April 30, 2017 The Week Ahead

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The stock market posted impressive gains over the week, largely lead by a favorable French vote and somewhat decent earnings. The Nasdaq had four of its bigger firms report earnings: Amazon.com (AMZN) +2.94%, Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) +3.10%, Alphabet Inc. (GOOG) +7.44%, and Intel (INTC) -0.47%. All but Intel posted impressive gains on the week.

Here are how some of the most popular ETF Indices performed: SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) +1.49%, iShares Russell 2000 (IWM) +1.35%, SPDR Dow Jones Industrials Average ETF (DIA) +1.87%, and PowerShares QQQ ETF (QQQ) +2.59%

Despite politics drawing a lot of attention, the markets don’t seem to be fazed. The VIX closed at 10.82 on Friday.

Some of the largest publically traded companies in the world will report this week. They include: Apple, CVS, Pfizer, Tesla, and Facebook.

Here are how some futures/commodity related ETF’s performed: United States Oil Fund (USO) -0.78%, iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond (TLT) -0.96%, SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) -1.26%.

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

Key Economic Data:
03 May 2017- EIA Petroleum Status Report 10:30 AM ET; FOMC Meeting 2:00 PM ET
04 May 2017- International Trade 8:30 AM ET, Jobless Claims 8:30 AM ET
05 May 2017- Employment Situation 8:30 AM ET

Key Earnings:
02 May 2017- ADM, AET, CHTR, COH, COP, CVS, EMR, ETN, EXLS, FIS, HCA, HCP, HLT, LL, MA, MOS, MRK, PFE, SABR, SHOP, AAPL, AKAM, APC, BYD, CSOD, DVN, FEYE, FSLR, FTR, GILD, EVHC, GDDY, HUBS, MDLZ, MTCH, OCLR, OKE, TEX, TWLO
03 May 2017- ADP, CDW, CLX, DLPH, EL, FLOW, GRMN, GRPN, HUM, ICE, MCK, NYT, RAI, S, SBGI, SO, TAP, TWX, YUM, AIG, ARRS, ANSS, CAKE, CATM, CF, CRUS, CXO, DDD, FB, FIT, GLUU, LNT, KHC, LVLT, PXD, PRU, RIG, TIVO, TSLA, WMB
04 May 2017- APA, CHD, CHK, D, FLR, INCY, IT, K, OXY, ZTS, VIAB, WLTW, ATVI, CBS, LOGM, MET, MRO, PKI, VECO
05 May 2017- CNP, CTSH, HCN, MC

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April 27, 2017 Market Wrap Up

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Stocks ended up higher on the day, except for the Russell 2000, which sold off about -0.16%. The Nasdaq hit record highs, as many of the big are set to report earnings this eventing.

At the time of this writing, this is how some of them stand: Amazon (AMZN) +5%, Alphabet (GOOGL) +4.3%, Microsoft (MSFT) -0.33%, and Intel (INTC) -2.65%. That said the Nasdaq is up in the after hours about 0.5%.

Now, here is how some of the other closely followed ETFs did on the week: United States Oil Fund (USO) -0.19%, iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond (TLT) -0.03%, SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) -0.37%.

On the options front, we saw large call buying activity in LPL Financial Holdings (LPLA), which traded 2.9 times normal option volume. In addition, we saw heavy put buying in Treehouse Foods Inc (THS), which traded 13.2 times normal option volume.

Here is what is left on the schedule:

Key Economic Data:
28 April 2017- GDP 8:30 AM ET

Key Earnings:
27 April 2017- ABBV, APD, BMY, BSX, BWA, CELG, CMCSA, CME, DOW, F, GRUB, IP, IRM, JCI, LAZ, LLL, LUV, MPC, POT, SIRI, SPG, UAA, UNP, UPS, AIV, AMZN, BIDU, EXPE, GOOGL, GPRO, INTC, MLNX, MAC, MSFT, SBUX, VRTX, WDC
28 April 2017- CL, COG, CVX, GM, GT, HST, LYB, PSX, SYF, VFC, XOM, WY

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January 10, 2016 The Week Ahead

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The S&P 500 is off to a rocky start, down nearly 6% in the year. Fears of a China slow-down, along with rising interest rates are possible reasons for the sell off. With that said, traders will be watching closely what happens in the Asian sessions.

In addition, crude oil prices continue to drop. They’re down over 10%, early in the new year. Crude oil futures prices are currently below $35 per barrel.

The VIX exploded, gaining over 9 points on the week, closing above 27.

If things weren’t volatile enough, earnings kick off this coming week. We are looking forward to results out of intel (INTC), as well as many of the big banks like Wells Fargo (WFC), JPMorgan (JPM), and Citigroup (C).

Here’s what else is going on:

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:
11 January 2016- AA
12 January 2016- CSX
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)

October 13, 2015 Market Wrap Up

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October 13, 2015 Market Wrap Up

The S&P 500 closed the day slightly lower; however, volume was extremely light. The SPDR S&P traded less than 87 million shares compared to the typical 140-150 million shares we’ve been used to seeing. In respect to the Dow Jones Industrials, its 7-day winning streak was snapped.

With that said, the VIX finally showed some life. It was up over 9% and is now at 17.67.

The energy sector was weak; the United States Oil Fund (USO) was down nearly 2%.

On the options front, we saw bullish call buying in Salesforce.com (CRM). Options that saw bearish put buying in KLA Tencor Corporation (KLAC).

This evening we got earnings from Intel (INTC) -.2% and JPMorgan Chase (JPM) -1%.

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