Equity markets continue to tread water near critical resistance. Thursday's action was driven by an as-expected read on consumer inflation that reinforces the idea the FOMC will start cutting interest rates soon. The risk is that rapidly slowing inflation will turn into receding inflation and drive the Fed to make aggressive cuts. In that scenario, the release of pent-up demand in the housing sector could send inflation back to record highs.

Next week will bring another hurdle for market participants. The monthly labor data is due out and will either confirm persistent labor market strength and wage inflation or show eroding business activity. In either case, the S&P 500 earnings growth outlook will suffer and cap gains for equities. As it is, the range-bound S&P 500 is trading near critical resistance, showing a string of Spinning Tops with deteriorating indicators with a substantial risk of correction.