7/25 Almanac

On Monday, July 25: Chicago Fed national activity index.

There are 26 trading days before the August options expire, 54 the September, 89 the October and 117 the November.

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



Stats

Blue chip stocks (SPY) closed the latest regular session up 7¢ from the prior close. During the day SPY traversed 0.7% in a net move up of 4¢.

The day's extremes: Open $134.52, high $134.72, low $133.76, close $134.58.

SPY traded entirely within the DeMark pivots.. The next DeMark pivots are $134.17-$135.13.

In total, 2.4 billion shares were traded on the three major U.S. stock exchanges, 25% fewer than on the prior trading day.

Five-year bond yields imply inflation at 2.13%, unchanged from the prior trading day.


Econ reports:

The Chicago Federal Reserve's national economic activity index will be released at 8:30 a.m. East eastern. Although prepared by a regional Fed bank, it is national in its scope

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

No Fedsters' speeches are scheduled. The Federal Reserve maintains an archive of speeches and testimony.

Later in the week, look for consumer confidence and new home sales on Tuesday, durable goods on Wednesday, jobless claims and pending home sales on Thursday, and the gross domestic product on Friday.

Trading Calendar:

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


Enjoy the weekend!