Bulls Close 2019 on a High Note
8:00am (EST)
The market traded on both sides of the ledger before finishing higher to wrap up the last trading day for 2019. News that President Trump will be signing the phase one trade deal with China on January 15th helped sentiment along with better-than-expected housing numbers.
The small-caps showed the most intraday strength as the dollar fell to a 6-month low with volatility easing going into the end of the week and to start 2020. The official Santa Claus rally that typically happens over the last 5 trading days of the year (and the first 2 of the new year) remains in play following Tuesday’s gains.
The Nasdaq was up for the 1st time in 3 sessions after adding 0.3% with the late session peak reaching 8,975. Lower resistance at 8,950-9,000 was cleared and held with a close above the latter signaling momentum towards 9,050-9,100 and fresh all-time highs.
The Russell 2000 snapped a 3-session slide after gaining 0.3% while trading to an afternoon high of 1,673. Prior and lower resistance at 1,670-1,685 was cleared and held with a close above the latter and the 52-week peak of 1,681 getting the 1,700 level back in focus.
The S&P 500 rebounded after advancing 0.3% and tapping an intraday high of 3,231. Near-term and lower resistance at 3,225-3,250 was cleared and held with a close above the latter and the all-time high of 3,247 getting 3,275-3,300 in focus.
The Dow was also up 0.3% after testing a second half high of 28,547. Current and lower resistance at 28,500-28,750 was cleared and held with a close above the latter and the lifetime high of 28,701 signaling a run towards the 29,000 level.
For 2019, the Nasdaq jumped 35% and the Russell 2000 soared 24%. The S&P 500 surged 28% and the Dow rallied 23%.
Materials and Real Estate were sector standouts after rising 0.7%. Industrials were the only sector laggard after slipping 0.1%. For 2019, all 11 of the S&P 500 sectors closed the year higher for the first time since 2010.
