My Swing Trading Approach

I’ll be looking to add 1-2 new long positions, should the bullish sentiment hold strong today. 

Indicators

VIX – Huge pop to close out 2017. Up 8.5% to 11.04. Highest close since 12/5/17. 

T2108 (% of stocks trading below their 40-day moving average): Hard end of day sell-off of 5.2% down to 61%. No major damage to the chart. 

Moving averages (SPX): Broke through the 5 and 10-day moving averages at the close of trading. Also a 5/10 crossover, which tends to trend bearish, short-term, but it wasn’t a definitive crossover. 

RELATED: Patterns to Profits: An Intro Trading Course

Industries to Watch Today

Consumer Defensive remained strong, Utilities showing a little bit of life here, following a big sell-off. Energy, Industrials and Basic Materials hovering at its highs still. Technology looks like it wants to roll over here. 

My Market Sentiment

First couple of trading days of the year tend to be bullish, and futures are currently green. The key will be whether the bulls can sustain the momentum throughout the day and not give up the gains as we have seen of late. 

S&P 500 Technical Analysis

Current Stock Trading Portfolio Balance

• 5 long positions

Recent Stock Trade Notables:

• Square (SQ): Long at $41.28, sold at 42.29 for a 2.2% profit.
• Twitter (TWTR): Long at 20.34, sold at 22.06 for an 8.5% profit.
• Micron (MU): Long at 45.61, sold at 47.91 for a 5.1% profit. 
• TNA: Long at $61.00, sold at $64.08 for a 5.1% profit.
• Micron (MU) Long at $43.20, sold at $44.78 for a 3.7% profit. 
• Alibaba (BABA): Long at $186.42, sold at 179.29 for a 3.8% loss. 
• Paypal (PYPL): Long at $74.18, sold at $73.29 for a 1.2% loss.
• Square (SQ): Long at $36.00, sold at $37.35 for a 3.8% profit. 
• Adobe (ADBE) : Long at $175.20, sold at $179.62 for a 2.5% profit. 
• Alibaba (BABA): Long at $187.00, sold at 181.77 for a 2.8% loss. 
• Paypal (PYPL): Long at $71.94, sold at $72.98 for a 1.5% profit. 
• Lam Research (LRCX): Long at 210.41, sold at $205.20 for a 2.4% loss. 
• Baidu (BIDU): Long at $242.80; sold at 248.29 for a 1% profit.
• Nvida (NVDA): Long at $195.17, sold at $204.88 for a 5% profit.
• Humana (HUM): Long at $248.73, sold at $261.20 for a 5% profit.
• Square (SQ): Long at $32.92, sold at $34.36 for a 4.4% profit. 
• Nvida (NVDA): Long at $198.17, sold at $194.06 for a 2% loss. 
• Lennar Homes (LEN): Long at $56.63, sold at $58.10 for a 2.6% profit. 
• Lam Research (LRCX): Long at $185.23, sold at $192.24 for a 3.8% profit.
• Starbucks (SBUX): Long at $55.59, sold at $54.94 for a 1.1% loss. 
• Illinois Tool Works (ITW): Long at $148.63, sold at $151.23 for a 1.8% profit.
• Nvdia (NVDA): Long at $180.18, sold at $187.38 for a 4% profit. 
• Olin Corp (OLN): Long at $34.37, sold at $36.14 for a 5.2% profit.
• Lowe’s (LOW): Long at $77.97, sold at $81.52 for a 4.6% profit
• IBB: Long at $330.91, sold at $338.25 for a 2.2% profit. 
• Seagate Technologies (STX): Long at $34.35, sold at $33.89 for a 1.3% loss. 
• Wynn Resorts (WYNN): Long at $149.65, sold at $147.14 for a 1.7% loss. 
• Imax Corp (IMAX): Long at $23.03, sold at 22.26 for a 3.3% loss. 
• Marriott International (MAR): Long at $106.26, sold at $108.26 for a 1.9% profit. 
• Alibaba Group (BABA): Long at $170.63, sold at $170.29 for a 5.0% profit. 
• Workday (WDAY): Long at $106.91, sold at $104.90 for a 1.8% loss. 
• Nvdia (NVDA): Long at $170.45, sold at $187.94 for a 10.3% profit. 

See my entire swing-trading past performance here.