Thursday Options Recap

Frederic Ruffy submits: SentimentStocks battled back from early weakness and are trading mixed late Thursday. Economic data was in focus early after the Labor Department reported that its Producer Price Index [PPI] rose a greater-than-expected .7 percent in March. Economists were expecting the gauge of inflation at the wholesale level to rise .2 percent. The spike in the PPI seemed to overshadow a report that showed jobless claims falling by 24,000 to 456,000 last week.

Frederic Ruffy submits: SentimentMajor averages have given up early gains and are trading lower late-Monday. The tone of morning trading was positive despite mixed economic news. A report released before the opening bell showed personal incomes falling .1 percent and spending up .2 percent in September. Economists were looking for increases of .2 percent and .4 percent, respectively.

Frederic Ruffy submits: SentimentStocks are trading mixed following a busy day of economic news Friday. Data released early showed a surprise jump in retail sales, which increased by .6 percent in September, according to the Commerce Department. Economists were looking for an increase of .4 percent. Separate data showed the NY Empire State Index moving up to 15.73 in October, and also better than the 5.75 reading economists had expected.

Frederic Ruffy submits: SentimentStocks are broadly higher for a second day. The table was set for morning gains on Wall Street after Europe’s equity markets rallied for a second consecutive session. Spain’s IBEX once again led the advance with a gain of 2.8 percent. Meanwhile, the euro steadied and, in the US, attention turned to a round of mostly upbeat same store sales numbers from retailers released Thursday morning.

Frederic Ruffy submits: SentimentThe stock market averages slipped on disappointing jobless claims early, but the selling never gathered momentum and the bullish underlying tone resumed on Wall Street Thursday. The table was set for losses at the open after the Labor Department reported weekly jobless claims rose by 24K in the latest period, which was more than the 20K drop economists had predicted. Separate data showed industrial production up a meager 0.1 percent last month.

Frederic Ruffy submits: SentimentMajor averages slipped on disappointing economic news and are trading lower late Thursday. Data released before the bell showed weekly jobless claims increasing by 13,000 in the period ended October 9. Economists were expecting an increase of just 1,000. Two separate reports showed the PPI up a hotter-than-expected .4 percent (vs. .2 percent consensus) and the trade deficit widening to $46.5 billion (vs. $44.5 billion consensus).

Frederic Ruffy submits: SentimentThe Quadruple Witch Expiration failed to stir any fireworks Friday, as a disappointing reading on consumer sentiment was offset by positive news from the technology sector. Today's economic news included a hotter-than-expected CPI print (.4 percent vs. .3 percent consensus) and a weaker than expected University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index, which fell to 66.6 in September and below expectations of 70.0.

Frederic Ruffy submits: SentimentStocks opened higher and are holding gains late Thursday on better-than-expected weekly jobless claims numbers. After a 275-point rally Wednesday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average extended the advance early after the Labor Department reported a 21,000 drop in jobless claims, which was better than the 15,000 drop that economists had predicted.