Published: 17 December 2025,07:10
Daily Market Analysis New
*Tech-sector anxiety resurfaced after Oracle’s earnings miss, reviving fears of stretched AI valuations and dragging broader market sentiment lower.
*Powell’s cautious tone post-rate cut signaled a potential extended pause, reinforcing a “higher-for-longer” narrative for interest rates.
*Strong U.S. payrolls supported policy stability, while tomorrow’s CPI release is the decisive catalyst for either extending or easing the current equity sell-off.
Wall Street has extended its corrective phase as markets grapple with a convergence of sector-specific anxieties and a reassessment of the monetary policy outlook. The downturn, which began last week, accelerated following a disappointing earnings report from Oracle, which ignited fresh concerns over a potential bubble in artificial intelligence investments and raised questions about the near-term profitability of the broader tech sector.
Compounding the risk-off shift, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell struck a unexpectedly cautious tone following December’s rate cut, signaling that the central bank may now enter an extended pause. This communication effectively tempered market expectations for further near-term easing, shifting the narrative from a dovish pivot to a “higher-for-longer” stance as the Fed seeks to ensure inflation is securely contained.
The case for policy stability received substantial support from yesterday’s robust U.S. employment data. November’s Nonfarm Payrolls surged to 64,000, a sharp reversal from the previous month’s decline and a signal that labor market resilience persists. This strength provides the Fed greater latitude to maintain restrictive policy, thereby extending pressure on equity valuations.
All eyes now turn to tomorrow’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) release, which will serve as a critical test for the current market narrative. A reading in line with or above expectations would likely validate the hawkish repricing and prolong equity market weakness. Conversely, a softer inflation print could offer a temporary reprieve, challenging the assumption of enduring price pressures and potentially stalling the recent sell-off. The market’s near-term trajectory hinges on this fundamental data point.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average has retreated more than 1.8% from its recent peak below the 49,000 level, bringing it to a critical technical juncture at the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement support of 48,030. This level now represents a pivotal battleground for near-term direction.
The convergence of this key Fibonacci level with the recent sell-off creates a high-stakes technical setup. A successful defense and rebound from 48,030 would suggest the current decline is a corrective pullback within the broader uptrend. Conversely, a decisive break below this support would represent a structural breakdown, likely triggering accelerated selling pressure and establishing a bearish near-term bias.
Momentum indicators align with this cautious outlook. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is declining toward oversold territory, indicating strengthening selling pressure, while the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) is trending lower toward its zero line. This configuration confirms that bullish momentum has significantly eroded.
The Dow now faces a binary outcome at this key Fibonacci level. Market participants should monitor for either a firm rebound that preserves the broader uptrend structure or a breakdown that would signal a more pronounced corrective phase. The 48,030 level serves as the definitive technical demarcation for the index’s near-term trajectory, with a breach likely opening a path toward the next support zone near 47,500.
Resistance Levels: 48,783.00, 49,324.00
Support Levels: 47,475.00, 46,815.00
Trade forex, indices, metal, and more at industry-low spreads and lightning-fast execution.
Sign up for a PU Prime Live Account with our hassle-free process.
Effortlessly fund your account with a wide range of channels and accepted currencies.
Access hundreds of instruments under market-leading trading conditions.
Trading Platforms
Learn
About PU Prime
Corporate
Please note the Website is intended for individuals residing in jurisdictions where accessing the Website is permitted by law.
Please note that PU Prime and its affiliated entities are neither established nor operating in your home jurisdiction.
By clicking the "Acknowledge" button, you confirm that you are entering this website solely based on your initiative and not as a result of any specific marketing outreach. You wish to obtain information from this website which is provided on reverse solicitation in accordance with the laws of your home jurisdiction.
Thank You for Your Acknowledgement!
Ten en cuenta que el sitio web está destinado a personas que residen en jurisdicciones donde el acceso al sitio web está permitido por la ley.
Ten en cuenta que PU Prime y sus entidades afiliadas no están establecidas ni operan en tu jurisdicción de origen.
Al hacer clic en el botón "Aceptar", confirmas que estás ingresando a este sitio web por tu propia iniciativa y no como resultado de ningún esfuerzo de marketing específico. Deseas obtener información de este sitio web que se proporciona mediante solicitud inversa de acuerdo con las leyes de tu jurisdicción de origen.
Thank You for Your Acknowledgement!
