empty
25.02.2025 01:59 PM
US stock market escapes from narrow range

Markets follow a natural cycle: trends give way to consolidations, and consolidations lead to new trends.

Before the sell-off on February 23–24, the S&P 500 had gone 35 consecutive trading sessions without a 1% decline, marking its longest streak since December. This has happened only three times in 2024. Since the November presidential election, the broad stock index had been stuck in a tight 4% trading range—the narrowest since 2017. A breakout was inevitable, and bulls fled the battlefield.

S&P 500's performance

This image is no longer relevant

The market was falling ahead of NVIDIA's earnings report, despite expectations that the company's earnings would exceed forecasts. Strong economic data, corporate earnings which are twice higher than Wall Street estimates, and even a bullish shift from Morgan Stanley—all failed to support US stocks.

Even Morgan Stanley, which was previously bearish, now claims that the US stock market's underperformance compared to Europe and other regions won't last long. The S&P 500, they argue, remains the highest-quality index with the best profit potential.

According to Principal Asset Management, since 1965, 10%+ corrections in the S&P 500 have primarily been caused by either a hawkish Federal Reserve's policy shift, or prolonged high interest rates. Something similar is happening now, as derivatives markets don't expect rate cuts before June. However, the situation differs significantly—no one is even hinting at a hard landing.

S&P 500 and European stock index performance

This image is no longer relevant

The key drivers of the S&P 500 pullback include Donald Trump's confirmation that tariffs on Mexico and Canada will proceed as planned; the victory of Germany's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in parliamentary elections; and investors' belief in an imminent resolution of the conflict in Ukraine. For a long time, the S&P 500 rallied as markets grew indifferent to Trump's tariff threats, which could slow the US economy.

However, the clock is ticking:

March 1: 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada could take effect.

March 12: Steel and aluminum duties—to which the EU has promised retaliation.

April 1: Reciprocal tariffs with China are set to roll out.

Meanwhile, 10% duties on Chinese imports remain in place.

The CDU's victory under Friedrich Merz sent European stock indices, led by the DAX 40, soaring. This accelerated capital outflows from the US to Europe, reinforcing the narrative of waning US market dominance and diminished faith in American tech giants.

This image is no longer relevant

Technical outlook for S&P 500

On the daily chart, the S&P 500 continues to form an expanding wedge reversal pattern. For confirmation, the index needs to break below 5,925. Once this occurs, a short-term rebound is expected, providing an opportunity to increase short positions from 6,083.

Marek Petkovich,
Analytical expert of InstaForex
© 2007-2025
Select timeframe
5
min
15
min
30
min
1
hour
4
hours
1
day
1
week
Earn on cryptocurrency rate changes with InstaForex
Download MetaTrader 4 and open your first trade
  • Grand Choice
    Contest by
    InstaForex
    InstaForex always strives to help you
    fulfill your biggest dreams.
    JOIN CONTEST

Recommended Stories

The Pound Ignores Weak Data and Persistently Tries to Continue Rising

The macroeconomic data from the UK published last week looks frankly weak—everything is in the red zone, meaning worse than expected. Nevertheless, the pound continues to climb upward regardless

Kuvat Raharjo 19:36 2025-06-16 UTC+2

CFTC Report: The Dollar Is Being Sold Off Again. Awaiting New Revelations from Trump

Five weeks ago, the total short position on the U.S. dollar against major currencies stopped increasing, which gave reason to believe the dollar might begin an offensive in the currency

Kuvat Raharjo 12:14 2025-06-16 UTC+2

GBP/USD. Analysis and Forecast

Today, the GBP/USD pair is attempting to regain positive momentum while remaining on the defensive. Traders prefer to wait for the release of key data before opening directional positions

Irina Yanina 12:10 2025-06-16 UTC+2

EUR/USD. Analysis and Forecast

Today, the EUR/USD pair is attempting to regain positive momentum, approaching the psychological level of 1.600 and price levels last seen in 2021. Traders are eagerly awaiting the important political

Irina Yanina 12:08 2025-06-16 UTC+2

The Israel-Iran Confrontation. Fed Meeting. What's Next? (I expect further decline in USD/CAD and a local pullback in gold before a new wave of growth)

Israel and Iran are exchanging missile strikes, but it seems markets are trying to play their own game, assuming that this conflict will not cross the nuclear threshold

Pati Gani 10:51 2025-06-16 UTC+2

EUR/USD: War Is No Ally to the Greenback

At the start of the new trading week, the EUR/USD pair stayed within the 1.15 range and is even trying to approach the resistance level of 1.1600 despite the ongoing

Irina Manzenko 10:32 2025-06-16 UTC+2

What to Pay Attention to on June 16? A Breakdown of Fundamental Events for Beginners

No macroeconomic reports are scheduled for Monday, but the market does not lack news. This week, Donald Trump announced his intention to raise all import tariffs, as none

Paolo Greco 06:46 2025-06-16 UTC+2

GBP/USD Overview – June 16: How Trump Is Undermining the Dollar

The GBP/USD currency pair will remain under the influence of geopolitics and politics in the new week. Essentially, we've been saying the same thing every day for the past four

Paolo Greco 04:54 2025-06-16 UTC+2

EUR/USD Overview – June 16: The Israel-Iran Conflict Changes Nothing

The EUR/USD currency pair moved sharply back and forth throughout Friday. The pair traded with high volatility for two consecutive days, and there is a clear and logical explanation

Paolo Greco 04:54 2025-06-16 UTC+2

EUR/USD. Weekly Preview. Focus on the Middle East and the Federal Reserve

The final trading day of last week ended on an uncertain note. Reacting to Middle East developments, the EUR/USD pair sharply declined on Friday, retreating from the multi-year price high

Irina Manzenko 01:30 2025-06-16 UTC+2
Can't speak right now?
Ask your question in the chat.
Widget callback
 

Dear visitor,

Your IP address shows that you are currently located in the USA. If you are a resident of the United States, you are prohibited from using the services of InstaFintech Group including online trading, online transfers, deposit/withdrawal of funds, etc.

If you think you are seeing this message by mistake and your location is not the US, kindly proceed to the website. Otherwise, you must leave the website in order to comply with government restrictions.

Why does your IP address show your location as the USA?

  • - you are using a VPN provided by a hosting company based in the United States;
  • - your IP does not have proper WHOIS records;
  • - an error occurred in the WHOIS geolocation database.

Please confirm whether you are a US resident or not by clicking the relevant button below. If you choose the wrong option, being a US resident, you will not be able to open an account with InstaForex anyway.

We are sorry for any inconvenience caused by this message.