Pre-Market Update: Trading was extremely tight on Monday, with Wall Street still waiting for a major breakout or breakdown to occur. Although the bulls and bears offered no clues, the small-caps and the VIX traded higher after holding support and resistance, respectively.

Pre-Market Update: The bulls got their best shot at testing and possibly breaking out to fresh all-time highs last week, but the bears had other plans. The Nasdaq was within 1% of its lifetime high going into heavy-weight Apple’s earning’s announcement. The results failed to impress Wall Street, despite the company forecasting a strong holiday season for its products.

Pre-Market Update: The market pulled back on Thursday during another choppy session and a continued tight trading range. Although the bulls held support for the most part, the small-caps’ fall back below the 1,200 level was another bearish development.

Pre-Market Update: Although the bulls held support and the blue-chips finished the session higher on Wednesday, the lower lows for the week are a cause for concern. Additional weakness and a move below last week’s lows could lead to some end-of-month drama and provide more momentum for the bears.

Pre-Market Update: I know I have sounded like a broken record all month by continually hinting that the market could possibly return to all-time highs. Well, the bulls were almost there, and they were looking for Apple (AAPL) to help take them back to the promised land. However, a disappointing report has caused another “skip” in the record, and that has Wall Street preparing for another pullback.

Pre-Market Update: Tech came through in a big way on Monday, as the Nasdaq cleared major resistance. Merger and acquisition news stole the headlines, but the bigger development was the bulls’ ability to clear upper resistance across the board. Volatility continued to fall, but it is holding lower support ahead of a busy week for earnings.

Pre-Market Update: The bulls snapped a two-week losing streak as the market made slight gains last week. However, the technical picture has weakened, with the bears growling and a number of high-profile earnings due out this week. Volatility has been creeping lower, but it could come back into play in a big way if corporate earnings come in with sketchy results or if outlooks are lowered.

Pre-Market Update:The bears made an appearance on Thursday, but they did little to disrupt my thesis of staying long. Volatility continued to fade, although it could get going again if October options expiration comes into play today. In recent months, the action has been less volatile on expiration days, and a VIX close below 13.50 would be a very bullish sign ahead of the weekend.

Pre-Market Update:The market trudged higher on Wednesday to push near-term resistance levels once again. Continued strength appears to be in the cards, but October options expiration is this Friday, so how we finish the week will be the more important part of the overall picture.

Pre-Market Update:The bulls recovered the losses from earlier in the week and pushed upper resistance on Tuesday following an all-day romp in positive territory. However, the failure to clear resistance remains a concern, and the bears are still holding the VIX above 15.

Pre-Market Update:The bulls held court for much of Monday’s session, while the bears pushed near-term support. Although the action was frustrating to follow, there were some bullish clues that suggest higher highs should be in play into the end of the month.

Pre-Market Update:The bulls got off to a good start last week, but trading was choppy heading into the mid-week Fed minutes. Although the market closed with mixed results on the news, Thursday’s pullback was another reminder of how close the bears are to making this a nasty October. However, Friday’s rebound is keeping the bulls in the game, and earnings season will start to pick up steam in the coming weeks.

Pre-Market Update: The bears are on track to score their second-straight weekly win this afternoon, as the bulls need to make up losses of 1%-2% across the board. While that is certainly possible, I’m more worried about the market’s down-trending resistance level ahead of the weekend.

Pre-Market Update: The market was skittish on Wednesday, but stocks managed to hold onto their gains following the release of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) minutes. Unfortunately, there were no major hints in the Fed update that a rate hike would come in November or December, as the zombies tiptoed through another meeting while leaving Wall Street and investors guessing.

Pre-Market Update: The bears pushed monthly lows during Tuesday’s session, and the bulls struggled into the closing bell. Continued weakness today could get the September lows in play, but these levels will need to hold in order to avoid a possible selloff.

Pre-Market Update: The bulls followed the game plan we drew in the sand ahead of Monday’s open, as the Dow halted its Monday losing streak at three. The major indices held most of their gains into the close, and volatility settled down despite the pop at the opening bell.

Pre-Market Update: The bears got their first weekly sweep in three weeks last Friday, as the major indices closed slightly lower. The damage was minimal, however, and the bulls held near-term support on the pullback, while volatility stayed relatively low.

Pre-Market Update: The market could be on the verge of establishing a short-term trend, either bullish or bearish, as a result of this morning’s jobs report and the start of third-quarter earnings season next week. The recent action is suggesting that higher highs could come into play, but the market can turn on a dime, as we have seen throughout the year.

Pre-Market Update: The bulls battled back on Wednesday to regain their momentum, as they spent the day in positive territory. While the bears took the day off, they haven’t gone away, and they still hold the weekly lead.

Pre-Market Update: The bears got their second-straight win on Tuesday, and the market’s lower levels of support have now come back into play. If the bulls can’t rebound today, this week’s listless trading could last into next week, and there could be a continued pullback into the start of third-quarter earnings season.

Pre-Market Update: The bears won their third-straight Monday session yesterday, although the bulls were able to hold during the pullback to support. The action was bearish throughout the session, but the bullish close offered some hope that higher highs could be made this week.

Pre-Market Update: The bulls and bears survived a volatile September, and both sides seem to be feeling good about the action. Friday’s rebound gave the bulls the weekly win, and momentum is on their side heading into this week as well. The bears will be looking for some October magic, but, while this month has been known for some massive selloffs, it has been historically bullish.

Pre-Market Update: The bears slowed the bulls’ momentum on Thursday, as crude oil, the financial stocks and the small-caps led the way lower. I mentioned that the final trading day of September can be bearish, so the bulls desperately need to hold near-term support today. If not, next week could get rocky.

Pre-Market Update: Trading was choppy on Wednesday, but the market gained strength after a spike in the price of crude oil. News that major oil-producing nations had reached a deal to reduce production drove black gold higher and lifted the major indices. Additionally, the U.S. Senate cleared a bill to fund the government through the first week of December in order to avoid another possible shutdown.

Pre-Market Update: The market held its gains on Tuesday, and the bulls recovered a significant portion of Monday’s losses. The monthly win is still up for grabs, however, and the bears are holding the lead with just three trading sessions left for September.

Pre-Market Update: The bears got their second-straight Monday win on the Dow yesterday, making it two in a row following the pullback to support. Volatility ticked higher, although the bulls held resistance ahead of last night’s presidential debate. Both candidates will say they stole the spotlight, but Wall Street could care less, as money managers are just waiting for the next major market move.

Pre-Market Update: The bulls were on a four-session roll, but they were sidelined by the bears during Friday’s market pullback. The bulls easily won the week and are trying to show monthly gains, as tech and the small-caps continue to work towards fresh 52-week and all-time highs. However, the bears are still holding the blue-chips and the broader market hostage heading into the final week of September.

Pre-Market Update: The bulls continued their run to prior resistance yesterday, with tech and the small-caps making new 52-week highs. Both indices outperformed the broader market as volatility fell below another key level of support.

Pre-Market Update: The market was flat ahead of the Fed’s decision on interest rates yesterday, but it rallied into the close after rates were left unchanged. Although the zombies gave no plausible excuse to raise rates, they did say in their meeting minutes that the case to raise rates had strengthened, and Wall Street is now looking for a possible hike in November or December.

Pre-Market Update: While the gains were minimal, the bulls got the win on Tuesday, although the small-caps slacked for much of the session. The bears held resistance, but they are looking to do some damage today regardless of what the Fed decides to do about interest rates this afternoon.

Pre-Market Update: The bulls showed strength throughout the first half of Monday’s session before the mid-day fade that extended into the closing bell. The bears did a little damage, but they were unable to contain the small-caps, which held positive territory throughout the entire trading day.

Pre-Market Update: The bears took advantage of the quadruple-witching Friday last week, which is when index futures, stock index options, stock options and single stock futures expire on the same day. While these are normally bullish days, the selling pressure during the opening weakness carried over into the closing bell to keep the bulls at bay. However, despite the whipsaw action, the bulls got the weekly win.

Pre-Market Update: The most hated rally in history marches on, as the bulls’ rebound efforts continued on Thursday. The bears were crying for a lot of fouls and, while they tried to hack away at the gains at the open, they eventually got blown out for the session. Like any five-game series, today’s action will determine this week’s winner, but the bulls have slightly more momentum heading into this morning’s open.

Pre-Market Update: The bulls tried to hold down the fort on Wednesday following Tuesday’s bearish backtest, but they had trouble on some fronts, and the indices closed the session mixed. It remains to be seen if the back-and-forth action will continue or if one index will start to show more strength than the others. The bears haven’t gone anywhere, but they might be getting tired from the massive price swings we have witnessed this week.

Pre-Market Update: The market moved more than 1% for the third-straight session on Tuesday and gave back all of Monday’s gains. Although the zombies are officially in a “quiet period” ahead of next week’s upcoming Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting, the slick-talking pros continue to chime in on interest rates and overall market conditions. The wacky action will likely continue throughout the week and into next, and the bulls need to hold Monday’s lows today or face further downside pressure.

Pre-Market Update: I often say that one day doesn’t make or break a trend, especially when one side battles back the following session. The bulls did exactly that during Monday’s rebound following another bearish attack at the open. The lack of follow-through by the bears and the recovery of prior support levels from last Friday’s pullback were bullish signs. Another pullback would likely lead to continued elevated volatility, but today’s action should provide better clues as to how the rest of the week will play out.

Pre-Market Update: I often say that the longer the trading range goes on, the bigger the breakout or breakdown will be. Following a tight trading range that lasted throughout the summer, the bears sent a chilling reminder to the bulls on Friday that they should not get too comfortable. The incredible run by tech, the small-caps and the overall market off of the late-June lows was begging for a pullback, and the one we saw on Friday caught Wall Street off guard.

Pre-Market Update: The bears spent Thursday roaming around Wall Street, while the bulls took a breather. The damage was minimal, but volatility picked up a notch, and today’s action will likely decide who gets the weekly win.

Pre-Market Update: The market was weak for much of Wednesday’s session, but it rebounded during the second half of trading to end mixed. The small-caps showed strength, while tech also closed in positive territory to offset the pullback in the other major indices.