Monday Options Recap

Frederic Ruffy submits: SentimentStocks opened higher and are holding gains late-Monday on a relatively slow news day. The focus early was on a round of corporate deal-making.

Frederic Ruffy submits: Stocks are broadly higher late Monday. With no economic data or earnings to guide the morning action, the early focus was on the financials after regulators met over the weekend in Basel, Switzerland, to discuss capital ratios. Officials decided banks should increase capital over the next eight years or so and that was not as strict as some market watchers had feared. Consequently, a relief rally lifted the banks.

Frederic Ruffy submits: SentimentMarket action is very slow Monday. With no economic data to drive the morning trading, the focus was back on merger and acquisition activity. Unilever (UL) made a bid for Albert Culver (ACV) and Wal-mart (WMT) struck a deal to buy South Africa’s Massmart.

Frederic Ruffy submits: SentimentStock market averages are solidly higher on the first day of trading in 2011. The earnings calendar is light this week and economic news will probably be the primary driver of market action. Today’s data showed the ISM manufacturing index up for a 17th straight month, to 57 in December. Economists were looking for an increase to 57.3.

Frederic Ruffy submits: SentimentStocks are broadly higher after upbeat earnings from Dow component Alcoa (AA) sparked optimism about the corporate profit-reporting season. Late Monday, Alcoa posted results that beat Street estimates and also raised its forecast for aluminum demand. Beyond that, the news remains light.

Frederic Ruffy submits: SentimentStocks are rallying following a day of gains in Europe and a round of mixed economic news Thursday. Stock benchmarks across Europe were led higher by a 2 percent gain in France’s CAC 40 Index on diminishing worries about the European Debt Crisis. The euro also rallied, gaining .0101 to 1.2081 against the buck.

Frederic Ruffy submits: SentimentThe major averages are holding modest gains, but trading remains cautious following disappointing economic data and ahead of this week’s busy earnings calendar. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell into the red in morning trading after the latest NAHB Index of Homebuilders Confidence showed a drop to 14 in June, and 15-month lows. Economists were looking for the index to hold steady at 16.

Frederic Ruffy submits: SentimentStocks are broadly higher on relative slow news Wednesday. With steady trading in overseas markets, some of the focus in the US shifted back to economic news early after the Commerce Department reported that the Trade Balance increased by 2.5% to $40.42 billion in March, up from a revised $39.43 billion the month before. February was originally reported at $39.7 billion. Higher crude prices pushed oil imports to 17-month highs in March.