Accumulating macro headwinds have sharply raised Nasdaq 100 risk, so protect the portfolio. The bull market looks near its end rather than its beginning, although the timing of the top remains uncertain. x.com
The Long Investor
Airline Captain & Investment Analyst, Technical/Fundamental Analysis
The Nasdaq 100 bubble has more room in a final wave-5 melt-up, with an extreme level of $869 this year at the 1.618 Fibonacci extension. The parabolic move since March 31 is its strongest bounce ever, beating the COVID and 2025 Liberation Day recoveries, with FOMO everywhere and discipline gone. It has not topped yet, but a devastating drop will follow, so take what the market offers before September. x.com
The Nasdaq 100 faces short-term downside because a failed push to a new high leaves crowded bullish sentiment vulnerable to a break below. Despite record institutional accumulation and a long-term bullish position, five months of chop, a failed ATH and an attempted loss of the bullish trend favor hedging rather than adding leverage. x.com x.com
Forward risks matter more than good earnings for the Nasdaq now. The index looks to be topping and has a good shot at 28,000 before a rally after the midterms; tomorrow's PCE and GDP releases are unlikely to help, and this week's lows could break. x.com x.com
Rising S&P earnings revisions and a Nasdaq valuation far below the 2000 bubble level argue against a bull trap in US large caps. Nasdaq trades at 18x forward earnings versus over 80x in 2000. Positive breadth divergences, record short ETF exposure and put volume, and semiconductors waking up add to the case. In all 19 post-midterm instances cited, markets were very green over the following 12 months. x.com x.com
Disappointing Amazon earnings make a Nasdaq 100 decline to the bottom of its range near 700 look likely tomorrow. It may be forming a range like the one that preceded the decline into the March low, but a sideways phase lasting as long as that one looks unlikely. x.com x.com
The Nasdaq 100 has a good chance of topping before year-end this year, breaking a streak that has held every year since 2022, because semiconductors are at a major top. Even after two 10% corrections in the index since June, everyone still wants to buy tech. x.com x.com x.com
Bubbles rarely end when expected and tend to run much further, so the Nasdaq looks to be in a shakeout rather than at the end of its advance. Nasdaq at 40,000 or 50,000 is not out of the question in a melt-up; those who buy this dip will be greatly rewarded if positioned correctly. x.com x.com
Nasdaq-100 downside could accelerate if QQQ falls below $712: dealer positioning at $700 and $690 would fuel the move unless the index reclaims its moving averages and breaks upward. July and September FOMC lows remain untouched, something that has not persisted across two consecutive meetings; taking out at least one in the next week would not be surprising. x.com
The Nasdaq 100 is failing to make new highs alongside the S&P 500, the equal-weight S&P 500, the Russell 2000 and the NYSE Composite, which often signals growing risk under the hood. The setup resembles late 2024 to early 2025, and September and October are when weakness tends to take hold ahead of midterms, so the plan is to become more defensive. x.com
A breadth thrust and fresh buying point to at least a multi-week rise in US indices, most probably a big rally for a few months after the midterms. LS Breadth is flipping bullish as the bear count falls; more stocks are starting uptrends and first consolidations. The Nasdaq 100 is bouncing with strong breadth, and the S&P 500 looks ready to leave a massive base. The Nasdaq 100 could sell off at declining averages but should rise if broad selling does not return. x.com
Hyperscaler credit stress and weak financials-versus-staples leadership warn of downside risk in the S&P 500 consolidation. Spreads have broken July wides, though an upside breakout is probable if financials stabilize. So far, tech weakness has lowered yields as Fed hikes are priced out, letting defensives rally and the S&P chop. If the Fed signals Nasdaq weakness won't stop tightening without better data, the tech-yield link could break in an uncomfortable, 2018-like direction. x.com x.com … Show more