Newsletter - March 2022
2022 Digital Futures Calendar & Reference Guide
  • First & Last Trading Dates
  • Expirations Dates
  • Rollover Dates
  • Contract Specifications
  • Trading Hours
  • Government Reports
  • Holidays
  • And More!
System of the Month: DT Rider M1C ES v2
Many traders choose to diversify their portfolios with algorithmic trading systems. The following system has been selected as the broker's choice for this month.
REQUIRED CAPITAL: $2,900*
PRODUCT: E-mini S&P future
SYSTEM TYPE: Intraday
COST: $145 / month
COMMISSION: $7.50 per side 
The performance shown above is hypothetical in that the chart represents returns in a model account. The model account rises or falls by the average single contract profit and loss achieved by clients trading actual money pursuant to the listed system’s trading signals on the appropriate dates (client fills), or if no actual client profit or loss available – by the hypothetical single contract profit and loss of trades generated by the system’s trading signals on that day in real time (real‐time) less slippage, or if no real time profit or loss available – by the hypothetical single contract profit and loss of trades generated by running the system logic backwards on backadjusted data.   
The Global Update Blog
The word on the street is that Russia’s potential invasion of Ukraine is imminent... The markets are attempting to “price-in” the consequences of a worst-case scenario. And perhaps the commodity segment slated for the biggest volatility...
 
How Traders Can Navigate Extreme Market Volatility
Today’s market is like a cauldron of blisteringly hot & toxic economic soup... Volatility presents both opportunity & risk... This blog is meant for traders looking to trade potentially volatile markets.
 
Applying the Pareto Principle (80/20 Rule) to Your Strategy
The Pareto Principle is all about “uneven distribution” of outcomes to causes... The standard theory is 81/20, but it's not always that clean. The point is that a small number of (actions) can significantly...
 
Upcoming Government Reports & Holidays
Mar 01
Mar 03
Mar 04
Mar 08
Mar 08
Mar 10
Mar 09
Mar 11
Mar 15
Mar 16
Mar 16
Mar 17
Mar 21
Mar 21
Mar 23
Mar 23
Mar 24
Mar 28
CONSTRUCTION SPENDING REPORT
MANUFACTURERS' SHIPMENTS, INVENTORIES & ORDERS - FULL REPORT
EMPLOYMENT SITUATION REPORT
US INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN GOODS & SERVICES REPORT
MONTHLY WHOLESALE TRADE: SALES & INVENTORIES
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX REPORT
BUSINESS FORMATION STATISTICS
QUARTERLY SERVICES SURVEY
PRODUCER PRICE INDEX REPORT
ADVANCE MONTHLY SALES FOR RETAIL & FOOD SERVICES REPORT
MANUFACTURING AND TRADE: INVENTORIES & SALES REPORT
NEW RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION REPORT
QUARTERLY FINANCIAL REPORT - MANUFACTURING, MINING...
QUARTERLY FINANCIAL REPORT - RETAIL TRADE
NEW RESIDENTIAL SALES REPORT
PRELIMINARY US IMPORTS FOR CONSUMPTION OF STEEL PRODUCTS
ADVANCE REPORT ON DURABLE GOODS - MANUFACTURERS' SHIPMENTS...
ADVANCE ECONOMIC INDICATORS REPORT
Key Events That Moved the Market in Feb. 2022
The following is a review of US and world events from the last month. Please be advised that this content is based upon the opinions and research of GFF Brokers and its staff and should not be treated as trade recommendations.

S&P 500 Index (SPX) - Daily Chart - Feb 1 - 28, 2021 (Source: Tradingview)

February 1
  • Much “green on the screen” on this first day of February.
  • The Dow jumped 273 points; the S&P gained over half a percent; the Nasdaq also gained over half a percent.
  • The ISM Manufacturing report showed that manufacturing activity slowed while prices peaked (not quite what bulls were expecting to see); the markets, however, shocked that off rather quickly.

February 2
  • It was a choppy session, with the majors wavering between gains and losses before ending the day near session highs.
  • The Dow is up 224, the S&P 0.94%, and the Nasdaq trailed the three with a strong 0.80% rise.
  • Around 10.9 million jobs opened in the US according to the JOLTS report, higher than economists expected.
  • Manufacturing PMI for January came in at 57.6, matching economist expectations. 

February 3
  • It was Facebook’s tremendous plunge that took much of the broader market with it as earnings season proves more treacherous than usual for investors.
  • The Dow finished down 518 points, the S&P slid 2.44%, while the Nasdaq took the brunt of the beating, down 4.22%.
  • Meanwhile the Bank of England lifted interest rates and the ECB indicated it might do so this year, joining the Fed in its concerted effort to restrain inflation.

February 4
  • A strong reading from the Jobs market and strong results from the Tech sector helped the stock market end the week with a tidy gain.
  • The Dow lost 21.42 while the S&P held steady at 0.52%; the Nasdaq was the big gainer, up 1.33%.
  • Employers added 467,000 new workers in January which was far better than expected, and payroll growth for the prior month was revised higher. Both underscored the notion of a sturdy jobs market.

February 7
  • It was a mixed day of trading as the S&P lost a mere 0.37%, the Nasdaq down 0.84%, and the Dow virtually unchanged.
  • Meta (Facebook) is now down 30% in three days coming off a disastrous earnings report.
  • Reopening plays, namely, industries coming off the Covid landscape, remain mixed.
  • Industrial sector plays are seeing declines as many companies are seeing raw materials and labor costs rise; a factor that doesn’t seem like its going away anytime soon.

February 8
  • Stocks ended the day higher across the board: the Dow gained 371.65 points, the S&P rose 0.84%, and the Nasdaq advanced 1.21%.
  • Financials and regional banks had a strong deay because the 10-year yields are starting to move up, approaching 2%.
  • Reopening stocks (airlines, cruise ships, and some hotels) are also starting to bounce back, many of the major companies in their respective industries had a good day.

February 9
  • The relief rally rolls on with the Dow up305.28, or 0.86%, the S&P +1.45%, and the Nasdaq +2.10%.
  • It’s remarkable how quickly the market tends to bounce back these days. Note that the S&P bottomed in January and is now just points away from historic highs.
  • Inflation woes appear to be fading as more companies note an easing in supply chain disruptions.
  • Key Fed officials are taking a softer tone toward rate hikes as a result of the report.

February 10
  • Wall Street saw a sea of red as rate hike concerns and resurging fears of inflation plagued the market.
  • The Dow took a 526-point dive, the S&P lost 1.81% and the Nasdaq fell 2.33%.
  • The big news is that St Louis Fed’s Jim Bullard said that he favors a full percentage point rate increase, stating that the Fed may be losing its credibility, and that the central bank has lost its control over the economy. 

February 11
  • Market action has kept investors on their toes, this time roiled by fresh geopolitical concerns that Russia may be launching an invasion of Ukraine.
  • President Biden is urging all Americans in Ukraine to leave immediately, as the Russians can attack at any time, even during the olympics.
  • The Dow fell another 503.53 points, the S&P was down 1.90%, and the Nasdaq took a harder fall, down 3%.
  • Today's headline adds just another factor to the “macro-uncertainty” of the global markets.

February 14
  • Stocks wobbled into the new week, mostly unsettled by the usual concerns around interest rates and the new prospect of military conflict in Ukraine.
  • The Dow ended the day lower by 172 points, the S&P stepped back 0.38%, while the Nasdaq advanced by a modest 0.10%.
  • Geopolitical tension in Eastern Europe helped push up oil prices and, overall, threatened growth prospects across the European continent,
  • Meanwhile, St Louis Fed’s James Bullard reiterated his stance on interest rates, pledging to do his best to persuade his central bank colleagues to raise interest rates by a full percentage point in March.

February 15
  • The broader market found some relief, rising for the first time in four sessions after reports of de-escalation in Ukraine brought down energy prices.
  • The Dow staged an impressive 422-point rally, the S&P, up 1.58%, and the Nasdaq advanced 2.47%.
  • The Russia-Ukraine standoff and March rate hikes remain dominant themes in the market.

February 16
  • Stocks continue to hold into their gains for the week as the market took in further evidence of a consumer comeback and clues about the Fed’s next moves.
  • The Dow is off just -54.57 -0.16%, the Nasdaq, down a mere 0.12%, while the S&P is barely up from being unchanged at +0.09%.
  • Retail sales in January were far stronger than expected despite the omicron surge and higher prices. This supports the view that the underlying economy has decent momentum.

February 17
  • Stocks gave up their two-day rally, shadowed by the standoff in Ukraine, rate hike anticipation, and disappointing results from fast-growing tech companies.
  • The S&P slid 2.23%, the Dow tanked to end the day down 622 points, and the Nasdaq lost nearly 3%.
  • Interestingly, oil slid 2% which goes against the grain of Ukraine tensions lifting oil prices on fears of supply disruptions, though hints of a possible easing of Iran sanctions might have come into play.
  • The net effect in all of this is a trading range, though one close to January lows than recent highs. 

February 18
  • The falling flight from momentum stocks in light of the unease in the Ukrainian standoff pressured the market to end the week in red.
  • The Dow is down -232 points; the S&P, -0.72%l the Nasdaq, -1.14%.
  • A barrage of disappointing earnings results in Tech continues, pressuring the Nasdaq, now down over 16% off its record high.
  • Investors are now focusing on the Russia-Ukraine situation, some anticipating a potential escalation as the Winter Olympics is set to end this weekend.

February 21
  • Presidents Day, markets are closed

February 22
  • Markets opened lower amid reversing much sharper declines due to Russia-Ukraine tensions.
  • The Dow lost 1.42%, S&P fell 1.01%, and the Nasdaq ended lower down almost a percent.
  • The Eastern European conflict also dragged the crypto markets lower, with Bitcoins sinking below $36,500, well below the $68,000 all-time high.

February 23 
  • Another day of choppy trading that ended the day sharply in the red.
  • The Dow ended the day down 464 points, the S&P slid 1.84%, and the Nasdaq fell 2.6%.
  • The fundamental picture is very confusing right now, especially as the Russia-Ukraine conflict unfolds.
  • Energy, metals, and mining are the only sectors/industries that are seeing a bright spot amid uncertainties due to inflation and geopolitical risk.
  • February 24
  • Another massive in the market which started with heavy selling on Wall Street as global markets reacted to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
  • The Dow saw a 1,000 point swing from high to low, ending the day up 92 points, the S&P gaining 1.5%, and the Nasdaq staging an impressive 3.44% bounce.

February 25
  • The market’s monster comeback rolled on, with the Dow staging an impressive gain of 834.92 points, the S&P advancing 2.24%, and the Nasdaq rallying 1.53%.
  • Developments out of Eastern Europe remain front and center, and to that, very fluid.
  • An announcement from Putin that he was willing to send a delegation to the negotiating table sent commodities on a reversal downward, particularly oil and gold.

February 28
  • The broader market fell in volatile trading as investors monitored developments in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, including a new batch of sanctions from the U.S. and its allies.
  • As Raymond James strategist Tavis McCourt noted, “War is fundamentally a ‘risk off’ environment for risky assets as global investors move into sovereign bonds and other ‘safe havens’ until some kind of conclusion/new normal becomes priced in. ... Everything about this is unprecedented, so about the only rational thing to say about equities is to expect volatility to continue pending a resolution.”
  • Currently, the Dow is down over 557 points, the S&P is in the red -1.40% and the Nasdaq is slid nearly a full percent as the markets continue to trade, just two hours from the close.
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*Details regarding DT Rider M1C ES v2: Please be aware that the suggested capital to trade this system is $15,000. Please speak to your broker for more information about this trading system. The returns for the systems listed are hypothetical in that they represent returns in a model account. The model account rises or falls by the average single contract profit and loss achieved by clients trading actual money pursuant to the listed system’s trading signals on the appropriate dates (client fills), or if no actual client profit or loss available – by the hypothetical single contract profit and loss of trades generated by the system’s trading signals on that day in real time (real‐time) less slippage, or if no real time profit or loss available – by the hypothetical single contract profit and loss of trades generated by running the system logic backwards on backadjusted data.
 
HYPOTHETICAL PERFORMANCE RESULTS HAVE MANY INHERENT LIMITATIONS, SOME OF WHICH ARE DESCRIBED BELOW. NO REPRESENTATION IS BEING MADE THAT ANY ACCOUNT WILL OR IS LIKELY TO ACHIEVE PROFITS OR LOSSES SIMILAR TO THOSE SHOWN. IN FACT, THERE ARE FREQUENTLY SHARP DIFFERENCES BETWEEN HYPOTHETICAL PERFORMANCE RESULTS AND THE ACTUAL RESULTS SUBSEQUENTLY ACHIEVED BY ANY PARTICULAR TRADING PROGRAM.
 
ONE OF THE LIMITATIONS OF HYPOTHETICAL PERFORMANCE RESULTS IS THAT THEY ARE GENERALLY PREPARED WITH THE BENEFIT OF HINDSIGHT. IN ADDITION, HYPOTHETICAL TRADING DOES NOT INVOLVE FINANCIAL RISK, AND NO HYPOTHETICAL TRADING RECORD CAN COMPLETELY ACCOUNT FOR THE IMPACT OF FINANCIAL RISK IN ACTUAL TRADING. FOR EXAMPLE, THE ABILITY TO WITHSTAND LOSSES OR TO ADHERE TO A PARTICULAR TRADING PROGRAM IN SPITE OF TRADING LOSSES ARE MATERIAL POINTS WHICH CAN ALSO ADVERSELY AFFECT ACTUAL TRADING RESULTS. THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER FACTORS RELATED TO THE MARKETS IN GENERAL OR TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ANY SPECIFIC TRADING PROGRAM WHICH CANNOT BE FULLY ACCOUNTED FOR IN THE PREPARATION OF HYPOTHETICAL PERFORMANCE RESULTS AND ALL OF WHICH CAN ADVERSELY AFFECT ACTUAL TRADING RESULTS.

There is a substantial risk of loss in trading futures, options and forex. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. Margins are subject to change at anytime without notice. All material herein was compiled from sources considered reliable. However, there is no expressed or implied warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of this material.