For the week, we took out a whopping 15 points in closed trades, giving us 45.55 in monthly totals and up 111.9 points

Remember… Each point = $1 in profits x the number of shares you would normally trade… So if you would have been trading in all the executed positions with us with an average of 1000 shares per trade you would have theoretically made $15,000 last week

Current Open Positions

Note… In some of these trades we may have already taken some profits or losses which are included in the points described above, therefore the following only reflect current full or partial open positions.

In Tuesday’s FOMC statement, the Fed acknowledged the slowly improving economic conditions while also cautioning that rising oil prices will feed higher inflation. There was no mention of anything resembling QE3, in either the statement or a subsequent speech by Chairman Bernanke. Fed Governor Lacker spoke later in the week, strongly suggesting that exceptionally low rates will not be required through 2014 while calling for tighter policy as early 2013.

For the week, we took out a whopping 21.4 points in closed trades, giving us 30.55 in monthly totals and up 96.9 points

Remember… Each point = $1 in profits x the number of shares you would normally trade… So if you would have been trading in all the executed positions with us with an average of 1000 shares per trade you would have theoretically made $21,400  last week

Current Open Positions

Note… In some of these trades we may have already taken some profits or losses which are included in the points described above, therefore the following only reflect current full or partial open positions.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average recorded its first double-digit daily drop of the year on Tuesday, followed by a bounce back beginning Wednesday. Key indices ended the week in or near the positive zone after dropping sharply Tuesday, as reassuring news on the Greek debt swap and US economy overrode worries about a slowdown in China.

Friday marked the three-year anniversary of the beginning of the bull market on March 9, 2009, following the sharp drop after the credit crisis of fall 2008. Three years ago, the Standard & Poor’s 500 Stock Index hit 676, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was at 6,547, and the NASDAQ Composite Index dipped to 1,268. On Friday morning, they were at 1,374, 12,962, and 2,989, respectively, all having doubled in three years.

For the week, we gave back 2.5 points in closed trades all in EWP reducing our monthly totals to 9.15 but we are still up 75.5 points

Remember… Each point = $1 in profits x the number of shares you would normally trade… So if you would have been trading in all the executed positions with us with an average of 1000 shares per trade you would have theoretically made $11,650  last week

Current Open Positions

Note… In some of these trades we may have already taken some profits or losses which are included in the points described above, therefore the following only reflect current full or partial open positions.

quantitative easing.

Democrats toyed with the idea of releasing oil from the SPR, while Republicans reiterated calls to drill, drill, drill. Back in reality, the geopolitical situation in the Middle East remains hot, and sketchy reports (later denied) of a pipeline explosion in Saudi Arabia propelled front-month WTI crude above the $110 handle. However crude futures closed out the week lower, down 2.8%, snapping a three-week winning streak. US economic data out this week were strong, with the second reading of the Q4 US GDP figures a bit stronger than expected at +3.0%. Regional manufacturing surveys also continued to be very robust.

For the week, the S&P 500 gained 0.3%, the NASDAQ rose 0.4%, and the DJIA dropped less than 0.1%, closing out the week below 13,000.

We took out only 11.65 points in closed trades to start the month moving us to 81.7 for the year.

Remember… Each point = $1 in profits x the number of shares you would normally trade… So if you would have been trading in all the executed positions with us with an average of 1000 shares per trade you would have theoretically made $11,650  last week

Current Open Positions

Note… In some of these trades we may have already taken some profits or losses which are included in the points described above, therefore the following only reflect current full or partial open positions.

One concern of investors is the potential impact that rising gasoline prices will have on consumer confidence and spending. The price of gasoline in the United States averaged $3.65 in the week ended February 18, up $0.40 from a year earlier. The price of a barrel of crude oil rose to $108 per barrel, up about $4 this week in response to growing tensions surrounding Iran, its nuclear capability and a potential Iranian oil embargo. The price of a barrel of Brent crude rose above $123. Corporate earnings reports showed a wide range of results, holding markets back from any strong move in either direction. However, several blue-chip firms posted large losses. The Dow Jones Industrial Average flirted with the 13,000 mark, and other major US indices were at or near four-year highs.

For the week we took out only 3.7  points in closed trades, moving us to 35.5 for the month and 70.05 for the year.

Remember… Each point = $1 in profits x the number of shares you would normally trade… So if you would have been trading in all the executed positions with us with an average of 1000 shares per lot you would have theoretically made $3,700 last week

Current Open Positions

Note… In some of these trades we may have already taken some profits or losses which are included in the points described above, therefore the following only reflect current full or partial open positions.