October 20, 2016 Market Wrap Up

The S&P 500 was relatively flat today on below average volume. That’s kind of surprising given that we’re starting to see a lot of earnings come in. Before the US market opened the news out of the ECB was that they were leaving key interest rates unchanged.

In the after hours we got earnings out of Microsoft (MSFT), which topped 1Q profit forecasts and traded 5% higher. In addition, Paypal (PYPL) also traded higher due to strong revenue numbers.

Stocks in play today included: NXP Semiconductors (NXPI) +4.18%, Varian Medical Systems (VAR) +3.28%, Dragonwave (DRWI) +94.5%, and Time Warner (TWX) +5%

The VIX sold off more than 4.5% and closed at 13.75.

Crude oil futures prices sold off about 2.3% today, but still closed above $50 per barrel.

On the options front, we saw large call buying activity in Iamgold Williams Sonoma (WSM), which traded 8 times normal option volume. In addition, we saw heavy put buying in Infosys (INFY), which saw 3.4 times normal options volume.

Here’s what’s on tap for tomorrow:

Key Economic Data:
20 Oct 2016- Jobless Claims 8:30 AM ET, Philly Fed Business Outlook Survey 8:30 AM ET, Existing Home Sales 10:00 AM ET

Key Earnings:
21 Oct 2016- GE, HON, IPG, MCD, SYF, SAP, STI, MAN

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

July 21, 2016 Market Wrap Up | TVC Trading Education Courses

The S&P 500 closed slightly lower today as we treasuries and gold catch a bid. In addition, the Dow Jones Industrials snapped its nine day winning streak. Early in the morning there were two deals announced. First, Komatsu made a bid to buy Joy Global (JOY) for $2.9 billion. The second was in the biotech space; Galencia made a bid to buy Relypsa (RLYP) for $1.53 billion.

Stocks in play today include: Ocean Power Technologies (OPTT) -32%, Kingtone Wirelessinfo (KONE) +325%, Southwest Airlines (LUV) -11%, and Humana (HUM) +8%.

The VIX finally caught a bid today, closing 8% higher at 12.74.

Crude oil futures dropped about 2%, closing below $45 per barrel.

This evening we got earnings out of Paypal Holdings (PYPL) +1.9%, Starbucks (SBUX) -3.2%, Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG) -1.7%, and Proofpoint (PFPT) +4.8%

On the options front, we saw large call buying activity in Jazz Pharmaceuticals (JAZZ), which traded 14.2 times normal volume. We also saw a ton of bearish bets being placed in Zafgen (ZFGN), which traded 9.6 times usual volume.

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

Key Earnings:
21 July 2016- ALK, BBT, BIIB, BK, BX, DAN, DHI, DNKN, DPZ, DOV, GM, HBAN, JCI, LUV, PHM, UN, UNP, AMD, CMG, ATHN, COF, FLEX, P, SBUX, SLB, SWKS, SYK, T, V
22 July 2016- GE, HON, SWK, SWN, SYF, TXT, VFC, WHR

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

June 28, 2016 Market Wrap Up

The S&P 500 caught its first bounce after the Brexit announcement, as it closed up more than 35 points, a gain of nearly 1.8%. Not only that, but the VIX came under attack as it dropped more than 20% and closing below 19.

Stocks in play today include: comScore, Inc (SCOR) $23.83 (-18.96%), Dow Chemical Company (DOW) $48.50 (-2.04%), PayPal Holdings (PYPL) $35.24 (+3%), and Splunk, Inc. (SPLK) $53.34 (+4.65%).

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

Crude oil futures closed about %3 higher at $47.85.

On the options front, we saw large call buying activity in Travelport Worldwide Limited (TVPT), which traded 8.1 times normal volume. We also saw a ton of bearish bets being placed in Clovis Oncology Inc (CLVS), which traded 2.2 times usual volume.

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

Key Economic Data:
29 June 2016- Personal Income and Outlays 8:30 AM ET, EIA Petroleum Status Report 10:30 AM ET
30 June 2016- Jobless Claims 8:30 AM ET
01 July 2016- ISM Mfg Index 10:00 AM ET

Key Earnings:
29 June 2016- GIS, MON, PIR
30 June 2016- CAG, DRI, LNN, STZ, MU, MKC

Key Events:
JPMorgan Media & Telecoms CEO Conference (runs till 6/29)

October 28, 2015 Market Wrap Up

The S&P 500 closed the day higher as it continues it’s epic surge higher this month. To date, we’re up more than 8% on the month. With that said, the FOMC meeting was as expected. They decided not to touch the key interest rates, but will revisit the idea in December.

Earlier this morning we had earnings results out of Walgreens (WBA) -10.7%, Starwood Hotels (HOT) +6.2%, and T-Mobile (TMUS).

The VIX continues to get clobbered, it was down more than 7%, now trading at 14.33.

The energy sector was strong; the United States Oil Fund (USO) was up nearly 7% today. It will be interesting to see if it rallies along with the market. There has been some dislocation between the energy and equity markets over the last month.

On the options front, we saw bullish call buying in Flextronics (FLEX). We saw bearish option activity in Oasis Petroleum (OAS).

This evening we got earnings results from GoPro (GPRO) -11%, Amgen (AMGN) +1.3%, and Paypal (PYPL) -3%.

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

Key Economic Data:
29 October 2015- GDP 8:30 AM ET, Jobless Claims 8:30 AM ET
30 October 2015- Personal Income 8:30 AM ET

Key Earnings:
29 October 2015- AET, CLF, COP, ESV, JAH, JCI, KERX, MO, NOK, MTH, TEVA, TWC, VALE, ZBH, BIDU, EA, LNKD, MOBL, SBUX, WU, SCTY
30 October 2015- ABBV, CVS, XOM, MYL, CVX, CL, ETN