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The Nasdaq is leading the upside charge after Meta's positive results and Powell's less aggressive tone boosted confidence in better earnings growth.

Alibaba’s Hong Kong-traded shares traded 8% higher Wednesday on the positive news that Ant Group’s consumer finance unit has received approval to more than double its registered capital, a first sign of progress since the cancellation of Ant's IPO in late 2020. Could it be a new positive era for Chinese tech?

Lower US Treasury yields have helped the Nasdaq strengthen lately. In light of the Fed minutes suggesting a softer pace of rate hikes, investors are seeing renewed risk appetite. Nonetheless, inflation data such as next week's favorite inflation gauge the PCE, released on the 1st of December, will be key to confirming the slowing pace of inflation and the trajectory of the Fed cooling down its monetary tightening measures.

The Nasdaq 100 or ETF that tracks it, the QQQ, is showing encouraging price action looking at the indice from a technical analysis perspective. Traders will monitor the FOMC statement this afternoon, which could add volatility, but it will really all be about next week's PCE which could determine whether markets take a leg higher or break down lower. 

The indice for US tech giants, the Nasdaq 100 is holding its positive momentum as it remains above its resistance of around 11'700. A break below could signal a larger move lower. In the meantime, earnings are resilient and Treasury yields are steady, an encouraging sign.