(Justin Vaughn, Editor, Options Trading Report) The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite rose Friday, pushing major stock indexes to weekly gains after a better-than-expected January jobs report showed the economy is still growing solidly. Hirings show surprising strength. The U.S. economy added 467,000 jobs in January, the Labor Department said Friday, with wages climbing 5.7%. “We’re seeing a more resilient, more prepared U.S. Labor market than we’ve seen in the past,” said Becky Frankiewicz, president … Read more…

(Justin Vaughn, Editor, Options Trading Report) After Steep Losses Monday, an upside reversal triggered the start of a market rally that, after whipsawing all week, turned the indices upward Friday. Happy news for stock market bulls, after a choppy week. As the major indices rallied, finishing one of the most tumultuous weeks in memory on a high note, and buoyed by strong earnings from the ‘darlings’ of Wall Street, confidence settled investors’ nerves. Stocks have … Read more…

(Justin Vaughn, Editor, Options Trading Report) Stocks Post Worst Week In 2 Years…Inflation concerns; Fed rate expectations encourage investors to seek safer havens for assets. All three major U.S indices fell for a third consecutive week, continuing their slide to start 2022, (and defying Santa) with investors worried and concerned about the prospect of higher interest rates and their effect on valuations. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite Index finished up their worst weeks since … Read more…

(Justin Vaughn, Editor, Options Trading Report) Inflation Hits Fastest Clip since 1982… Consumer prices rise by 7% as pandemic disruptions, and consumer demand stays strong. The Labor Department said Wednesday the consumer-price-index-which measures what consumers pay for goods and services–rose 7% in December from the same month a year earlier, up from 6.8% in November. That was the fastest since June 1982 and marked the third straight month in which inflation exceeded 6%. The so-called … Read more…

(Justin Vaughn, Editor, Options Trading Report) Markets are off to a rough start in 2022. So much for the Santa Claus Rally; it fizzled as the ‘Ball’ dropped. The Federal Reserve released the minutes of its December meeting this past Wednesday, and what was ‘inside’ them apparently took the market by surprise. Economists point out that the Fed discussed winding down its balance sheet–something Chairman Jerome Powell failed to mention at the press conference last … Read more…

(Justin Vaughn, Editor, Options Trading Report) Stocks Score Big In A Year Marked By Wild Swings… U.S. stocks are charging toward a third consecutive year of big gains. Stock market investors had a lot to like in 2021. Even with the recent turbulence from the Omicron variant, the S&P 500 is headed toward a 27% advance in 2021. Add in the other impediment, the Delta variant, and you still have double-digit gains for all the … Read more…

(Justin Vaughn, Editor, Options Trading Report) Is Santa Claus Coming To Wall Street? The so-called ‘Santa Claus Rally,’ at year-end is fast approaching. A Santa Claus rally is one where stocks climb higher in the final five trading sessions of the year and into the first two sessions of the new year. This year end-trend–identified by the authors of the Stock Traders Almanac–says the markets rally every year at this time. The Santa Claus Rally … Read more…

(Justin Vaughn, Editor, Options Trading Report) Stumbling Stocks… As the Fed speeds up the stimulus phaseout, investors’ fears nudged the indices. Stocks fell this past week on worries about interest-rate increases by major central banks, to rein in inflation, according to a plethora of economists. At the same time bond yields have been edging lower, against a backdrop of the highest inflation readings in nearly four decades. As expected, the Federal Reserve announced that it … Read more…

(Justin Vaughn, Editor, Options Trading Report) U.S. Inflation’s Relentless Rise Hits Fastest Pace In 39 Years!! U.S. inflation reached a nearly four-decade high in November as robust consumer demand out reached supply constraints. The Labor Department said the consumer-price index–which measures what consumers pay for goods and services–rose 6.8% in November from the same month a year ago. That was the fastest pace since 1982 and the sixth straight month in which inflation topped 5%. … Read more…

(Justin Vaughn, Editor, Options Trading Report) Powell turns a bit… ‘hawkish’…. Federal Reserve Chief Jerome Powell sounded more like a hawk this past week…for the first time since late 2018. Appearing before Congress, Powell’ explicitly dropped his prior characterization of inflation pressures as “transitory.” Saying the threat of persistently higher inflation has grown, that the Fed would consider wrapping up asset purchases a few months early. He was clear that his ‘hawkish’ tone didn’t incorporate … Read more…