Equity Index Update

Tweet Equity Index Update

Brad Sullivan
February 16, 2007

The index markets traded in a light volume narrow range as Dr. Bernanke finished his testimony on Capitol Hill. The SPH7 contract produced a range of 0.4% for the entire session as players held their bids from Wednesday’s sharp advance.

This morning the indices are marked slightly lower on news that MSFT’s Vista software projections are a bit too optimistic. After trading through yesterday’s low in the SPH7 contract, buyers bid the pre-market higher on a rumor that AMR would be taken private in a deal led by GS. The morning’s economic data was right in line on the PPI with a headline reading of -0.6% and a core reading of +0.2%. Housing Starts came in a bit weaker than anticipated. Since that news, the indices have lost their slight bid and now rest around -1.00 pre-open.

We are focusing on an early close in the treasury market, option expiration in the equity markets and a pretty aggressive back and forth trade in the dollar. The Yen carry trade and its potential unwinding is in the back of everybody’s mind. However, I still hold that only a move below 115 in the Yen/Dollar would get the carriers frightened. And if that were to happen, it would be a short term detriment to the equity markets.

Keep a close eye on the “normal” expiration trade, which consists of a sharp mark higher just prior to and through the first minute of the open. Afterwards, look for a break around -0.3% in the SP before sideways action hits.

Equity Index Update

Tweet Equity Index Update

Brad Sullivan
February 15, 2007

The index markets caught a strong bid on the heels of Fed Chair Bernanke’s testimony on Capitol Hill. Dr. Bernanke gave a rather stunning assessment of the current domestic economy as he came across quite “dovish” versus his global counterparts (Trichet anyone?) on the future direction of interest rates, inflation and employment. On the inflation front …“while we have not had much new information, the recent readings on inflation are encouraging.” Perhaps his key catch phrase was “sustainable and not overheated” when discussing the current economic situation --- Golidlocks is alive.

The index markets did not wait for another utterance from the esteemed Fed Chair as buyers took in 95,000 SP mini contracts from 9:00 to 9:05 cst. An aggressive stance to be certain, and when the dust had cleared new trading highs for the move were established in both the SPX and DJIA. Interestingly, the Russell 2000 felt the brunt of rotational selling and finished the session with slight gains. This highlights the internal strength of the current marketplace. The Russell 2000 broke to new highs after nearly two months of a 3% trading range…in doing so the index rallied around 2.5% from its previous closing high. The SPX remains about -5% below its all-time highs established in the spring of 2000 and retested later that fall. Could we be in a position where the small and mid-cap indices mark time while the SPX makes a run at 1515?

Today is chalk full of data for the markets…and so far it has been generally favorable to “goldilocks.” The Philly Fed data at 11:00 cst always smacks of lunchtime desperation trading, so be cautious.