8/1 Almanac

On Monday, Aug. 1: Manufacturing index.

There are 19 trading days before the August options expire, 47 the September, 82 the October and 110 the November.

A reminder that beginning on Monday, Private Trader goes on a vacation schedule. The Almanac will resume publication on Monday, Sept. 6, the day after Labor Day.

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



Stats

Blue chip stocks (SPY) closed the latest regular session down 0.7% from the prior close. During the day SPY traversed 2.0% in a net move up of 0.3%.

The day's extremes: Open $128.91, high $130.55, low $127.97, close $129.33.

SPY closed within the DeMark pivots after trading below their range. The next DeMark pivots are $128.65-$131.23.

In total, 3.5 billion shares were traded on the three major U.S. stock exchanges, 14% more than on the prior trading day.

Five-year bond yields imply inflation at 2.18%, four basis points lower than the prior trading day.


Econ reports:

The Institute Supply Management releases its manufacturing index at 10 a.m. Eastern, simultaneous with the Census Bureau's report on construction spending.

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

There are no Fedsters at the podium.

The Federal Reserve maintains an archive of speeches and testimony.

As the week progresses, look for personal income and outlays on Tuesday, weekly jobless claims on Thursday and the unemployment rate and jobs statistics on Friday.


Trading Calendar:

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


Enjoy the weekend!