Financials lead strong session
Index & Sector performance 9/18/14 The Market: Fairly broad rally across all the WSC Scoreboard indices. Interesting that the Guggenheim equal weight S&P 500 index (RSP) noticeably underperformed the S&P 500 (SPY) showing that the rally was not as much broad based and instead focused in the higher weighted industries & stocks. In individual sectors it was the Financials (XLF) that led all sectors on the WSC Scoreboard finishing the session up 0.98%. As would be expected the rally was broad throughout the components but highlighted by Citigroup (C) and Prudential (PRU) which finished the session up 2.42% and 2.35%…
Energy heads lower in mixed session
Index & Sector performance 9/8/14 The Market: Overall another low volume mixed session which saw the S&P 500 (SPY) and Dow (DIA) close slightly lower while the NASDAQ (QQQ) and Russell 2000 (IWM) finished slightly higher. On the WSC Scoreboard the Energy sector (XLE) sticks out finishing the session down 1.56%. After strong moves we like to see what stocks bucked the trend in the sector and one notable outperformer today was Valero (VLO) which finished the session up 0.96%. Not much Economic data to start the week but finishes strong with Unemployment Claims Thursday followed by Retail Sales and…
Tech & Small cap trend change?
Index & Sector performance 9/3/14 The Market: While the Dow (DIA) and S&P 500 (SPY) closed essentially flat, the Nasdaq (QQQ) and Russell 2000 (IWM) both finished decisively lower. In addition the technical action in both the QQQ and IWM is concerning as both started the day gaping above the previous day’s highs to only then sell off the remainder of the day finishing below the previous day’s lows. Those into candlestick charting will recognize this as an Engulfing pattern and can signal a change in trend. In individual sectors it the Utilities (XLU) leading the charge finishing the day…
Financials help S&P to new highs
Index & Sector performance 8/21/14 The Market: The 4 major indices drifted higher in today’s session but not by much and all on lower volume which has been a trend. Mixed bag across the individual sectors but the clear winner was the Financials (XLF) finishing the day up 1.18%. The big standout in the sector was Bank of America (BAC) which finished the day up over 4% and looks poised for a run back to the March 2014 highs of $18. If BAC is indeed in rally mode we would expect today’s lows to not be breached. Also having a…
Very quiet start to the week
Index & Sector performance 7/7/14 The Market: Today was a very quiet trading session which saw the market give back some of last week’s holiday gains. Looking over the Economic Calendar, this is a light data week and while Alcoa (AA) will kick off earnings season tomorrow after the close it will still be a while before we are in the thick of earnings season. We are watching the Russell 2000 (IWM) closely. In good times you expect to see the Tech Stocks and Small caps lead. While the NASDAQ (QQQ) has come back to do its part this year,…
Tech & Small Cap lead, S&P new highs
Index & Sector performance 5/27/14 The Market: After a lull in Economic releases last week and a Holiday Monday, today started with a slew of Economic data which posted better than expected results for Durable Goods orders, Home Price Index, and Flash Services PMI. The S&P which was already trading slightly higher preceded to rally into the early morning before seeing a midday dip followed by an end of day rally that took the S&P500 futures back to and slightly above the earlier highs. Tomorrow we get a break from Economic news but Thursday will be another big day with…
Indices take back losses plus
Index & Sector performance 5/22/14 The Market: Overall today was a quiet day in the market which saw green across the entire WSC Scoreboard with the Dow and NASDAQ leading the charge followed closely by the S&P and finally the Russell 2000 which is getting use to lagging. At 2pm EDT the FOMC minutes were released and discussed risks to the economy including U.S. housing, the Russia-Ukraine situation, and China’s economic slow down but this news did not appear to bother traders. Tomorrow is be the biggest economic data day of the week which includes Unemployment Claims and Existing Home…
Russell leads Indices lower
Index & Sector performance 3/24/14 The Market: The Bull missed a great opportunity in our opinion when a late day rally stalled and failed to get above the 1856.50ES resistance and they even had the opportunity to close up on the day. Now the 1852-56.50ES region should act as resistance and leaves the door open for an overnight drop toward 1840ES and then further 1827ES. In Economic Data we had Manufacturing PMI come in lighter than expected but the previous number was revised higher . Tomorrow the market will be watching Consumer Confidence and New Home Sales. Reporting EPS…
Analyst Comments
Today’s featured analyst comment is by Goldman Sachs who upgraded Gartner, Inc. (IT) to Buy with an $85 price target. IT has been on a strong run up over 38% the trailing 12 months and Goldman believes there is more in the tank. Looking at the chart there is some work needed but we think they may be right. If IT can continue to digest under the recent highs while the MACD continues to recycle then this could lay the ground work for another leg higher. What we are watching specifically on the stock is the MACD and the 50…
Decline….What Decline?
Index & Sector performance 1/15/14 The Market: The vast majority of today’s action was on the open where the S&P 500 gaped higher and ran until 11am EST which marked the highs of the day. The remainder of the day stayed in a 5 point range from the 11am highs as the market digested the strong reversal rally which has gained roughly 35 S&P points since Monday’s lows. In Economic Data, Headline PPI slightly missed expectations while Core PPI beat. The Beige Book reiterated an overall positive outlook on the economy showing moderate growth. Tomorrow traders will be most focused…