Stock Market Watch for the Week of February 18th

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Stocks closed the week strong, as the Dow posted its 8th straight weekly gain. That said, we’re entering a busy week of trading, despite the markets being closed on Monday for Presidents Day.

Some of the upcoming highlights this week include the FOMC minutes and jobless claims. And of course, earnings. That said, 46 S&P 500 names report, including CVS and Walmart.

Earnings have been good enough to keep this market pushing higher. However, the Federal Reserve Bank deserves a lot of the credit for this year’s move higher. By letting the market know that the Fed will most likely not raise rates this year, it has given investors confidence.

However, uncertainty remains. Specifically, the U.S.-China trade talks are still very much in the air. If a deal unravels, it could push equities lower.

Volatility has come in a lot since December 24, when the VIX traded above 36. However, it closed at 14.91 on Friday, a sign that traders are becoming complacent once again.

graph
Source: Yahoo

Here are how some of the most actively traded index ETFs performed over the week: SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) +2.55%, iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) +4.25%, SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF (DIA) +2.92%, Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) +2.01%

Here are how some of the most actively traded commodity and interest rate ETFs performed: United States Oil Fund (USO) +5.69%, iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond (TLT) -0.30%, SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) +0.48%

Economic Releases:
20 Feb 2019- FOMC Minutes 2:00 PM ET

21 Feb 2019- Durable Goods Orders 8:30 AM ET; Jobless Claims 8:30 AM ET; Philly Fed Survey 8:30 AM ET; Existing Home Sales 10:00 AM ET; EIA Petroleum Status Report 11:00 AM ET

Key Earnings:
19 Feb 2019- AAP, FDP, GPC, NBL, TEX, TTS, WMT, CDNS, DVN, FANG, FE, FIVN, HST, LZB, LC, RARE

20 Feb 2019- CVS, GCI, HFC, LAMR, NI, OC, SAH, TRGP, CAKE, CAR, CONE, ET, GDDY, IVR, JACK, LASR, SAM, TYL, WPG, Y

21 Feb 2019- BG, ROCK, TTC, VC, VG, WPX, PLAB, PWR, AAOI, EXAS, ZG, STMP, SGMS, ROKU, PRA, OLED, CZR, CUBE, BEAT, WEN, WPX

22 Feb 2019- AN, B, COG, PNW, SNR, W, WPC

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November 5, 2017 The Week Ahead

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Nearly all major indices closed the week higher except for the Russell 2000. Earnings thus far have been good enough. Shares of Apple rose nearly 6% on the week, Alibaba +4.01%, and Starbucks +2.10%, three earnings names that did not disappoint.

Some earnings stocks worth watching for the upcoming week include: CVS, Mylan, Priceline, Macy’s, and Disney.

The “fear index” closed at 9.14 on Friday; as it is now hovering around the 52-week lows of 8.84.

graph
Source: TradingView

Here are how some of the most traded ETFs performed over the week: SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) +0.29%, iShares Russell 2000 (IWM) -0.79%, SPDR Dow Jones Industrials Average ETF (DIA) +0.43%, and PowerShares QQQ ETF (QQQ) +1.34%

Here is how some futures/commodity related ETF’s performed over the week: United States Oil Fund (USO) +3.14%, iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond (TLT) +1.95%, SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) -0.23%

Below you’ll find what is else is on the schedule for the week:

Economic Releases:
8 Nov 2017- EIA Petroleum Status Report 10:30 AM ET

9 Nov 2017- Jobless Claims 8:30 AM ET

10 Nov 2017- Consumer Sentiment 10:00 AM ET; Treasury Budget 2:00 PM ET

Key Earnings:
6 Nov 2017- AFI, BAH, CAH, CVS, KORS, MYL, ONDK, TRUE, SYY, CAR, ETSY, GDDY, PCLN, SWKS, THC, TRIP, WTW, ZAYO

7 Nov 2017- CBOE, COH, CROX, EMR, EXPD, MNK, SEAS, VIRT, VRX, ZBRA, BUFF, DVA, EXTR, G, LC, MAR, SNAP, TTWO, ZNGA

8 Nov 2017- CABO, CARS, HUM, MGM, REGN, ROK, SEE, WEN, CSOD, CTL, FOXA, IMPV, INFN, SQ, SRCL, TROX, TWLO

9 Nov 2017- AZN, DHI, HIMX, IPXL, JCI, KSS, M, PRGO, QVCA, TIME, HTZ, DIS, JWN, NVDA,

10 Nov 2017- MT

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August 8, 2017 Market Wrap Up

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The markets were on pace for another slow grind up. However, that changed after some political remarks out of the White House, specifically; comments from the President about North Korea and it’s nuclear weapons ambitions.

Earnings highlights included: DIS -2.56%, CVS -0.7%, and CYBR -1.87%

The VIX climbed due to geopolitical concerns, it closed at 10.96.

Index EF movers: SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) -0.25%, iShares Russell 2000 (IWM) -0.31%, SPDR Dow Jones Industrials Average ETF (DIA) -0.07%, and PowerShares QQQ ETF (QQQ) -0.17%

Commodity and futures related ETF movers: United States Oil Fund (USO) -0.4%, iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond (TLT) -0.36%, SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) +0.29%

On the options front, we saw large call buying activity in Urban Outfitters Inc (URBN), which traded 3.4 times normal option volume. In addition, we saw heavy put buying in Francesca’s Holdings Corporation (FRAN), which traded 7.7 times normal option volume.

Economic Releases:
9 August 2017- EIA Petroleum Status Report 10:30 AM ET
10 August 2017- Jobless Claims 8:30 AM ET, PPI 8:30 AM ET
11 August 2017- Consumer Price Index 8:30 AM ET

Key Earnings:
8 August 2017- CABO, CVS, DF, ENDP, EXPD, IEP, KORS, LAMR, LNG, MNK, QVCA, RL, SEAS, SEE, TDG, TIME, VRX, ZBRA, ZTS, BUFF, CYBR, DIS, DXC, GDDY, HTZ, MSNT, MYGN, NUAN, PCLN, TRIP, TSO, XEC, ZG
9 August 2017- CROX, IPXL LITE, MYL, WB, WEN, FLO, FOXA,
10 August 2017- KSS, M, PRGO, JWN, NVDA, NWSA, SNAP, PCTY, TTD
11 August 2017- JCP

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February 5, 2017 The Week Ahead

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Overall, the markets were relatively flat during the week. With that said, earnings thus far haven’t been really exciting. We got some positive results out of Apple and Facebook. However, Amazon disappointed some, but nothing bad where it caused a significant sell-off in other areas of the market.

In economic news, the FOMC meeting resulted in no changes to the key interest rate. However, they still have a plan for several rate hikes this year. One important change in their language was that they are now saying that inflation will rise vs. expected too.

Outside of that, a lot of the media attention is around the first 100 days of President Trump.

Despite all the protesting and the media trying their best to make the new regime appear toxic, the market thus far is not buying into any of it. With that said, the VIX closed at 10.97 on Friday.

Going into the week, traders will be mainly focused on earnings.

Moving on to energy.

Crude oil futures closed the week pretty strong, having 3 out of 5 winning days and ending up 1.21%. On the other hand, gold futures prices finished the week down more than 1.3%

Now, here is how some of the other closely followed ETFs did on the week: United States Oil Fund (USO) +1.23%, iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond (TLT) -0.31%, SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) +2.33%.

Some key earnings include: Disney, Time Warner, Twitter, CVS, and Coca-Cola to name a few.

Here are a list of events that traders will be watching:

Key Economic Data:
7 Feb 2017- International Trade 8:30 AM ET
8 Feb 2017- EIA Petroleum Status Report 10:30 AM ET
9 Feb 2017- Jobless Claims 8:30 AM

Key Earnings:
6 Feb 2017- BWP, HAS, L, NEWL, TSN, CBOE, SYY, DO, FOXA, HMN, LYB, MAC, TSO, YRCW
7 Feb 2017- ADM, BP, CAH, CDW, EMR, FIS, GM, ICE, KORS, MNK, NOV, SABR, TDG, TEN, VMC, AKAM, BWLD, DIS, GILD, GNW, JIVE, LITE, MCHP, MDLZ, NUAN, ORLY, PAA, PNRA, PAGP, PXD, TCS, TDW, TTWO, TWLO, ULTI, YUMC, ZG
8 Feb 2017- AXTA, CTSH, EXC, GRA, GRUB, HUM, LPX, RIO, OC, SNY, TWX, VOYA, DNB, FISV, GLUU, IRBT, LVLT, MC, PAYC, SCSS, TRMB, TYL, WFM, ZEN
9 Feb 2017- BATS, BWA, BZH, CLF, COTY, CVS, DNKN, K, KKR, KO, LIVE, MAS, MHK, OXY, PTEN, RAI, TDC, TWTR, VIAB, VRTU, WWE, YUM, ATVI, CERN, CYBR, EXPE, INFN, JCOM, LPLA, MNK, NCR, MPWR, NVDA, NWSA, P, RICK, UBNT, VRSN, WU, YELP, ZAYO, ZNGA
10 Feb 2017- AXL, G, MT

Key Events:
6 Feb 2017- Credit Suisse Financial Services Forum (runs till 2/8)
8 Feb 2017- Cowen 38th Annual Aerospace, Defense & Industrials Conference (runs till 2/9)
9 Feb 2017- KBW Winter Financial Services Symposium (runs till 2/10)

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November 8, 2016 Market Wrap Up

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The S&P 500 closed higher for the second straight day following a nine day losing streak. Of course, all eyes are on this evening’s US Presidential elections. From what we’ve witnessed over the past few weeks it seems like the market prefers Hillary over Donald. With the race very tight traders will be watching the futures as results start coming in.

The VIX was relatively flat given the uncertainty leading up to this evening’s elections. It closed today at 18.74.

Stocks in play today included: Hertz Global (HTZ) -22%, CVS (CVS) -11.5%, and Valeant Pharmaceuticals (VRX) -22%

Crude oil futures prices closed relatively flat on this election day.

On the options front, we saw large call buying activity in Kellogg (K), which traded 4.3 times normal option volume. In addition, we saw heavy put buying in WPX Energy (WPX), which saw 6.3 times normal options volume.

Here’s what’s on tap for the rest of the week:

Key Economic Data:
8 Nov 2016- U.S. Presidential Election
9 Nov 2016- EIA Petroleum Status Report 10:300 AM ET
10 Nov 2016- Jobless Claims 8:30 AM ET

Key Earnings:
8 Nov 2016- DHI, JCI, OA, QVCA, SEAS, VRX, W, TRIP
9 Nov 2016- COTY, DISH, KITE, WEN, WWAV, NTES, SHAK, SPWR, TASR, TUBE, VRTU
10 Nov 2016- AZN, FLO, M, KSS, PRGO, PRTY, RL, WIX, BUFF, DIS, JWN, KORS, NVDA
11 Nov 2016- JCP

Key Conferences:
7 Nov 2016- Credit Suisse Healthcare Conference (runs till 11/9); Edison Electric Institute Conference (runs till 11/9)
8 Nov 2016- Baird Industrial Conference (runs till 11/10); Stephens Fall Investor Conference (runs till 11/9)
9 Nov 2016- RBC Capital Tech, Internet, Media/Telco Conference (runs till 11/10); UBS Building & Building Products Annual CEO Conference (runs till 11/9); Wells Fargo Technology, Media & Telecom Conference (11/10)

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July 31, 2016 The Week Ahead

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The S&P 500 closed the week relatively flat, which means it’s still near record highs. Earnings thus far have been taken positively. The FOMC meeting proved to be a non-event, as they continue to use the same rhetoric. We now have a situation where gold, stocks, and bonds are near their yearly highs. It will be interesting to see how long that relationship can keep up.

The VIX continued to decline during the week, closing on Friday at 12, at 11.87.

Crude oil futures prices fell more than 6% on the week. On Thursday, they hit a 3-month low, when the traded at 43.13. Crude futures prices are down 10% over the last two weeks and nearly 19% off their 3-month highs.

Moving on, gold futures prices gained more than 2%, closing above $1350 an ounce. Gold futures prices are creeping back to their yearly highs, and are now more than 20% higher than their 6-month lows.

In addition, T-bond futures prices gained more than 1.5%, as they too are near their yearly highs.

As mentioned earlier, earnings season continues to roll. We’ll be hearing from Tesla (TSLA), Pfizer (PFE), CVS Health Corp (CVS), Fitbit (FIT), and Procter & Gamble (PG) just to name a few.

Here is what is on tap for this upcoming week:

Key Economic Data:
1 August 2016- ISM Manufacturing Index 10:00 AM ET
2 August 2016- Personal Income and Outlays 8:30 AM ET
3 August 2016- EIA Petroleum Status Report 10:30 AM ET
4 August 2016- Jobless Claims 8:30 AM ET
5 August 2016- Employment Situation 8:30 AM ET, International Trade 8:30 AM ET

Key Earnings:
1 August 2016- FDC, MCY, SOHU, FTR, GGP, IDTI, TEX, THC, WMB, VNO
2 August 2016- AET, AVP, CAH, CMI, CVS, EMR, EXPD, H, MNK, MOS, ODP, PBI, PFE, PG, RDC, SABR, SODA, SHPG, STX, TAP, AIG, DATA, EA, DVN, FIT, FUEL, GLUU, JIVE, NFX, TX, ZEN
3 August 2016- AXA, D, DDD, ICE, KATE, OXY, TWX, ZTS, CF, FOXA, GDDY, HLF, HUBS, MET, NLY, TROX, TSLA, TSO, WU
4 August 2016- DUK, K, MGM, NOK, PCLN, SEAS, SSYS, TEVA, TIME, VIAB, ANET, ATVI, CSOD, FLR, FSLR, IMPV, KHC, LGF, LNKD, OLED, TRUE, TRIP, TTWO, ZG, ZNGA
5 August 2016- WY, WLTW, HSBC, CTSH, AES

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February 8, 2016 Market Wrap Up

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The Chinese markets were closed today in celebration of their new year. With that said, many traders believed that volatility would come in during their holiday break. Well…that clearly wasn’t the case today. The S&P 500 sold off 1.4% and the NASDAQ was down more than 1.8%.

We continue to see weakness in Biotech, Technology, and the MLP sector. It probably doesn’t help that commodities are also weak. Most importantly, crude oil, which settled below $30 per barrel.

It’s not a real surprise to see the VIX trade above 25 today, finishing the day 11% higher and closing at 26.

On the options front, we saw large call buying activity in Penn National Gaming (PENN). In addition, we saw heavy put buying in Bloomin Brands (BLMN), about 58 times usual options volume.

Stocks in play included: Chesapeake Energy (CHK) -33%, Energy Transfer Equity (ETE), and Williams Companies (WMB) -35%.

We’ve got earnings from Coca-Cola (KO) and CVS Pharmacy (CVS) tomorrow, along with Disney (DIS). Overall, earnings have been pretty weak this quarter. Let’s see if that trend changes at all.

Here’s what’s on tap for the rest of the week:

Key Economic Data:
11 February 2016- Jobless Claims 8:30 AM ET
12 February 2016- Retail Sales 8:30 AM ET

Key Earnings:
9 February 2016- CVS, KO, MAS, VIAB, WYN, AKAM, DIS, NCR, NUAN, PNRA, WU
10 February 2016- ARMH, TWX, EXPE, IRBT, TWTR, WFM, ZNGA, MYL, LOCK, FNF
11 February 2016- AVP, BTU, BWA, CAG, GNC, K, MOS, NOK, PEP, RIO, SHPG, TAP, TIME, WWAV, AIG, ATVI, CBS, CYBR, FEYE, GRPN, INFN, P, QLIK, RSG

Key Conferences:
8 February 2016- Credit Suisse Financial Services Forum (runs till 2/10)
9 February 2016- Bank America Merrill Insurance Conference (runs till 2/11), Goldman Sachs Tech Conf (runs till 2/11), Goldman Sachs Insurance Conf (runs till 2/11)
10 February 2016- Leerink Healthcare Conference (runs till 2/11)
11 February 2016- KBW Financial Conference (runs till 2/12)