March 21, 2022

Markets:

Stock futures were mixed Monday morning to steady after last week's gains, while energy prices resumed a march higher.

Energy and commodity prices spiked amid the latest developments in Russia's war in Ukraine. As of Monday, Ukraine refused to surrender its heavily attacked port city of Mariupol to Russian forces, while the civilian death toll across Ukraine climbed.

At the start of a relatively quiet week for corporate earnings results and new economic data, traders continued to mull the market implications of the Federal Reserve's latest monetary policy decision against persistently elevated inflation and the ongoing war in Ukraine, which has exacerbated existing price pressures.

Chicago Fed National Activity Index shows modest deceleration in economic growth in Feb. The Chicago Federal Reserve's monthly National Activity Index fell slightly more than expected in February, reflecting a moderate deceleration in U.S. economic growth.

Portfolio:

We enter the new trading week holding positions EVH, YEXT, JEF, and itrm.  We had a very nice week last week but the real excitement comes for the period we are just entering.  Queue is igniting; be ready over the next several months to take advantage of this market.

We will be looking to add to our portfolio this week.  Please be on alert. Let's have a great trading session.