Flat session with no catalysts
Index & Sector performance 3/23/15 The Market: A flat start to the week as the market appeared happy to meander without a strong catalyst to tip the balance one way or the other. In an otherwise boring tape, the Transportation Index (IYT) is worth noting as it closed down 1.83%. Most of the big names in the index were lower but Kansas City Southern (KSU) was the clear leader to the downside finishing 7.96% lower on the session after announcing reduced FY15 revenue guidance. Existing Home Sales came in weaker than expected and we will be watching to see if…
BIIB helps XLV finish up over 26% YTD
Index & Sector performance 12/2/14 The Market: It was a solid session following Monday’s drop with the Russell 2000 (IWM) clearly leading and with advancers leading decliners by roughly 2:1. In Individual sectors it was Transportation (IYT) leading up 1.18% followed closely by Energy (XLE), which is still trying to recover from Friday’s big gap down, up 1.16%, and lastly HealthCare (XLV) which finished 1.12% higher and is now up over 26% year-to-date. Helping the XLV today was Biogen Idec (BIIB) which gained 6.43% on positive results from an early-stage Alzheimer’s drug trial. BIIB is a name to watch. Above…
Early volatility wanes, dull day
Index & Sector performance 6/2/14 The Market: Overall a quiet day in the market if you look at the overall performance but that does not show the early volatility the market saw when the S&P 500 futures dropped roughly 10 points at the open to only “V” bottom and spike back up near where the drop occurred. After that it was tight trading the rest of the day leaving a small up day in the Dow & S&P with the NASDAQ and Russell 2000 closing on the downside. Today there was some drama around ISM Manufacturing PMI after it was…
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…
FOMC statement & new Chair tomorrow
Index & Sector performance 3/18/14 The Market: We would not be shocked to see the market meander overnight and into tomorrow until the FOMC statement and Fed Chair Janet Yellen’s first press conference. While we do not expect there to be a great difference in message or tone from the Fed, do not be surprised if the market uses this opportunity to send a message to Yellen if there is something that is not liked. In the meantime, traders should watch today’s high of 1867ES as a break could be signaling a move to 1880ES and the index should see…
Daily Wrap
DJIA -13.82 (-0.11%) to 12,951.78; S&P 500 -2.41 (-0.17%) to 1,407.05; NASDAQ -5.51 (-0.18%) to 2,996.69; This weekend the word we referenced entering this week was caution. Not necessarily bearishness but caution. Caution because of how much we have rallied, caution because of the levels we were up against and caution because of Washington. Today was a classic representation of the markets showing lack of conviction and/or indecision and that make me maintain cautious. Early gains today we lost relatively early and after a bounce which started around 1pm petered out around 3pm we retraced roughly have of the gains from the low…