target zones are reached. The second is the price action firstly pulling back into the support zones determined by EMA, the Bollinger Bands, the bullish accumulation channel, and the volume profile. Then it will also be important how the macroeconomic indications pointed out will behave. If the expected forecasts show up as mentioned, it will highly likely be a major boost for the bullish price action. In any case, it will be highly determining and interesting to see the S&P 500 index evolve.
With this being said, it is great to see an increased support.
We will watch out for the important market evolutions.
Thank you very much for watching!
