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MarketPulse

Alpha Intelligence
Sunday, February 22, 2026
06:46 EST
Regime 🟢

Risk On

2-4 weeks barring external shocks

S&P 500 +0.69% within 1.3% of 52-week high at 7002; NASDAQ leading with +0.90% outperforming other indices; VIX crushed -5.6% to 19.09, showing complacency

80%
Confidence
^GSPC 6,909.51 +0.69%
^DJI 49,625.97 +0.47%
^IXIC 22,886.07 +0.90%
^RUT 2,663.78 -0.05%
^VIX 19.09 -5.64%
^FTSE 10,686.89 +0.56%
^N225 56,825.70 -1.12%
XLK 140.88 +0.48%
XLF 52.49 +0.65%
XLV 156.82 -0.28%
XLE 54.88 -0.54%
XLI 177.23 +0.50%

Alpha Ideas

Long GOOGL calls 320 strike 30-45 DTE
high conviction weeks
Breakout momentum + AI catalysts + earnings run-up
Entry
315-320 area on any pullback
Target
Target 340-350, stop below 305
Sizing
2-3% portfolio risk
Long XLC/Short XLE pairs trade
medium conviction weeks
Sector rotation momentum favoring growth over energy
Entry
Current levels, XLC 116.8 / XLE 54.9
Target
Target +5% on spread, stop if energy outperforms 3%
Sizing
Market neutral, 5% gross exposure each side
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Index Analysis

SP500 bullish

Breaking above 6900 with volume, momentum toward all-time highs looks likely

Support 6800, 6750
Resistance 7002, 7100
NASDAQ bullish

Strongest index today at +0.90%, AI/tech leadership intact, targeting 24k ATH retest

Support 22500, 22000
Resistance 24020, 24500
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Sector Rotation

Leadership: Communication Services +1.44%, Consumer Discretionary +1.04%, Real Estate +0.83%

Laggards: Energy -0.54%, Healthcare -0.28%, Materials +0.25%

Signal: Clear rotation into growth/momentum names, away from value/cyclicals

Long XLC / Short XLE

Rationale: Momentum in communications vs energy weakness, 200bp spread today

Risk: Energy reversal on geopolitical tensions or oil spike

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Stock Signals

GOOGL bullish

Explosive +4.01% move on volume, breaking above 310 resistance decisively

Catalyst: AI developments, strong search/cloud momentum

Risk/Reward: High - targeting 340-350, risk below 300

AMZN bullish

+2.56% with heavy volume, reclaiming 210 level with authority

Catalyst: AWS strength, retail momentum heading into earnings

Risk/Reward: Medium-high - 230+ target vs 200 support

ORCL bearish

Brutal -5.40% breakdown from 156 to 148, momentum broken

Catalyst: Database/cloud competition concerns

Risk/Reward: Medium short - target 140, risk above 155

Crypto Alpha

Bitcoin

BTC consolidating at 68k, need break above 70k for next leg to 75k+

Ethereum

ETH lagging at $1976, ratio deteriorating vs BTC, need 2100+ for momentum

Alt Rotation

SOL +1.30% showing relative strength in large caps

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Contrarian Corner

The Consensus vs. The Counter

Consensus View
Analyzing market consensus...
Contrarian Case
Building contrarian thesis...
Trigger to Watch
Identifying confirmation signals...
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Risk Radar

Risk Probability Impact Hedge
VIX mean reversion above 25 MEDIUM 5-8% equity correction, momentum names hit hardest Long VIX calls, reduce momentum exposure
Fed hawkish pivot on inflation data LOW 10-15% correction, rate sensitives crushed Short TLT, defensive rotation
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Weekly Watchlist

SPY
Watch for: Break above 700 (7000 on index)
Action: Long calls/futures on momentum continuation to 710+
QQQ
Watch for: Any pullback to 380 support (22800 on index)
Action: Buy dip for continuation to new highs
NVDA
Watch for: Reclaim of 195-200 resistance zone
Action: Long position for run to 210+ (52-week high)
VIX
Watch for: Any spike above 22-23
Action: Reduce momentum exposure, prepare to buy dips