Greetings,
Last Modification
Looking Back …
he week of February 2–6, 2026 delivered a choppy, news‑driven market defined by shifting rate expectations and uneven earnings. Stocks opened the week with a defensive tone as investors digested mixed tech results and another round of cautious guidance from companies exposed to global demand. Mid‑week, Treasury yields eased after softer‑than‑expected labor and manufacturing data, giving the major indexes a brief lift, but the rally faded as Fed officials reiterated that rate cuts would come slowly and only with clearer disinflation. Energy and materials outperformed on firmer commodity prices, while high‑multiple tech names saw renewed pressure. By Friday, traders were positioning lightly ahead of the next CPI print, leaving the market range‑bound and indecisive, with sentiment leaning cautious rather than fearful.
In a Tweet
Markets drifted sideways in the week of Feb 2–6, 2026: yields eased, commodities firmed, tech wobbled, and traders stayed cautious ahead of the next inflation read.
The Plan
Weekend Observations
Weekend Observations
The weekend of February 7–8, 2026 set up a cautious tone for the coming trading week as markets digested a mix of macro signals and geopolitical undercurrents. Investors spent the weekend focused on the upcoming CPI release, with expectations shifting toward a slightly softer print after recent cooling in labor and manufacturing data. Commodity markets stayed firm, especially energy and industrial metals, reinforcing the rotation into cyclicals that began last week. Overseas, political tensions and uneven economic data out of Europe and Asia added a layer of uncertainty, while several high‑profile earnings warnings circulated through financial media, keeping sentiment restrained. With rate‑cut timing still unclear and volatility creeping higher, traders head into Monday positioned lightly and watching inflation, yields, and corporate guidance for the next directional cue.
In a Tweet
Weekend setup for Feb 7–8 in one tight hit: traders eyed the coming CPI, commodities stayed firm, global data wobbled, and a few earnings warnings kept sentiment cautious—setting up a light‑positioned, headline‑sensitive market for the week ahead.
Monday
02/09/2026
- Indices mixed • Energy mixed • Metals mixed • VIX up • BTC down
- Basic Materials • Healthcare up
- Grocery Stores • Broadcasting • Advertising • Silver up
- Heat Map Fall
- $KR $APP $HOOD $LLY $NEXN $GMGI $UOKA $TLF $NEXN up
- $MU $BDX $WAT $COIN $HIMS $PGY $MASS $MNDY down
- Crypto: down
- NAAIM Exposure Index: 84.93
- Fear & Greed Index: 44 Fear
- Earnings AMC: $PFG $CINF $ON $AMKR $SVM $PSEC more
- Earnings Tue BMO: $KO $AZN $BP $CVS $DUK $OSCR $DDOG more
- 0:50 am Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic speaks
- 1:30 pm Fed governor Christopher Waller speaks
- 2:30 pm Fed governor Stephen Miran speaks
- 5:00 pm Fed governor Stephen Miran podcast interview
- Truth Social @WhiteHouse: Securing Election Integrity
The market opens today, February 9, 2026, with a cautious but opportunity‑rich tone after last week’s choppy action and a weekend dominated by CPI speculation. Futures are likely to stay tight as traders wait for tomorrow’s inflation data, which has become the week’s gravitational center. Expect early hesitation, a midday drift, and sharper moves only when yields start to tip one way or the other.
New Week, new opportunities … have a great day …
Make it Happen!
Tuesday
02/10/2026
- Indices up • Energy mixed • Metals mixed • VIX up • BTC down
- Utilities • Technology • Consumer Cyclical up
- Financial Conglomerates • Advertising Agencies • Utilities up
- Heat Map: Early Fall
- $VST $APP $DD $CEG $CRDO $ICHR $ESOA $ABP $JZXN up
- $BDX $ON $CVS $UPWK $TECX $4NCI $UOKA down
- Crypto: mixed
- Fear & Greed: 49 neutral
- Earnings AMC: $GILD $HOOD $WELL $NET $F $ALAB $UPST more
- Earnings Wed BMO: $MCD $TMUS $SHOP $VRT $U $TSEM more
- 6:00 am NFIB optimism index Jan. 99.5 99.5
- 8:30 am Employment cost index Q4 0.8% 0.8%
- 8:30 am Import price index (delayed report) Dec. -0.1% NA
- 8:30 am Import price index minus fuel Dec. — NA
- 8:30 am U.S. retail sales (delayed report) Dec. 0.5% 0.6%
- 8:30 am Retail sales minus autos Dec. 0.3% 0.5%
- 10:00 am Business inventories (delayed report) Nov. 0.2% 0.3%
- 12:00 pm Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack speaks
- 1:00 pm Dallas Fed President Lorie Logan speaks
- Truth Social @WhiteHouse: “Be the first to know.” WhiteHouse.gov/join
The market tone for 01/10/2026 leans constructive, with U.S. equities still riding the broad‑based momentum that defined early January—improving market breadth, strong participation from small‑ and mid‑caps, and supportive macro conditions such as easing inflation pressures and steady labor markets. Expect a session defined by dip‑buying interest on early weakness and rotation into economically sensitive sectors rather than narrow mega‑cap leadership. The cleanest trade is to stay with strength and avoid chasing extended breakouts unless breadth remains firm through the first hour.
Where Alarm Ends and Calm Begins – I learned long ago that the first thing you master isn’t the chart — it’s yourself. And the quieter you are inside, the clearer the trade becomes.
Have a great day …
Make it Happen
Wednesday
02/11/2026
- Indices up • Energy up • Metals up • VIX down • BTC down
- Basic Materials • Energy • Industrials • Utilities up
- Electrical Equipment & Parts • Silver • Precious Metals & Mining up
- Heat Map: Fall
- $GNRC $AKAM $ALB $NEM $STIM $AEHR $RENX $ELAB up
- $MRNA $HOOD $FUM $COIN RPD $UPB $ANGI $MAT $U down
- Crypto: down
- Fear & Greed Index: 46 neutral
- Earnings AMC: $CSCO $APP $EQIX $MSI $QS ALB $GRAB more
- Earnings Thu BMO: $BUD $HWM $AEP $NBIS $ALNY $BTDR more
- 8:30 am U.S. employment report Jan. 55,000 50,000
- 8:30 am U.S. unemployment rate Jan. 4.4% 4.4%
- 8:30 am U.S. hourly wages Jan. 0.3% 0.3%
- 8:30 am Hourly wages year over year 3.7% 3.8%
- 10:10 am Kansas City Fed President Jeff Schmid speaks
- 2:00 pm Monthly U.S. federal budget
- Truth Social @WhiteHouse: 47 on Kudlow – Interview Summary
Markets look constructive today. Breadth is widening, financial conditions remain steady, and earnings strength supports risk appetite. With inflation easing and the Fed in wait‑and‑see mode, intraday swings are possible, but the overall backdrop still favors equities.
Have a good day …
Make it Happen!
Thursday
02/12/2026
- 8:30 am Initial jobless claims Feb. 7 222,000 231,000
- 10:00 am Existing home sales Jan. 4.15 million 4.35 million
- 7:05 pm Fed governor Stephen Miran speaks
Friday
02/13/2026
- 8:30 am Consumer price index Jan. 0.3% 0.3%
- 8:30 am CPI year over year 2.5% 2.7%
- 8:30 am Core CPI Jan. 0.3% 0.2%
- 8:30 am Core CPI year over year 2.5% 2.6%
Around the Bend…
- MONDAY, FEB. 16
- None scheduled, President’s Day
- TUESDAY, FEB. 17
- 8:30 am Empire State manufacturing survey Feb. 7.7
- WEDNESDAY, FEB. 18
- 8:30 am Housing starts (delayed report) Nov. 1.25 million
- 8:30 am Building permits Nov. 1.45 million
- 8:30 am Housing starts (delayed report) Dec. NA
- 8:30 am Building permits Dec. NA
- 8:30 am Durable-goods orders (delayed report) Dec. 5.3%
- 8:30 am Durable-goods minus transportation Dec. 0.5%
- 8:30 am Advanced U.S. trade balance in goods Dec. NA
- 8:30 am Advanced retail inventories Dec. NA
- 8:30 am Advanced wholesale inventories Dec. 0.2%
- 2:00 pm Minutes of Fed’s January FOMC meeting
- THURSDAY, FEB. 19
- 8:30 am Initial jobless claims Feb. 14
- 8:30 am U.S. trade deficit Dec. -$56.8B
- 8:30 am Philadelphia Fed manufacturing survey Feb. 12.6
- 9:am am Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari speaks
- 10:00 am Pending home sales Jan. -9.3%
- FRIDAY, FEB. 20
- 8:30 am GDP Q4 4.4%
- 8:30 am Personal income Dec. 0.3%
- 8:30 am Personal spending Dec. 0.5%
- 8:30 am PCE index Dec. 0.2%
- 8:30 am PCE (year-over-year) 2.8%
- 8:30 am Core PCE index Dec. 0.2%
- 8:30 am Core PCE (year-over-year) 2.8%
- 9:45 am S&P flash U.S. services PMI Feb. 52.7
- 9:45 am S&P flash U.S. manufacturing PMI Feb. 52.4
- 10:00 am New home sales (delayed report) Nov. 737,000
- 10:00 am New home sales (delayed report) Dec. NA
- 10:00 am Consumer sentiment (prelim) Feb. 57.3
The Scan
Links
5:30 AM – Coffee and The Scan. The links below fuel my morning notes, which are made pertaining to indicators, news, noise, and reading traders’ morning thoughts, which pave the way for markets opening.
Options Calculator
EDGAR System
The proverb “Don’t Put All Your Eggs in One Basket” means don’t risk everything on a single plan or idea. It advises diversifying resources to minimize potential loss. The saying alludes to gathering all the eggs from your hens into one basket so that if you should drop the basket, you lose all your eggs. Sorry, but I disagree … read on
The concerns which fail are those which have scattered their capital, which means that they have scattered their brains also. They have investments in this, or that, or the other, here, there and everywhere. “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket” is all wrong. I tell you “put all your eggs in one basket, and then watch that basket.” Look round you and take notice; men who do that do not often fail. It is easy to watch and carry the one basket. It is trying to carry too many baskets that breaks most eggs in this country. He who carries three baskets must put one on his head, which is apt to tumble and trip him up. One fault of the American business man is lack of concentration. June 23, 1885 Andrew Carnegie
I believe that moving the closest to perfecting a profitable trading process requires a persistent focus on fine-tuning a programmatically consistent approach of relentless action.