US Markets Round-Up

This week, the Russell 3000 index, an important benchmark of the US stock market across market capitalizations, started on a positive note and continued its momentum. The index made a high of 2253.27 during the week and settled at 2208.84 with a week-to-date (WTD) gain of ~1.72 percent on October 27, 2022. Other major indices, such as S&P 500 and NASDAQ Composite, witnessed a mixed movement for the week. On October 27, 2022, the S&P 500 index settled at 3807.29 with a WTD gain of ~1.45 percent, while the NASDAQ Composite Index settled at 10792.68 with a WTD loss of ~0.62 percent.

As per the advance estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the US GDP increased at an annual rate of 2.6% in the Q3 of 2022 against a 0.6% decline in Q2 of 2022, which supported the indices. However, an increase in the US Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims numbers to 217,000 from 214,000 (unrevised level) in the prior week limited the gains in the indices. 

Having understood the US market performance over the week, taking cues from major global news, and based on technical analysis of the Russell 3000 index for the upcoming week, now let’s have a look at the two NYSE/ NASDAQ listed stocks to pick from the technical standpoint. Noted below recommendations are based on the entry price, target prices, and stop-loss for WEX Inc. (NYSE: WEX) and Gulf Island Fabrication, Inc. (NASDAQ: GIFI) for the next 2-4 weeks duration: 

WEX Inc.

WEX Inc. (NYSE: WEX) is a technology service provider in the financials space. Its operating segments include fleet solutions, health, employee benefits solutions, and travel & corporate solutions. Noted below are the key price indicators for the stock:

Price Action Analysis (on the Weekly Chart)

WEX’s prices started to move upside after taking support from the horizontal trendline, indicating the possibility of upside movement. The trendline breakout is supported by increased volumes, supporting a positive bias. Now the next major resistance level for the stock appears at USD 185.00, and prices may test this level in the short-term (2-4 weeks). A further movement above USD 185.00 may extend buying in the stock.

Technical Indicators Analysis (On the Weekly Chart)

On the weekly chart, the leading indicator RSI (14-period) is moving in a positive zone and showing a reading of 52.32. The volumes seem supportive of the next upside movement. The prices are trading above the trend-following indicators 21-period and 50-period SMA, which may act as the support levels in the near term.

General Recommendation 

As per the above-mentioned price action and technical indicators analysis, WEX Inc. is looking technically well-placed on the chart, and a ‘Speculative Buy’ recommendation has been given on the stock. Investment decision should be made depending on an individual’s appetite for upside potential, risks, and any previous holdings. This recommendation is purely based on technical analysis, and fundamental analysis has not been considered in this report. The summary of recommendation is as follows:

Gulf Island Fabrication, Inc.

Gulf Island Fabrication, Inc. (NASDAQ: GIFI) is a fabricator of complex steel structures and modules. Noted below are the key price indicators for the stock:

Price Action Analysis (on the Weekly Chart)

GIFI’s prices broke a downward sloping trendline by an upside and are sustaining above the breakout level from the past few weeks, indicating the possibility of an upside reversal hereon. The trendline breakout is supported by the increase in the volumes, further supporting a positive bias. Now the next major resistance level for the stock appears at USD 5.35, and prices may test this level in the short-term (2-4 weeks). A further movement above USD 5.35 may extend buying in the stock.

Technical Indicators Analysis (On the Weekly Chart)

On the weekly chart, the leading indicator RSI (14-period) is moving above the midpoint and shows a reading of 64.58. The volumes also seem supportive of the next upside movement. The prices are trading above the trend-following indicator 21-period SMA, which may act as a support level in the near term.

General Recommendation 

As per the above-mentioned price action and technical indicators analysis, Gulf Island Fabrication, Inc. is looking technically well-placed on the chart, and a ‘Speculative Buy’ recommendation has been given on the stock. Investment decision should be made depending on an individual’s appetite for upside potential, risks, and any previous holdings. This recommendation is purely based on technical analysis, and fundamental analysis has not been considered in this report. The summary of recommendation is as follows:

Upcoming Major Global Economic Events

Market events occur on a day-to-day basis depending on the frequency of the data and generally include an update on employment, inflation, GDP, consumer sentiments, etc. Noted below are the upcoming week's major global economic events that could impact the Russell 3000 Index and stocks’ prices:

Related Risks: This report may be looked at from high-risk perspective and recommendations are provided are for a short duration. Recommendations provided in this report are solely based on technical parameters, and the fundamental performance of the stocks has not been considered in the decision-making process. Other factors which could impact the stock prices include market risks, regulatory risks, interest rates risks, currency risks, social and political instability risks etc.

Note 1: Individuals can consider exiting from the stock if the Target Price or Stop loss mentioned as per the technical analysis has been achieved and subject to the factors discussed above. 

Note 2: How to Read the Charts?

The Green colour line reflects the 21-period moving average while the red line indicates the 50- period moving average. SMA helps to identify existing price trend. If the prices are trading above the 21-period and 50-period moving average, then it shows prices are currently trading in a bullish trend.

The Black colour line in the chart’s lower segment reflects the Relative Strength Index (14-Period) which indicates price momentum and signals momentum in trend. A reading of 70 or above suggests overbought status while a reading of 30 or below suggests an oversold status.

The Blue colour bars in the chart’s lower segment show the volume of the stock. The volume is the number of shares that changed hands during a given day. Stocks with high volumes are more liquid than stocks with lesser volume as liquidity in stocks helps in easier and faster execution of the order.

The Orange colour lines are the trend lines drawn by connecting two or more price points and used for trend identification purposes. The trend line also acts as a line of support and resistance.

Technical Indicators Defined: -

Support: A level at which the stock prices tend to find support if they are falling, and a downtrend may take a pause backed by demand or buying interest. Support 1 refers to the nearby support level for the stock and if the price breaches the level, then Support 2 may act as the crucial support level for the stock. 

Resistance: A level at which the stock prices tend to find resistance when they are rising, and an uptrend may take a pause due to profit booking or selling interest. Resistance 1 refers to the nearby resistance level for the stock and if the price surpasses the level, then Resistance 2 may act as the crucial resistance level for the stock. 

Stop-loss: It is a level to protect further losses in case of unfavourable movement in the stock prices. 

Risk Reward Ratio: Risk reward ratio is the difference between an entry point to a stop loss and profit level. This report is based on ~60% Stop Loss of the Target 1 from the entry point. 

A trailing stop-loss is a modification of stop-loss in case of favourable movement in the price to protect the gains. Individuals can Trail the Stop-Loss as per the aforementioned levels if the stock price achieves more than 50% of the Target 1. Individuals should consider exiting from the position as per the Trailing Stop-Loss level if the price starts moving downwards after achieving more than 50% of the Target 1. 

The reference date for all price data, currency, technical indicators, support, and resistance levels is October 27, 2022. The reference data in this report has been partly sourced from REFINITIV.

Abbreviations

CMP: Current Market Price

SMA: Simple Moving Average

RSI: Relative Strength Index

USD: United States dollar

Note: Trading decisions require a thorough analysis by individuals. Technical reports in general chart out metrics that may be assessed by individuals before any stock evaluation. The above are illustrative analytical factors used for evaluating the stocks; other parameters can be looked at along with additional risks per se. Past performance is neither an indicator nor a guarantee of future performance.

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