Stocks Erase Early Losses After Senate Vote

Hello traders everywhere. Stocks are trading higher after erasing slight losses from earlier in the session, as the Senate reached a deal that would resume full government operations.

The S&P 500 is hitting record highs, rising 0.5%, with energy and telecommunications as the best-performing sectors.

The NASDAQ is also hitting all-time highs, advancing 0.7%, with shares of Netflix Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) hitting a record ahead of their earnings today.

The Dow has gained over 70 points to establish a new intra-day record, with The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA) leading the way.

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Members of the Senate are expected to advance a stopgap bill to keep the government open through Feb. 8. Democratic Sen. Mark Warner said the party has the assurance it needs on the budget and immigration issues.

On Saturday, the U.S. government shut down after a bill that would have kept the government funded through mid-February was voted against in the Senate. The shutdown continued for a third day on Monday after the Senate on Sunday failed to reach an agreement to break an impasse before the work week began in Washington.

Key levels to watch this week: Continue reading "Stocks Erase Early Losses After Senate Vote"

Wall Streets Wild Week

Hello traders everywhere. The stock market is finishing up the week mixed, much like the entirety of the week was. We saw wild swings in both the stock market and Bitcoin. And it might not be over yet with a couple of things looming.

There's potential for a government shutdown. On Thursday, the House passed a bill to avoid a government shutdown, but the bill is now in the Senate's hands, where 60 votes are needed to send it to President Donald Trump's desk. Most experts believe that there is a 50/50 percent chance that we will see a shutdown. Historically, a government shutdown has led to a short-term pullback in the stock market.

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Consumer sentiment unexpectedly declined in January to a six-month low as American households viewed the economy less favorably, as reported by the University of Michigan report that was released Friday.

The decline in sentiment included a decrease in a measure of buying conditions for big-ticket goods, indicating consumer spending may slow early this year after a solid holiday shopping season.

The setback in purchasing conditions was mainly due to less attractive pricing, according to the University of Michigan. That was reflected in a pickup in increases in expected inflation rates over the coming year and longer term.

At the same time, the expectations index remained stable, with 70% of respondents saying they thought the impact of the tax reform act would be positive. What's more, the survey showed lingering strength in personal finances. Improved finances were reported by half of all respondents, matching the 2017 average which was the best in 17 years.

Key levels to watch next week: Continue reading "Wall Streets Wild Week"

Bitcoin Falls On Global Regulatory Concerns

Hello traders everywhere. The January Bitcoin (CME:BRTI) selloff gained momentum on Tuesday when the cryptocurrency dropped as much as 13% in early trading as the prospect of global regulatory crackdowns appeared to spread.

A South Korean news website Yonhap reported that Finance Minister Kim Dong-yeon had told a local radio station that the government would be coming up with a set of measures to clamp down on the "irrational" cryptocurrency investment craze.

South Korea said on Monday that its plans to ban virtual coin exchanges had not yet been finalized, as government agencies were still in talks to decide how to regulate the market.

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That news broke just as a report surfaced that a senior Chinese central banker had said authorities should ban centralized trading of virtual currencies and prohibit individuals and businesses from providing related services.

China shut down exchanges operating on the mainland last year - a move that also sparked a selloff.

The January selloff has seen Bitcoin (CME:BRTI) fall 42% from it's December 2017 high of 19,528.87.

Key levels to watch next week: Continue reading "Bitcoin Falls On Global Regulatory Concerns"

Wall Street Surges On Earnings Expectations

Hello traders everywhere. The stock market is posting new intra-day record highs again as traders turn their sights to a wave of corporate earnings. Most experts believe that earnings season will be exceptionally strong on the heels of the new U.S. Tax Code.

An early indication of this can be seen by the stronger than expected earnings from J.P. Morgan today. The most prominent U.S. lender by assets said the new tax law would help future profits by not only reducing the amount it pays the federal government but also by stimulating more business.

Shares of JP Morgan (JPM) rose 1.1%, helping lift the S&P financial index up 0.6%, after its fourth-quarter profit beat estimates.

Wells Fargo (WFC) on the other hand fell 0.8% after it set aside $3.25 billion in the fourth quarter to cover legal expenses related to probes into its mortgage and sales practices.

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Key levels to watch next week: Continue reading "Wall Street Surges On Earnings Expectations"

Stocks Shake Off Lackluster Jobs Data

Hello traders everywhere. U.S. job growth slowed more than expected in December due to a decline in retail employment, but a pick-up in monthly wage gains points to labor market strength that could pave the way for the Federal Reserve to increase interest rates in March.

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Nonfarm payrolls increased by 148,000 jobs last month after surging by 252,000 in November, the Labor Department said on Friday. Retail payrolls decreased by 20,300 in December, the largest drop since March, despite reports of a strong holiday shopping season.

The unemployment rate was unchanged at a 17-year low of 4.1%. Economists had forecasted payrolls rising by 190,000 in December. The economy needs to create 75,000 to 100,000 jobs per month to keep up with growth in the working-age population.

Job growth surged in October and November after being held back in September by back-to-back hurricanes, which destroyed infrastructure and homes and temporarily dislocated some workers in Texas and Florida.

Key levels to watch next week: Continue reading "Stocks Shake Off Lackluster Jobs Data"