Friday, January 14, 2011

Market Weaker After Tightening by the Bank of China

No major surprises in US News this morning, and so far no major market reaction:
December Retail Sales ex-auto +0.5% vs +0.6%
December Core CPI M/M +0.1% vs +0.1%
December Retail Sales +0.6% vs +0.7%
December CPI MoM +0.5% vs. +0.4%

Peoples Bank of China raised reserve requirements by another 50 basis points sending Asian and European markets lower. US markets also are down in overnight trading.

I was hoping for a gap up this morning which would have made for an attractive shorting opportunity. There is a good chance we get gap fill (from 1/11) today. That would bring the ES down below 1270. First we'll need to trade through minor support at 1274.

Key levels to watch today on the ES:
Resistance above at 1279-1280, 1284, 1290
Support below at 1274, 1269-1270, 1265

I am a buyer (intra-day) between 1265-1269 ES
I am a seller at 1279-1280