Stock Market Watch for the Week of February 18th

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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February 25, 2018 The Week Ahead

The markets continued to remain strong as all major indices posted gains. In addition, the Nasdaq, S&P 500, and Dow Jones Industrials are now trading above 20, 50, 100, and 200-day simple moving averages.

This comes despite seeing weakness in a key Dow component, Walmart, as it disappointed the street with its latest earnings causing the stock to drop more than 10% on the week.

Market participants are looking forward to seeing earnings results out of major retailers this week. Also, they’ll be closely watching the latest GDP release.

The VIX continues to drop, closing at 16.50 on Friday, a steep decline from the Feb 6 high of 50.41.

graph
Source: TradingView

Here are how some of the most widely traded index ETFs performed over the week:
Powershares QQQ ETF (QQQ) +1.49%, SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) +0.62%, SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF (DIA) +0.16%, iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) +0.77%

Here is how some futures and commodity ETFs performed over the week: United States Oil Fund (USO) +3.57%, iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond (TLT) +0.05%, SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) -1.74%

Economic Releases:
26 Feb 2018- New Home Sales 10:00 AM ET

27 Feb 2018- Durable Goods Orders 8:30 AM ET; International Trade In Goods 8:30 AM ET

28 Feb 2018- GDP 8:30 AM ET; EIA Petroleum Report 10:30 AM ET

1 March 2018- Jobless Claims 8:30 AM ET; Personal Income and Outlays 8:30 AM ET; ISM Manufacturing Index 10:00 AM ET

Key Earnings:
26 Feb 2018- DF, SN, VERI, OKE, PANW, SNI, JBT

27 Feb 2018- AMT, AES, AZO, DISCA, EE, ENDP, M, MNK, SAH, SEAS, BUFF, DXCM, ESRX, EVHC, IMAX, PCLN, SQ, TIVO, TSRO

28 Feb 2018- ADI, DY, TJX, CRM, MYL, UHS

1 Mar 2018- BBY, KSS, NRG, PDCO, GPS, JWN

2 Mar 2018- FL

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February 19, 2018 The Week Ahead

The markets have bounced back after experiencing one of the fastest 10% declines in history. Overall, the market is still up year to date, despite fears of inflation increasing.

Was last week a dead cat bounce or did we get the 10% correction we needed for the bull market to continue?

Investors should continue to monitor inflation data, as well as earnings. Some key names reporting include Walmart, The Home Depot, and Apache Corporation.

The VIX closed at 19.46 on Friday, a steep decline from the Feb 6 high of 50.41.

graph
Source: TradingView

Here are how some of the most widely traded index ETFs performed over the week:
Powershares QQQ ETF (QQQ) +5.68%, SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) +4.44%, SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF (DIA) +4.10%, iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) +4.48%

Here is how some futures and commodity ETFs performed over the week: United States Oil Fund (USO) +4.38%, iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond (TLT) +0.65%, SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) +2.56%

It’s a short week due to President’s Day. Besides the FOMC Minutes being released, there isn’t much on the economic calendar.

Economic Releases:
21 Feb 2018- PMI Composite Flash 9:45 AM ET; Existing Home Sales 10:00 AM ET; FOMC Minutes 2:00 PM ET

22 Feb 2018- EIA Petroleum Status Report 11:00 AM ET

Key Earnings:
20 Feb 2018- DUK, GPC, HD, MGM, NBL, SIX, WMT, BYD, CXO, DVN, EXR, NFX

21 Feb 2018- GRMN, LNG, WEX, CAKE, EVTC, P, FIVN, CAR

22 Feb 2018- APA, CHK, GOGO, CNP, HRL, MITL, PPL, SCG, W, WIN, HLF, GDDY, INTU, OLED, TTD

23 Feb 2018- COG, ETR, HUN, PEG, PNW, RY

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June 18, 2017 The Week Ahead

The markets ended the week after a week that included an FOMC rate hike. On Friday, we saw a sharp sell-off in Walmart, Supervalu, Costco, Kroger, Post Holdings, and Target due to the announcement that Amazon.com would be buying Whole Foods.

A possible catalyst going into the week will be the investigation of President Trump as there are reports that he is being investigated for obstruction of justice.

Despite this, the VIX closed at 10.38 on Friday, a decline from the previous Friday’s close.

Here are how some of the most traded ETFs performed over the week: SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) -0.32%, iShares Russell 2000 (IWM) -1.00%, SPDR Dow Jones Industrials Average ETF (DIA) +0.42%, and PowerShares QQQ ETF (QQQ) -1.31%

Here is how some futures/commodity related ETF’s performed over the week: United States Oil Fund (USO) -2.63%, iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond (TLT) +1.57%, SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) -1.00%.

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

Key Economic Data:
21 June 2017- Existing Home Sales 10:00 AM ET; EIA Petroleum Status Report 10:30 AM ET
22 June 2017- Jobless Claims 8:30 AM ET
23 June 2017- PMI 9:45 AM ET; New Home Sales 10:00 AM ET

Key Earnings:
20 June 2017- LEN, ADBE, FDX,
21 June 2017- ORCL, SCS, KMX, WGO, ATU
22 June 2017- SNX, SONC, APOG, BKS
23 June 2017- BBRY

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