Because the market was closed for Good Friday, we have a quiet moment to review the week that just passed. The shortened trading week may have been a blessing. If the market had stayed open on Friday, we might have seen even more surprises after the surprisingly strong jobs report.
A quick glance at the latest data shows that the S&P 600 Small‑Cap Index is holding up better than the S&P 500, the Nasdaq, and the Dow Jones. Small‑cap strength matters because these stocks often reflect the health of the U.S. economy. Right now, the S&P 600 is trading above both its 200‑day simple moving average and its 21‑day exponential moving average. More than half of the small‑cap stocks are also above their 200‑day averages, and the number of advancing stocks beats the number of decliners. In plain terms, small caps are looking sturdier than the big‑cap indexes.
If small caps are starting to lead, which companies are doing the heavy lifting? One easy way to find out is with the MarketCarpet tool. This heat‑map shows, at a glance, which stocks are pushing an index up or down.
Choose the S&P 600 group and set the MarketCarpet to show 5‑day performance. The top performers light up the map, and a table on the right lists them in order. With 600 stocks, the table is often the simplest view.
Take the symbols you like and look them up on the Symbol Summary page. There you’ll see a quick snapshot of each stock’s technical signals and basic fundamentals. If a stock catches your eye, add it to a ChartList with the button below the symbol.
Having a ChartList keeps you organized and lets you watch the stocks that start to stand out. If those stocks begin to lead the market higher and their charts give buy signals, they may be worth a closer look.
These aren’t the big‑cap growth names that have led the market before, but markets change. Smart traders notice when the leaders shift and watch for new opportunities.
Happy Easter, and enjoy the weekend!
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