Trading Plan for October 13, 2010

Current Long Positions (stop-losses in parentheses): TICC (9.62), BRKR (14.45), CVX (82.45), ITW (47.40), SSO (40.07), QQQQ (48.99), URS (37.82), TIE (19.52), BEAV (30.90), PAG (12.86), DTV (41.09)

Current Short Positions (stop-losses in parentheses): None

BIAS: 91% Long

Economic Reports Due Out (Times are EST): MBA Purchase Applications (7am), Import and Export Prices (8:30am), Treasury Budget (2pm)

My Observations and What to Expect:

• Futures are trading moderately higher today. 
• Another encouraging intraday recovery for the bulls yesterday, which continues to provide further legitimacy to this market rally. 
• Both Asian and European markets are up strong. 
• Intel (INTC) and CSX Corp (CSX) reported solid earnings after the bell that was well-received by the street. Should help provide support to the markets today. 
• On an intraday basis, the market continues to bounce off of 1156 level, causing a lot of headaches for bears. 
• The potential exists for a gap above the last remaining resistance level on the S&P before challenging the April highs. Such a gap could be enough of a catalyst to see a multi-day rally. 
• Fed news of late, tends to take a 2-3 days for the market to digest. 
• No major/significant economic news due out today. 
• JPMorgan (JPM), Charles Schwab (SCHW) scheduled to report earnings before the market open. 
• Bears should aim to break through 1156 level on the S&P and then 1150 thereafter. 

Actions I Will Be Taking:

• Stopped out of URS yesterday for a small loss. 
• Considering taking profits in CVX after the company announced lower guidance for their earnings report due on 10/29. At the least, I’ll be tightening the stop-loss. 
• Don’t plan on adding new positions to the portfolio today.
• All stop-losses remain the same from yesterday.
• I am not at all hedged in my portfolio right now.