Tuesday, April 20, 2010

4/21 Almanac

On Wednesday, April 21: Oil inventories.

There are 31 days before the May options expire, 59 the June and 87 the July.

On the jump, market stats, mediawatch, rules, econ reports, portfolio and a good book...
Stats

Blue chip stocks (SPY) closed the latest regular session up 0.9% from the prior close. During the day SPY traversed 0.7% low to high in a net move up intraday of 0.3%.

Today's extremes: Open $120.56, high $120.98, low  $120.17, close $120.88.

SPY closed above the range of the DeMark pivots. The next DeMark pivots are $120.53/$121.34.

In total, 3.2 billion shares were traded on the three major U.S. stock exchanges, up200 million from the prior trading day.


Mediawatch

The Narrative has it that stocks rose because of higher oil prices. Let's validate the claim.

Oil, as measured by the USO exchange-traded fund, is trading half a percent above yesterday's close, and below last Friday's close. This is not a significant rise.

Blue chip stocks (SPY) are up under 1% from yesterday, and are within last Friday's range. Not a huge move.

Energy stocks (XLE) are up, but they've simply reclaimed the ground that they lost on Friday. This is not a breakout.

Today's narrative is simply not credible.


Stephan Bernard and Tim Paradis, for AP. Ryan Vlastelica, for Reuters.




Technical analyst Martin Pring reveals the secrets of the craft. No trader should be without this book.

Econ reports

The weekly petroleum status report is out at 10:30 a.m. Eastern. Its main impact is in the energy sector. That's it. Slim pickin's.



    My Holdings

    May expiry:
    • BBY, bull call spread, c44/-c45 
    • EEM  bear put spread, -p43/p44
    • GE, bull call spread, c18/-c19

    Dividend shares: AOD, JNK, NLY

    Special situation: PALM

    Zombie shares: MCO


    Good trading!

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