2/15 Almanac

On Tuesday, Feb. 15: Retail sales.

There are 4 days before the February options expire, 32 the March and 60 the April.

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



Stats

Blue chip stocks (SPY) closed the latest regular session up 0.6% from the prior close. During the day SPY traversed 1.2% in a net move up of 1.0%.

The day's extremes: Open $133.03, high $133.54, low $132.88, close $133.43.

SPY traded entirely within the DeMark pivots. The next DeMark pivots are $133.16-$133.82.

In total, 2.8 billion shares were traded on the three major U.S. stock exchange, 9% fewer than on the prior trading day.

Five-year bond yields imply inflation at 2.28%, unchanged from the prior trading day.


Econ reports:

The Census Bureau releases its monthly retail sales survey at 8:30 a.m. Eastern. It will be accompanied by a pair of weekly private retail sales reports: ICSC/Goldman at 7:45 a.m., and Redbook at 8:55 a.m.

Also look for the Empire State manufacturing survey (as goes New York, so goes the nation!) and import/export prices at 8:30 a.m.

Treasury releases its international capital report at 9 a.m., Census its business inventories survey at 10 a.m., and the Homebuilders their housing market index, also at 10 a.m.

Treasury auctions 4-week bills at 11:30 a.m.

Cleveland Fed Pres. Sandra Pianalto gives a speech. She is a non-voting alternate member of the Federal Open Market Committee.

The Federal Reserve often posts transcripts of speeches and testimony within a few days of the event.


Trading Calendar:

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


Good trading!