9/19 Almanac

On Monday, Sept. 19: Housing market index.

There are 33 trading days before the October options expire, 61 the November, 89 the December and 124 the January.

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

Stats

Blue chip stocks (SPY) closed the latest regular session up 0.1% from the prior close. During the day SPY traversed 1.4% in a net move up of 0.2%.

The day's extremes: Open $121.29, high $121.97, low $120.32, close $121.53.

SPY traded closed within the DeMark pivots after trading below their range. The next DeMark pivots are $120.93-$122.58.

In total, 4.3 billion shares were traded on the three major U.S. stock exchanges, 46% more than on the prior trading day.

Five-year bond yields imply inflation at 1.75%, unchanged from the prior trading day.

Econ reports:

The Home Builders' at 10 a.m. Eastern release their housing market index, a complex indicator that focuses not only on housing but on the economy in general.

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 at the podium during this Federal Open Market Committee week.

The Federal Reserve maintains an archive of speeches and testimony.

Later in the week, look for housing starts on Tuesday, existing home sales and the FOMC meeting announcement on Wednesday, and jobless claims on Thursday.

Trading Calendar:

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

Enjoy the weekend!