weeklyanalysis07242010 Monday: The major indexes pressed to session highs at Monday's close, but trading volume remained light. The Nasdaq and NYSE composites each ended 1.2% higher. The S&P 500 booked a 1.1% gain, finishing at its 200-day moving average. The Dow rose 1%. Preliminary data showed volume ended 12% lower on the NYSE and down 11% on the Nasdaq. Tuesday: Stocks pared early gains Tuesday after another round of earnings reports and mixed economic data. The Dow ticked up 0.1%. The Nasdaq fell 0.4%. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 slipped 0.1% and closed at its 200-day moving average. The NYSE composite slipped a fraction. Volume rose on the NYSE and fell on the Nasdaq. Wednesday: Stocks fell Wednesday after some uninspiring economic data. Orders for durable goods unexpectedly fell and the Fed beige book said economic activity slowed in some regions. The Nasdaq dropped 1%, hurt by losses in Google (GOOG), Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) and Cephalon (CEPH). Meanwhile, the S&P 500 fell 0.7% and finished under its 200-day moving average. The NYSE composite and Dow lost 0.6% and 0.4%, respectively. Volume fell sharply on both exchanges. Thursday: Stocks fell in a wild session Thursday, despite a round of generally upbeat corporate earnings and a bigger-than-expected drop in weekly jobless claims. The Nasdaq dropped 0.6% and closed below its 200-day moving average. During the session, the tech-heavy index nearly touched its downward-slanting 50-day line. Techs fared the worst after some disappointing forecasts. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 lost 0.4%, but closed above the 1100 level. The Dow fell 0.3% and the NYSE composite lost 0.1%. Volume surged across the board, handing the Dow, Nasdaq and S&P 500 a distribution day. Friday: Stocks seesawed and finished little changed after a round of mixed economic reports Friday. The Nasdaq and NYSE composite rose 0.1% each. But both suffered losses of more than 1% during the session, and clawed back to nearly unchanged. The Nasdaq managed to find support near its 50-day moving average. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 rose a tad and the Dow eased a bit. Volume fell across the board. For the week, the NYSE composite rose 0.5% and the Dow 0.4%. The Nasdaq fell 0.7% and S&P 500 0.1%. But the major indexes snapped a two-month losing streak. The NYSE composite rallied 8.2% for the month and Dow 7.1%. The Nasdaq and S&P 500 jumped 6.9% each. weeklyanalysis07312010 Monday: Stocks on Monday recouped some of Friday's big losses. But it wasn't a one-way street. Equities wavered in the face of crosscurrents in earnings, M&A news and downbeat housing data. The Nasdaq climbed 0.9%, closing just below 2200. Chip issues helped the tech-heavy index. The Philadelphia semiconductor index gained 2.5%. Meanwhile, the Dow and S&P 500 rose 0.6% each. The NYSE composite added 0.4%. Volume dropped sharply on both exchanges compared with Friday's action, which was boosted by options expiration. Tuesday: Disappointing sales from Goldman Sachs (GS), IBM (IBM), Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) and Texas Instruments (TXN) hammered stocks early Tuesday. But equities battled back to close higher for the second straight session. The NYSE composite and the Dow Jones industrials climbed 1.2% and 0.7%, respectively. Both closed back above their 50-day moving averages. The Nasdaq and S&P 500 gained 1.1% each. The major averages had been down from 1.3% to 1.8% at the session low. Volume increased across the board. Wednesday: Stocks started the day on the right foot, but closed poorly Wednesday. Equities had already faded after opening higher on earnings news. Losses accelerated after Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke gave a cautious view of the economy. Speaking to the Senate Banking Committee, Bernanke said that the outlook for the economy remains "unusually uncertain." The Nasdaq turned a 0.6% gain into a 1.6% loss. The NYSE composite and S&P 500 lost 1.3% each and the Dow fell 1.1%. All of the major indexes erased Tuesday's gains. Volume climbed across the board, handing the major averages their second distribution day since the July 7 follow-through signal. Thursday: Stocks recouped the prior session's losses and more Thursday, thanks to a round of strong earnings reports. The European zone's purchasing managers index hit a three-month high. But a few marquee tech names slid after hours. The Nasdaq and S&P 500 bolted 2.7% and 2.3%, respectively. Both closed above their 50-day moving averages for the first time in a week. On Wednesday, the Nasdaq and S&P hit a wall at their 50-day lines. Meanwhile, the NYSE composite gained 2.5% and Dow 2%. They also regained their 50-day lines. Volume fell on both exchanges. Friday: Stocks finished higher for the second straight session Friday, thanks to another round of earnings. Positive results from stress tests of European banks also eased fears over Europe's debt crisis. Most major indexes showed some technical improvement. The Nasdaq and Dow rallied 1% each. Both closed above their 200-day moving averages for the first time in about a month. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 gained 0.8% and ended above the 1100 level for the first time since June 21. And the NYSE composite rose 0.9%. Nasdaq volume finished sharply higher. NYSE trade fell sightly. For the week, the Nasdaq climbed 4.1%, NYSE composite 3.8%, S&P 500 3.5% and Dow 3.2%. weeklyobservations07242010 (reverse chrono) -F A bit more accumulation. Much volatility. Getting more breakouts. Mixed at midday. Stocks close with more gains at or near highs - IN HIGHER TRADE! Dow and nasdaq close above 200 dma's. S&P closes above 1100. Nasdaq Composite rises 4.2% for the week. S&P 500 Index scores 3.6% weekly rise. S&P small-cap 600 and S&P midcap 400 indexes have not experienced "death cross' and have been out-performing. Weekly volume disappoints. IBD 100 outperforms gaining 2.2% Friday and 4.9% for week. -Th More Europe gains. HUGE shift in stocks. Seeing accumulation w/ 2%+ gains in modestly higher volume. DJ finds support at 50 dma, volume fading. With HUGE breakout/2.5% move...lower volume and not much leadership. The small-cap S&P 600 surged 3.4%. But volume fell across the board. -W Europe jumps. AAPL earnings push futures up. Nasdaq distributing. Some accumulation. SPX & Nasdaq reverse sharply after hitting 50 dma's DJIA loses 50-day line. Volume now higher across the board. Indexes keep losing support as volume increases. Stocks' downside reversal close at/near lows. -Tu Indexes open down more than 1.5%. Losses in higher volume. Dow bounces off 10,000 level. Scant (if any) leadership. DJ regains it's 50 dma as stocks stage a huge turnaround. Volume rose. Some leaders up in volume. -M Very volatile in the early going not wanting to relinquish gains. Still no leadership. Another "inside" day - barely changed? Indexes end on an up-note, yet pull back markedly w/ after-hours reports. weeklyobservations07312010 (reverse chrono) -F Indexes jump from opening lows, but leaders still taking a hit. Volume contracts. Indexes close essentially flat in lower trade. Still scant leadership. The Nasdaq managed to find support near its 50-day moving average. -Th Indexes up in the early going in much higher volume. Indexes now sporting sharp losses in high trade. Distribution stacking up. Many leaders taking it in. Stocks close with losses. -W Stocks slightly lower in no volume. Losses increase with Beige Book report. Nasdaq testing 200 dma. The Nasdaq dropped 1%. But the tech-heavy index closed above its 200-day moving average after breaching the line intraday. -Tu Indexes lose solidly higher opening gains. Volume mixed. Not much leadership. Stocks end mixed in mixed volume - avoid distribution day. S&P ends at 200 dma. Leaders take a hit. Vix moves up. -M More gains in the early going in lower trade. Still modest accumulation. Nasdaq volume up. Volume lightens with even more gains. Still not much leadership. NYSE volume off 10%. Stocks build on gains in lower volume. Nasdaq accum/dist rating B-. p$
weeklyanalysis08072010 Monday: Better-than-expected factory data domestically and overseas lifted stocks Monday. Positive earnings from some big European banks also helped. The NYSE composite ramped up 2.5%, S&P 500 2.2% and Nasdaq 1.8%. All three regained their 200-day moving averages. Meanwhile, the Dow climbed 2%. Despite the big gains, volume fell on both exchanges. Tuesday: A round of mixed earnings reports and economic data pressured stocks Tuesday, but equities managed to close off session lows. The Nasdaq fell 0.5%, cutting its intraday loss in half. Research In Motion dropped 3% after unveiling its new BlackBerry device. Rival Apple, which makes the iPhone, ticked up a fraction. Meanwhile the S&P 500 lost 0.5%, while the Dow and NYSE composite gave up 0.4% each. Volume rose on the Nasdaq, giving the tech-laden index a distribution day. Trade fell on the NYSE. Wednesday: Better-than-expected jobs and services data lifted stocks Wednesday. Some upbeat earnings reports also helped. The Nasdaq outshined with a 0.9% gain. Gains in Priceline, Google and Amazon.com helped the index close at its best levels since June 18. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 rose 0.6%, NYSE 0.5% and Dow 0.4%. Volume fell on the NYSE and rose a tad on the Nasdaq. Thursday: Stocks pulled back Thursday after an unexpected rise in jobless claims and soft same-store sales. The retreat came ahead of Friday's key jobs report. Economists are expecting a loss of 87,000 jobs. The unemployment rate is slated to tick up to 9.6% from 9.5% in June. The Nasdaq dropped 0.5% as the NYSE composite and S&P 500 lost 0.1% each. The Dow slipped a fraction. Volume was lower across the board. Friday: Stocks fell Friday, but ended well off the worst levels of the session. Equities were under heavy pressure after the Labor Department reported much worse than expected job losses in July. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq fell 0.4% and 0.2%, respectively. Both closed above their 200-day moving averages after breaching them intraday. The NYSE composite lost 0.3% and Dow 0.2%. All major indexes had been down more than 1%. Volume climbed on both exchanges. The increased volume gave the NYSE composite and S&P 500 a distribution day. For the week, the NYSE composite climbed 2.2% and Nasdaq 1.5%. The Dow and S&P 500 rose 1.8% each. weeklyobservations08072010 (reverse chrono) F Jobs data deeply disappoints. Volume rises w/ losses. SPX, NYSE & Nasdaq lose 200 dma. -Th More participation from leaders. Stocks close modestly lower in low trade. IBD 100 falls in line w/ major averages. -W Stocks recouped the prior session's losses and more Tuesday. Most major averages closed just shy of session highs. The Nasdaq gained 0.9%, closing back above the 2300 mark. Volume was mixed. -Tu Stocks were pressured, but closed off session lows. Volume rose on the Nasdaq, giving the tech-laden index a distribution day. Volume still (summer) light. Indexes maintain 200 dma. Some accumulation as IBD 100 out-performs. -M Indexes retake 200 dma. Volume light. Some accumulation in the early going. Leadership tails off with volume and index gains. p$
weeklyanalysis08142010 Monday: Stocks notched gains in soft volume Monday, ahead of Tuesday's Fed announcement on interest rates. The central bank is widely expected to leave rates at historical lows, but its latest assessment of economic conditions will be key. The Nasdaq rallied 0.8% to its best closing high since June 18. Gains in Google, Wynn Resorts, Research In Motion and Apple lifted the tech-heavy index. Meanwhile, the NYSE composite and S&P 500 rose 0.5%. And the Dow gained 0.4%. An 8% loss in Hewlett-Packard hampered the blue chip index. Turnover dropped sharply across the board as traders sat on the sidelines. Tuesday: Stocks fell Tuesday, but ended off session lows after the Fed stood pat on interest rates and pledged to use proceeds from mortgage-back securities to buy long-dated Treasuries. Weaker-than-expected economic data at home and abroad pressured stocks from the start. The Nasdaq dropped 1.2% but was down as much as 1.9%. Chips weighed on the tech-laden index. The Philadelphia semiconductor index sank 2.6% on fears of slowing demand for PCs. Meanwhile, the NYSE composite lost 0.7%, S&P 500 0.6% and Dow 0.5%. Volume jumped on both exchanges from Monday's anemic pace. All major averages added a distribution day. Wednesday: Economic worries here and abroad battered stocks Wednesday. Unlike in recent down days, indexes did not trim losses. Major indexes suffered their biggest hits in weeks. The NYSE composite plunged 3.3%, the S&P 500 2.8% and the Dow 2.5%. All three sliced their 200-day moving averages. The benchmark S&P index closed just above its 50-day line. The Nasdaq dropped 3% and closed below its 50-day and 200-day lines. Many leaders got hit hard. Volume climbed on both major exchanges. All major indexes added a distribution day. Thursday: Cisco Systems' revenue miss and soft outlook, along with an unexpected jump in jobless claims, put stocks down for a third straight day Thursday. But the averages pared a good chunk of losses to finish near session highs. The Nasdaq lost 0.8% after having been down more than 2% intraday. Networking and chip issues hurt the tech-laden index. Meanwhile, the Dow and NYSE composite fell 0.6% and 0.3%, respectively. Both found support at their 50-day moving averages. And the S&P 500 lost 0.5%. Volume fell on the NYSE. Despite a surge in Cisco's activity, Nasdaq trade fell. The Nasdaq avoided its fifth distribution day. Friday: Stocks extended their losing streak Friday after a seesaw session. A round of mixed economic data didn't help. Equities also racked up big weekly losses. The Nasdaq dropped 0.8% as losses in Google, Apple and Amazon.com weighed. The S&P 500 lost 0.4%, the NYSE composite 0.3% and the Dow 0.4%. Turnover fell sharply across the board. Economic concerns here and abroad hurt stocks this week. For the week, the Nasdaq tumbled 5%, the NYSE composite 4.1%, the S&P 500 3.8% and the Dow 3.3%. Those marked the major averages' biggest hits since the week ended July 2. weeklyobservations08142010 (reverse chrono) - -F Stocks open lower, but volume way down. Market now mixed. No leadership. Indexes close down at lows. Tech & S&P 600 Small-Cap index largely under-perform. Volume pulls back markedly. For the week, the IBD 100 dropped 3.3%. The Nasdaq fell 5% last week, the NYSE composite 4.1%, the S&P 500 3.8% and the Dow 3.3% -Th Futures drop further. Stocks open lower in higher trade. Leaders take hit. Indexes bounce sharply off support. Some leading stock accumulation. Indexes drop, but close off lows in slightly lower trade. Stock accumulation wanes. Leadership took a hit. Trading pulled back, but was above-average. Nasdaq-100 distributed. Chip issues lose it. -W Global markets tank. Market opens vasty lower, as Nasdaq under-performs. Indexes lose 200 dma. Volume really spikes. Interestingly some accumulation. Losses increase. Nasdaq undercuts previous (failed 200 dma attempt) low w/gap down. NDX testing dma. Vix spikes w/gap to 26. Everything tanks w/market - including leadership. Financials take a big hit, too. Closes at lows. All major indexes added a distribution day. Many leaders got hit hard. The Philadelphia semiconductor index dived 4.3%. All 197 industry groups tracked by IBD lost ground. -Tu Higher volume as indexes contract in the early session. Not much leadership, at all. Nasdaq breaches 200 dma, again. Stocks find support after initial downdraft at 200 dma to significantly cut losses after Fed news. Volume surges, yet not much accumulation of leading stocks. Nasdaq significantly under-performing. Stocks close with distribution across the board. Seeing some stocks accumulation as the session closes. -M Stocks not making much progress up through stiff (2300/1127) resistance. Volume hugely contracting. The major indexes continued to show moderate gains Monday, as investors took a wait-and-see approach with the latest policy statement from the Federal Reserve due Tuesday. Modest if any real accumulation. More gains in much lower trade. Stocks close up in well-below average volume. weeklyanalysis08212010 Monday: The major indexes closed off session lows, but also gave up much of their gains Monday. The Nasdaq led throughout the session, ending 0.4% higher. The NYSE pulled up from a midafternoon loss to close 0.2% higher. The S&P 500 and the Dow closed practically flat. The session left the Dow and the NYSE flush with their 50-day moving averages. The Nasdaq and S&P 500 remain below that level. Volume fell on the NYSE, but rose on the Nasdaq, according to preliminary data. Tuesday: Stocks rallied Tuesday after M&A and earnings news offset mixed economic data. But the major indexes pared a good chunk of the day's gains. The Nasdaq climbed 1.3%. It had been up 2% to just below its 50-day moving average. The NYSE composite also rallied 1.3%. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 rose 1.2%, regaining its 50-day line. And the Dow gained 1%. Volume climbed on both exchanges. Wednesday: Stocks bounced back from early weakness to end higher Wednesday. But the market trimmed a chunk of gains after the Nasdaq encountered technical resistance. The Nasdaq rose 0.3%. It retreated after hitting its 50-day moving average. The S&P 500 pared a 0.7% gain to just 0.1%. Meanwhile, the Dow and NYSE composite rose 0.1%. Volume fell across the board. Thursday: Stocks fell Thursday as a round of disappointing economic data offset some buyout news. Most indexes snapped their three-session win streaks. Weekly jobless claims unexpectedly rose, while the Philly Fed survey surprisingly fell. Leading economic indicators rose, but fell shy of forecasts. The NYSE composite and the S&P 500 fell 1.7% each, while the Dow fell 1.4%. They all closed below their 50-day moving averages. The Nasdaq, which hit resistance at its 50-day line Wednesday, dropped 1.7%. Volume jumped across the board. Friday: Stocks started off weak but rebounded some to end mixed Friday. During the session, three of the four major indexes breached their August low, but the Nasdaq escaped that fate. The Nasdaq squeezed out a fractional gain, thanks to software, data-storage and network issues. Meanwhile, the Dow fell 0.6%, the NYSE 0.5% and S&P 500 0.4%. Volume rose on the NYSE. That gave the Dow, NYSE composite and S&P 500 an additional distribution day. Despite options expiration, trade fell on the Nasdaq. For the week, the Nasdaq edged up 0.3%. The Dow fell 0.9%, while the NYSE composite and S&P 500 each lost 0.7%. Several leaders acted well. weeklyobservations08212010 (reverse chrono) - -F Indexes end week mixed and on a sour note. Volume mixed. Distribution for the NYSE indexes. Several leaders acted well. IBD 100 rose 2.6% on the week. -Th Volume jumps as indexes contract sharply further. Still some stock accumulation seen. Financial sector drops. Philly Fed index negative for first time in a year. Stock accumulation waning. Indexes get walloped in higher/above-average trade. -W Indexes down in slightly lower trade. Yet, seeing stock accumulation. Market now mixed in lower trade. Indexes close up, but with another less than stellar finish. Volume contracts. -Tu Indexes up in barely higher volume. Some stock accumulation. Volume up now w/ indexes rise. Indexes close up between 50 & 200 dma. Indexes met overhead resistance at their 200 dma's. Indexes close well-off highs. -M Market mixed in the early going. Indexes closed mixed in lower trade. Some accumulation. NYSE volume was the lightest since March 15. Leaders out-performed w/ the IBD 100 rising 1.1%. p$
weeklyanalysis08282010 Monday: Stocks notched gains in soft volume Monday, ahead of Tuesday's Fed announcement on interest rates. The central bank is widely expected to leave rates at historical lows, but its latest assessment of economic conditions will be key. The Nasdaq rallied 0.8% to its best closing high since June 18. Gains in Google, Wynn Resorts, Research In Motion and Apple lifted the tech-heavy index. Meanwhile, the NYSE composite and S&P 500 rose 0.5%. And the Dow gained 0.4%. An 8% loss in Hewlett-Packard hampered the blue chip index. Turnover dropped sharply across the board as traders sat on the sidelines. Tuesday: Economic worries sent stocks reeling Tuesday. Equities were already weak at the open, but they extended losses after a much-worse-than-expected existing-home sales report. Sales tumbled 27% to the lowest level in 15 years. The Nasdaq dropped 1.7%, up from a 2.1% deficit. The NYSE composite and S&P 500 shed 1.5% each, and the Dow fell 1.3%. Volume jumped across the board. The session's sell-off in higher volume shifted the market outlook to correction. Wednesday: Stocks staged a big comeback to finish higher Wednesday, brushing off worse-than-expected durables and housing data. The Nasdaq rallied 0.8%, thanks to heavyweights, such as Intuitive Surgical (ISRG), Google (GOOG), Apple (AAPL) and Amazon.com (AMZN). Intraday, the tech-heavy index found support near the 2100 level. The S&P 500 climbed 0.3% while the Dow and NYSE composite rose 0.2% each. Turnover slipped on both exchanges. Thursday: Stocks turned lower Thursday despite a bigger-than-expected drop in weekly jobless claims. The downside reversal also erased Wednesday's gains. The Nasdaq dropped 1.1%, hurt partly by chip issues. The Philadelphia semiconductor index lost 2%. Losses in Intuitive Surgical (ISRG), Google (GOOG), Apple (AAPL) and Wynn Resorts (WYNN) also hurt the Nasdaq. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 lost 0.8%, the Dow 0.7% and the NYSE composite 0.5%. Volume fell sharply on both exchanges. Friday: Stocks bolted higher after a volatile session Friday. A better-than-expected reading in Q2 GDP growth, albeit slower than in the first quarter, boosted equities early on, but things took a turn for the worse after Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke expressed concern over the weakening economic recovery. Intel's revenue warning added to worries. Still, stocks found their footing shortly after 10 a.m. EDT and spent the rest of the session working higher. The Nasdaq rallied 1.7%, while the NYSE composite climbed nearly 2% after falling as much as 0.9% intraday. During the session, the Nasdaq composite fell a touch below the 2100 level before finding support. The Dow and S&P 500 rose 1.7% each. All major averages essentially reversed Thursday's reversal. Volume climbed on both exchanges. For the week, the Nasdaq fell 1.2%, S&P 500 0.7%, Dow 0.6% and NYSE composite 0.3%. Many leaders acted well. weeklyobservations08282010 (reverse chrono) - -F Indexes sharply down as Bernanke speaks and Intel makes large cut to Q3 forecast. NYSE volume jumps. Buyers come in at 1040. Volume jumps w/ rise in indexes. Again not much leadership. SMH/XLF hugely bounce. Market again shrugs and moves higher. Small-cap 600 bounces 2.7%, IBD 100 2.5%. -Th Another low-volume session. Opening gains turn to losses in lower trade. Stocks close much lower in easing trade. A very late trade rally failed as all indexes closed near lows. -W Indexes open lower again, but trade contracts. Stocks make a comeback - re-couping losses to turn mixed. Leaders not participating, as volume lessens. Stocks stage a comeback, but in lighter trade. -Tu Europe drags lower. Indexes open vastly lower in much higher trade. Vix jumps. APPL gaps 2.4% lower. Indexes close decidedly lower in vastly higher trade. Leaders participate to the downside. NDX off 1.8% in above-average trade. -M Indexes mostly down in much lower trade. Some leadership up in volume. Market breaks sharply lower in late-trade to close at lows. Volume fell vastly from Fridays options expiry. Leaders largely hold up. Indexes close lower in lighter trade. p$
weeklyanalysis09042010 Monday: A round of merger and acquisition news, stock buybacks and mixed economic data failed to lift stocks Monday. Instead equities fell hard and erased most of Friday's work. The Nasdaq tumbled 1.6%, dragged lower by Google (GOOG), Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) and Wynn Resorts (WYNN). Chips issues also crumbled. The Philadelphia semiconductor index swooned 2.5%. Meanwhile, the NYSE composite and S&P 500 lost 1.5% each and the Dow fell 1.4%. Twenty-nine of 30 components ended lower. Volume dropped sharply on both exchanges ahead of Friday's key jobs report and a long weekend ahead. Tuesday: Stocks wavered to a split finish after a round of mixed economic data Tuesday. They also closed the month of August with fat losses. The Dow and NYSE rose 0.1% each and the S&P 500 edged up a fraction. Meanwhile, the Nasdaq dropped 0.3%. Chip issues stumbled for the second straight session. The Philadelphia semiconductor index lost 1.9%. Deutsche Bank noted slowing demand and downgraded a number of chip equipment makers. For all of August, the Nasdaq tumbled 6.2%, erasing the bulk of July's gains. The S&P 500 shed 4.7%, Dow 4.3% and NYSE composite 4.2%. Volume surged across the board from Monday's depressed levels. Wednesday: September started with a bang as upbeat economic data overseas and on the home front ignited stocks Wednesday. China's manufacturing growth improved last month, while Australia's economy grew by the fastest pace in three years during the second quarter. At home, the ISM index unexpectedly rose. Equities largely dismissed the ADP employment survey (ahead of Friday's August jobs report) and weak construction spending. Gains in machinery and specialty steel issues propelled the NYSE composite 3.1%. The index regained its 50-day moving average. Meanwhile, the Nasdaq surged 3%, thanks to Google (GOOG), Amazon.com (AMZN), Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) and Apple (AAPL). Chip issues also helped. The Philadelphia semiconductor index jumped 3% as it bounced back from a nine-month low Tuesday. The S&P 500 climbed 3%, closing a smidge below its 50-day moving average. The Dow rallied 2.5% and regained its 50-day line. Volume rose on the Nasdaq. The higher turnover and big gain signaled a follow-through day for the Nasdaq. Thursday: Thanks to more upbeat economic data, stocks extended gains Thursday ahead of Friday's key jobs report. Weekly jobless claims fell for the second straight week, pending home sales unexpectedly rose and retailers reported surprisingly strong sales. Techs led the day's gains as the Nasdaq rallied 1.1%. The index ended just above the 2200 level and slightly below its 50-day moving average. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 climbed 0.9% and regained its 50-day line. The NYSE composite rose 0.8% and Dow 0.5%. Turnover fell sharply on both exchanges ahead of the Labor Department's August jobs numbers Friday. Economists are expecting a loss of 120,000 jobs and the unemployment rate is slated to tick up to 9.6% from 9.5% in July. Friday: Stocks tacked on more gains Friday after the Labor Department said the economy lost 54,000 jobs in August, fewer than expected. After weakening when the ISM services index came in below estimates, equities made up most of the lost ground. The Nasdaq rallied 1.5% and closed back above its 50-day moving average. It was up 1.6% at session peak. Bellwethers Apple (AAPL), Google (GOOG) and Amazon.com (AMZN) were some of the Nasdaq's biggest gainers. Meanwhile, the NYSE composite and S&P 500 rose 1.3% each and the Dow gained 1.2%. Volume dipped across the board ahead of the long weekend. For the week, the NYSE composite and S&P 500 jumped 3.8% each and the Dow climbed 2.9%. The Nasdaq gained 3.7%. weeklyobservations09042010 (reverse chrono) - -F Indexes vault again in huge trade. Leaders participate. Accumulation tails off as do indexes. Indexes back near highs, volume decelerating. Lack of leadership. Indexes close up at the highs in lower trade. -Th Market opens flat. NDX testing 50 dma. Not much leadership as indexes again rise in lighter volume. SPX and NYSE comp regain 50 dma. -W Europe up strong. Everything starkly up. Indexes jump more than 2% in light of global PMI data. Volume heavy. SPX testing 50 dma. Market closes hugely up in higher trade. Some leadership participation. IBD 100 +3.1% -Tu Markets down, but leaders hanging in there. Volume jumps. Gold stocks catching a bid. Indexes now up, Nasdaq lags. Some accumulation. Market mixed late-session. Indexes close mixed in higher trade. Nasdaq & NDX show distribution. -M Stocks open flat in a fairly tight range. Market down w/ not much leadership. Indexes markedly sink in really light trade. Small caps fell hardest, with the S&P 600 tanking 2.4%. Chips issues also crumbled. The Philadelphia semiconductor index swooned 2.5%. Twenty-nine of 30 components ended lower. Volume dropped sharply on both exchanges ahead of Friday's key jobs report and a long weekend ahead. Typical of a weak market indexes closed near their lows. The IBD 100 slipped 1.6%. weeklyanalysis09112010 Monday: Labor Day holiday. Tuesday: Stocks pulled back from their recent winning ways after European worries resurfaced. According to a media report, Europe's major banks may have more risky government debt on their books than was disclosed during stress tests earlier this year. The euro sold off while the dollar and yen rallied. The NYSE composite shed 1.3%, S&P 500 1.1% and Dow 1%. All three fell for the first time in five sessions. The Nasdaq lost 1.1% and closed just above its 50-day moving average. Nasdaq volume rose, thanks in part to increased trading in Oracle (ORCL). The enterprise software giant appointed former Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) CEO Mark Hurd as a co-president. HP has filed suit against Hurd. The higher trade gave the Nasdaq its first distribution day since the Sept. 1 follow-through signal. NYSE trade fell sharply. Despite the market's downturn, very few leaders got hit in heavy volume. Wednesday: Stocks regained the bulk of the prior session's losses Wednesday as a successful Portuguese debt auction eased recently rekindled European fears. The Nasdaq climbed 0.9%, while the NYSE composite and S&P 500 gained 0.6% each. The Dow rose 0.5%. Volume climbed on both exchanges. Several stocks broke out Wednesday. Thursday: Stocks added gains Thursday, thanks to some upbeat economic data, but the indexes ended off their intraday highs. Initial jobless claims fell more than expected and the trade balance narrowed. The NYSE composite and S&P 500 both rose 0.5%. They were up 1.1% and 1% intraday. The Dow and Nasdaq climbed 0.3% each. Friday: Stocks advanced for a third straight session Friday, capping a short week with modest gains. The Dow, NYSE composite and S&P 500 climbed 0.5% each. Due to weakness in the chip sector, the Nasdaq rose 0.3%. The Philadelphia semiconductor index fell 1.4%. Volume eased on both exchanges. For the week, the S&P 500 rose 0.5%, the Nasdaq 0.4%, the NYSE composite 0.2% and the Dow 0.1%. weeklyobservations09112010 (reverse chrono) - -F Modest gains in the early going. Volume contracts. Weekly gains thus far muted. Market closes up again in erratic trade, closing near highs in lighter trade. Many indexes closed up in 7 of 8 past sessions. DJIA re-claims it's 200 dma. -Th Indexes up again in mixed trade. Leaders gaining a bid. Stocks close again with gains in lower trade. Leader participation wanes. -W Stocks up in mixed trade w/ some leaders participating. Indexes pop in higher trade. IBD 100 outperforms rising 1.6% as some stocks broke out. -Tu The first session after Labor Day finds the SPX opening down, but above 1100 only to then suddenly fall below it. More Euro bank debt worries - potentially rattling the global economic recovery. A few leaders under accumulation. Stocks end in losses. The higher trade gave the Nasdaq its first distribution day since the Sept. 1 follow-through signal. NYSE trade fell sharply. Despite the market's downturn, very few leaders got hit in heavy volume. p$
weeklyanalysis0925010 Friday: Better-than-forecast factory data and an unexpected rise in a German sentiment index pushed stocks to fresh four-month highs Friday. Equities also capped their fourth straight week of gains. Thanks in part to chipmakers, the Nasdaq vaulted 2.3%, ending a three-session retreat. Oracle CEO Larry Ellison told analysts the database software giant is planning to buy semiconductor and software companies. The Philadelphia semiconductor index surged 4%, the biggest one-day gain since June 15. Meanwhile, the NYSE composite climbed 2.3%, the S&P 500 2.1% and the Dow 1.9%. Volume rose across the board. For the week, the Nasdaq climbed 2.8%, the Dow 2.4%, the S&P 500 2.1% and the NYSE 2%. Thursday: Mixed economic data sent stocks lower after a seesaw session Thursday. On the domestic front, jobless claims unexpectedly rose but existing-home sales beat expectations. The Nasdaq outperformed for most of the session before ending down 0.3%. Meanwhile, the NYSE composite fell 1%, the S&P 500 0.8% and the Dow 0.3%. Volume ticked up on the NYSE and fell sharply on the Nasdaq, according to preliminary data. Despite overall market weakness, some leaders pushed ahead. Wednesday: Economic worries sent stocks lower Wednesday. But equities ended off their worst levels of the session. Investors bought bonds on hopes of quantitative easing after Tuesday's Fed statement hinted at additional stimulus measures. Gold hit a fresh record high. The Nasdaq settled 0.6% lower after being down more than 1% at its intraday bottom. Meanwhile, the NYSE composite and S&P 500 fell 0.5% each and the Dow edged down 0.2%. Trade fell on the Nasdaq and NYSE. Only a handful of leaders declined in heavy trading. Tuesday: Stocks finished mostly lower on Tuesday, as a lift from the Fed's latest policy statement disappeared by day's end. The Nasdaq, NYSE and S&P 500 all lost 0.3%. The Dow inched up less than 0.1%. Volume climbed across the board, according to preliminary data. If higher volume is confirmed, that would mark a distribution day for the market â a sign of institutional selling. Federal Reserve policymakers said they are prepared to do more to try to boost the economy, but decided to take no action at Tuesday's meeting and left interest rates near 0%. The largely expected announcement had few changes from the August meeting. But the Fed sees somewhat slower economic growth ahead and suggested deflation is a concern. Monday: Stocks ramped up Monday ahead of Tuesday's Fed meeting. The Nasdaq extended its win streak to nine sessions, gaining 1.7%. The NYSE composite climbed 1.6%, the S&P 500 1.5% and the Dow 1.4%. Volume dropped sharply on both exchanges compared to Friday's levels, which were boosted by quadruple witching. weeklyobservations09252010 (reverse chrono) - -F Stocks up strong at the open - quickly making up for recent losses. NYSE volume jumps markedly. Nasdaq-100 breaks sharply above 2000. Gold breaks above $1,300. XLf still lagging. SMH powers above 200 dma. RUT finding support at 200 dma. Stocks on pace for 4th weekly gain. Strong accumulation in the early going. Indexes jump nearly 2%. -Th Opening losses turn indexes to mixed in light trade. Some leaders accumulated. Semi's struggling at 50 dma. Low volume mixed market. indexes falter into losses, closing near lows. Trade receded. Nasdaq-100 is out-performing. -W After much distribution, yesterday... Indexes streak lower in higher trade - esp. Nasdaq. Gold stocks getting a bid w/ few others accumulated. Stocks close with moderate losses with Nasdaq ending in distribution as Adobe loss elevates levels. Stock accumulation slows to a halt. -Tu Indexes drift lower ahead of Fed. Then go volatile after Fed announcement giving up initial burst of gains. Volume increases from yesterday's levels. Stocks end with Nasdaq and SPX distribution. -M Gains continue in lower trade. Leaders are participating. Indexes move to new intra-day highs as resistance turns to support. Leaders largely participating. weeklyanalysis0918010 Friday: Stocks ended mixed Friday, but notched their third straight weekly gain. Techs outshined on the session, thanks to upbeat earnings from Oracle and Research In Motion. Both big-caps reported late Thursday. The Nasdaq stretched its win streak to eight sessions, rising 0.5%. That's the longest hot streak since a 12-session marathon in July 2009. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 rose 0.1%. But it pared gains after hitting resistance at the 1131 level. Meanwhile, the Dow also gained 0.1%, while the NYSE composite fell 0.2%. Turnover surged across the board due to the expiration of options and futures. For the week, the Nasdaq rose 3.3% and NYSE composite 1.2%. The Dow and S&P 500 gained 1.4% each. Thursday: Stocks finished little changed following some mixed economic data Thursday. The Nasdaq rose 0.1%, extending its win streak to seven sessions. It had been down 0.5% intraday. Meanwhile, the Dow edged up 0.2%. The NYSE composite lost 0.1% and the S&P 500 fell a fraction. Volume fell on both major exchanges. Wednesday: Stocks closed higher Wednesday after a last-hour surge. The Nasdaq finished up for the ninth time in the past 10 sessions, gaining 0.5%. The Dow and S&P 500 gained 0.4%, and the NYSE composite 0.2%. Volume was lower across the board, according to preliminary figures. Tuesday: A back-and-forth session of trading ended with the major indexes narrowly mixed Tuesday. The Nasdaq, up as much as 0.7%, finished the day up 0.2% while the NYSE composite rose 0.1%. On the downside, the Dow eased 0.2 and the S&P 500 0.1%. Volume climbed 2% on the NYSE and 12% on the Nasdaq compared to Monday's levels. Monday: The major indexes posted strong gains on Monday, helped by a mix of encouraging reports. The Nasdaq rose 1.9%, while the NYSE added 1.3%. The S&P 500 advanced 1.1%, and the Dow, 0.8%. Volume climbed across the board. weeklyobservations09182010 (reverse chrono) - -F Indexes open sharply up, but fill the gap to quickly turn mixed. Stocks ended mixed Friday, but notched their third straight weekly gain. The Nasdaq stretched its win streak to eight sessions, rising 0.5%. That's the longest hot streak since a 12-session marathon in July 2009. Turnover surged across the board due to the expiration of options and futures. For the week, the Nasdaq rose 3.3% and NYSE composite 1.2%. The Dow and S&P 500 gained 1.4% each. -Th Stocks mostly modestly down in mixed trade. Thus far finding support at 200 dma's. Thus far limited upside. Indexes close with modest gains as trade pulled back. Some leader support. Mixed stocks in lower trade. More gains in lighter trade. -W Stocks closed higher Wednesday after a last-hour surge. The Nasdaq finished up for the ninth time in the past 10 sessions, gaining 0.5%. Volume was lower across the board, according to preliminary figures. -Tu Indexes turn modest losses into gains as volume increases. Some leaders participate. Gold stocks getting a bid. Limited upside or downside as stocks close mixed in slightly higher trade. Leadership accumulation markedly wanes. -M Indexes up again in modestly higher trade. Banks shore up capital requirements. Again some leaders participate. Indexes pull back markedly from early highs. Indexes recapture 200 dma's, in higher trade.
weeklyanalysis1002010 Friday: Stocks vacillated and closed higher Friday after a round of mostly better-than-expected economic data. Personal income, personal spending, consumer sentiment and construction spending all beat expectations. But the ISM index was a tad below estimates. The NYSE composite climbed 0.8%, while the Dow and S&P 500 gained 0.4% each. The Nasdaq lagged with a 0.1% gain. All the major indexes stayed within Thursday's range. Volume fell across the board. Equities ended little changed for the week. The NYSE composite rose 0.5% for its fifth straight weekly gain. The Nasdaq slipped 0.4%, the Dow dipped 0.3% and the S&P 500 edged off 0.2%. Thursday: Stocks reversed lower and ended with modest losses Thursday despite a round of better-than-expected economic news. But equities still finished September with big gains. The Dow fell 0.4% and NYSE composite lost 0.2%. The Nasdaq and S&P 500 gave up 0.3% each. Turnover climbed on both exchanges, giving all the major indexes a distribution day. Traditionally, September is a weak month for stocks. But the major indexes pounded out big gains following a strong follow through on Sept. 1. The Nasdaq and S&P 500 jumped 12% and 8.7%, respectively. Both staged their best monthly performance since April 2009. The NYSE composite gained 8.6% and Dow 7.7%. Wednesday: Stocks fell in a back-and-forth session Wednesday. They failed to build on Tuesday's big upside reversal, but losses were modest. The S&P 500 lost 0.3% and the Dow 0.2%. The Nasdaq and NYSE composite eased 0.1% each. Turnover fell on both major exchanges. Tuesday: Stocks shrugged off worse-than-expected housing and sentiment data to finish higher Tuesday. The NYSE composite rose 0.6% and the S&P 500 0.5%. The Nasdaq gained 0.4%, but heavyweights Apple and Baidu fell. The Dow also climbed 0.4%. All but the Nasdaq hit fresh four-month highs. Turnover grew on both exchanges. Monday: The stock market on Monday gave up just a portion of Friday's big gains, as leading stocks continued to perform well. The Nasdaq and NYSE composite gave up 0.5%. The S&P 500 fell 0.6% while the Dow lost 0.4%. Volume eased, which alleviated the impact of the selling. Several leading stocks made new highs. weeklyobservations10022010 (reverse chrono) - -F Stocks again open with gains. Stocks fall from highs w/ Nasdaq leading the way. Market still mixed. No leading stocks accumulated. Stocks close slightly higher in lower trade. -Th Stocks spike largely higher in higher trade. But, give up 1150 level. Stocks fall sharply from opening gains to modest losses in still much higher trade. Ultra-modest leader accumulation. Solar stocks strong. Stocks now mixed. Volume higher, but less so. Stocks end in distribution. -W Indexes sport modest losses in wild trade, albeit in slightly lower trade. Again scant leadership participation. Stocks close with minor losses in lighter trade. -Tu Consumer confidence report sinks stocks. Trade jumps markedly. Vix jumps again. Market now mixed in still higher trade. Stocks re-group and again flirt with 1150 level. Still in higher trade, lending credence. Again, not much leaders participating. -M Early action is moderately down after futures were markedly higher. Hitting resistance and seeing sketchiness in the early going. Same old few leaders. Stocks tumble late. Financials take a hit. Indexes slip moderately in lower trade.
weeklyanalysis1016010 Friday: Stocks gave up early gains and finished mixed after a wave of headlines Friday. Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke hinted at more action, while most economic reports beat expectations. As the broader market wavered, the Nasdaq climbed 1.4% on the strength of several bellwethers. Thursday: Stocks fell mildly Thursday amid mixed economic data. Jobless claims were higher than expected, while core inflation was benign. A late-session rally pared the bulk of the day's losses. The S&P 500 lost 0.4%, ending a four-session win streak. All but one of the 21 banks in the S&P 500 slumped amid foreclosure concerns. JPMorgan and Wells Fargo dropped 4% each, both on above-average volume. Citigroup fell 3%. Meanwhile, the Nasdaq and NYSE composite lost 0.2% each. The Dow slipped a fraction. Volume fell on both exchanges. Few leaders got hurt Thursday. Wednesday: Stocks extended their winning streak to four sessions Wednesday amid a round of upbeat earnings from CSX, Intel and JPMorgan Chase . The Nasdaq and NYSE composite gained 1% each, while the Dow and S&P 500 rallied 0.7% each. Volume surged across the board. Advancers beat decliners by more than 2-to-1 on the Nasdaq. Tuesday: Stocks rallied Wednesday after the Fed minutes revealed that most members were poised to call for another round of monetary easing. The Nasdaq climbed 0.6%, thanks in part to heavyweights Apple, Amazon.com and Google. During the session, the tech-heavy index hit its highest levels since May 13. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 rose 0.4%, while the Dow and NYSE composite edged up 0.1% each. Volume jumped across the board. Monday's trade was depressed by Columbus day. Monday: Stocks pared modest gains to finish mostly unchanged Monday. The Nasdaq ended up a fraction to close above the 2400 level for the second straight session. Intraday it had been up as much as 0.5%. The Dow, NYSE composite and S&P 500 each rose a tad. Volume dropped sharply on both major exchanges. Banks and the bond market were closed for Columbus Day. weeklyobservations10162010 (reverse chrono) - -F Stocks gave up early gains to finish mixed. The Nasdaq climbed 1.4% on strength from bellwethers. Volume climbed - boosted by options expiration. -Th More volume more leadership - yet thus far losses. Closes deeply mixed with Nasdaq out-performing. Volume spikes w/ expiration. More leaders breakout. The Dow and the NYSE composite each suffered a distribution day. -W Indexes gain in surging trade. Leaders participate. Stocks take a breather in lighter trade. Leading stock accumulation wanes. Another late-session bounce for the indexes. -Tu Indexes open lower in mixed trade. NYSE volume pulls back slightly, while Nasdaq vol jumps. Stocks again recover losses w/o (much) leadership. Volume increased. -M Market vacillates with modest gains - holding 11,000 in mixed volume as some leaders participate. weeklyanalysis1009010 Friday: Stocks rallied Friday as larger-than-expected job losses raised hopes for more Fed action to boost the economy. The U.S. economy lost 95,000 jobs in September vs. expectations for no change in payrolls. The Nasdaq climbed 0.8%. The Dow and NYSE hit fresh five-month highs. They gained 0.5% and 0.7%, respectively. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 climbed 0.6%. Turnover rose on both exchanges as indexes closed near session highs. For the week, the Dow and S&P 500 gained 1.6% each, while the Nasdaq climbed 1.3%. The NYSE composite ran up 1.9%, its sixth straight weekly gain. Thursday: Despite better-than-expected jobs data and upbeat retail sales, stocks closed mixed after a rocky session Thursday. The Nasdaq rose 0.1% after falling as much as 0.5%. The tech-heavy index found support near Wednesday's low. Meanwhile, the NYSE composite and Dow fell 0.3% and 0.2%, respectively. Both reversed from fresh five-month highs. The S&P 500 slipped 0.2%. Volume dropped across the board ahead of Friday's key jobs report. Wednesday: Stocks closed mixed in lighter trade Wednesday, but some leaders sold off in heavy volume. The Nasdaq fell 0.8%, up from a 1.3% loss. Nine of the top 10 of Wednesday's worst groups were tech or Internet related. Nasdaq bellwethers Apple and Oracle managed small gains. Oracle even cleared a short trading range. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 fell 0.2%, while the Dow and NYSE composite rose 0.2%. Volume fell across the board. Tuesday: A lower dollar and better-than-expected services data ignited a broad rally Tuesday. The Nasdaq climbed 2.4%, its best performance since the Sept. 1 follow-through signal. The S&P 500 plowed through resistance at the 1150 level and gained 2.1%. The NYSE composite and Dow rose 2.2% and 1.8%, respectively. All but the Nasdaq hit five-month highs. Volume surged across the board. Leaders had a nice day. Only three stocks in the IBD 100 fell. Monday: Stocks fell Monday as a higher dollar and mixed economic data offset buyout news. But the major indexes avoided a distribution day. The Nasdaq dropped 1.1%. It fared the worst due to Goldman Sach's downgrade of Microsoft. The NYSE composite lost 0.9%, the S&P 500 0.8% and the Dow 0.7%. All major indexes bucked a distribution day as volume fell on both major exchanges. Some leaders fell in heavy trading. weeklyobservations10092010 (reverse chrono) - -F Stocks again mixed in lighter trade after jobs report. Seeing leader accumulation in the early going. Stocks continue to add modest gains in higher trade. -Th Stocks close mixed after a volatile session in light trade. Volume dropped across the board ahead of Friday's key jobs report. -W Indexes jump all over and end mixed in lighter trade. Jobs & earnings news on tap. Leadership scant again. Many leaders tank in heavy trade as top group gets downgrade. -Tu Indexes jump markedly in much higher trade - in the early going. Market AGAIN showing it's mettle. Some leaders participate. Volume and index gains still strong. Leaders not so much. -M Indexes again contract in lighter trade. Some leaders accumulated. Losses increase as volume increases (yet, still lower). Leaders gains wane. Stocks close w/ significant losses as trade pulls back.
weeklyanalysis1030010 Friday: Despite some mixed economic data and more positive earnings news, stocks closed little changed Friday in a narrow-range session. The NYSE composite rose 0.1% and the Dow eked out a fractional gain. The Nasdaq ended flat and the S&P 500 dipped a fraction. Volume rose mildly on both exchanges. Things were quiet ahead of next week's two-day Fed meeting and midterm elections. The Nasdaq outshined for the week, rising 1.1%. That marked its fourth straight weekly gain. The S&P 500 eked out a fraction. The NYSE ended an eight-week win streak. It eased 0.1%. The Dow also slipped 0.1%. Thursday: Stocks ended little changed Thursday despite a round of earnings reports and a surprise drop in jobless claims. Overall, equities were indecisive ahead of next week's Fed meeting and midterm elections. The NYSE composite climbed 0.3%, Nasdaq 0.2% and S&P 500 0.1%. But a fat loss in 3M hurt the blue-chip Dow, which slipped 0.1%. Volume eased on both exchanges. Wednesday: Techs moved ahead while the other major indexes stepped back Wednesday. Stocks opened lower on uncertainly surrounding the Fed's stimulus plan, mixed economic data and a higher dollar. The Nasdaq added 0.2% for its sixth straight gain. It also closed above the 2500 level for the first time since April 29. Chips were one area of strength. The Philadelphia semiconductor index surged 3.1% to a three-month high. Meanwhile, the NYSE composite lost 0.7%, Dow 0.4% and S&P 500 0.3%. Volume climbed on both major exchanges, giving all but the the Nasdaq a distribution day, if the volume figures are confirmed. Tuesday: While the indexes showed little movement Tuesday, top-rated stocks fared much better. The Nasdaq rose 0.3%, while the NYSE composite slipped 0.2%. The S&P 500 and the Dow were up fractionally. Volume was up on the Nasdaq and down on the NYSE. Decliners led advancers by a 5-4 ratio on the NYSE and were roughly even on the Nasdaq. Monday: Stocks rallied on higher volume on the back of positive earnings reports from some leading Chinese ADRs and better-than-expected existing home sales in September in the U.S. But the rally faded. The Nasdaq, which advanced 4.6% over the prior three weeks, led the day with a 0.5% gain; at 10 a.m. EST it was up as much as 1.1%. The NYSE composite let a 1.2% intraday gain melt to 0.3%. The Dow also closed up 0.3%, the S&P 500 up 0.2%. The Dow utilities slipped 0.4% lower. weeklyobservations10302010 (reverse chrono) - -F Stocks vacillate "mixed" in lower trade early in the session. NYSE volume rose, but was below-average for the sixth straight session. Some leading stock accumulation. -Th Stocks waver to a mixed finish as volume eased. Still good leading stock accumulation. -W Stocks fell on Wednesday as Wall Street lowered its expectations about how aggressively the Fed will act. Tech made a minor gain. The Philadelphia semiconductor index surged 3.1% to a three-month high. Volume climbed on both major exchanges, giving all but the the Nasdaq a distribution day. -Tu Indexes closed mixed in mixed trade. While the indexes showed little movement Tuesday, top-rated stocks fared much better. -M Stocks make a modest advance in mixed trade. Some leaders participate. weeklyanalysis1023010 Friday: The major market averages came to a split finish after a narrow-range session Friday, but a number of leaders rallied. The Nasdaq climbed 0.8%, closing a tad below its Oct. 18 peak. The S&P 500 gained 0.2% and NYSE composite 0.1%. But the Dow eased 0.1%. Volume dropped sharply on both major exchanges from Thursday's pace. For the week, the Dow and S&P 500 rose 0.6% each, while the Nasdaq gained 0.4%. The NYSE composite ticked up a fraction to its eighth-straight weekly gain. Thursday: Stocks seesawed to a split finish Thursday following a round of earnings and mixed economic news. A rebound in the dollar derailed a morning rally, but some late buying sealed some gains for three of the four major averages. The Dow rose 0.4%, thanks to McDonald's, Home Depot, 3M and United Technologies. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq edged up 0.2% and 0.1%, respectively. But the NYSE composite slipped 0.1%. Volume rose on the Nasdaq,while NYSE trade fell. Wednesday: Thanks to a weaker dollar and some upbeat earnings reports, stocks rebounded from the prior session's distribution. Most major averages recouped the bulk of Tuesday's losses. The NYSE composite gained 1.3%, the Dow 1.2% and the S&P 500 1.1%. The Nasdaq lagged with a 0.8% gain. Volume fell on both exchanges. Tuesday: Thanks to a weaker dollar and some upbeat earnings reports, stocks rebounded from the prior session's distribution. Most major averages recouped the bulk of Tuesday's losses. The NYSE composite gained 1.3%, the Dow 1.2% and the S&P 500 1.1%. The Nasdaq lagged with a 0.8% gain. Volume fell on both exchanges. Monday: Stocks closed higher and near the best levels of the day Monday. Indexes took off in the final hour of trading, pushing the Dow, S&P 500 and NYSE composite up 0.7% while the Nasdaq climbed 0.5%. Volume was sharply off after Friday's trading jump on options expirations. weeklyobservations10232010 (reverse chrono) - -F Market essentially flat in the early going. Volume mixed. Strong leading stock accumulation in the early going. Volume falls dramatically from yesterday's levels. Stocks still mixed. Stocks close mixed in much lower volume in erratic trade. Leadership accumulated. -Th Indexes again testing 52-week highs in mixed volume. Leaders participate in the early going. After volatile session indexes close modestly up in mixed volume. -W Stocks jump erasing most of yesterday's losses albeit in slightly lower trade. Leading stock accumulation picks up. Volume falls. -Tu Tech drags market sharply lower as trade picks up. More leaders take a hit. Indexes dump to new lows as volume picks up markedly. Indexes suffer distribution in above-average volume. IBD 100 slides 2.4%. -M Index post modest early gains in much lower volume. Some leaders participate. Volatility still high.
weeklyanalysis1106010 Friday: Stocks had little reaction to a much-better-than-expected jobs report, but ended modestly higher Friday after a late burst of buying. The S&P 500 rallied 0.4%; the NYSE composite gained 0.2%. The Dow and Nasdaq rose 0.1% each. Volume fell across the board. For the week, the NYSE composite climbed 3.8% and the S&P 500 3.6%. The Dow and Nasdaq advanced 2.9% each. Thursday: Stocks surged Thursday, one day after the Fed announced a second round of stimulus to prop up the economy. The NYSE composite climbed 2.3%, the biggest gain since Sept. 1. The Dow rallied 2%, the S&P 500 gained 1.9% and the Nasdaq 1.5%. Volume grew on both major exchanges. Wednesday: Stocks gyrated to a modestly higher close Wednesday after the Fed announced plans to buy an additional $600 billion in long-dated bonds to stimulate the economy. The major averages had struggled for direction for the bulk of the session, but some late buying helped seal gains. The Nasdaq rose 0.3% to its best levels since June 2008. The S&P 500 gained 0.4%, while the Dow rose 0.2% and the NYSE composite rose 0.3%. Volume climbed on both exchanges. Tuesday: Stocks advanced broadly Tuesday amid an election that's expected to result in a more business-friendly Congress. The Nasdaq rose 1.1%, the NYSE 1%, the S&P 500 0.8% and the Dow 0.6%. Volume fell across the board, as many investors continued to take a wait-and-see approach ahead of Wednesday's Fed move. The Federal Reserve is expected to detail new stimulus measures Wednesday as it ends a two-day meeting. Monday: The Nasdaq took a breather Monday after eight straight gains, slipping 0.1%. The NYSE fell the same amount. The Dow and the S&P 500 each added less than 0.1%. Volume ran higher on the NYSE through most of the session, but dried up late in the day to finish lower on both exchanges. weeklyobservations11062010 (reverse chrono) - -F The market digests prior day's steep gains in lower trade. Some more leaders participate. Vix lower level (still elevated) held. SPX tested and held key 1200 level. -Th Stocks vault in large trade. XLF overtakes 200 dma. Indexes close at highs w/ upwards of 2% in gains. Trade surged and leaders participated. Vix drops. XLF and SPX hold support. -W Stocks climbed modestly after Fed treasury purchase announcement. Trade climbed moderately. -Tu Stocks advance broadly, albeit moderately in lessening trade as investors await mid-term elections and Wednesday's Fed announcement. Good leadership accumulation. -M Stocks close flat in lighter trade. Vix elevates, some leaders accumulated.