A weekly record of market conditions, key levels, sector performance, and trade activity — updated every Friday.
Key benchmark levels and weekly performance for the primary indices. Fill in current prices each Friday.
| Index / Instrument | Weekly High | Weekly Low | Close (Fri) | Weekly Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S&P 500 (SPX) | 5,240 | 5,118 | 5,135 | −1.8% |
| Nasdaq 100 (QQQ) | 18,200 | 17,810 | 17,890 | −2.1% |
| Dow Jones (DJIA) | 39,200 | 38,600 | 38,750 | −1.1% |
| Russell 2000 (RUT) | 2,050 | 1,990 | 2,005 | −1.5% |
| VIX (Volatility) | 18.5 | 14.2 | 18.3 | +4.2 pts (elevated) |
| 10-Yr Treasury Yield | 4.62% | 4.48% | 4.58% | +6 bps |
Weekly percentage change by sector ETF. Use XLE, XLK, XLV, XLF, XLY, XLP, XLRE, XLC, XLU.
A record of options positions opened, adjusted, or closed during the week. Update each Friday.
| Date | Instrument | Strategy | Strike(s) | Expiration | Premium | Status / P&L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 7 | SPX | Short Put Vertical | 5,100 / 5,050 | Apr 11 | $2.40 credit | +$1,840 (expired worthless) |
| Apr 8 | QQQ | Long Call | 18,000 | Apr 18 | $3.20 debit | −$1,240 (closed @ $1.98) |
| Apr 9 | AAPL | Covered Call | 185 | Apr 18 | $1.85 credit | +$185 (open, pending expiry) |
| Apr 10 | SPX | Iron Condor | 5,150/5,200 — 4,950/4,900 | Apr 18 | $1.60 credit | Open (managing) |
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Notes on market conditions, setups observed, lessons learned, and anything notable from the week.
VIX climbed from 14 to 18 this week as bond yields pressed higher, weighing on growth stocks. SPX held the 5,100 support area but failed to reclaim the 5,200 resistance on three attempts. The tape showed distributive characteristics mid-week — every rally was met with increased volume — suggesting institutional sellers into strength.
QQQ call bought on Apr 8 underperformed despite QQQ holding relatively well — textbook example of IV crush ahead of next week's earnings season. The iron condor on SPX is positioned to profit if price remains range-bound; will adjust if SPX breaks below 5,050.
The covered call on AAPL is appropriate given the position is held long-term. The QQQ call was the wrong instrument — buying short-dated calls in a name with an upcoming catalyst (earnings) requires either avoiding the trade or selling the call to offset IV crush. Paper trading this setup for 2 weeks before committing real capital would have clarified the risk.
Key data: CPI (Wednesday), Retail Sales (Thursday), Q1 earnings season begins with major banks. Watch 5,100 SPX as critical support — a close below that level may trigger accelerated selling. VIX above 20 suggests considering wider iron condor strikes or reducing short premium exposure.
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