Current Long Positions (stop-losses in parentheses): CPWR (10.90), IO (11.40), PLD (15.73), YSI (9.78), TICC (11.90), NFLX (199.75), PFE (18.89)
Current Short Positions (stop-losses in parentheses): None
BIAS: 26% Long
Economic Reports Due Out (Times are EST): MBA Purchase Applications (7am), Challenger Job-Cut Report (7:30am), ADP Employment Report (8:15am), Bernanke Speaks (10am), EIA Petroleum Status Report (10:30am), Beige Book (2pm)
My Observations and What to Expect:
- Futures are flat ahead of today’s market open.
- Asian markets saw losses of as much as 2.4% and European markets are seeing declines between 0.5% and 0.7%.
- S&P Reversed course yesterday after opening higher, only to close below the 10, 20 day moving averages and previous trend-line off of the 9/1 lows.
- A break of S&P 1294 (last week’s lows) would put in a lower-low in the markets, and confirm a downtrend being in place. Then the next major support level becomes the 50-day moving average at 1292.
- Volume was solid but less than Monday’s showing.
- Market is trading specifically to the strength/weakness in oil. Rising oil prices will continue to hamper the markets going forward.
- Yesterday snapped the 6 month winning streak of strong gains on the first of the month.
- For the bears – Push the markets below 1294 and confirm the downtrend.
- For the bulls – Recover from yesterday’s losses and ultimately break its highs.
- My conclusion: With all the uninvited players doing what they can to prop the market up on a daily basis (i.e. Fed/POMO), it is hard to get excited about any downturn in the markets, because ultimately they provide a bid underneath it from dropping too far. Which is why we are constantly seeing “V” shaped bounces.
Here Are The Actions I Will Be Taking:
- Stopped out of IO yesterday at $12.37 for a 3.2% loss, YSI at $9.99 for a 2.6% loss, and PLD at 15.73 for a 2.8% loss.
- Added three new positions to the portfolio – NFLX at $203.94, TICC at $12.11 and PFE at $19.38
- No changes to the stop-losses in the portfolio this morning.
- Will stay on the sidelines today while waiting to see whether this market is willing to bounce after yesterday’s sell-off.
- Follow me in the SharePlanner Chat-Room today for all my live trades and ideas.