Global markets are showing signs of a cautious recovery as investors focus on trade talks between the US and China, along with upcoming central bank decisions. While policy signals from China and hopes for better dialogue offer some optimism, uncertainty around interest rates and global tensions is keeping many traders in wait-and-see mode.
Global equity markets continued a cautious rebound on Tuesday, with the S&P 500 posting modest gains as investors turned their attention to two major developments: the upcoming Federal Reserve policy meeting and renewed US–China trade dialogue over the weekend.
The index closed at 5639.73 after bouncing off an intraday low of 5586.4, where it found firm technical support.
Risk appetite remained fragile as investor sentiment was clouded by mixed messages ahead of the US–China meeting in Geneva.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described the talks as an effort to “work out what to talk about,” while Chinese officials cautioned against mistaking dialogue for compliance.
Still, futures remained in positive territory during the Asian session, supported by a rebound in Hong Kong equities, which helped underpin global risk sentiment.
Adding to the cautiously optimistic tone were new policy signals from Beijing. Authorities suggested potential interest rate cuts and expanded investment allowances for insurers to support the stock market.
However, the absence of direct fiscal stimulus kept investors sceptical, viewing these measures as temporary relief rather than long-term solutions.
Attention now shifts to the Federal Reserve’s upcoming policy decision. While no rate changes are expected, market participants are keenly watching for dovish language, especially following resilient US employment data.
This labour market strength has led traders to scale back expectations for imminent rate cuts.
The S&P 500 experienced volatile price action, opening at 5592.55, dipping to 5586.4, and then staging a strong intraday rebound.
However, the rally lost steam near the resistance level of 5670.47, where profit-taking emerged, resulting in a consolidative range between 5620 and 5665.
Short-term moving averages (5, 10, 30 periods) show a recent bullish crossover, but the slope is starting to flatten, indicating waning upward momentum.
The price remains just above the 30-period moving average, suggesting buyers are still defending short-term support.
On the MACD indicator, the bullish crossover remains valid, but shrinking histogram bars hint at fading buying strength.
A sustained move above 5640 indicates a potential attempt to reclaim higher ground, yet failure to break 5670 decisively keeps the index exposed to further downside—particularly if support between 5610 and 5585 fails to hold.
A clean breakout above 5670.47 could reinvigorate bullish momentum toward the 5685–5700 zone.
Conversely, a break below 5585 might trigger renewed selling pressure, pushing the index back toward recent lows.
Market sentiment remains delicately balanced as traders await clarity from both geopolitical developments and monetary policy directions.
Should the US–China trade discussions in Geneva result in structured dialogue or meaningful outcomes, the S&P 500 could gain momentum and attempt to break above the key resistance level of 5686.55. Such a move would likely bolster risk appetite and encourage broader equity participation.
However, several headwinds continue to cap near-term upside potential. Central banks across major economies remain non-committal, and the lack of a clear rate-cut path from the Federal Reserve adds to investor hesitation.
Meanwhile, lingering geopolitical tensions—not only between the US and China but also in other regions—keep global markets on edge.
In this environment, the S&P 500 is likely to remain in a consolidative range between 5630 and 5660, unless a decisive catalyst emerges.
Key data releases, central bank commentary, or significant breakthroughs in trade relations could provide the necessary push.
Until then, cautious optimism is likely to dominate market positioning, with traders favouring short-term setups over long directional bets.
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