12/31 Almanac

On Friday, Dec. 31: No econ reports, bonds close early, stocks don't.

There are 22 days before the January options expire, 50 the February and 78 the March.

On the jump, market stats, econ reports, and the trading calendar . . .


Stats

Blue chip stocks (SPY) closed the latest regular session down 0.2% from the prior close. During the day SPY traversed 0.5% in a net move down of 0.06%.

The day's extremes: Open $125.80, high $126.13, low $125.53, close $125.72.

SPY closed within the DeMark pivots after trading above and below their range. The next DeMark pivots are $125.33-$125.93.

In total, 1.5 billion shares were traded on the three major U.S. stock exchange, 5% fewer than on the prior trading day.

Five-year bond yields imply inflation at 2.08%, up two basis points from the prior trading day.


Econ reports:

No economics reports are scheduled for release on Friday.

The bond markets will close early, at 2 p.m. Eastern. Stock markets will close at their regular time, 4 p.m.


Trading Calendar:

By my rules, at this point in the cycle I can trade January vertical, diagonal, butterfly and calendar spreads, iron condors and covered calls. Also, March straddles, calls and puts. And of course, shares are good at any time.


What I'm looking for, after New Year's Day:

• INTC re-entry as an earnings play. Analysis.
• NKE post-earnings exit. Analysis.

Click here for stocks on my watchlists.


Good trading!