Sequestration Showdown Looms Large

Hello traders everywhere! Jeremy Lutz here, with your mid-day market update for Thursday, the 28th of February.

Markets are ending the month of February in an upbeat fashion today, albeit subdued. The Dow Jones industrial average is within striking distance of its all-time record high, despite the prospect of sequestration.

Big-name companies reported higher quarterly earnings, along with some big-time misses today which is leading to a mixed market. We'll take a look at two of the big-time misses, Groupon Inc (GRPN) and JC Penney (JCP).

The government reported that the jobless claims are falling and that the economy is doing better than last year so far in the first quarter. However, Washington's budget battle has cast a shadow over the market, with spending cuts set to automatically kick in Friday and no sign that the two political parties might work out their differences beforehand.

Make sure you vote and leave a comment with your thoughts on our Poll today.

Let's take a look at what the Trade Triangles are telling us today.

Every Success,
Jeremy