Stock Market Blog -Mar 30th

The market was  looking tired this week, as the Nasdaq and Small Caps lost some more ground. Many of the recent hi-fliers have pulled back this month like AMZN, GOOG, GILD, NFLX, DATA, PCLN, TRIP, TSLA, etc. Even Gold pulled back almost $100. Oil was up however, closing over $100 again on Friday.

The Candy Crush IPO was a disappointment to investors (KING)
Don't forget the GOOG stock split this week!

New all time highs:   ?? no hot stocks this week...
All time lows:   -

Pops:     LULU     Drops:  BBRY

Next week:  Economic reports,  ...end of Q1;  Monthly Jobs report on Friday

Earnings:     

A sign of things to come?

Market Commentary

The Russell Small-Caps (IWM) and the Nasdaq 100 (QQQ) are breaking down more than the DOW and S&P500. We could see the S&P500 break down in a similar manner, maybe as earnings season starts in a couple of weeks. On the other hand, with the resiliency this market has shown in the past few years, we could well see a recovery from this sell-off. Near term, the Jobs report on Friday could be a catalyst to move the market in one direction or the other.  I have no directional bias at this point.

Maybe you can trade a small bounce in the some of the hi-fliers that have sold off recently. Implied Volatility has risen in those names (FB, NFLX, BIDU, PCLN, etc.)

This week's charts:

S&P 500 -topping?
10yr Interest Rates
Labor Force Participation Rate (10 year chart)

Commodities/Futures (charts):
Crude Oil was up, closing around $101.42  -back above $100!
Natural Gas was mostly unchanged, closing  at $4.46
Gold dropped again, closing at $1296  -so much for $1400!
The 30 year Bond was up, closing at 133.40
The US Dollar was mostly unchanged, closing at 80.32

NEWS:
Why stocks could stay under pressure
Warning signs are flashing on Wall Street
High fliers begin dipping as balloon deflates
Home sales fall for 8th-straight month in February
Economic growth slowing? We’re about to find out

Why Google's split will change the S&P 500 forever

Apple Is Walking Up The Down Staircase
Citigroup sinks 5% after failing Fed 'stress test'
Gold settles around $1,300 as US data lifts dollar
China seizes $14.5 billion assets from former leader

Stock Market Blog -Mar 23rd

The market rallied this week, then pulled back on Friday as it approached the previous high from earlier this month. The NASDAQ 100 is showing weakness among the major indices. Gold and Biotechs (IBB) pulled back.

MSFT hit $40 for the first time since 2000!

New all time highs:   AET, AMGN, BWLD, DFS, JPM, WFC, HAL, MAR, TSN, UNH, and more...
All time lows:   -

Can QCOM make it all the way? ...after almost 15 years!

Pops:     ECYT, FSLR      Drops:  IBB, WLT

Next week:  Economic reports,  ...approaching the end of Q1

Earnings:     

Market Commentary

We continue to chop around the current levels. This might continue thru the end of the first Quarter, then we get earnings.  The up-trend is still holding, but starting to flatten out.

This week's charts:

S&P 500 -still on top!
10yr Interest Rates
Labor Force Participation Rate (10 year chart)

Commodities/Futures (charts):
Crude Oil was up, closing around $99.30 -holding under $100!
Natural Gas was mostly unchanged, closing  at $4.33
Gold was up, closing at $1327  -so much for $1400!
The 30 year Bond dropped, closing at 132.75
The US Dollar was up a bit, closing at 80.30

NEWS:

Stock Market Blog -Mar 16th

We saw some profit taking as the market dropped this week, and Bonds and Gold rallied. Gold stocks were also on the rise, along with Utilities (XLU). The market could be starting a slow roll and forming a top in this area -keep an eye on the moving averages.

New all time highs:   CBOE, PZZA, TSN, 
All time lows:   -

Pops:     Drops:  HLF, BLDP, FCEL, PLUG

Next week:  Economic reports,  ** Fed meeting **   ** Options Expiration **

Earnings:     ORCL, ADBE, FDX

Biotech

Some All Time Highs...

Market Commentary

Was that a fake out rally the previous week? Time will tell... lets see how we close out this first quarter. We dropped in the beginning, then rallied back, so we might end the quarter basically unchanged! Don't forget  this is Options expiration week.

This week's charts:

S&P 500 -still on top!
10yr Interest Rates
Labor Force Participation Rate (10 year chart)

Commodities/Futures (charts):
Crude Oil dropped, closing around $98.90 -finally under $100!
Natural Gas was mostly unchanged, closing  at $4.42
Gold was up, closing at $1379  -approaching $1400
The 30 year Bond rallied, closing at 133.50
The US Dollar was down a bit, closing at 79.45

NEWS:
Weighing The Week Ahead: Yellen Takes The Stage
The Four Horsemen Of The Stock Market Apocalypse
Why Facebook's Shares Are Running Up

Here are two charts that say a crash is not likely (vid)

Stock Market Blog -Mar 8th

The market broke out this week and it now looks like the S&P500 could be headed to the 1900 level! Next week marks the 5 year anniversary of this bull market from the depths of the 2008 financial crisis. The S&P500 has been up 178% since March 2009.

The unemployment rate rose for the first time in a long time! This week Bonds dropped, Gold and Oil dropped, and Grains rallied. WFC hit an all time high this week.

New all time highs:   AXP, BIDU, CBS, DAL, DIS, DFS, DTV,  ESRX, FL, HON, INTU, TRIP, QIHU, WFC...
All time lows:   -

Pops:   FCEL    Drops:  RSH, SPLS

Next week:  Economic reports,  

Earnings:     

Agricultural commodities!

Market Commentary

We did break out and hold above the 1850 level on the S&P500, and could be headed even higher as we approach the end of this first quarter. Many people were bearish based on how the quarter started, and are now in a losing position -welcome to Wall Street! We may not see a correction till the 2nd quarter.

This week's charts:

S&P 500 -still on top!
10yr Interest Rates
Labor Force Participation Rate (10 year chart)

Commodities/Futures (charts):
Crude Oil was up and back down, closing at $102.58 -still over $100!
Natural Gas was mostly unchanged, closing  at $4.6
Gold was mostly unchanged, closing at $1338 -holding over $1300
The 30 year Bond dropped, closing at 131.15
The US Dollar was  down a bit, closing at 79.72

NEWS:

Bull market still has some sizzle
4 potential killers lurk as bull market hits 5
Chart: What’s the real unemployment rate?
Failure to launch: New businesses aren't creating enough jobs
TREASURIES-Yields highest in six weeks after solid jobs gains
UPDATE 2-Fuel Cell shares jump as investors bet on clean power
How many Chinese billionaires? Take a guess

Everything must go: There's a flood of store closings
Staples to Shut as Many as 225 Stores, Cut Costs by $500 Million
RadioShack to close up to 1,100 stores
Google's Motorola Mobility Layoffs:1,200 More Workers...
Toys 'R' Us says it will cut 200 jobs at headquarters

Stock Market Blog -Mar 2nd

The S&P500 finally closed above 1850 this week (an all time high) -lets see if it holds. GDP was revised down.

CRM dropped after reporting earnings. ZU popped. TSLA continued its rally.

New all time highs:   ADBE, ABT, AET, AMGN, CVS, CBS, DFS, HD, QIHU, UNH, WAG, YELP, etc.
All time lows:   -

Pops:    ANF, TSLA, TGT, WDAY, ZU    Drops:  CRM, FSLR

Next week:  Economic reports,   *** Monthly jobs report ***

Earnings:     

Market Commentary

We continue to hover around the 1850 level on the S&P500. Next week we get the monthly Jobs report, a potential market mover. Earnings season is pretty much over, so we need a new catalyst to move the markets. If we breakout above this 1850 level, we could see additional upside action.

This week's charts:

S&P 500 -still on top!
10yr Interest Rates
Labor Force Participation Rate (10 year chart)

Commodities/Futures (charts):
Crude Oil was mostly unchanged, closing at $102.59 -still over $100!
Natural Gas plunged, closing  at $4.6
Gold mostly unchanged, closing at $1321 -holding over $1300
The 30 year Bond was up, closing at 133.06
The US Dollar was  down, closing at 79.72

NEWS:
Stocks End Upbeat Week on Mixed Note
U.S. GDP Flash: 4Q13 Economic Growth Revised to 2.4% from 3.2%
Serious catalyst looming on edges of market
Booming US energy sector feeds manufacturing, may overtake it
Crude prices could do an about-face, and soon