December 18, 2016 The Week Ahead

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The S&P 500 and Nasdaq traded slightly lower on the week. However, the Dow Jones Industrial Average managed to have its sixth straight week of gains. All in all, major indices are all hanging around 52-week highs as we approach the Christmas holiday.

Being that it is Christmas week, one could expect volumes to lighten and volatility to be relatively low. No surprise, with the VIX closing at 12.20 on Friday.

Crude oil futures prices were nearly 1% higher on the week, as they are not to far off 52-week highs. Sentiment has been bullish ever since Non-OPEC and OPEC members agreed to make production costs.

Now, here is how some of the other closely followed ETFs did on the week: United States Oil Fund (USO) +0.96%, iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond (TLT) -0.31%, SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) -2.13%.

Here are some important events worth watching during the week:

Key Economic Data:
21 Dec 2016- Existing Home Sales 10:30 AM ET, EIA Petroleum Status Report 10:30 AM ET
22 Dec 2016- Durable Goods Orders 8:30 AM ET, GDP 8:30 AM ET, Philly Jobless Claims 8:30 AM ET, Personal Income and Outlays 10:00 AM ET
23 Dec 2016- New Home Sales 10:00 AM ET

Key Earnings:
19 Dec 2016- LEN
20 Dec 2016- BBRY, CCL, DRI, FDS, GIS, KMX,NAV, FDX, NKE, SCS
21 Dec 2016- ACN, FINL, LNN, PAYX, CAMP, BBBY, MU, RHT
22 Dec 2016- CAG

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December 15, 2016 Market Wrap Up

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The markets rebounded today off rather high volume. Some of the strongest sectors included banks and insurance. This was largely due to yesterday’s FOMC decision to raise rates. The Dow Jones Industrials closed at 19,852, getting very close to that magical 20k mark.

Judging by the VIX, there isn’t much volatility expected at the moment, as it closed at 12.79.

Now, here is how some of the other closely followed ETFs did on the week: United States Oil Fund (USO) +0.35%, iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond (TLT) +0.51%, SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) -1.37%.

One poor performer today was silver (SLV), the iShares Silver Trust (ETF) was down 4.71%.

Shippers were strong today, some of the top names were: DCIX +99.6%, ESEA +90.65%, and DRYS +54.09%

On the options front, we saw large call buying activity in Carnival Corp (CCL), which traded 5.8 times normal option volume. In addition, we saw heavy put buying in Sage Therapeutics (SAGE), which saw 10.3 times normal options volume.

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

Key Economic Data:
16 Dec 2016- Housing Starts 8:30 AM ET

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December 11, 2016 The Week Ahead

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The S&P 500 had another impressive week, gaining more than 3% and up 6% over the last 30 days. On the other hand, the Russell 2000 has been even more impressive, gaining nearly 6% on the week and almost 16% over the last 30 days. With that said, all eyes are focused in on the FOMC and how the market will react to a widely anticipated rate hike.

Based on how the VIX close on Friday, there is very little fear in the market at the moment. The VIX is now trading below 12, and closed at 11.75 on Friday.

Crude oil futures prices were relatively flat on the week after last week’s surge to near 52-week highs. They’re trading above $50 per barrel and threatening to take out this year’s highs.

Now, here is how some of the other closely followed ETFs did on the week: United States Oil Fund (USO) -0.35%, iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond (TLT) -1.77%, SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) -1.56%.

Here are some important events worth watching during the week:

Key Economic Data:
14 Dec 2016- PPI 8:30 AM ET, Retail Sales 8:30 AM ET, Industrial Production 9:15 AM ET, EIA Petroleum Status Report 10:30 AM ET, FOMC Meeting 2:00 PM ET, FOMC Forecasts 2:00 PM ET, Fed Chair Press Conference 2:30 PM ET
15 Dec 2016- Consumer Price Index 8:30 AM ET, Jobless Claims 8:30 AM ET, Philly Fed Survey 8:30 AM ET
16 Dec 2016- Housing Starts 8:30 AM ET

Key Earnings:
12 Dec 2016- KMG, RENN, STRP, PAY
13 Dec 2016- GMS, HEI
14 Dec 2016- APOG, ARWR, JOY, LAKE, PIR,
15 Dec 2016- AIR, ADBE, JBL, NAV, ORCL, RAD, SAFM, SCHL
16 Dec 2016- CCL

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December 8, 2016 Market Wrap Up

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The S&P 500 continued to move higher today, as the Santa Claus rally continues to be on schedule. The darling of the market continues to be the Russell 2000, it gained more than 1.5% today. The Russell 2000 Index ETF (IWM) is nearly up 15% on the month.

Despite the market moving higher, we saw some hedgers come in, the VIX was up more than 3.4% and closed at 12.64.

Stocks in play today included: Wynn Resorts (WYNN) -10.8%, Las Vegas Sands (LVS) -12.72%, Majesco Entertainment (COOL) +65%, Express Scripts Holdings (ESRX) -6.8%

Now, here is how some of the other closely followed ETFs did on the week: United States Oil Fund (USO) +1.89%, iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond (TLT) -1.25%, SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) -0.19%.

On the options front, we saw large call buying activity in Tractor Supply Company (TSCO), which traded 5.9 times normal option volume. In addition, we saw heavy put buying in Northern Trust Corporation (NTRS), which saw 6.6 times normal options volume.

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

Key Earnings:
9 Dec 2016- MTN

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December 4, 2016 The Week Ahead

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The S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Russell 2000 all closed the week lower after posting several weeks of impressive gains. It’s too early to tell whether this is the beginning of something more significant or simply just a pull back from record highs. One things for sure, there isn’t much on the schedule in terms of domestic economic events and earnings.

In respect market volatility, the VIX closed at 14.12 on Friday.

With that said, traders will closely be watching the ECB Policy Meeting, as well as comments out of President-Elect Trump. He’s made some recent comments on potentially taxing domestic businesses that leave the U.S. and try to sell their products back into the country. Of course, this could impact some publicly traded companies dramatically.

Crude oil futures responded well following the OPEC meeting. Crude oil futures prices rose more than 12% and are not to far off from 52-week highs. Energy related companies also saw huge bid as well.

Now, here is how some of the other closely followed ETFs did on the week: United States Oil Fund (USO) +11.3%, iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond (TLT) -1.01%, SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) -0.42%.

Here are some important events worth watching during the week:

Key Economic Data:
6 Dec 2016- International Trade 8:30 AM ET
7 Dec 2016- EIA Petroleum Status Report 10:30 AM ET
8 Dec 2016- Jobless Claims 8:30 AM ET

Key Earnings:
5 Dec 2016- COUP
6 Dec 2016- AZO, BMO, BOBE, HDS, MIK, TOL, PLAY, SIGM
7 Dec 2016- LULU, XRX, COST, HRB, UNFI
8 Dec 2016- CIEN, FRED, HOV, VNCE, AVGO, FNSR
9 Dec 2016- MTN

Key Conferences:
5 Dec 2016- Barclays Discretionary Conference (runs till 11/6); Goldman Sachs European Industrials Conference (runs till 11/7); KeyBanc Consumer Conference (runs till 11/7); UBS Media Communications Conference (runs till 11/7); Raymond James Technology Conference (runs till 11/7)
6 Dec 2016- Cowen Energy & Natural Resources Conference (runs till 11/7); Goldman Sachs Financial Services Conference (runs till 11/7)
7 Dec 2016- Barclay’s Technology Conference (runs till 11/8); Citigroup Healthcare Conference (runs till 11/8)

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November 27, 2016 The Week Ahead

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The S&P 500 closed the week on record highs on a shortened trading week. However, stealing some spotlight has been the Russell 2000, which is now running on a 15-session winning streak. It’s up an impressive 20% on the year. The Nasdaq also performed well, gaining nearly 1% on the week, however; it was on very light trading volume.

Market participants will closely be watching the retail sales numbers that come out of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. There are also a decent amount of retailers reporting earnings as well. You can find the earnings schedule below.

In other news, OPEC will meeting on November 30th. Per usual, these meetings are such wild cards, there is no use in trying to predict how they will turn out. One thing we should expect is greater volatility in the energy stocks and futures.

Now, here is how some of the other closely followed ETFs did on the week: United States Oil Fund (USO) +2.02%, iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond (TLT) -0.34%, SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) -3.07%.

Here are some important events worth watching during the week:

Key Economic Data:
29 Nov 2016- GDP 8:30 AM ET
30 Nov 2016- Personal Income and Outlays 8:30 AM ET, EIA Petroleum Status Report 10:30 AM ET
1 Dec 2016- Jobless Claims 8:30 AM ET, ISM Mfg Index 10:00 AM ET
2 Dec 2016- Employment Situation 8:30 AM ET

Key Earnings:
28 Nov 2016- VNET,
29 Nov 2016- TIF, MNK, DSX, ADSK, FSC, GWRE, SPLK
30 Nov 2016- AEO, TITN, BOX, BV, GES, LZB, NQ, PVH, SMTC
1 Dec 2016- CIBC, DG, EXPR, KR, AMBA, ASNA, GII FIVE, SWHC, ULTA, WDAY, ZUMZ
2 Dec 2016- BIG, FRED

Key Conferences:
28 Nov 2016- Bank of America Merrill Lynch Leveraged Finance Corporation Conference (runs till 11/30); Credit Suisse Tech, Media and Telecom Conference (runs till 12/2)
29 Nov 2016- Citigroup Basic Materials Conference (runs till 12/1); Jefferies Energy Conference (runs till 11/30); Piper Healthcare conference (runs till 11/30); FBR Investor Conference; FBR Investor Conference
30 Nov 2016- Credit Suisse 4th Annual Industrials Conference (runs till 12/1); JPMorgan Financial Tech & Speciality Forum
2 Dec 2016- Bank America Auto Dealer Day Conference

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November 20, 2016 The Week Ahead

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The S&P 500 is up nearly 5% over the last two weeks and is now sitting around 52-week highs. Although the markets have seem to have embraced a Trump Presidency, a large portion of the country appears divided. Despite protests going on throughout the country, volatility in the market is rather low as witnessed by the VIX, which closed at 12.85 on Friday.

Now, the Russell 2000 has outshined both the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq. The Russell 2000, was up nearly 3% on the week and is up more than 8% on the month. On the other hand, the Nasdaq is actually down on the month, but it did gain more than 1.3% on the week.

Here is how some of the other closely followed ETFs did on the week: United States Oil Fund (USO) +5.63%, iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond (TLT) -0.98%, SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) -1.67%.

It should be a pretty slow week, the markets are closed on Thursday for Thanksgiving, and are partially open on Friday. One bit of information that market participants will be closely following is the FOMC minutes which will be released early in the week. Even with that event, one should expect volumes to be relatively low.

Here is what the shortened week looks like:

Key Economic Data:
22 Nov 2016- Existing Home Sales 10:00 AM ET
23 Nov 2016- Durable Goods Orders 8:30 AM ET, Jobless Claims 8:30 AM ET, New Home Sales 10:00 AM ET, EIA Petroleum Status Report 10:30 AM ET, FOMC Minutes 2:00 PM
25 Nov 2016- International Trade In Goods 8:30 AM ET

Key Earnings:
21 Nov 2016- JACK, PANW, VIPS, BRCD
22 Nov 2016- BKS, BURL, CBRL, CPB, DLTR, SIG, GME, HPE, HPQ, UBRN, VEEV, NMBL
23 Nov 2016- DE

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June 27, 2016 The Week Ahead

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The S&P 500 was under attack on Friday after a surprise vote out of Britain as they chose to leave the EU. Going into Friday, the option market was implying a 1.6%, however; The S&P 500 sold off more than 3.59%, which demonstrates how much traders underestimated the risk. Overall, the S&P 500 finished the week down 1.57%.

It appears that there are fears that other EU countries might follow in the footsteps as the Brits. With that said, traders were flocking towards safe havens like Gold and Treasury Bonds. Gold futures rose to their highest levels in 2 years, as they surged more than $55 and closed above 1315. In addition, The iShares Barclays 20+ Yr Treasury Bond (ETF) gained more than 3.5 pts as it closed at 135.78, a move of 2.68%.

The VIX on Friday closed at 25.76, a massive jump of more than 8 points, a gain of nearly 50%.

The United States Oil Fund (USO) was also a victim of the Brexit vote, as it sold off nearly 5% on Friday, closing at 11.40.

Here is what is on tap for this upcoming week:

Key Economic Data:
27 June 2016- International Trade in Goods 8:30 AM ET
28 June 2016- GDP 8:30 AM ET
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:
28 June 2016- NKE, CAMP, CCL, FDS
29 June 2016- GIS, MON, PIR
30 June 2016- CAG, DRI, LNN, STZ, MU, MKC

Key Events:
27 June 2016- JPMorgan Inaugural Energy Conference (runs till 6/28)
28 June 2016- JPMorgan Media & Telecoms CEO Conference (runs till 6/29)