February 15, 2016 The Week Ahead

The S&P 500 finished the week slightly lower and really not that far off our most recent lows. It doesn’t help that European markets are near multi-year lows and the Japanese market is down 20% year-to-date.

Not to mention, crude oil prices are hovering below $30 a barrel, putting a drag on global economies.

Many were expecting the markets to be subdued after China’s markets were closed for holiday.

However, that was not the case at all.

We’ll have to see how markets react during this shortened 4-day trading week.

The VIX closed the week higher, despite dropping nearly 10% on Friday, closing above 25.

Crude oil prices are still very near their most recent lows. The market has seen minor price spikes on rumors that OPEC might do something to try to stop the free-fall in prices. However, this continues to remain speculation.

There are still a ton of earnings this week along with a decent amount of economic events.

Here’s what else is on tap:

Key Economic Data:
17 February 2016- Housing Starts 8:30 AM ET, PPI 8:30 AM ET, Industrial Production 9:15 AM ET, FOMC Minutes 2:00 PM ET
18 February 2016- Jobless Claims 8:30 AM ET, Philly Fed Survey 8:30 AM ET, EIA Petroleum Status Report 11:00 AM ET
19 February 2016- Consumer Price Index 8:30 AM ET

Key Earnings:
16 February 2016- DF, GPC, A, BYD, DVN, ESRX, RAX, NBR, TEX, TRU
17 February 2016- DPS, GRMN, TMUS, PCLN, SHOP, BLMN, HST, BRCD, CF, CYH, GDDY, JIVE, MAR, MRO, NTAP, NVDA, SPWR, WMB, PKD
18 February 2016- CAB, DAN, DISCA, DUK, HOT, LNG, MGM, MPEL, WM, WMT, PCG, AMAT, JWN, SAM, WAGE
19 February 2016- DE

Key Conferences:
15 February 2016- CAGNY Conference (runs till 2/19)
17 February 2016- Barclay’s Industrial Conference (runs till 2/19)