EB Watch List Update Report

Dear Members: Market Update: The avoidance of another government shutdown seems to appeal to traders today with all of the major indexes higher. We've been in this territory recently, twice before when the S&P tried to clear its 200 day moving average. Both of those times saw a failed attempt with traders locking in profits and thwarting the bulls' efforts to take the market higher. They do say that the third time is a charm; will that be the case today? Maybe. But unless the bulls are able to close above the 200 day, currently at 2743, the bears will declare it is something that will have to wait for down the road. The VIX continues to show trader confidence has grown but we also saw on the recent pullback how quickly it can rise on any bit of selling; maybe conviction on the buy side is not quite as strong as it might appear to be. Any way you cut it the market has been contained for a while now, well below last September's high when the S&P touched 2940. And if you look back a bit further you will see that the S&P is right where it was in March, 2018. But the bulls have been on a mission since the late December bottom with any pullbacks being short-lived. So maybe today will "be the day" the bulls clear that 200 day. But until it actually happens stocks could continue to trade in a range. Companies reporting earnings today (February 12) Before Market Opens: HUN, JLL, MLM, TAP.A, SHOP, UAA, USFD and WELL After Market Closes ATVI, AKAM, AIZ, JCOM, OXY, TRIP, TWLO and UIS Companies reporting earnings tomorrow (February 13) Before Market Opens: GOLD, DISH, FLIR, HEINY, HLT, TEVA and WH After Market Closes: AIG, CSCO, FRT, FORR, H, MFC, MRO, MGM, NTAP, SLF and WMB ADDITIONS TO WATCH LIST Tough to get overly excited with the S&P pressing right up against key resistance so will continue to be very selective on any trade alerts. BRIEF COMMENTS ON WATCH LIST STOCKS SHORTS: None LONGS: Large Cap Watch List None Mid Cap Watch List None Small Cap Watch List None Deletions from Watch List None At your service, John Hopkins EarningsBeats