Keystone's Trading Week in Review and Key Events Ahead 11/30/13

On Friday, 11/22/13, Asia markets trade flat with the Shanghai negative. The dollar/yen is 101.24. Aussie dollar drops -0.8% as the RBA contemplates a rate cut.  Copper is higher. U.S. futures are flat. The 10-year yield is 2.79%. Germany’s IFO business sentiment is 109.3 far exceeding consensus, however, the remainder of Europe, such as France, does not share the happiness.  Draghi speaks at the European Banking Conference and says ‘he acts for all of Europe’. At a different event, ECB’s Nowotny says the long-term impact of low rates must be closely monitored. The euro is 1.3521. GS predicts steep losses for gold coming in 2014. Hedge fund manager Paulson says he will not add to his gold holdings.  The majority of traders are very negative on gold and gold miners. The broad indexes drop at the opening bell but immediately recover as the dip buyers trip over each other eager to buy long.  Equities steadily move higher all day long. The VNCE Vince designer clothing retailer IPO opens for trading and catapults over +40%. The IPO orgy this year is reminiscent of the dotcom bubble orgy in late 1999 early 2000. The JOLTS Job Openings Report shows an improvement in hiring and a 69,000 increase in job postings. INTC lowers guidance and it is beaten -5.4% keeping the semiconductor sector flat to negative today. ROST drops -8%after it guides lower and says the competitive retail pricing environment twill hurt earnings. Long traders are receiving the melt-up everyone is looking for with the Dow well above 16K and the SPX above 1800. FU collapses and is halted from trading. FAB Universal is suspected of selling pirated movies in China and the stock has dropped from 7.5 to 3.1, almost -60%, in 7 days. PPG is expanding capacity to produce the next generation materials for the manufacture of Smartphone, tablet and computer screens. The dollar/yen remains elevated all day long at 101.30 (weaker yen) creating the bull fuel for the stock market. The Fed and BOJ central bankers are the market; a tag team of stock market pumpers all year long. A chart circulates among floor traders and across the Internet that shows the SPX chart overlaying the chart from the 1929 crash period where the SPX would be at the exact top now. Very few take the graph seriously and instead traders keep buying stocks to fuel the market upside. The day ends in a bullish euphoria with the SPX closing above 1800 for the first time in history. The SPX is up 9 points, +0.5%, printing a new all-time intraday high at 1804.84 and new all-time closing high at 1804.76. The Dow remains above 16K, up 55 points, +0.3%, printing a new all-time intraday high at 16068.78 and new all-time closing high at 16064.77. The Nasdaq is up +0.6% to 3992 remaining 8 points shy of the 4K round number. The RUT is up +0.5% printing a new all-time intraday high at 1125.64 and new all-time closing high at 1124.92. Trannies are up +04% but do not print another all-time high.  Biotechs, a stalwart outperforming sector this year, lead higher this week. For the week, the SPX gains +0.4%, up 7 consecutive weeks, Dow +0.7%, Nasdaq +0.1% and RUT +0.8%. The small caps slightly outperformed to the upside due to the strong biotech sector. Copper is strongly higher for 3 consecutive days. The 10-year yield is 2.75% and the 2-10 yield spread drops to 249 (banks need to see a spread of 255+ to confirm happy times ahead).  Allegion will replace JCP in the S&P 500. JCP drops -1.4% AH’s. Television business personality Maria Bartiromo announces her departure from CNBC today. She is joining the FOX Business Network. Bartiromo, a.k.a. the ‘money honey’, is best known for providing the first news reports from the floor of the NYSE 20 years ago. The talking head business commentators float between Bloomberg, CNBC and FOX as their contracts expire. Fed’s Tarullo says global central bankers need to develop tools to avoid future bank runs. The Whitehouse delays the healthcare enrollment deadline for 2014 from 12/15/13 to 12/23/13. In addition, the start of the 2015 enrollment period in October 2014 is changed to November 2014, one week after the mid-term elections instead of before the elections. This allows the democrats an advantage since health costs will sky rocket due to the low enrollment of healthy young people, and folks will not see these big increases in their premiums until after they vote. The Whitehouse, and democrats as a whole, have stopped using the ‘Obamacare’ moniker. Any mention of Obamacare on the websites has been removed. The president no longer says the word ‘Obamacare’ in his speeches. He is distancing himself from the debacle since his approval ratings are dropping. Obamacare is now part of the American lexicon and folks will not easily shift to saying the ‘Affordable Care Act’. Of course, the republicans will tout the word ‘Obamacare’ even more going forward. 9 States now refuse to honor President Obama’s request to allow the existing health plans to continue. These States and the insurance companies cannot turn on a dime depending on what the Whitehouse dictates on any given day. Millions continue to receive cancellation notices and must find new insurance within the next month.

On Saturday, 11/23/13, MSFT’s Xbox One sales topped 1 million on the first day matching PS4’s strong release. The U.S. Energy Department is selling off its multi-million dollar Fisker loan guarantee to a Chinese business man resulting in a taxpayer loss of about $140 million. The loss strikes another blow to the Obama Administration’s green policy which previously lost millions of taxpayer dollars with the Solyndra debacle. The monthly price of electricity continues to trend higher in America providing a touch of inflation in an overall ongoing disinflationary and deflationary economy. Comet ISON is set to move around the sun over the coming days. Solar flare activity increases but remains far below what is expected since this year is the peak year for the 11-year solar cycle. Solar flare events, although rare, are important, since they can cause serious electronics disruptions which may impact markets. Retailers worry that the Obamacare debacle, now with the deadline for enrollment occurring 2 days before Christmas, will dampen holiday spending.

On Sunday, 11/24/13, the Phillipines typhoon disaster aftermath continues with the death toll now rising above 5K. China extends its air defense zone to encompass the disputed Diaoyu islands. The action escalates tensions between Japan, Taiwan and China. The U.S. worries that an incident may occur due to the increased turmoil. The U.S. and five other nations reach a 6-month agreement with Iran that freezes their nuclear program in exchange for ‘modest’ relief from sanctions (about $7 billion). The sanctions are greatly hurting Iran’s economy and oil revenues have fallen drastically over the last year. Iran is planning to build two more nuclear power plants at the Bushehr site. Israel is unhappy with the agreement since the sanctions were finally beginning to bite. The euro is 1.3542. The crude oil price drops on the Iran deal. Winter storms move across the U.S. creating transportation difficulties.              

On Monday, 11/25/13, Asia markets move higher except for the Shnghai which is negative. BOJ’s Kuroda says the 2% inflation rate is ambitious. Dollar/yen is 101.70 so the S&P’s futures are higher as well at +6. Japan proceeds with removing fuel rods from a unit at the troubled Fukishima nuclear plant. The decommissioning is now expected to take up to 40 years. Thai anti-government protests continue. Moody’s cuts Posco’s (steelmaker) rating due to concern over debt.  The futures move strongly higher perhaps on Iran optimism with the S&P’s +8, Dow +65, Nasdaq +13. Copper bounces strongly higher but drops to the flat line overnight. Brent oil drops -2% and falls briefly under 105. WTIC crude oil is down -1.3% to 93.62. 10% of the world’s oil reserves are in Iran. The 10-year yield is 2.75%. Natty gas continues higher as cold weather and storms hit the States. Gold continues lower to 1231 since Middle East tensions are decreasing on the Iran nuclear deal. The Saudi’s and Israel are against the Iran nuclear deal. Middle East politics make for strange bedfellows.  RBS business practices are questioned since they appear to be squeezing out private companies. RBS’s lack of lending is hurting small and medium-sized companies, pushing companies into default. RBS is 17% owned by the U.K. government.  RBS is up +0.4% unaffected by the negative press. The Sinabung volcano eruption in Italy increases in intensity.  Economics professor Jeremy Siegel repeats his calls for a higher stock market moving forward. Siegel was correct all this year with the Dow reaching his 16K target last week.  Gasoline prices increase for the first time in 2 months as the holiday shopping season begins. U.S. banks are considering raising fees on depositors.  U.S. companies are considering plans to have employees contribute more towards their health insurance plans. WMT CEO Duke resigns and young McMillon is the successor. WMT jumps +0.7%.  SHLD jumps +7% on news that it may split and sell off parts of the company. Top executives depart the flailing BBRY.  The wealthy in America are surprisingly holding 39% of their assets in cash. The trading week begins and the broad indexes move higher with the higher dollar/yen (weaker yen). The Nasdaq ($COMPQ) hits the psychological 4000 level for the first time since September 2000, 13 years ago. Of course back then, tech was collapsing off the 5K top a few months earlier. The Hunger Games sequel is well received at the weekend theatres but traders wanted more and bludgeon LGF -7.3%. BAC upgrades CAT and it trades up +2.2%. China is investigating QCOM, a tech darling stock this year, for possible business practices violations. QCOM drops -2.3% and sends semiconductors lower causing the broad indexes to leak slightly lower. Both the equities and VIX are up so one of them is wrong. China billionaires and millionaires are buying U.S. real estate, especially California, at a record pace and are the main buyers on the high-end.  The Chinese are also buying art, collectables and vineyards. The behavior of the Chinese wealthy is similar to the behavior of Japan as they bought the U.S. real estate market before their collapse into the 2-decade deflation in the early 1990’s. Ditto the enthusiasm with wealthy Americans at the 2000 and 2007 market tops, and now, as shown by the popularity in the art, collectible and classic car sectors, as well as elevated real estate prices currently. The Pending Home Sales Index, however, is weaker than expected and this forecasts less closings moving forward. The broad indexes leak lower as the dollar/yen drops from 101.70 to 101.60 (stronger yen).  In the afternoon, the dollar/yen moves higher to 101.70 (weaker yen) so equities move to the highs of the day, then in the final hour, the dollar/yen drops towards 101.45 so the broad indexes sell off losing all the earlier gains and ending the day flat. The Nasdaq oscillates above and below 4K ending at 3995. The Dow prints a new all-time intraday high at 16109.63 and new all-time closing high at 16072.54. The 3 major indexes have now all crossed their psychological levels; SPX 1800, Dow 16K and Nasdaq 4K. Analysts are now touting SPX 1900 and Dow 18K targets as easily achievable; the market hubris is growing larger. Social media is sold off today with FB -3.1%, LNKD -1.7%, YELP -6.7% and P -4.3%, all off much lower lows earlier in the day. QIHU is downgraded and it dumps -8%. The Iran nuclear deal euphoria fades as the day moves along. Gold and oil recover. President Obama tries to drum up support for the deal but many in Congress, in rare bipartisan agreement, call the deal weak. Israel’s Netanyahu call the Iran deal a “historic mistake” and the Saudi’s are not happy either. The Obamacare web site malfunctions again.  The self-imposed deadline date, where the Whitehouse said the web site would be fixed, is 11/30/13 only 4 days away. Television personality Katie Couric joins YHOO as Myers continues her spending spree.  CGC will be the new ticker symbol for the Chrysler IPO coming in Q1 2014.

On Tuesday, 11/26/13, Asia markets are flat to lower. The dollar/yen drops to 101.47 (stronger yen) so the Nikkei is lower. BOJ says there are risks to the economy moving forward. 5 major banks (Barclay’s, Deutsche, Bank of Nova Scotia, HSBC and Societe Generale), that set the daily gold price, are under scrutiny for potential gold price fixing. Currently, there are no allegations of actual gold price fixing although the business practices of these 5 banks are called into question. Gold is a $20 trillion marketplace. European markets are flat. ECB’s and Bundesbanks Weidmann voices concern over the ever-increasing reach of central bankers since it will lead to future instability. ECB’s Coeure says rates can be cut further and negative rates are a possibility. French bankruptcies print record highs. The global central banker intervention is obscene. Natty gas prices continue higher due to the cold weather sweeping across the States. Housing Starts are cancelled until 12/18/13 due to the government shutdown.  Brent oil recovers back above 111 as the Iran deal details are studied more closely.  MW launches a takeover move at JOS when only one month ago JOS was trying to acquire MW. This turnaround flip-flop is called the Pac-Man defense in reference to the popular video game. If the deal is completed, ‘you will like the way you look’ in your ‘buy-one-get-five-free’ suits. TIF beats on earnings and guides higher so the stock explodes +7% higher. The Fed creates a higher stock market with QE making the rich richer and the wealthy continue to spend. The wealthy Chinese are major high-end spenders these days buying luxury goods, art and real estate.  Futures are flat moving into the opening bell.  CBRL serves up disappointing earnings, blaming the government shutdown, and drops -6%. DSW trips on earnings and is beaten -5%. U.S. bank earnings are down -3.9% printing the first year-on-year loss since 2009 but traders continue to run into the financial stocks on the long side, anticipating a steepening yield curve. Equities move flat with some upward buoyancy into lunch time. Dollar/yen remains flat at 101.45. Consumer Confidence is weaker than expected just like last month. Richmond Fed Mfg Index is better than expected. The RUT prints a new all-time intraday high at 1131.88.  AAPL is upgraded and jumps +1.7% above 530.  Apple and strong semiconductors send the Nasdaq higher now at 4016, a new 13-year high. Natty gas continues higher. The 10-year yield drops to 2.69% so homebuilders move higher but surprisingly, utilities collapse. VIX is higher.  Equities collapse in the final one-half hour of trading with the SPX finishing flat but printing a new all-time intraday high at 1808.42. The Nasdaq closes at 4018 above 4K for the first time in 13 years. The trifecta of bullishness continues with the Dow over 16K, SPX over 1800 K and the Nasdaq above 4K. The RUT prints a new all-time intraday high at 1136.24 and new all-time closing high at 1134.53. After the bell, HPQ reports healthy earnings and jumps +5%. Pope Francis calls ‘unfettered capitalism’ a ‘new tyranny’ and asks why no one cares if a homeless man dies of exposure but it is big news if the stock market moves two points? The Pope asks the wealthy to help the poor and disadvantaged.  Bitcoin hits a record price $947. CME margin debt hits another record level at $412 billion (margin debt tends to peak at market tops). Concern grows in the States over home equity loans and lines of credit where debt holders have to start paying down the principal moving forward. Hurricane season ends with the lightest season in about 30 years. Two U.S. B-52 bombers fly through the disputed Japan islands air space in defiance of recent claims by China that all aircraft needs to notify them first.

On Wednesday, 11/27/13, S&P cuts ratings on Malaysian banks. The IAEA inspects the progress of the Fukishima nuclear disaster cleanup. Merkel reaches a deal forming a German Coalition government. The EU hits China’s solar glass manufacturer’s with tariffs—the global ‘protectionism’ wars escalate. The U.K. considers bringing a complaint against RBS for questionable business practices.  The Justice Department plans on investigating MS and others on questionable business practices. The U.S. banks likely face over $100 billion more in legal costs to address mortgage-related lawsuits.  Winter storms continue across the States killing 11.  Mortgage Applications are weak for 4 consecutive months. Durable Goods Orders are weaker than expected. Jobless Claims are down. Equities drift higher after the opening bell. Consumer Sentiment is 75.1, better than expected. The semiconductors drop with ADI -5%, BLOX puking -23% and TXN -1.4% but HPQ is carrying the tech sector up +8%. Utilities are weak as the 10-year yield climbs to 2.74%. Equities remain elevated courtesy of the dollar/yen now punching up through 102 (weaker yen provides stock market upside fuel).  Bitcoin prints $1031 now over the 1K psychological level. Traders ask when will bitcoin be equal to an ounce of gold?  TIVO is beaten -5%. At 11:45 AM EST, Berlesconi receives an expulsion vote from the Italian Senate and is no longer immune from prosecution. The days of bunga-bunga parties are now a distant memory and he may now have to serve house arrest or jail time. Copper is beaten lower. The SPX is moving sideways through 1802-1808 for the last 3 days. At the bell, the SPX prints a new all-time closing high at 1807.23 but is unable to print a new all-time intraday high. The Dow prints a new all-time closing high at 16097.33 but is unable to print a new all-time intraday high. The Nasdaq jumps +0.7% to 4045 printing a new 13-year closing high. The RUT is up +0.6% printing a new all-time closing high at 1141.33 and new all-time intraday high at 1141.50. The weaker yen (BOJ easy money policies) is driving the stock market higher; the dollar/yen remains elevated at 102.15 all day long creating buoyancy in stocks. Berlusconi is expelled from the Italian Parliament and he calls for a ‘day of mourning’. UBS bans social media chat rooms to limit the interchange between traders and external sources that may be construed as insider trading. Under the cover of darkness, on the eve before the Thanksgiving holiday, when most folks are already enjoying time with family and friends, the Whitehouse says another Obamacare delay will occur with web site enrollment of small businesses now pushed off for one-year’s time. In addition, the Whitehouse lowers expectations and delays a marketing program for Obamacare on fears of continued web site crashes. The web-hosting is switched from VZ to HPQ. The web site and health insurance mess continues with 50 people losing their health insurance for each one that has signed up for the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Retailers are concerned that this daily drip, drip, drip, of depressing health insurance news will negatively impact holiday spending. Prior Fed Chief Greenspan says there is no stock bubble in markets and the U.S. should grow at 2% next year (the Fed has never been able to identify any asset bubble ahead of time and in fact, Greenspan’s and Chairman Bernanke’s easy money policies are what create the new asset bubbles such as the current dividend stock bubble). Future Fed Chair Yellen repeats this Fed mantra stating days ago in her testimony before the Senate that she sees no asset bubbles in markets currently. Crane collapses at Brazil’s world cup stadium killing two.  Brazil needs the economic shot in the arm from the World Cup but is behind schedule with preparations and continues to deal with social unrest. Thailand protests continue against the government with protestors targeting the army and ruling party headquarters. Rumors circulate that bags of cash are exiting the country.

On Thursday, 11/28/13, RENN misses on earnings and guidance is lowered so it is axed -11%. NIKK closes at 15550 the highest level since 2007 overtaking the May highs. Dollar/yen is 102.23. The weaker yen is pumping the Japan and U.S. stock markets higher. China increases property curbs to cool down the obscene housing bubble. Prices in China real estate rise in all locations again. Burberry’s China trademark is revoked which would allow local manufacturers to pirate their designs.  Germany unemployment rises. European markets trade flat. Spain Q3 GDP rises +0.1%. ECB’s Constancio says negative deposit rates would only be considered in an ‘extreme’ situation. Cyprus bank deposits are shrinking. BOE’s Carney addresses concerns about the U.K. housing bubble. Folks are buying $1 million real estate with as little as 5% down payment.  Markets are closed in the States for the Thanksgiving Day holiday and at 5 AM EST the U.S. futures are S&P +5, Dow +58 and Nasdaq +13.5. Happy Hanukkah.  The winter storms create transportation headaches for the U.S. Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey are hit the hardest. The bitcoin frenzy grows more insane as price hits $1170 nearing the price of one ounce of gold. A 5.7 magnitude earthquake occurs at Bushehr, Iran, less than 30 miles from their nuclear facilities. Confusion grows over the Iranian nuclear deal. Each side appears to have a different understanding of the deal which means there is potentially no deal.

On Friday, 11/29/13, Comet ISON burns up and disintegrates as it passes the sun.  A SpaceX (Elon Musk) launch to place a satellite in orbit continues to face delays.  Australia rejects ADM’s $2.6 billion takeover deal of Graincorp, which drops -23%, since the deal is contrary to national interests.  Asian stocks are flat to lower with the Nikkei printing a +9.3% monthly gain. Japan inflation sneaks higher at levels not seen since 1998. Dollar/yen is 102.33. China flies war planes through the disputed air space above the Japanese islands escalating tensions. Eurozone inflation is a hair higher than expected and unemployment a hair lower. Euro is 1.3614. Ukraine freezes plans to join the EU on pressure from Russia. S&P raises the credit ratings on Spain and Cyprus but lowers the Netherlands rating based on economic growth prospects. Germany’s retail sales drop for 2 consecutive months and unemployment rises for the 4^th month. 25% of Spaniards say they would consider leaving Spain for better economic opportunities. Markets reopen for trading for a shortened session.  Today is EOM and the most bullish day of the year. Today is Black Friday one of the top busiest retail sales days of the entire year that will provide an early gauge on the retail shopping season. Traders are optimistic holding the least amount of puts in the retail sector in 3 years. The overnight shopping shows robust crowds and sales especially at BBY, WMT, LTD and TGT. iPad Air is selling well and about 75% of the Smartphone sales in Japan are the iPhone.  AAPL jumps +0.7% pre-market pushing Nasdaq futures higher to +17. S&P +5. Dow +50. Unions picket in front of WMT stores protesting over low wages. The 10-year yield is 2.76%. Bitcoin hits $1236.  Marc Faber of The Gloom, Boom & Doom Report appears on business television and says a massive speculative bubble is in place across nearly all asset classes including stocks, bonds, bitcoin and farmland. Faber cites the Case-Shiller PE Index in the mid-20’s but is not shorting the market aggressively as yet.  He warns investors to lower their expectations moving forward. Equities move higher after the opening bell with new record highs printing for the major indexes again.  BIDU, TSLA, NFLX and other momo stocks jump over +1% higher, pumping the Nasdaq higher.  WTIC crude oil creates a death cross with the 50-day MA dropping down through the 200-day MA. Both the SPX and VIX trade higher in early trading; one of them is wrong.  The bulls are in control until one-half hour before the early 1 PM close when sellers enter driving the Dow about 70 points lower off the top. The SPX, Dow and RUT finish flat on the day and the Nasdaq positive. The Nasdaq is pumped by the high flyers, biotech and large-cap tech stocks such as AAPL. AMZN gains +2% moving vertically higher on joyous holiday shopping expectations. The SPX prints a new all-time intraday high at 1813.55. The Dow prints a new all-time intraday high at 16174.51 venturing ever-nearer the inflation-adjusted Dow high at 16219. The Nasdaq closes at a new 13-year high at 4060 now well above the psychological 4K level without even performing a back kiss as yet. The RUT prints a new all-time intraday high at 1147.00 and new all-time closing high at 1142.89. The biotech sector pumps the small cap RUT higher.  Interestingly, the VIX jumps over +5% higher in the final minutes of trading. Gold drops -5.4% to 1251 during November. For the week, the SPX is flat, ditto the Dow, the Nasdaq is up +1.7% and RUT up +1.6%. The Dow prints 12 new all-time record highs during November. For the month, the Dow is up +3.5%, SPX +2.8%, Nasdaq +3.6% and RUT +3.9%. The bulls appear unstoppable due to the Fed and BOJ money-printing. The central bankers are the markets. On the eve of when the Obamacare web site is supposed to be fully functionally, the Whitehouse says there will be intermittent outages on the site from 9 PM EST to 8 AM tomorrow morning. Margin interest is now in excess of $410 billion catapulting higher week after week as long traders chase the markets higher; greed is taking over. The margin interest is now at lofty levels like the October 2007 market top. The CPCE put/call ratio drops to 0.48 verifying the uber complacency in markets and signaling a significant market top in place. Traders are completely worry-free and do not believe that markets can sell off since the Fed will not taper QE until March.

On Saturday, 11/30/13, today is the day the Whitehouse promised that the Obamacare website would work properly. Television personality Barbara Walters interviews President Obama and the First Lady where he tries to defend his trustworthiness after the 3 years of lies about the Affordable Health Care Act. The usual Black Friday shopping mayhem occurs at stores and malls with a few shootings, one sick soul shooting another over a big screen television, stabbings, a bomb threat and lots of pushing and shoving. It is always amazing how quickly humans can turn into animals. Consumers are happy with stores busily slitting each others’ throats with competitive sales, 40% off, 50% off, 60% off and more. Retail analysts report that this is the most promotional holiday shopping season since 2008, when the stock market was crashing.  Sales on the Internet jump strongly. The retail sales numbers appear strong, however, at what cost to margins?  N. Korea forces a U.S. hostage to apologize for war crimes. There is no word on when he will be released. N. Korea will likely use him as a bargaining chip to receive aid in exchange for his return. A U.S. war veteran, held as a hostage in North Korea, is forced to apologize for war crimes. North Korea is likely using the vet as a bargaining chip to gain aid from the U.S. South Korea bans the import of all fish from the Fukishima nuclear disaster area. Fish and animals along the west coast of North America are showing signs of radiation sickness. Radiation monitors across the U.S. are showing ever-increasing levels, especially along the west coast in California, with radiation fallout and ocean contamination from Fukishima the culprit. The main stream media continues to ignore the ongoing Japan nuclear disaster. The U.S. airlines are told to comply with the Chinese requests for flying over the disputed airspace above the Japanese islands.

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On Sunday, 12/1/13, there are 24 days (3 weeks) remaining in the holiday shopping season until Christmas and 30 days until the EOY. There are 21 trading days remaining in the year.

On Monday, 12/2/13, Asia PMI’s.  Europe PMI’s.  Construction Spending and ISM Mfg Index 10 AM will create a market pivot point. A new moon occurs in the evening. Markets are typically bearish moving through the new moon. Markets are usually bullish at the start of a new month. Cyber Monday. Vice president Biden visits China, Japan and South Korea this week.

On Tuesday, 12/3/13, Motor Vehicle Sales.

On Wednesday, 12/4/13, Mortgage Applications. ADP Employment Report. International Trade. Productivity and Costs. New Home Sales and ISM Non-Mfg Index 10 AM will create a market pivot point. Oil Inventories. Beige Book 2 PM will create a market pivot point.

On Thursday, 12/5/13, ECB Rate Decision 7:45 AM EST and Draghi Press Conference 8:30 AM. The ECB cut rates last month but the euro remains elevated. Draghi needs a weaker euro to stimulate the European sick man.  He likely needs to announce another LTRO program (Europe’s QE) so his press conference will be key. Chain Store Sales. Challenger Job-Cut Report. Jobless Claims. GDP. Factory Orders. Natty Gas Inventories. Fed’s Fisher speaks.

On Friday, 12/6/13, Personal Income and Outlays and Monthly Jobs Report. Consumer Sentiment 9:55 AM will create a market pivot point. Fed’s Plosser and Evans speak. Consumer Credit.

On Saturday, 12/7/13, ….

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On Sunday, 12/8/13, …

On Monday, 12/9/13, ….

On Tuesday, 12/10/13, NFIB Small Business Optimism Index.  JOLTS Job Openings Report. Wholesale Trade. 3-Year Note Auction.

On Wednesday, 12/11/13, Mortgage Applications. Oil Inventories. 10-Year Note Auction. Treasury Budget 2 PM.

On Thursday, 12/12/13, Jobless Claims. Retail Sales. Import and Export Prices. Business Inventories. Natty Gas Inventories. 30-Year Bond Auction.

On Friday, 12/13/13, PPI. Congress provides a detailed road map to handle the U.S. budget crisis moving forward.

On Saturday, 12/14/13, …

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On Sunday, 12/15/13, during Q4, European bank stress tests will begin and take one year to complete (there are likely 10% of the 128 banks undercapitalized with no clear way on how to recapitalize these troubled institutions). The one-year timeline is chosen to keep stretching things out in the hope that the European economy recovers before further bad news occurs. Also during Q4, Germany’s high court must decide if the ECB’s OMT program is constitutional and Europe must finalize all plans for the new banking union.

On Monday, 12/16/13, Empire State Mfg Index. TIC data. Industrial Production. 2-Year Note Auction.

On Tuesday, 12/17/13, FOMC 2-day meeting begins. Is QE taper talk on the table? CPI. Housing Market Index. 5-Year Note Auction. A full moon occurs. Markets are typically bullish moving through the full moon. Markets are typically bullish from a Tuesday low to a Wednesday high for OpEx week.

On Wednesday, 12/18/13, Mortgage Applications. Housing Starts. Oil Inventories. 7-Year Note Auction. FOMC Meeting Announcement and Forecasts 2 PM which will create a market pivot point. Chairman Bernanke Press Conference and Q&A from 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM will move markets.

On Thursday, 12/19/13, BOJ 2-day meeting begins. Jobless Claims. Philly Fed and Existing Home Sales 10 AM will create a market pivot point. Natty Gas Inventories. 5-Year TIPS Auction.

On Friday, 12/20/13, BOJ rate and policy decision. OpEx Quadruple Witching.  GDP. Atlanta Fed Business Inflation Expectations. Kansas City Fed Mfg Index.

On Saturday, 12/21/13, ….

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On Sunday, 12/22/13, ….

On Monday, 12/23/13, the initial sign-up period for Obamacare ends (extended from 12/15/13) for those beginning insurance on 1/1/14. The Whitehouse needs 7 million people (mainly healthy young people) to sign-up by March, otherwise, the program will start bleeding money and require a future bailout by the taxpayers. Personal Income and Outlays. Chicago Fed National Activity Index. Consumer Sentiment 9:55 AM will create a market pivot point.

On Tuesday, 12/24/13, Durable Goods Orders. FHFA House Price Index. New Home Sales. Richmond Fed Mfg Index. Markets Close Early for Christmas Eve.

On Wednesday, 12/25/13, Markets are Closed in Observance of Christmas holiday.

On Thursday, 12/26/13, Markets Reopen for Trading. Mortgage Applications. Jobless Claims. Oil Inventories.

On Friday, 12/27/13, Natty Gas Inventories.

On Saturday, 12/28/13, …..

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On Sunday, 12/29/13, …..

On Monday, 12/30/13, Pending Home Sales Index. Dallas Fed Mfg Survey. Farm Prices.

On Tuesday, 12/31/13, EOM. EOQ4. EOY2013. S&P Case-Shiller. Chicago PMI 9:45 AM will create a market pivot. Consumer Confidence 10 AM will create a market pivot point. Gold is down on the year for the first time this century.

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On Wednesday, 1/1/14, Markets are Closed in Observance of New Years holiday. A major Bradley turn date occurs where a major market directional move is expected in the 12/23/13 through 1/8/14 time frame. The Bradley turn does not predict direction, only that a strong move will occur one way of the other. Another Bradley turns in quick order so the beginning of the year may be a wild ride for the stock market. A new moon occurs. Markets are typically bearish moving through the new moon.

On Thursday, 1/2/14, Asia PMI’s. Europe PMI’s. Markets Reopen for Trading. Motor Vehicle Sales. Mortgage Applications. Jobless Claims. Natty Gas Inventories. Oil Inventories (one-day delayed).

On Friday, 1/3/14, …..

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On Thursday, 1/9/14, a Bradley turn date occurs where a market directional move is expected in the 1/2/14 through 1/16/14 time frame. The Bradley turn does not predict direction, only that a strong move will occur one way of the other.

On Wednesday, 1/15/14, a Continuing Resolution (CR) is needed to fund and keep the U.S. government open.

On Thursday, 1/16/14, a full moon occurs. Markets are typically bullish moving through the full moon.

On Wednesday, 1/29/14, Chairman Bernanke conducts his last official two-day meeting (1/28 and 1/29) as Chair of the FOMC.

On Friday, 1/31/14, Chairman Bernanke’s term ends at the Fed. New Chair Yellen takes over.

On Friday, 2/7/14, the Debt Ceiling Limit is hit where the U.S. may default on obligations. Treasury Secretary Lew will use extraordinary measures to extend this time forward so late February or early March is a likelier deadline. Winter Olympics begin in Sochi, Russia, through 2/23/14.

On Saturday, 3/15/13, the deadline for the Obamacare sign up period ends. The Whitehouse needs 7 million people (mainly healthy young people) to sign-up by today or the program will be bleeding money profusely and require a taxpayer bailout.

On Wednesday, 3/19/14, new Fed Chair Yellen talks at the conclusion of her first FOMC meeting (3/18 and 3/19).

In February/March, Fed Chair Yellen testifies before Congress.

In March, the ESM is officially “fully operational.” The Euro banking union is in place after delays from January 2013 to January 2014 and now to March 2014.

In April, MSFT no longer supports Windows XP.

In June, employer mandate provisions begin for Obamacare with many workers likely forced into part-time 30 hours per week or less employment.

On Tuesday, 11/4/14, mid-term elections. The 2-year presidential race for 2016 begins.

On Saturday, 11/15/14, the enrollment period for Obamacare in 2015 begins (pushed forward from 10/15/14 by the Whitehouse and democrats in November 2014; voters will not experience the sticker shock of higher insurance premiums, since too few healthy young people are signing up to support the program, until after the election).

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