Moody’s Downgrade Cools Rally—S&P, NQ Slip After Perfect Week

Business chart with glowing arrows and world map by Golden Dayz via Shutterstock

E-mini S&P (June) / E-mini NQ (June)

 

S&P, last week’s close: Settled at 5975.50, up 42.25 on Friday and 297.50 on the week

 

NQ, last week’s close: Settled at 21,506.00, up 105.75 on Friday and 1,369.25 on the week

 

E-mini S&P and E-mini NQ futures did complete that perfect week we spoke of here Friday morning, gaining ground on all five sessions in their best week since April 7th. The E-mini S&P added 5.24%, compared to 5.5%, and the E-mini NQ added 6.8%, compared to 7.23%. It certainly was a week to celebrate, the bell had rung, traders and investors were looking at their weekend plans, but Moody’s had a different agenda, dropping a downgrade of the U.S. credit rating from AAA to AA+ at 3:45 pm CT. Markets reacted immediately, and that carried into Sunday night. Ahead of the opening bell, the E-mini S&P and E-mini NQ are down more than 1%, while both U.S. Treasuries and the Dollar are also lower. The 30-year yield is back above 5% and at the highest level since November 1, 2023. Although the downgrade is not meaningless, it is more of a formality. S&P made this downgrade in 2011, and Fitch in 2023. Moody’s cited the growing debt burden in bringing its rating in line with the other two. What the maneuver does impact is the market’s momentum just after May’s largest monthly option expiration, Friday week 3.

 

Fed speakers are expected throughout the day. Atlanta Fed President Bostic and NY Fed President Williams both speak this morning around 8:00 am CT and others are expected as the day unfolds.

 

E-mini S&P futures hit a high of 5977.50 and the E-mini NQ 21,529, both about a half percent away from the target we referenced here Friday. Furthermore, the reversal has sunk the tape below a pivotal pocket of support at 5929.75-5933.25 in the E-mini S&P and 21,247-21,278 in the E-mini NQ. For the E-mini S&P this level is now first resistance and for the E-mini NQ, it is our Pivot and point of balance. Both indices did bleed through first support overnight, but a constructive response here in the first hour will help encourage an attempt to regain resistance. We will be watching two areas of major three-star support in the E-mini S&P, the first at….

 

Want to keep up with the market? 

Subscribe to our daily Morning Express for essential insights into stocks and equities, including the S&P 500, NASDAQ, and more. Get expert technical analysis, proprietary trading levels, and actionable market bias delivered straight to your inbox.

SIGN UP FOR 2-WEEKS OF FREE RESEARCH

 

Futures trading involves substantial risk of loss and may not be suitable for all investors. Therefore, carefully consider whether such trading is suitable for you in light of your financial condition. Trading advice is based on information taken from trade and statistical services and other sources Blue Line Futures, LLC believes are reliable. We do not guarantee that such information is accurate or complete and it should not be relied upon as such. Trading advice reflects our good faith judgment at a specific time and is subject to change without notice. There is no guarantee that the advice we give will result in profitable trades. All trading decisions will be made by the account holder. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results.

Blue Line Futures is a member of NFA and is subject to NFA’s regulatory oversight and examinations. However, you should be aware that the NFA does not have regulatory oversight authority over underlying or spot virtual currency products or transactions or virtual currency exchanges, custodians or markets. Therefore, carefully consider whether such trading is suitable for you considering your financial condition.

With Cyber-attacks on the rise, attacking firms in the healthcare, financial, energy and other state and global sectors, Blue Line Futures wants you to be safe! Blue Line Futures will never contact you via a third party application. Blue Line Futures employees use only firm authorized email addresses and phone numbers. If you are contacted by any person and want to confirm identity please reach out to us at info@bluelinefutures.com or call us at 312- 278-0500

Performance Disclaimer

Hypothetical performance results have many inherent limitations, some of which are described below. No representation is being made that any account will or is likely to achieve profits or losses similar to those shown. In fact, there are frequently sharp differences between hypothetical performance results and the actual results subsequently achieved by any particular trading program.

One of the limitations of hypothetical performance results is that they are generally prepared with the benefit of hindsight. In addition, hypothetical trading does not involve financial risk, and no hypothetical trading record can completely account for the impact of financial risk in actual trading. For example, the ability to withstand losses or to adhere to a particular trading program in spite of trading losses are material points which can also adversely affect actual trading results. There are numerous other factors related to the markets in general or to the implementation of any specific trading program which cannot be fully accounted for in the preparation of hypothetical performance results and all of which can adversely affect actual trading results.

This article contains syndicated content. We have not reviewed, approved, or endorsed the content, and may receive compensation for placement of the content on this site. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.