Last week was a split tape, with the big-cap indexes continuing their thrust higher, though the broad market remains a soft spot. Overall, the intermediate-term trend is effectively neutral, and we think what happens from here will tell the tale, with further strength indicating that a year-end rally is underway, though should the broad market infect the leadership, all bets are off. Right now, we’re more optimistic than not, but are simply looking for more confirmation on the upside—we’ll leave our Market Monitor at a level 5.
We think the most bullish thing the market has going for it is the action of individual stocks, a good number of which are beginning to percolate. Our Top Pick definitely quacks like a liquid leading name.