A mixed US Stocks Session to begin 2026 – US Index Outlook

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By  Elior Manier

2 January 2026 at 18:07 UTC

Traders are slowly getting back to their posts after a well-deserved Holiday break.

Following a very positive futures trading session, the official Market open was marked by some repositioning flows from outperforming tech to defensive sectors.

Screenshot 2026-01-02 at 12.50.45 PM
Current picture for the Stock Market (12:50 P.M. ET) – Source: TradingView – January 2, 2025

A sign for the trading to come in 2026? Tough to say for now.

Elevated valuations in the tech sector have been a recurring theme since mid-October.

With rate cuts improving the financial positions of high-debt traditional industries, a particular attraction to Industrial and Energy stocks helps the Dow dominate the session.

Not much is on the economic or geopolitic schedule, so let's dive into our daily intra-session charts for the major US Indexes: Dow Jones, Nasdaq, and S&P 500.

Dow Jones 4H Chart – Watch the double top

Screenshot 2026-01-02 at 1.05.18 PM
Dow Jones (CFD) 4H Chart – January 2, 2025 – Source: TradingView

Dow Jones technical levels for trading:

Resistance Levels

  • All-time High resistance between 48,700 to 48,886
  • Session highs 48,444
  • November ATH 48,300 to 48,500, acting as resistance (testing)
  • 50,000 Psychological Level and Potential Fib Target (50,159)

Support Levels

  • Psychological Pivot at 48,000
  • Pre-NFP 47,500 to 47,650 (recent lows)
  • Key Support 47,000 (+/- 150) and MA 200
  • August highs and November Lows 45,715
  • 45,000 psychological level (next support and main for higher timeframe)

Nasdaq 4H Chart – Struggling to regain its ATH

Screenshot 2026-01-02 at 12.59.54 PM
Nasdaq (CFD) 4H Chart – January 2, 2025 – Source: TradingView

Nasdaq technical levels of interest:

Resistance Levels

  • 25,227 daily highs to break for a bull breakout
  • Mini-Resistance 25,500 +/- 75 pts
  • intermediate resistance 25,700 to 25,850 (recent highs)
  • All-time high resistance zone 26,100 to 26,300
  • Current ATH 26,283 (CFD)

Support Levels

  • 25,050 Channel retest and 2H 50 MA
  • 24,500 Main support
  • October and November lows just below 24,000
  • Early 2025 ATH at 22,000 to 22,229 Support

S&P 500 4H Chart –

Screenshot 2026-01-02 at 12.58.31 PM
S&P 500 (CFD) 4H Chart – January 2, 2025 – Source: TradingView

S&P 500 technical levels of interest:

Resistance Levels

  • Range High Resistance 6,880 to 6,900
  • 6,930 (current All Time-Highs)
  • Weekly highs 6,896
  • Mid Range 6,850
  • ATH Resistance 6,900 to 6,930

Support Levels

  • 6,800 Psychological Pivot and Range lows
  • Mini-Support 6,720 to 6,750 (current test)
  • Session lows 6,750
  • Support 6,720 to 6,750 and 8H MA 50
  • 6,490 to 6,512 Previous ATH October lows (recent lows)
  • 6,400 psychological support

Safe Trades and a Successful 2026!

Follow Elior on Twitter/X for Additional Market News, interactions and Insights @EliorManier

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