Stock Market Blog -May 25th

The market rallied yet another week, disappointing all the bears out there. Looks like May will close higher if we keep up this trend for another week.

Gold continues to trade under $1300, while Oil is approaching $105.
TIF rallied on earnings. DKS plunged.
NFLX saw a nice rally this week too.

New all time highs:  AVGO, CVS, DAL, LUV, NVS, NSC, SNDK, HUM, WLP, Z
All time lows:   -ANR

Pops:  TIF   Drops:   DKS

Next week:  Economic reports,   

Earnings:     AZO, KORS, TOL, COST

Market Commentary

Looks like the support level I mentioned last week on the Small-Caps held, and we got a nice rally from there (IWM). The S&P500 closed at an all time high too. Looks like we could see more upside action for a little while, as the NASDAQ and Russell 2000 play catch up... The VIX also hit another low, disappointing all the traders that  are long the VIX! We will eventually get a VIX rally though.

For Option traders, because of the low Volatility, Calendar Spreads would be appropriate here.

This week's charts:

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

Commodities/Futures (charts):
Crude Oil was up, closing at 104.20  -holding above $100
Natural Gas was mostly unchanged, closing at 4.40
Gold was mostly unchanged, closing at $1291
The 30 year Bond dropped a bit, closing near 136.97

The US Dollar was up a bit closing at 80.44

NEWS:
S&P 500 hits new record of 1,900.50
Tech stocks are back. Forget that Spring sell-off
5 good reasons to sell your stocks
Is a bond and stock correction coming?
Oil ends higher after US data; Libya and Ukraine tensions

China and Russia ink $400 billion gas deal

GM Sets a Record, And Its Story Gets Even Worse
HP to cut up to 16,000 more jobs
Barclays to shed 19,000 jobs over three years
Army of robots to invade Amazon warehouses
Robots will replace fast-food workers

Stock Market Blog -May 18th

After a big rally on Monday, the market gave it all back by the end of the week. The Russell 2000 small-caps also dropped to the Feb low -maybe we'll get a bounce here. Bonds and the US Dollar rallied, while Gold dropped back under $1300 again. Oil closed over $100 again. Gold miners (GDX) seem to be headed lower again.

WMT dropped after reporting earnings; as did WWE. CSCO rallied.

New all time highs:  DDS, JWN, KR, UNP, NVS, UN, UL, 
All time lows:   -

Pops:  CSCO    Drops:   

Next week:  Economic reports,   

Earnings:     CPB, HD, LOW, TGT, BBY, HPQ, PETM

Market Commentary

The markets seem to be undecided, with the S&P500 still stuck in a range. Lack of buyers? Maybe the 'sell in May' crowd will set the next trend? Small-caps are still in a down-trend, though now at a support level. Volatility is super low (VIX) ,  a contra indicator that might indicate a market top. Maybe buying VIX or VIX related Options could be a viable strategy here.

For Option traders, because of the low Volatility, Calendar Spreads would be appropriate here.

This week's charts:

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

Commodities/Futures (charts):
Crude Oil was up a bit, closing at 102.02...  -back above $100
Natural Gas dropped, closing at 4.41
Gold was mostly unchanged, closing at $1293
The 30 year Bond was up, closing near 137.43 

The US Dollar dropped a bit closing at 80.10

NEWS:
Week Ahead: FOMC Minutes, Retail Earnings, Housing Data
Week's Winners and Losers: Netflix Flies, Shutterfly Flubs
Jobless claims tumble to pre-recession low; inflation stirs
US household debt jumps for third straight quarter: Survey
I have 'sick feeling' 25% crash is ahead: Acampora
Pimco sees an end to bull markets in 3-5 year outlook
Why you should short gold now: BofA technician
It's Getting Easier to Get a Mortgage

Stock Market Blog -May 11th

Another week of sideways action in the S&P500. The 10yr note was up a bit (lower interest rates), while Gold ended flat after a rally on Monday. I still think the S&P500 is trying to take out the 1900 level. Commodities dropped as we saw a small rally in the US Dollar.

TWTR and WFM dropped after reporting earnings. GRPN and TSLA also dropped. GMCR rallied

New all time highs:  
All time lows:   -

Pops:  EA, GMCR, ODP    Drops:   GRPN, TSLA, TWTR, WFM, 

Next week:  Economic reports,   * * Options expiration for May * *

Earnings:     

Market Commentary

If you look at a daily chart of the S&P500 it's been hovering in the 1850 to 1880 area, the DOW has been trying to get through the 16600 level, while the NASDAQ and the Russell 2000 have been in a downtrend. This divergence will probably correct itself soon. If the S&P and DOW break through resistance, then we'll probably see a nice rally in the NASDAQ and Russell. Of course, it could always break in the other direction with everything heading further down -only time will tell.

This week's charts:

S&P 500 -still forming a top?
10yr Interest Rates
Labor Force Participation Rate (10 year chart)

Commodities/Futures (charts):
Crude Oil was up a bit...  -holding below $100
Natural Gas dropped
Gold was mostly unchanged
The 30 year Bond was mostly unchanged

The US Dollar dropped a bit

NEWS:
Dow rises to record close; Nasdaq ends worst week in a month
Market will ‘explode to the upside’: Pro
Will 'momentum' finally 'yield'? Traders want to know
Apple-Beats deal makes sense as $3.2B hire (vid)
Apple is desperate and clueless: Pro (vid)
The declining dollar: Why everyone got it wrong
How 3-D printing will radically change the world

Stock Market Blog -May 4th

The market was up a bit for the week, after a lousy GDP number, and an OK Jobs number (depending on which opinion you listen to). The unemployment rate dropped to 6.3%, but roughly a million people dropped out of the workforce too! TWTR dropped after reporting earnings, as did CVX.   Bonds rallied, and Oil dropped.

New all time highs:   COP, DYN, KR, MAR, MMM, NVS, SNDK, XOM, XNF
All time lows:   -DRL

The DOW hasn't been able to break through 16,600

Pops:  ,  Drops:   

Next week:  Economic reports,   Fed before Congress

Earnings:     

Mon - PFE

Tue - DIS, ODP, UBS

Wed - 

Thu - REGN

Fri - 

Market Commentary

We seem to be stalled around this level in the S&P500. The market is very unpredictable here, but with the recent sell-off in techs, there may be an opportunity for a bounce in some of those names. 

Implied Volatility on individual stocks tend to rise ahead of earnings, then drop sharply once the earnings are out. Options strategies can be used to take advantage of these predictable moves (e.g. selling Credit spreads).

Another wreck in the financial sector -new all time low this week

This week's charts:

S&P 500 -still forming a top?
10yr Interest Rates
Labor Force Participation Rate (10 year chart)

Commodities/Futures (charts):
Crude Oil was up, closing around $99.82  -dropped below $100 again
Natural Gas was mostly unchanged, closing  at $4.68
Gold was mostly flat, closing at $1300
The 30 year Bond was up, closing at 136.09

The US Dollar was down again, closing at 79.55

NEWS:
Stocks slip but end week higher amid Ukraine worries, US jobs data
Week Ahead: Yellen Before Congress, Plus Data and Earnings
No respect! Market not rewarding good earnings 
About that jobs report...maybe it wasn't so great

MasterCard 1Q profit rises 14 percent
Samsung vs. Apple verdict: Samsung to pay $120 million, Apple $160,000
If Russia goes over the economic cliff, it won’t go alone