Ahead of the open, (03-02)

Post Wednesday’s close, noted the very broad based rally that touched even the 'safety' sectors.  The consensus view into the overnight markets was for a follow through day based on the PMI's and Financial leadership (Wednesday) touched on here.  This stretched out to chartists due to RUT, SMH outperformance 2:1 vs. DJIA, SPX , to fresh high's and overall volume pick up indicating accumulation.  The runway was clear for an upwards move.  Yes, these indicators (above) are the usual suspects we’d usually like to see and/or usually see create a breakout (eventually to SPX 1350’s this time, if it occurs).  But, as pointed out since 1333 SPX was hit last Thursday morning and yesterday, the market is in a range tug of war and churning away.  (Do note 1333 trend-line has inched down to 1327’ish), so a take -off seemed imminent, but instead the market decided to take another pause.(ES volume was well below average).   Still, sometimes too much digestion /consolidation leads to fatigue setting in after an elongated range trade.  We could be coming up to that with Friday’s NFP# serving as a catalyst, although it’s not a critical number.  Also, despite evidence of fresh money coming into market yesterday at the beginning of the new month as discussed, it is not necessarily an indication this is the same money that will chase another potential leg up, but instead one that just wants be in the game and live with the little risk in the market.  This type of money also prefers to buy the dips to add.  Considering no market day has had more than a half percent SP downside since December, it’s been a pretty safe environment in 2011, so why not be invested is what that money was likely thinking.  Also, as discussed in early January, it’s best to be invested or miss any good day now as most of market day gains are from morning ‘gap ups’ with little action afterwards like yesterday showed again.   Although, belief is we will break out eventually, it would be healthy if it was later after a correction and not just a shallow pullback (~1.5%) like we’ve seen to the 20ma/1300SPX. 

A few things have played out since 1333 was hit a week ago and the noted top chance:

• Jan24: “..pullbacks will be shallow and will be bought..” (we hit 1300/20MA),..Jan 26, “…SP 1315 close becomes support”..(mkt never closed 1-2pt lower…”closing at ~1315 level negating any real technical damage”..Jan31);. Into Jan 30, “pullback depends if 1306 is defended”..(it’s bounced a few times off this level this week).  These market actions just confirm the markets resilience and presence of dip buyers, also we’ve added 8-9 stocks off earnings to trade off during this range as was the idea until the broad market settles itself…”In this environment, it is probably best to lessen exposure if holding all month and concentrate on single stocks coming out with earnings going forward.”. Jan25.

So while the broad market deliberates, we comprise a list of stocks to trade based on individual earnings in the 1st Q .  We can trade the names now and with confidence further into the year and not worry if the broad market breaks out or not here.  Names accumulated this Q off earnings are mostly previous inclusions; (IACI AZPN  FTNT  LQDT  MKSI  FIRE PMTC  URI  LULU etc.),  while other names just confirmed they should remain on the list for yet another year, if this Q’s # is any indication, ie: (WYNN  LVS  PII  FFIV  FOSL  UA  CRM  VMI MA OTEX  DDD etc.).

As said recently, ‘all good’ seems to be priced in from recent eco’ data exuberance to what was a mediocre earnings season at best to a Eurozone coming out of the hospital.  Another way to look at it is it will be hard for economic data points to surprise  as the bar has been set high, earning trends are known from this Q and we’re a Q away from next and there is more chance of a surprise Eurozone bomb then more morphine to be given out. (We’ll cover the morphine angle with another round of LTRO end of February and ECB’s Super Mario conference next week at a later time).  

If evidence intraday of a 1330+ close post NFP#(150-160k private), we’d add some exposure into weekekend, (*upside surprise could be faded), otherwise keep the top idea in play by concentrating on single stocks coming out of earnings. 

• N, TRMB, SIMO, THO are some to watch early following earnings.  N,SIMO are familiar here, others like TRMB, THO are to spread a trading list into more cyclical plays this year.