(By Rich Bieglmeier) What sort of day was Monday? It was another blue Monday on low volume and minimal action. The NASDAQ lost 0.38 points, the Dow shed a whopping 3.56 points, and the S&P saw its level reduced by a painful 0.03 points.
All three indexes turned in place on nondescript volume. However, we do see some positives in Monday's actions. As the bears tried to take stocks deep into the red, sellers pushed aside by bulls and were able to bring the indexes back to breakeven on the day.
Considering the NASDAQ and the S&P closed higher than they opened, it was sort of an above water day. Perhaps, the mini-momentum can continue on Tuesday and take the S&P and Dow to 2012 highs, while putting the NASDAQ in striking distance of making it three for three.
If you remember, a few weeks back, iStock spent a few days writing about the importance of confirmation. If the NASDAQ, Dow, and S&P can achieve their highest levels of the year, simultaneously, it would be a clear technical buy signal.
We are certainly keying on the triple bypass as the event that will trigger a nice rally, if it happens; however, in the small likelihood stocks stall here and don't reach new 52-week peaks, the failure would harden resistance and lead to a correction. With all of iStock market measuring sticks in the buy zone, we put it at 85% that the indexes break out of the box, and 15% that they give up ground.
There should be plenty of stocks to pick from if the tape turns green. During our weekly sector performance analysis, we found 19 emerging bull sectors that are poised to takeoff. Make sure you head to iStock later today when we post the all the bull and bear sectors.
For now, it's clear that Wall Street prefers large cap growth stocks over value stocks. iStock would suggest investors pay attention to technology stocks, particularly tech hardware and internet stocks. We also like the view industrial engineering stocks are presenting, the chart looks hot.
Meanwhile, utilities and real estate look a little sick. If you have profits in either sector, you might want to put a short leash on them.
Happy Trading.