It’s been a great year for US stock markets!

In case you missed it, the NQ100_m has been hitting fresh all-time highs this week!

This past Monday (Dec 18th), this US stock index surpassed its prior record intraday high of 16,770.6 which was printed on 22 November 2021.This rally then peaked, for now, at 16,891.7 yesterday (Wednesday, Dec 20th), before experiencing a technical pullback.This technical pullback had been coming, with the NQ100_m’s 14-day relative strength index (RSI) having broken above the 70 level which marks “overbought” conditions since last week.With the 14-day RSI now back below the 70 threshold, this technical pullback may clear the froth, potentially setting a stronger base for the NQ100_m to pursue further gains.And indeed, at the time of writing, the NQ100_m is looking to restore itself back onto higher ground.

NQ100_m bulls aiming for 17k
Note that the psychologically-important 17,000level is about 1.7% away from current prices.Measured from the existing intraday record high of 16,891.7, that 17k round number is a mere 0.64% away from the psychologically-important 17,000 mark.In other words …

As long as this ongoing “Santa Rally” can remain intact, NQ100_m should have little trouble claiming the 17,000 handle in the near future.

NOTE: The seasonal “Santa Rally” points to seasonal gains for US stock markets around the Christmas period.Using the textbook definition, it typically starts in the final 5 trading days of the year, and ends by the 2nd trading day of the new year.To be clear, US stock indices, such as the SPX500_m, the WSt30_m, and the NQ100_m, have been surging since the Fed policy decision on November 1st.
 Why has NQ100_m been soaring?More recently, stock markets have rejoiced in the Fed’s policy pivot as conveyed at the December 13th decision.

The US central bank forecasted multiple interest rate cuts in 2024.

Stocks usually revel in the prospects of interest rates move downwards.Lower interest rates make it cheaper for companies to borrow money to fund its business activities and growth, potentially creating more value for shareholders.Hence, stock bulls (those hoping that prices will go higher) are getting ahead of such anticipated gains and buying into US equities.
 Also note that 2024 is set to be a US Presidential Election year.Since it was launched on January 31st, 1985, the Nasdaq 100 index has posted an annual gain for every US Presidential Election year, except in the year 2000 (the year of the dot com bubble) and 2008 (Global Financial Crisis).

If that historical behaviour holds up in 2024, that should imply a positive year for US stock indices ahead.

Such tailwinds are set to add to the artificial intelligence mania that has been primarily responsible for the Nasdaq 100’s 51% climb year-to-date (so far in 2023).More By This Author:GBPUSD Slides Below 1.27 Amid Weaker UK Inflation Bitcoin Bulls Are Trying To Stabilize Above $43000 USDJPY Is Trading Below 200-SMA