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MarketPulse

Alpha Intelligence
Saturday, February 28, 2026
06:38 EST
Regime 🔴

Risk Off

2-4 weeks - typical volatility spike duration, but depends on 6850 SPX hold

VIX spike to 19.86 (+6.6%), breaking above 19 resistance; Broad-based selling: SPX -0.43%, DOW -1.05%, NASDAQ -0.92%; Tech leadership broken: XLK -1.6%, NVDA -4.16%, AAPL -3.21%

85%
Confidence
^GSPC 6,878.88 -0.43%
^DJI 48,977.92 -1.05%
^IXIC 22,668.21 -0.92%
^RUT 2,632.36 -1.68%
^VIX 19.86 +6.60%
^FTSE 10,910.55 +0.59%
^N225 58,850.27 +0.16%
XLK 138.76 -1.60%
XLF 51.43 -2.04%
XLV 160.20 +1.77%
XLE 55.92 +1.58%
XLI 177.14 +0.25%

Alpha Ideas

Long NFLX momentum breakout
high conviction weeks
Only mega-cap showing true strength in selloff, 13.75% gap up on earnings creates new uptrend
Entry
Buy 96-98 range, add on any dip to 94
Target
Target 110-115, stop 88
Sizing
2-3% position - high conviction momentum play
Short NVDA on any bounce to 185
high conviction weeks
AI momentum leader breaking down confirms sector rotation, 177 is weak after 212 highs
Entry
Short any bounce to 183-187 range
Target
Target 165-170, cover above 192
Sizing
2% short position
Long XLV healthcare breakout
medium conviction months
Making new highs in market selloff shows ultimate defensive strength, demographic tailwinds
Entry
Buy 160+, add on any dip to 158
Target
Target 170+, stop 155
Sizing
3-4% core holding
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Index Analysis

SP500 bearish

Breaking down from 7002 highs, now testing critical 6850 support with weak internals.

Support 6850, 6800
Resistance 6920, 6950
NASDAQ bearish

Tech wreckage leading decline, 5.4% off highs with momentum broken.

Support 22500, 22200
Resistance 22900, 23200
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Sector Rotation

Leadership: Healthcare (XLV +1.77%), Energy (XLE +1.58%), Consumer Staples (XLP +1.29%)

Laggards: Financials (XLF -2.04%), Technology (XLK -1.60%), Communication (XLC held up +1.14% but vulnerable)

Signal: Classic risk-off rotation into defensives - money fleeing growth for safety

Long XLV / Short XLK

Rationale: Healthcare breaking to new highs at 160.20 while tech breaks down - defensive rotation accelerating

Risk: If market rebounds quickly, this spread reverses hard

Short XLF below 51.00

Rationale: Banks getting crushed -2.04%, breaking key support with rate concerns

Risk: Steepening yield curve could reverse this quickly

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Stock Signals

NFLX bullish

Massive breakout +13.75% on earnings, showing true momentum divergence from tech wreckage

Catalyst: Subscriber growth acceleration, content spend optimization paying off

Risk/Reward: Excellent - already clearing 96.24, target 110-115, stop 90

NVDA bearish

Breaking down hard -4.16%, momentum leader failing confirms broader tech weakness

Catalyst: AI trade taking breather, 177.19 is weak after 212 highs

Risk/Reward: Poor for longs - avoid until 185+ reclaim, short bounces to 185

XLV bullish

Making new highs at 160.20 while market sells off - ultimate defensive strength

Catalyst: Aging demographics, stable earnings in uncertainty

Risk/Reward: Strong - buy any dip to 158, target 165+

Crypto Alpha

Bitcoin

BTC 64,100 breaking key support, -5.25% confirms risk-off. Next support 60,000-62,000

Ethereum

ETH 1,870 getting destroyed -8.06%, much weaker than BTC showing alt weakness

Alt Rotation

Altcoin bloodbath across the board - avoid until BTC stabilizes above 65,000

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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
SPX breaks 6850 support MEDIUM Could accelerate to 6750-6700 quickly with momentum selling Long VXX calls, short QQQ, long XLV/XLP
Tech earnings disappointments cascade MEDIUM NASDAQ could test 22,000 if mega-cap earnings disappoint Short QQQ, avoid individual tech names
Credit spreads blow out LOW If HY spreads hit 4%+, broad financial crisis fears Long treasuries, short financial ETFs
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Weekly Watchlist

SPY
Watch for: 6850 support test (685 on SPY)
Action: Break below = add short exposure, hold above = dead cat bounce likely
QQQ
Watch for: 335 support level critical
Action: Break = short more tech, hold = prepare for bounce to 340-342
NFLX
Watch for: Any pullback to 94-96 area
Action: Dip = aggressive buy, momentum breakouts rarely give second chances
VIX
Watch for: Move above 22-23 area
Action: Spike higher = panic phase, time to prepare for reversal trades
XLV
Watch for: Any dip below 158
Action: Dip = buy aggressively, defensive leadership rarely breaks down quickly