Interest Rates take center stage.

With the FOMC meeting concluding today interest rates take center stage today.  It is reasonable to expect light volume and choppy price action until the statement is released.  Normally after the statement, the market will react with very fast violent price action.  Whipsaws are very common and wild price action may remain all the way through the Yellen press conference.  Currently, all the overall market is bullish, and I would expect that remain so, but anything is possible after the FOMC.  It would be wise to look over your positions making sure you have a plan.  To simply rely on luck and good fortune is not good business.

On the Calendar

Today is a heavy news day on the Economic Calendar.  Beginning at 10:00 AM Eastern we get a reading on Existing Home Sales.  Forecasters see some improvement rising slightly to 5.480 million despite the Hurricane Harvey.  At 10:30 AM we get the EAI Petroleum Status report which has seen a decline in supplies helping to lift the oil industry slightly.  Let’s hope that trend continues to support these beleaguered stocks.  After that it all about the FOMC and Janet Yellen.  At 2:00 PM is the FOMC Announcement as well as the FOMC Forecasts followed by the Fed Chairs Press Conference at 2:30 PM.

On the Earnings Calendar, there are only 14 companies expected to report today.  Let’s hope all report better than companies that reported yesterday.

Action Plan

The DIA which is now up eight days in a row again set a new record closing high.  The QQQ’s and the SPY were both unable to break out a remained choppy as we were expecting due to the FOMC meeting.  The IWM also closed at exactly the same price as the day before but still trying to test the-the July highs.  Overall the indexes remain in a bullish trend thus I will continue to look for long trades taking advantage of the rising tide.

Futures are pointing to flat open this morning, and I would not be surprised to see light volume chop right up until the FOMC announcement.  Anything is possible after the statement is released and the market reacts.  Expect fast whipsaws and violent price action to occur.  I doubt very much I will add any new risk until I see how the market is responding to the FOMC news.  Please remember anything is possible and all traders should have a plan to protect profits and capital.

Trade Wisely,

Doug