Key Insights:
-
Bitcoin (BTC) rose by 1.21% on Friday to extend its winning streak to three sessions.
-
Positive US retail sales figures and FOMC member chatter delivered the NASDAQ 100 and bitcoin with support.
-
The Bitcoin Fear & Greed Index jumped from 15/100 to 21/100, reflecting easing fears of another BTC sell-off.
On Friday, bitcoin (BTC) rose by 1.21%. Following a 1.71% gain on Thursday, BTC ended the day at $20,827. It was a third consecutive day in the green, with market sentiment towards Fed monetary policy delivering support.
A bearish start to the day saw BTC fall to a low of $20,373 before making a move.
Steering clear of the First Major Support Level at $19,842, BTC rallied to a high of $21,185.
BTC broke through the First Major Resistance Level at $21,092 before falling back to sub-$21,000.
FOMC member chatter and the NASDAQ 100 delivered BTC support, while upbeat US retail sales figures penciled in a 75-basis point rate hike for July.
On Friday, the NASDAQ 100 rallied by 1.79%.
Bitcoin Fear & Greed Index Jumps on Fed Chatter and US Retail Sales
This morning, the Fear & Greed Index jumped from 15/100 to 21/100.
Reversing recent losses, the Index moved back towards the “Fear” zone, reflecting easing fears of another BTC reversal.
On Friday, Fed chatter supported riskier assets, with a 100-basis point hike seemingly off the table.
The bulls will now look for a return to the “Fear” zone to signal a BTC move towards $25,000.
Bitcoin (BTC) Price Action
At the time of writing, BTC was down 0.32% to $20,760.
A range-bound start to the day saw BTC rise to an early high of $20,853 before falling to a low of $20,752.
Technical Indicators
BTC needs to move through the $20,794 pivot to target the First Major Resistance Level (R1) at $21,215.
BTC would need a bullish session to support a breakout from the Friday high of $21,185.
An extended rally would test the Second Major Resistance Level (R2) at $21,606 and resistance at $22,000. The Third Major Resistance Level (R3) sits at $22,419.
Failure to move through the pivot would bring the First Major Support Level (S1) at $20,405 into play.
Barring an extended sell-off, the Second Major Support Level (S2) at $19,982 should keep BTC from a fall to sub-$19,500.
The Third Major Support Level (S3) sits at $19,171.
Looking at the EMAs and the 4-hourly candlestick chart (below), it was a bullish signal. This morning, bitcoin sat above the 100-day EMA, currently at $20,608.
The 50-day EMA closed in on the 100-day EMA, with the 100-day EMA narrowed to the 200-day EMA; positive BTC indicators.