July 14, 2016 Market Wrap Up

July 14, 2016 tvcuser Education, Trading Crude Oil, CY, Dow Jones, EXP, HFC, S&P 500, VIX, VRX, WMB

The S&P 500 continues to break records as we continue to see “risk on” enter the market. Not only that, but treasuries and gold have been selling off, something we weren’t seeing last week. Despite the record close in the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrials, volume was extremely anemic today.

Stocks in play today include: Valeant Pharmaceuticals (VRX) +6.29%, Williams Companies (WMB) +6%, and Cypress Semiconductors (CY) +3.5%

The VIX came in today, and is now trading below 13, at 12.82.

Crude oil futures gained more than 1.5% today, however; it’s been relatively flat this week.

On the options front, we saw large call buying activity in HollyFrontier (HFC), which traded 7.6 times normal volume. We also saw a ton of bearish bets being placed in Eagle Materials (EXP) which traded 2.5 times usual volume.

Here’s what’s on tap for tomorrow:

Key Economic Data:
15 July 2016- Consumer Price Index 8:30 AM ET, Retail Sales 8:30 ET, Industrial Production 9:15 AM ET

Key Earnings:
15 July 2016- C, WFC, USB, FBR, PNC

March 10, 2016 Market Wrap Up

March 10, 2016 tvcuser Education, Trading BBSI, JCOM, PHH, RAX, SPY, USO, VIX, WMB

We had an extremely volatile day in the markets today. Things really got interesting after the ECB announced that they would be doing more in the form of QE to try to stimulate the economy. With that said, the DAX got hit with a 2.3% drop.

The SPDR S&P 500 (SPY) had a low of 197.38, a high of 201.07, closing relatively flat at 199.54.

Oil was relatively flat. The United States Oil Fund (USO) closed the day at 10.04.

The VIX closed above 18, down 1.58% on the day.

On the options front, we saw large call buying activity in PHH Corporation (PHH). In addition, we saw heavy put buying in Rackspace Hosting (RAX), which was 2.1 times usual options volume.

Stocks in play included: J2 Global (JCOM) -19.5%, Barrett Business Services (BBSI) -35%, and Williams Companies (WMB) -8.3%

There are no key events on the schedule tomorrow.

February 8, 2016 Market Wrap Up

February 8, 2016 tvcuser Education, Trading BLMN, China, CHK, Conferences, CVS, Data, DIS, Earnings, Economic, ETE, KO, PENN, S&P 500, VIX, WMB

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)

January 12, 2016 Market Wrap Up

January 12, 2016 tvcuser Education, Trading Conferences, Crude Oil, Data, Earnings, Economic, education, FCX, JAZZ, S&P 500, SUNE, TNDM, VIX, WMB

It was another tremendous day of volatility in the markets. The S&P 500 traded between 1914 and 1947, ultimately closing the day .8% higher. Believe it or not, this marks the second straight up day on the week. But as mentioned earlier, the markets have been all over the place, swinging from positive to negative territory at rapid speeds.

The VIX sold off nearly 8%, closing above 22, at 22.47.

Crude oil futures prices went below $30 per barrel during the trading session. However, they were able to close above that level. It seems like for the last two years, traders have been trying to pick a bottom in crude oil with not a whole lot of success.

With that said, several oil and commodity related names were in play today: Freeport-Mcmoran (FCX) -5.4%, Sunedison (SUNE) -9.6%, Williams Companies (WMB) -12%

On the options front, we saw large call buying activity in Jazz Pharmaceuticals (JAZZ). We also saw aggressive put buying in Tandem Diabetes Care Inc (TNDM).

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

Key Economic Data:
14 January 2016- Jobless Claims 8:30 AM ET
15 January 2016- PPI 8:30 AM ET, Retail Sales 8:30 AM ET

Key Earnings:
13 January 2016- SVU
14 January 2016- JPM, INTC
15 January 2016- BLK, C, FAST, RF, USB, WFC

Conferences:
11 January 2016- JPMorgan Healthcare Conference (runs till 1/15), UBS Greater China Conference (runs till 1/15)
12 January 2016- Deutsche Bank Global Auto Industry Conf (runs till 1/13), Needham Growth Conference (runs till 1/14)

September 24, 2015 Market Wrap Up

September 24, 2015 tvcuser Education, Trading CRUS, Data, Earnings, Economic, education, GLD, NKE, S&P 500, trading, USO, VIX, WMB

September 24, 2015 Market Wrap Up

The S&P 500 finished the day lower, down over 0.5%, however; we got a big bounce off the lows, a range of about 30 points. The market got very weak after Caterpillar Inc (CAT) dropped their sales outlook and referenced that it could cut over 10,000 jobs. Of course, this is one of those companies that market participants use as a gauge of economic strength. Naturally, disappointing statements would be reflected in the overall market.

The VIX was up over 6%, closing at 23.457. For now, it appears that 20 might be a new base level.

The energy sector was up today; the United States Oil Fund (USO) was up about 1%. In addition, gold was very strong, the SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) was up over 2%.

On the options front, we saw bullish call buying in Cirrus Logic Inc (CRUS). Options that saw bearish put buying were in Williams Companies Inc (WMB).

Nike (NKE) reported earnings after the close, at the time of this writing, the stock is up 7%. Also, Fed Chairman, Janet Yellen is giving a speech on inflation.

Here’s what’s on tap for tomorrow:

Key Economic Data:
25 September 2015- GDP 8:30 AM ET

Key Earnings:
25 September 2015- FINL