Low Trading Volume

Low Trading Volume [video_player type=”youtube” youtube_remove_logo=”Y” width=”640″ height=”360″ align=”center” margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″]aHR0cHM6Ly95b3V0dS5iZS9KNlpyZHEtdXVvaw==[/video_player] The stock market is marred by low trading volume across the board whether we look at futures or individual stocks. This is risky for the market because the market will move on any news. If you’re into patterns the bond market is has a bearish wedge pattern setting up. Conversely the XLF, the financials ETF, has a bullish wedge pattern. Because the pattern is so noticeable I have hard time believing that if every trader is looking at it that it will materialize. Look for weakness in the Russell this coming week. The RUT has been the leader – first down then back up. Keep a close eye on the RUT this week if it breaks the Nasdaq will follow.

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SPX Weekly Options

SPX Weekly Options [video_player type=”youtube” youtube_remove_logo=”Y” width=”640″ height=”360″ align=”center” margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″]aHR0cHM6Ly95b3V0dS5iZS9LaUtJdVJ6cFE2Yw==[/video_player] SPX Weekly Options now have 2 weekly options per week. Yes I know it’s confusing. There is now a mid week SPX expiration to go along with the end of week expiration. They did this to match up the SPX with the volatility futures. Let’s take a look at the probabilities in the SPX over the next week. The mid week expiration gives us more information. For example, we can see how much premium is built into the Friday expiration because of the unemployment numbers. The financials have a lot of premium built into them because of the unemployment numbers. The economy is facing a lot of headwinds and the central banks around the world are doing everything they can to keep the world markets propped up. Let’s see where the risk is.

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Stock Market Sectors Performance

Stock Market Sectors Performance [video_player type=”youtube” youtube_remove_logo=”Y” width=”640″ height=”360″ align=”center” margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″]aHR0cHM6Ly95b3V0dS5iZS9KLUhUQjdWTHFrMA==[/video_player] How are the difference stock market sectors performing with the SPX rising to its highest level since the first week of the year? The SPX is in a make or break area. This level has failed twice already and now the SPX could either make it’s way to 2000 or fail a third time. Let’s look at the sectors of the stock market using the ETFs. An ETF is a basket of stocks and looking at sector ETFs will give us a great gage of the market.

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Oil Leads Market Higher

Oil Leads Market Higher [video_player type=”youtube” youtube_remove_logo=”Y” width=”640″ height=”360″ align=”center” margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″]aHR0cHM6Ly95b3V0dS5iZS9BTjBST2tBYnRhYw==[/video_player] Oil leads the market higher today after the oil report comes out. The market reversal blew through a key level in the S&P at 1911. The next level to watch is 1934. If the S&P can break through that then I would expect 2000 to be in play. Keep this in mind as you’re setting up your positions and determining your risk. If you’re short decide now if you can withstand a move to S&P 2000. If not adjust your risk. In tonight’s member coaching session I’ll be discussing the risk array in the analyze tab so you understand your risk.

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Stocks and Bonds Inverse Relationship

Stocks and Bonds Inverse Relationship [video_player type=”youtube” youtube_remove_logo=”Y” width=”640″ height=”360″ align=”center” margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″]aHR0cHM6Ly95b3V0dS5iZS9vb1JxRWFGb01UTQ==[/video_player] The stocks and bonds inverse relationship holds up today. As we look at the stock sell off and bond rally a bit closer we see that the market is acting very orderly. The market is doing what you would expect and the problem is the market rarely does what you expect. Here are pitfalls to be aware of as we continue into the trading week.

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Bear Market Coming

Bear Market Coming [video_player type=”youtube” youtube_remove_logo=”Y” width=”640″ height=”360″ align=”center” margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″]aHR0cHM6Ly95b3V0dS5iZS9KUmxJVE9aUTZCMA==[/video_player] Round 2 of the bear market is coming. First let’s look at the S&P futures that today saw the lowest volume of the year. Over the weekend I talked about how we needed more of a rally to squeeze traders out of their positions. Today we have come to a formidable level where the S&P is having a tough time getting through. Keep an eye on the 1945 level in the S&P Futures. What really concerns me is the bonds though. The bonds are just not backing off today despite the rally in the market. This combined with the low volume tells me that traders are not pulling money out of the safe haven of the bond market and putting it to work in the stock market. Let’s take a look at a few trades I set up today.

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Volatility in the Stock Market

Volatility in the Stock Market [video_player type=”youtube” youtube_remove_logo=”Y” width=”640″ height=”360″ align=”center” margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″]aHR0cHM6Ly95b3V0dS5iZS9rbVVLaWdsNU5mWQ==[/video_player] Here’s how TheoTrade has traded with the volatility in the stock market. This week we closed out winning trades in AMZN, EEM, and SPX. Let’s look to next week and what we expect. There is a strong possibility of there being a little bit more of a short covering rally before the next leg down happens. As we look at the implied volatility in the indexes and key industries there are a few things we need to take note of. First, the SPX implied volatility is at the lowest this coming week as it has been since the beginning of the year. Monday will not be the time to sell premium in the indexes. Look for strategies that can take advantage of an increase in implied volatility thoughout the week. However, we look at financials with the

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Stock Rally Over

Stock Rally Over [video_player type=”youtube” youtube_remove_logo=”Y” width=”640″ height=”360″ align=”center” margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″]aHR0cHM6Ly95b3V0dS5iZS9jTElRYkNiaHVYcw==[/video_player] Is the stock rally over? After a 3 day rally stocks pulled back today. The Nasdaq COMP saw the biggest pullback. The Nasdaq was led lower by aapl, amzn, fb, googl, and nflx. At one time these stocks were leading the Nasdaq higher and now they are leading the Nasdaq lower. Also, today we saw bonds and gold snap back higher.

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Risk Reward Trading

Risk Reward Trading [video_player type=”youtube” youtube_remove_logo=”Y” width=”640″ height=”360″ align=”center” margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″]aHR0cHM6Ly95b3V0dS5iZS9lSEx3WWlQNHpKWQ==[/video_player] Analyzing risk reward is vital for any trader to give themselves the best probability of success. In tonight’s video we look at the Nasdaq futures. The market has seen 3 days of the rip your head off short covering rally. Now is their more risk we go down then go up? I think so. Here’s how I look risk reward. In this example I’m going to use Nasdaq Futures.

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Stock Market Rally

Stock Market Rally [video_player type=”youtube” youtube_remove_logo=”Y” width=”640″ height=”360″ align=”center” margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”20″]aHR0cHM6Ly95b3V0dS5iZS9ENmtFaVdXcnVqYw==[/video_player] The stock market rally in the last two days has been the most intense we have seen in a while. This is what a strong short covering rally looks like. Oil’s low was at $26 on Thursday while the S&P was making a new 52 week low. Since then oil has rallied more than 10% with the S&P rally. Bonds is notable that it has fallen off the highs decently. Do not write off bonds though because another sell off in stocks will lead to new highs in bonds. Did gold have an island top? Let’s take a look. The next dip is what we should watch. Will the dip be orderly and make a higher low or will it be heavy and take out the lows.

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Don Kaufman Don Kaufman

TheoTrade co-founder, former CBOE market maker and thinkorswim Chief Derivatives Instructor.

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