The S&P500 stock index --and the broader underlying U.S. economy-- is now tied directly to the success of just four major, converging, tech business groups.

That’s the latest word from our Chief Equity Strategist and Economist, John Blank. He’s here now to elaborate.

1. What are these groups you speak of?

2. Why are they so influential to both the stock market and economy?

3. Does this skew the market picture as stocks struggle to find direction here?

4. Traders have been keeping an eye on the indexes 200 day moving average. What does that show?

5. How does this impact the momentum from this summer’s rally?

6. The retail sector has been a focus for investors this Q2 earnings season, as the major U.S. retailers revealed how consumers are coping with sky-high inflation. What did you see there?

7. What is actually baked into the market and economy at this point?

8. Here are a few more Strong Buy stocks on your radar, ST Microelectronics (STM Quick QuoteSTM - Free Report) , Arista Networks (ANET Quick QuoteANET - Free Report) and EPAM Systems (EPAM Quick QuoteEPAM - Free Report) .

Our Chief Equity Strategist & Economist, John Blank, on the market and economy. With John, I’m Terry Ruffolo.