Opening Comment 8/20/2008 08:26:09 AM The markets are trying hard to work their way higher on the better than expected earnings report from Hewlett Packard. Crude oil is up again this morning and should bring some more downside pressure on the equities. There will be a report on the weekly crude oil supply this morning at 9:35 CDT. That should set the stage for the market direction for the rest of the week. Crude oil should continue to move higher unless that market makes its way back below the 11375 level. S&P’s will need to trade above the 127300 level in order to set off some short covering and the NASDAQ futures will have to trade above the 192775 level in order to attract some buyer to that market.

What we do

MF Global Market Monitor is a browser-based information center developed especially for active equity futures and stock market traders alike. Specializing in stock index futures, MF Global Market Monitor supplies clients with updated market information throughout the regular trading hours for the major equity indices, which run parallel to the actual stock market. These indices include the S&P 500, Nasdaq 100, Dow and Russell 2000.

37 years of trading experience

Market information, commentary and technical data are brought to you straight from the trading floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME), where MF Global Market Monitor analyst and 37-year trading floor veteran, Harry Michas (IHAR) is positioned just inches away from all the action in the benchmark S&P 500 trading pit.

Anticipate through Technical Analysis

MF Global Market Monitor will update commentary on the S&P and NASDAQ futures markets throughout the trading day as warranted by market activity. Each morning MF Global Market Monitor prepares a forecast for the day's activity complete with areas of support and resistance. Our job is to anticipate changes in the market through the technical analysis techniques learned by Harry over his many years of trading experience. We'll keep you abreast of daily reports and their anticipated effect on the market.

How stock traders can benefit with MF Global Market Monitor

Institutions use leverage

Large institutions often initiate a large purchase or basket of stocks by buying the futures first. They do this to utilize the huge leverage in futures. Once they purchase the futures, they proceed to buy the stocks while at the same time gradually getting out of the futures. By doing this, they're able to get in at a better price than they would have had they bought the stocks straight out.

Anticipate the S&P and NASDAQ markets

Every time MF Global Market Monitor talks with stock traders, they tell us how they always keep an S&P chart and a NASDAQ chart on their screen in order to help them make their daily decisions while trading stocks. In that case, wouldn't it be helpful to be able to tell which direction the futures are headed and where support and resistance is? MF Global Market Monitor's eyes and ears on the trading floor can help give you that DECISIVE EDGE!!

Initiate a short position without waiting for an uptick

Joining MF Global Market Monitor will help you to become more comfortable with the futures markets. It will help you to take advantage of the huge leverage you can command with relatively small amounts of capital. Wouldn't it be great to be able to take advantage of a potential downturn in the market? Instead of waiting for an uptick as you would have to if you were trading stock, futures contracts like the S&P 500, NASDAQ or the E-Mini allow you to get short by simply entering a sell order from your ECN (Electronic Communication Network) without having to wait for an uptick. By using futures contracts you are able to hedge your portfolio for short periods of time, overnight or longer if you wish.

Be receptive to different avenues

The more knowledge you command the better prepared you are to take on the next trading opportunity whether it's in the futures market or the stock market. The more avenues that are open to you, the more versatility you have to survive in the more complex markets we're going to be part of in the years to come.

Be a Better Trader

You'll be able to e-mail your trading questions to Harry directly. Finally, because we know that no one has a monopoly on good ideas, we will search the World Wide Web and create links to other high-quality sites that we believe can help you become a better, more decisive trader.