June 9, 2016 Market Wrap Up

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The S&P 500 closed slightly lower on below average trading volume. It appears the market is on vacation this week as we await heavy economic data next week. Most importantly, the FOMC meeting that is scheduled for June 15.

Stocks in play today include: The Hershey Company (HSY) +3.5%, H&R Block Financial (HRB) +8.8%, and Tesla Motors (TSLA) -3.83%.

Despite the anemic volume, the VIX actually grinded up, closing at 14.64.

Crude oil futures closed above $50 per barrel for the 3rd straight trading day. We’ve made 23 new highs over the last 6-months to just give you an idea of the run we’ve had.

On the options front, we saw large call buying activity in the Hershey Company (HSY), which traded 36.7 times normal volume. We also saw a ton of bearish bets being placed in Urban Outfitters Inc, which traded 2.7 times usual volume.

Here’s what’s left for the rest of the week:

Key Economic Data:
9 June 2016- Jobless Claims 8:30 AM ET

Key Earnings:
9 June 2016- SJM, MFRM, HRB

Key Events:
Bank America Global Telecom & Media Conference (runs till 6/9)
Goldman Healthcare Conference (runs till 6/9)
Jefferies Healthcare Conference (runs till 6/10)
Credit Suisse Global Energy Conference (runs till 6/9)
Deutsche Bank 7th Annual Global Industrials & Basic Materials Conference (runs till 6/9)

May 4, 2016 Market Wrap Up

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The S&P 500 sold off for the second consecutive day, and is now down more than .5% on the week so far. Some attribute this to some weak economic data, as we saw a drop in imports today.

Some of the highlights today included comments out the Sohn Investment Conference. A meeting of some of the sharpest minds on wall street, presenting their top picks for the year. With that said, we saw a decent amount of volatility in individual stocks mentioned; as traders and machine reading algos reacted to the conference.

Names mentioned included: Bank Of The Ozarks (OZRK) -4.2%. Solarcity (SCTY) -9.2%, and Depomed (DEPO) -1.1%

The VIX caught a bid, closing the day at 16.05, an increase of nearly 3%.

Crude Oil is down around 5% over the last 4 trading sessions. However, it did manage to bounce back from earlier lows, despite seeing a higher than expected build out the DOE report.

On the options front, we saw large call buying activity in BGC Partners (BGCP). In addition, we saw heavy put buying in Pattern Energy Group (PEGI), which saw 6.7 times usual options volume.

This evening we got earnings out of Tesla (TSLA) +0.5%, Whole Foods Market (WFM) +2.9%, and Fitbit (FIT) -11.7% to name a few.

Here’s what’s left for the rest of the week:

Key Economic Data:
5 May 2016– GDP 8:30 AM ET, Jobless Claims 8:30 AM ET
6 May 2016– Employment Situation 8:30 AM ET

Key Earnings:
5 May 2016– APO, AVP, BABA, CHK, DDD, DISCA, FIG, G, ITG, K, LXP, MGM, MRK, OA, REGN, SEAS, WFT, ANET, ATVI, DATA, DWA, ENDP, FEYE, GPRO, HLF, MDVN, OLED, POST, TRUE, UBNT, YELP
6 May 2016– AGN, WLTW, WY, EXC

April 7, 2016 Market Wrap Up

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The market continues to have a rough week thus far. Overall, the S&P 500 was down 1.2%, the Nasdaq -1.47%, and the Dow Jones Industrials -0.98%. Whether it’s profit taking ahead of earnings, or an overbought sentiment that caused the selling today, it’s still too early to say.

The VIX saw another spike today, closing up nearly 15%, at 16.16.

Despite weakness in the equity markets, crude oil was relatively stable. The United States Oil Fund (USO) was down less than one percent, however; it’s pared almost half those losses in the after hours session.

On the options front, we saw large call buying activity in Endo International (ENDP). In addition, we saw heavy put buying in Ross Stores, Inc. (ROST), which saw 14.7 times usual options volume.

Stocks in play included: Valeant Pharmaceuticals (VRX) +3.92%, Maximus, Inc. (MMS) -8%, Relypsa, Inc. (RLYP) +68%, and Tesla Motors (TSLA) -3.1%

There are no major domestic events scheduled for tomorrow.

April 5, 2016 Market Wrap Up

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The market was under a lot of selling pressure for most of the day. It all started last night, as Asian and European markets were both weak. The S&P 500 closed down more than 1%, making it two straight down days in a row.

The VIX shot up after hanging out in the low 13s…it’s now back above 15, as it closed the day 9.2% higher at 15.42.

On the options front, we saw large call buying activity in NeoPhotonics (NPTN). In addition, we saw heavy put buying in Big Lots (BIG), which was 7.3 times usual options volume.

Stocks in play included: Allegran (AGN) -15%, DragonWave (DRWI) +36%, and Tesla Motors (TSLA) +3.8%

In the after-hours, we saw a jump in crude oil prices following the American Petroleum Institute numbers. They reported a drop in crude inventories by 4.3m barrels. The United States Oil Fund (USO) is up more than 2% on that.

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

Key Economic Data:
6 April 2016- EIA Petroleum Report 10:30 AM ET, FOMC Minutes 2:00 PM ET
7 April 2016- Jobless Claims 8:30 AM ET

Key Earnings:
6 April 2016- GPN, MON, STZ, APOG, APOL, BBBY
7 April 2016- CAG, KMX, RAD

Key Events:
6 April 2016- 2016 MRO Americas Conference (runs till 4/7)
7 April 2016- Cowen 2nd Annual Retail & Luxury Day

March 1, 2016 Market Wrap Up

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We had lift-off in the markets today, as the S&P 500 closed more than 2% higher on the day. Even more impressive, the Nasdaq closed more than 3% higher. The S&P 500 is nearly 10% higher than its February 11 lows.

Crude oil futures closed the day higher, trading comfortably above $34 per barrel. Of course, tomorrow we’ll have data from the Department of Energy on inventory levels. This is a report many traders will be paying attention to.

The VIX got clobbered, dropping more than 13% and closing at 17.70.

On the options front, we saw large call buying activity in ImmunoGen (IMGN). In addition, we saw heavy put buying in Fastenal Company (FAST), about 5.9 times usual options volume.

Stocks in play included: Valeant Pharmaceuticals (VRX) -1%, Tesla Motors (TSLA) -3%, and Pepco Holdings (POM) -12%.

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

Key Economic Data:
1 March 2016- ISM Mfg Index 10:00 AM ET
2 March 2016- EIA Petroleum Status Report 10:30 AM ET
3 March 2016- Jobless Claims 8:30 AM ET
4 March 2016- Employment Situation 8:30 AM ET, International Trade 8:30 AM ET

Key Earnings:
2 March 2016- ANF, DSX, COSST, NOG
3 March 2016- BKS, BURL, CIEN, JOY, CIEN, KR, SSYS, AMBA, AVGO, NMBL
4 March 2016- SPLS

Key Conferences:
29 February 2016- BMO Metals & Mining Conference (runs till 3/3), JPMorgan High Yield Leveraged Finance Conference (runs till 3/2), Morgan Stanley Technology, Media & Telecom Conference (runs till 3/3)
2 March 2016- Simmons Energy Conference (runs till 03/4)

February 11, 2016 Market Wrap Up

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The Equity markets have not seen a green day in five days, as we’re down nearly 5% over this period. With that said, we did see a slight bounce off the lows in the S&P 500. Overall, it was very controlled selling, we traded in a range between 1810 and 1847.

With China on holiday, a lot of the focus was on Fed Chairman Yellen’s testimony and the action in the crude oil market. Now, the Chairman’s testimony was unable to spark a rally. Luckily, crude oil was able to catch a bounce late afternoon after hovering below $27 per barrel.

The bounce was attributed to some chatter out of OPEC. The UAE Energy Minister mentioned that he would be open to discussing supply cuts, according to the Wall Street Journal. Of course, that was enough to turn crude oil around and enough to reduce some of the losses in the equity markets.

The VIX traded above 30 at one point, closing the day 7% higher at 28.14.

On the options front, we saw large call buying activity in Rentech Nitrogen Partners (RNF). In addition, we saw heavy put buying in Eaton Vance Corp (EV), about 12.4 times usual options volume.

Stocks in play included: J2 Global (JCOM) +16%, Tesla (TSLA) +5.8%, and Bank of America (BAC) -5.6%

Here’s what’s going on tomorrow:

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

Key Conferences:
12 February 2016- KBW Financial Conference

November 3, 2015 Market Wrap Up

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The S&P 500 closed the day higher as it continues to grind higher and near all-time highs. In fact, both the SPY and QQQ are near their highs of the year. However, the iShares Russell ETF (IWM) is nearly 8% off its highs.

Coming into the day, there was news that ATVI was going to be acquiring KING for more than $5 billion. This evening, we got earnings out of Tesla (TSLA), which was up 9% in after hours trading.

Interestingly, the VIX climbed today, gaining nearly 3% and closed at 14.54.

The energy sector was strong; the United States Oil Fund (USO) was up nearly 4% today. USO is still nearly 50% off its yearly highs.

On the options front, we saw bullish call buying in Nimble Storage (NMBL).

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

Key Economic Data:
4 November 2015- International Trade 8:30 AM ET
5 November 2015- Jobless Claims 8:30 AM ET
6 November 2015- Employment Situation 8:30 AM ET

Key Earnings:
4 November 2015- AGN, AVP, KORS, TWX, WEN, CF, FEYE, FB, QCOM, RIG, MRO, HOLX
5 November 2015- AMCX, AZN, CELG, COTY, DUK, GOGO, HFC, KATE, RL, TAP, ANET, CYBR, DATA, DIS, DWA, GLUU, NUS, SWKS, TRIP, WTW
6 November 2015- HUM, HZNP