equity

U.S. equity markets finished down on Friday and barely avoided a closing price reversal top which would have signaled the start of a possible retracement to the downside. The March E-mini S&P 500 and NASDAQ made new highs for the year while all three indices closed higher for the week. Friday saw the indices spike higher then break lower following a better than expected U.S. Retail Sales Report.

U.S. stock indices finished lower with the exception of the March E-mini S&P after failing to hold on to earlier gains. The break late in the session coincided with the release of Fed’s Beige book. At first trader reaction to the report was non-committal as it offered no new bullish economic news.

One thing that seems almost certain is the next move in interest rates will be a move higher. This article provides insight into the impact a move higher in interest rates will have on stock and bond investments.

U.S. investors drove stock indices higher following better than expected housing starts, industrial production and import price reports. Trading was light and there was very little follow-through to the upside following a strong early morning session. Traders were able to hold the indices steady following the FOMC report.

Equity markets are trading weaker overnight following a surprise move by China’s central bank to curb excessive credit demands. Recent data has shown that China’s economy may be heating up too fast which could lead to an asset bubble in the real estate and housing markets.

An easing of investor risk sentiment is helping to support equity price overnight. Early in the trading session, stock markets followed through to the upside following Friday’s strong finish and talk of a possible resolution of the fiscal problems plaguing the Euro Region.

U.S. equity markets mounted a strong recovery following the news that the unemployment rate dropped unexpectedly. Although the number of jobs loss was greater than forecast, the improvement in the jobless rate helped confirm that the economy is on the road to recovery. Fear over sovereign debt issues in the Euro Region most likely limited gains.

U.S. equity markets rallied late in the session to close above key retracement points as traders set aside their recent worries and returned from the sidelines. The markets opened firm then surged to the upside following a better than expected U.S. manufacturing report. Good news from the consumer side also helped to support the rally.

U.S. stock indices sold off early in the trading session as fear swept through the markets. News that Greece’s budget problems could escalate along with Portugal sent traders into the Dollar and Japanese Yen and out of higher risk assets. Lower than expected U.S. economic reports also contributed to the weakness as traders liquidated positions in anticipation of a slowdown in the economy.

U.S. equity markets are called to open lower after a volatile Asian trade triggered by a possible debt rating cut in Japan and another sign that China is serious about tightening its monetary policy.

U.S. equity markets are expected to open better this morning following last week’s hard sell-off. Investors dumped stocks late last week as sentiment shifted toward less risky assets. The combination of a stronger Dollar, monetary tightening in China and a proposal by Obama to end financial institution prop trading weighed heavily on traders last week.

President Obama’s new regulatory proposal to curb trading by financial institutions and the fear that the economy may slow down led to a massive sell-off in equities on Wall Street. Support failed in the stock indices early in the session after fresh money failed to show up. This broke the pattern of the last two days and set the tone for a sizeable retracement break.

U.S. Stock markets backed off from Tuesday’s strong closes overnight as China took moves to limit lending in an attempt to slow down the economy. The news sent shockwaves through global equity markets as the Shanghai index dropped 3%. Traders are concerned that less spending from China will derail the global economic recovery.

U.S. equity markets are trading overnight and are expected to open slightly above near-term support. The March E-mini S&P 500 broke an uptrending Gann angle at 1132.25 which has held as support since November 27th. This is a sign of impending weakness. Short-term support is a retracement zone at 1129.00 to 1124.50.

Equity markets are flat as traders await this morning’s U.S. Retail Sales Report. Based on previously released new motor vehicles sales and December Chain-Store Sales, traders should expect a healthy report. Look for retail sales to grow by 0.4% and retail sales less autos to increase by 0.2%. Today’s jobless claims report should show an increase of 3K with a range of 400K to 450K.