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(see all trades this option cycle)
Daily Market Update – January 7, 2014 (10 AM) Yesterday was an interesting day in the market. Trading volume was unusually light for the first Monday of the New Year and the early rally disappeared fairly quickly. What was interesting was how much the thesis that the cold weather was going to impact on walk-in sales at retailers, including grocery stores, Starbucks and others, carried wright throughout the day. With no other news, in this case, only opinion, that family of stocks felt their own deep freeze yesterday. Whether the thesis is true or not, and it certainly does make sense, the impact won’t be reported until the next earnings season, which begins in April. The greatest likelihood is that very few are going to remember that thesis when April earnings rolls around and if true, those stocks are likely to suffer again. Now, if only I would be able to remember that when the time comes. In the meantime there’s plenty more to think about. Yesterday evening Janet Yellen was confirmed as the next Chairman of the Federal Reserve. This Friday is the first release of an Employment Situation Report for 2014 and for which Yellen can play a role in leading the newl So we’ll see what Friday brings. With so many positions set to expire on Friday I’m hoping for a non-event or a modest rise higher as it would be nice to get some more cash in hand for greater flexibility going forward. While waiting there’s still not much reason to go counter to January history. I’m currently at the lowest cash level in many months and still willing to go down a bit further, perhaps to 20%. That would mean considering an additional two or so new purchases for the week if the opportunities present themselves. But even if not adding many new positions there is still enough upside potential in covered and uncovered positions to take advantage of any modest rally, so I wouldn’t be adverse to that possibility. It otherwise promises to be a non-event driven week and the low volume may very well continue as even traders get cold when arctic winds blow. The prospects of low volume sometimes introduces opportunism and artificially large moves as big traders in essence are able to manipulate the market, often using the option market as their vehicle. Those sort of things always seem to correct themselves for the rest of us who may get caught in the vortex as it’s all happening and then just as suddenly see the reversals occurring after the big boys have made their money. While waiting for a sign to spend more money staying warm sounds like a good strategyright now.
Access prior Daily Market Updates by clicking here OTP Sector Distribution* as of January 6, 2014 * Assumes equal number of shares in positions
Posting of trades is not a recommendation to execute trades
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Monday through Thursday? See “Daily Market Update” with first edition published by 12 Noon and Closing Update published by 4:30 PM Friday? See Week in Review for summary statistics and performance Sunday? See Weekend Update for potential stock choices for coming week Any day? See Performance for open and closed positions Subscribers may see ROI statistics on all new, existing and closed positions on a daily updated basis |
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