1/3 Almanac

On Monday, Jan. 3: Manufacturing index.

There are 19 days before the January options expire, 47 the February and 75 the March.

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


Stats

Blue chip stocks (SPY) closed the latest regular session up 0.02% from the prior close. During the day SPY traversed 0.4% in a net move up of 0.2%.

The day's extremes: Open $125.53, high $125.87, low $125.33, close $125.75.

SPY traded entirely within the DeMark pivots. The next DeMark pivots are $125.54-$126.08.

In total, 1.5 billion shares were traded on the three major U.S. stock exchange, 1% fewer than on the prior trading day.

Five-year bond yields imply inflation at 2.07%, down one basis point from the prior trading day.


Econ reports:

The Institute of Supply Management releases its manufacturing index at 10 a.m. Eastern, and at the same time the Census Bureau reports on construction spending.

Treasury announces 4-week bills for Tuesday sale at 11 a.m., and auctions 3-month and 6-month bills at 11:30 a.m.

There are several potential market-movers later in the week: Federal Open Market Committee minutes on Tuesday, weekly jobless claims on Thursday and the monthly unemployment and employment report on Friday.


Trading Calendar:

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


What I'm looking for:

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

Click here for stocks on my watchlists.


Happy New Year! And good trading in 2011!