THURSDAY 4/2/15; KMX; International Trade; Fed Chair Yellen Speaks; Factory Orders; Pre-Holiday Trading; Iran Nuclear Agreement

Today is the last day of trading until next week for many global markets as the Easter holiday approaches quickly. Several Asian indexes will close after today until next Tuesday or Wednesday. Several European indexes will close after today until next Tuesday. US markets will close after today until Monday.

Asian indexes end the session on a positive note 




















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GOOGL prints a double-top on the daily chart in March. Despite MCD’s increase in wages, protests are occurring at stores from workers that continue to demand $15 per hour rather than a two-year move towards $10 per hour. A mass walkout of McDonald’s employees is planned by protestors for Wednesday, 4/15/15. MCD -0.5%.

The day ends with the SPX up 7 points, +0.4%, to 2067 remaining under both its 20-day and 50-day MA’s. The INDU is up 65 points, +0.4%, to 17763 under its 20-day and 50-day MA’s. The COMPQ is up 7 points, +0.1%, to 4887 between the 20-day MA and 50-day MA. The RUT is up 4 points, +0.3%, to 1256 above its 20-day and 50-day MA’s. The strong US dollar creates a preference to small cap domestic stocks instead of large multi-national stocks.

For the week, the S&P 500 is up +0.3%, ditto the Dow, the Nasdaq loses -0.1% and the Russell 2000 gains +1.2%. US markets are closed tomorrow and will have to wait until Monday to react to the Monthly Jobs Report released at 8:30 AM EST. The consensus estimates are 248K jobs and an unemployment rate remaining unchanged at 5.5%. The important wages component is expected to increase by +0.2% from last month’s +0.1% rise.