Morningstar has a very nice primer on your 2017 taxes – not the most exciting read, but it will help you plan your year:
- Morningstar – What’s on Deck for Your 2017 Taxes
Remember: it’s not what you make, but what you get to keep!
So here are this week’s numbers – Equity Markets continue their relentless climb:
The following table is based on the Z Option Market Analysis Tool – which determines if a market is trending by assigning a trending score from -3 to +3. This helps us keep our trading with the trend.
| Symbol | Description | Short Term Trend | Medium Term Trend |
| $DJI | Dow Jones Industrial Average | 3 | 3 |
| SPX | S&P 500 INDEX | 3 | 3 |
| RUT | RUSSELL 2000 INDEX | 3 | 3 |
| NDX | NASDAQ-100 INDEX INDEX | 3 | 3 |
| VIX | CBOE MARKET VOLATILITY INDEX | -3 | -3 |
| /ZB[H7] | 30-Year U.S. Treasury Bond Futures,ETH | 2 | -1 |
| /ZN[H7] | 10-Year U.S. Treasury Note Futures,ETH | 2 | -1 |
| /GC[G7] | Gold Futures, ETH | 2 | -1 |
| /CL[G7] | Light Sweet Crude Oil Futures,ETH | 3 | 3 |
| /DX[H7] | US Dollar Index Futures | -2 | 1 |
| $DJT | Dow Jones Transportation Average | 3 | 3 |
| XLK | SELECT SECTOR SPDR TRUST TECHNOLOGY SELECT INDEX | 3 | 3 |
| XLI | SELECT SECTOR SPDR TRUST INDUSTRIAL SELECT INDEX | 3 | 3 |
| XLY | SELECT SECTOR SPDR TRUST CONSUMER DIS SELECT INDEX | 2 | 3 |
| XLB | SELECT SECTOR SPDR TRUST MATERIALS SELECT SEC INDEX | 3 | 3 |
| XLE | SELECT SECTOR SPDR TRUST ENERGY SELECT INDEX | 3 | 3 |
| XLP | SELECT SECTOR SPDR TRUST CONSUMER STAPLES INDEX | 3 | -1 |
| XLV | SELECT SECTOR SPDR TRUST HEALTH CARE SELECT INDEX | 3 | 2 |
| XLU | SELECT SECTOR SPDR TRUST UTILITIES SELECT INDEX | 3 | 3 |
| XLF | SELECT SECTOR SPDR TRUST FINANCIAL SELECT SECTOR FUND | 3 | 3 |
Any market showing a 3 or a -3 is trending strongly – and should be factored into any options strategy you are contemplating.
If you have equity holdings – in just about anything, it is working right now. I am looking at hedging my portfolio for the first time in years. Given the low volatility – insurance is cheap in the form of a few long term put contracts – will keep you posted.
Extra – If you have ever had a sick pet – I recommend you read the following (a lot I did not know):
- Bloomberg – When Big Business Happens to Your Pet
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