The S&P 500 is holding true to the rising trend line and is also holding its 20-day moving. The FOMC is also upon us. This is the week that it is likely to raise rates and if you remember, I've been saying for a couple of months now that the Fed will raise rates because with the market soaring and jobs still coming in strong, it has no other choice but to take advantage of the strength the market is showing and raise rates, especially if it wants to appear credible at year's end with its projected three rate-hike projection.
Banks may pop on the news but in the past week, they have shown no signs of it with price stalling considerably -- especially among the regional banks.
Volume on SPDR's S&P 500 (NYSE:SPY) has been solid the past two days, which is unusual considering the price action of late. Friday's action represented a breakout of the bull flag on SPY as well, but once again, the intraday price action was nothing to get thrilled about.
T2108 (% of stocks trading above their 40-day moving average) bounced on Friday by 5.3% and managed to climb back above 42%.
Finally, keep an eye on oil -- It has been on a hard 5-day pullback. It has been a while since we have seen considerable weakness in the commodity, but if it persists, eventually it will effect the broader markets more directly.
Current Stock Trading Portfolio Balance:
- 4 long positions
Recent Trades:
- American Airlines (NASDAQ:AAL): Short at 44.76, Closed at 44.03 for a 1.6% profit.
- ProShares UltraPro S&P 500 (NYSE:UPRO) (Day-Tade): Long at 95.35, closed at 96.50 for a 1.2% profit.
- Bank of the Ozarks (NASDAQ:OZRK): Long at $56.12, closed at $54.69 for a 2.5% loss.
- Finisar Corporation (NASDAQ:FNSR): Long at $34.25, closed at 34.70 for a 1.3% profit.
- UPRO (Day-Tade): Long at 96.92, closed at 98.03 for a 1.2% profit.
- JP Morgan Chase (NYSE:JPM): Long at 87.21, closed at 89.67 for a 2.8% profit.
- Chevron (NYSE:CVX): Short at 110.03, covered at 111.85 for a 1.6% loss.
- Flex (NASDAQ:FLEX): Long at $15.62, closed at $16.57 for a 6.1% profit.
- Baidu (NASDAQ:BIDU): Long at $174.70, closed at $187.00 for a 7.0% profit.
- Ollies Bargain Outlet (NASDAQ:OLLI): Long at 33.20, closed at $32.50 for a 2.1% loss.
- Corning (NYSE:GLW): Long at $26.98, closed at $27.45 for a 1.7% profit.
- Illinois Tool Works (NYSE:ITW): Long at $127.74, closed at $129.86 for a 1.7% profit.
- Marriott Int'l (NASDAQ:MAR): Long at $86.16, closed at $87.51 for a 1.6% profit.