January 4, 2017 Market Wrap Up

January 4, 2017 tvcuser Education, Trading Conferences, Dillards, Dow Jones, Earnings, Economic Data, GLD, Kohl's, Macy's, Nordstrom, PTCT, TLT, USO, VIX, YPF

The markets are coming into 2017 on a two-day winning streak. Once again, the Dow Jones Industrial Average is creeping in on 20k. Volumes today were relatively light, despite get some fresh data from the FOMC, more specifically, the release of the minutes from the last meeting.

Judging by how the VIX performed, there wasn’t much of a surprise in the Fed minutes. With that said, the VIX closed at 11.85, a drop of nearly 8%.

Now, here is how some of the other closely followed ETFs did on the week: United States Oil Fund (USO) +1.49%, iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond (TLT) +0.39%, SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) +0.39%.

Stocks in play today included Kohl’s, which announced some poor holiday sales numbers in the after-hours. At the time of this writing the stock price was down nearly 9%. With that said, several other retailers were taken down with it. This includes: Macy’s -7%, Nordstrom -2.7%, and Dillards -1.6%.

On the options front, we saw large call buying activity in PTC Therapeutics (PTCT), which traded 2.1 times normal option volume. In addition, we saw heavy put buying in YPF Sociedad Anonima (YPF), which traded 5.1 times normal option volume.

Check out what’s left on the schedule below:

Key Economic Data:
5 Jan 2017- EIA Petroleum Status Report 11:00 AM ET
6 Jan 2017- Employment Situation 8:30 AM ET; International Trade 8:30 AM ET

Key Earnings:
5 Jan 2017- MON, STZ, WBA, RT, HELE, PSMT, SCHN

Key Conferences:
5 Jan 2017- JPMorgan 15th Annual Technology Forum at CES; Stephens, Oppenheimer, RBC Capital at CES; CES (runs until Friday, the 8th)

Be sure to check out our Active Trading Masters Program | Online Courses

February 23, 2016 Market Wrap Up

February 23, 2016 tvcuser Education, Trading Conferences, Crude Oil, Earnings, Economic, KATE, MSI, PTCT, RYAAY, S&P 500, VIX, WHR

The S&P 500 was relatively weak the whole day, giving up nearly all of yesterday’s gains. Some attribute the weakness due to concerns out of China and Europe, as their markets closed lower as well.

A sell-off in crude oil didn’t really help the cause either. After a huge move up yesterday, crude oil futures prices gave up half of yesterday’s gains. We’re hovering in the low 30s…well off our recent lows of 26.

The VIX closed below 20 yesterday. However, with the weakness in the markets today, it jumped back above that 20 mark, closing 8% higher at 20.98.

On the options front, we saw large call buying activity in Kate Spade and Company (KATE). In addition, we saw heavy put buying in Ryanair Holdings (RYAAY), about 32.9 times usual options volume.

Stocks in play included: Whirlpool (WHR) +6.5%, Motorola Solutions (MSI) +6%, and PTC Therapeutics (PTCT) -60%.

Here’s what’s going on tomorrow and the rest of the week:

Key Economic Data:
24 February 2016- New Home Sales 10:00 AM ET, EIA Petroleum Status Report 11:00 AM ET
25 February 2016- Durable Goods Orders 8:30 AM ET, Jobless Claims 8:30 AM ET
26 February 2016- GDP 8:30 AM ET, International Trade 8:30 AM ET, Personal Income and Outlays 8:30 AM ET

Key Earnings:
24 February 2016- CC, CHK, LOW, MBLY, TGT, RLGY, AVG, CRM, ETE, HPQ, IMAX, NFX, NTES, RIG, SUN, TUMI, WLL
25 February 2016- APA, BBY, CHS, CPB, DPZ, GOGO, KSS, SAFM, SEAS, SFM, SN, VAC, VALE, WNR, ADSK, BIDU, BLOX, BMRN, HLF, INTU, KHC, PANW, STRZA, SPLK, UHS, WTW
26 February 2016- HLT

Key Conferences:
22 February 2016- Credit Suisse Energy Summit (runs till 2/25)
23 February 2016- Jeffries Media and Communications Conference (runs till 2/24), RBC Healthcare Conference (runs till 2/24)
24 February 2016- Wells Fargo Real Estate Conference (runs till 2/25), Wells Fargo Bank Investor Forum