KEY EVENTS TO WATCH FOR:

Thursday, April 4, 2019 

7:30 AM ET. March Challenger Job-Cut Report

                       Job Cuts, M/M% (previous +45%)

8:30 AM ET.  U.S. Weekly Export Sales

                       Corn (Metric Tons) (previous 989.9K)

                       Soybeans (Metric Tons) (previous 198.9K)

                       Wheat (Metric Tons) (previous 511.1K)

8:30 AM ET. Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report - Initial Claims

                       Jobless Claims (expected 218K; previous 211K)

                       Jobless Claims, Net Chg (previous -5K)

                       Continuing Claims (previous 1756000)

                       Continuing Claims, Net Chg (previous +13K)

9:45 AM ET. Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index

10:30 AM ET. EIA Weekly Natural Gas Storage Report

                       Working Gas In Storage (Cbf) (previous 1107B)

                       Working Gas In Storage, Net Chg (Cbf) (previous -36B)

12:00 PM ET. IMF Fiscal Monitor analytical chapter presentation

4:30 PM ET. Federal Discount Window Borrowings

4:30 PM ET. Money Stock Measures

4:30 PM ET. Foreign Central Bank Holdings

Friday, April 5, 2019 

8:30 AM ET. March U.S. Employment Report

                       Non-Farm Payrolls (expected +175K; previous +20K)

                       Unemployment Rate (expected 3.8%; previous 3.8%)

                       Avg Hourly Earnings (USD) (previous 27.66)

                       Avg Hourly Earnings-Net Chg (USD) (previous +0.11)

                       Avg Hourly Earnings, M/M% (expected +0.3%; previous +0.4%)

                       Avg Hourly Earnings, Y/Y% (previous +3.4%)

                       Overall Workweek (previous 34.4)

                       Overall Workweek Net Chg (previous -0.1)

                       Government Payrolls (previous -5K)

                       Private Payroll (previous +25K)

                       Participation Rate (previous 63.2%)

                       Non-Farm Payrolls Bench Net Chg

3:00 PM ET. February Consumer Credit

                       Consumer Credit Net Chg (USD) (expected +17.75B; previous +17.05B)

Monday, April 8, 2019 

8:30 AM ET. G24 Committee of the Whole

10:00 AM ET. February Manufacturers' Shipments, Inventories & Orders (M3)

                       Total Orders, M/M% (previous +0.1%)

                       Orders, Ex-Defense, M/M% (previous +0.2%)

                       Orders, Ex-Transport, M/M% (previous -0.2%)

                       Durable Goods, M/M% (previous +0.4%)

                       Durable Goods, M/M% (previous +0.3%)

10:00 AM ET. March Employment Trends Index

                       ETI (previous 111.15)

                       ETI, Y/Y%

The STOCK INDEXES? http://quotes.ino.com/ex?changes/?c=indexes ""

The June NASDAQ 100 closes higher on Wednesday as it extends the rally off December's low.The mid-range close sets the stage for a steady to higher opening when Thursday's night session begins trading. Stochastics and the RSI are neutral to bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near-term. If June extends the rally off December's low, last-September high crossing at 7767.00 is the next upside target. Closes below the 20-day moving average crossing at 7346.00 would confirm that a short-term top has been posted. First resistance is today's high crossing at 7616.25. Second resistance is last-September's high crossing at 7767.00. First support is the 20-day moving average crossing at 7346.00. Second support is the 50-day moving average crossing at 7139.89.  

The June S&P 500 closed higher on Wednesday and spiked above the 87% retracement level of the September-December-decline crossing at 2879.73. The mid-range close sets the stage for a steady to higher opening when Thursday's night session begins trading. Stochastics and the RSI are overbought but remain neutral to bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near-term. If June extends the rally off December's low, last-September's high crossing at 2957.90 is the next upside target. Closes below the reaction low crossing at 2792.40 would confirm that a short-term top has been posted. First resistance is the 87% retracement level of the September-December-decline crossing at 2879.73. Second resistance is last-September's high crossing at 2957.90. First support is the 50-day moving low crossing at 2773.62. Second support is March's low crossing at 2728.00.  

The Dow closed higher on Wednesday as it extended the rally off March's low. The low-range close sets the stage for a steady to lower opening when Thursday's night session begins trading. Stochastics and the RSI are overbought but remain neutral to bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near-term. If the Dow resumes the rally off March's low, February's high crossing at 26,241.42 is the next upside target. Closes below the 50-day moving average crossing at 25,566.24 would confirm that a short-term top has been posted. First resistance is the 87% retracement level of the October-December-decline crossing at 26,282.97. Second resistance is the October 2018 high crossing at 26,951.81. First support is the 50-day moving average crossing at 25,566.24. Second support is March's low crossing at 25,208.00.

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June T-bonds closed down 28/32's at 147-14.

June T-bonds closed lower on Wednesday. The low-range close sets the stage for a steady to lower opening when Thursday's night session begins trading. Stochastics and the RSI are neutral to bearish signaling that sideways to lower prices are possible near-term. Closes below the 20-day moving average crossing at 147-13 would confirm that a short-term top has been posted. If June renews the rally off March's low, weekly resistance crossing at 152-01 is the next upside target.First resistance is March's high crossing at 150-21. Second resistance is weekly resistance crossing at 152-01. First support is the 20-day moving average crossing at 147-13. Second support is the 50-day moving average crossing at 146-03.         

June T-notes closed down 90-pts. at 123.155.

June T-notes closed lower on Wednesday as it extends the decline off March's high. The low-range close sets the stage for a steady to lower opening when Thursday's night session begins trading. Stochastics and the RSI are neutral to bearish signaling that sideways to lower prices are possible near-term. Closes below the 20-day moving average crossing at 123.138 would confirm that a short-term top has been posted. If June renews the rally off March's low. weekly resistance crossing at 125.265 is the next upside target. First resistance is March's high crossing at 124.310. Second resistance is weekly resistance crossing at 125.265. First support is the 20-day moving average crossing at 123.138. Second support is the 50-day moving average crossing at 122.220.        

ENERGY MARKETS? http://quotes.ino.com/ex?changes/?c=energy ""

May crude oil closed slightly lower on Wednesday as it consolidates some of the rally off December's low.The low-range close sets the stage for a steady to lower opening when Thursday's night session begins. Stochastics and the RSI are overbought but remain neutral to bullish signaling that sideways to higher. If May extends the rally off December's low, the 62% retracement level of the October-December-decline crossing at 63.39 is the next upside target. Closes below the 20-day moving average crossing at 59.31 are needed to confirm that a short-term top has been posted. First resistance is today's high crossing at 62.99. Second resistance is the 62% retracement level of the October-December-decline crossing at 63.39. First support is the 20-day moving average crossing at 59.31. Second support is the 50-day moving average crossing at 56.97.  

May heating oil closed slightly lower on Wednesday while extending the February-March trading range. The mid-range close sets the stage for a steady opening when Thursday's night trading session begins. Stochastics and the RSI are neutral to bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near-term. If May resumes the rally off December's low, the 62% retracement level of the October-December-decline crossing at 211.17 is the next upside target. Closes below the reaction low crossing at 193.69 would confirm that a short-term top has been posted. First resistance is the 50% retracement level of the October-December-decline crossing at 201.58. Second resistance is the 62% retracement level of the October-December-decline crossing at 211.17. First support is the reaction low crossing at 193.69. Second support is the reaction low crossing at 181.97.

May unleaded gas closed higher on Wednesday as it extends the rally off December's low. The high-range close sets the stage for a steady to higher opening when Thursday's night session begins trading. Stochastics and the RSI are overbought but remain neutral to bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near-term. If May extends the rally off December's low, the 62% retracement level of the October-December-decline crossing at 200.45 is the next upside target. Closes below last-Thursday's low crossing at 181.47 are needed to confirm that a short-term top has been posted. First resistance is today's high crossing at 195.27. Second resistance is the 62% retracement level of the October-December-decline crossing at 200.45. First support is last-Thursday's low crossing at 181.47. Second support is the 50-day moving average crossing at 176.09.

May Henry natural gas closed lower on Wednesday. The low-range close sets the stage for a steady to lower opening when Thursday's night session begins trading. Stochastics and the RSI are oversold but remain neutral to bearish signaling that sideways to lower prices are possible near-term. If May extends the decline off March's high, the reaction low crossing at 2.620 is the next downside target. Closes above the 20-day moving average crossing at 2.784 would confirm that a short-term low has been posted. First resistance is March's high crossing at 2.897. Second resistance is January's high crossing at 2.923. First support is last-Friday's low crossing at 2.656. Second support is the reaction low crossing at 2.620.       

CURRENCIES? http://quotes.ino.com/ex?changes/?c=currencies ""

The June Dollar closed lower on Wednesday due to profit taking as it consolidates some of the rally off March's low. The low-range close sets the stage for a steady to lower opening when Thursday's night session begins trading. Stochastics and the RSI are overbought but remain neutral to bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near-term. If June extends the rally off March's low, March's high crossing at 97.16 is the next upside target. Closes below the 50-day moving average crossing at 95.95 would temper the near-term friendly outlook.First resistance is March's high crossing at 97.16. Second resistance is weekly resistance crossing at 97.83. First support is March's low crossing at 95.17. Second support is the late-January low crossing at 94.38.

The June Euro closed higher on Wednesday as it consolidated some of the decline off March's high.The high-range close sets the stage for a steady to higher opening when Thursday's night session begins trading. Stochastics and the RSI are oversold but remain neutral to bearish signaling that sideways to lower prices are possible near-term. If June extends the decline off March's high, the January 2017 low crossing at 110.16 is the next downside target. Closes above the 50-day moving average crossing at 114.34 would temper the near-term bearish outlook. First resistance is March's high crossing at 115.33. Second resistance is the late-January high crossing at 116.46. First support is the 87% retracement level of the 2016-2018 rally crossing at 112.62. Second support is the January 2017 low crossing at 110.16.     

The June British Pound closed higher on Wednesday. The mid-range close sets the stage for a steady to higher opening when Thursday's night session begins trading. Stochastics and the RSI have turned neutral to bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near-term. Closes above last-Wednesday's high crossing at 1.3323 would confirm that a low has been posted. If June extends the decline off March's high, February's low crossing at 1.2854 is the next downside target. First resistance is March's high crossing at 1.3441. Second resistance is the 50% retracement level of the April-December-2018 decline crossing at 1.3603. First support is March's low crossing at 1.3026. Second support is February's low crossing at 1.2854.   

The June Swiss Franc closed slightly higher on Wednesday. The low-range close sets the stage for a steady to lower opening when Thursday's night session begins trading. Stochastics and the RSI are neutral to bearish signaling that sideways to lower prices are possible near-term. Closes below the 20-day moving average crossing at 1.0086 would confirm that a short-term top has been posted. If June renews the rally off March's low, the September-January downtrend line crossing near 1.0222 is the next upside target. First resistance is last-Wednesday's high crossing at 1.0190. Second resistance is the September-January downtrend line crossing near 1.0222. First support is March's low crossing at 0.9970. Second support is weekly support crossing at 0.9902.

The June Canadian Dollar closed slightly higher on Wednesday. The low-range close sets the stage for a steady to lower opening when Thursday's night session begins trading. Stochastics and the RSI are neutral to bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near-term. Closes above the 50-day moving average crossing at 75.46 are needed to confirm that a short-term low has been posted. If June renews the decline off February's high, December's low crossing at 74.48 is the next downside target. First resistance is the 50-day moving average crossing at 75.46. Second resistance is the reaction high crossing at 76.46. First support is March's low crossing at 74.43. Second support is December's low crossing at 73.47.  

The June Japanese Yen closed lower on Wednesday. Stochastics and the RSI are neutral to bearish signaling that sideways to lower prices are possible near-term. The low-range close sets the stage for a steady to lower opening when Thursday’s night session begins trading. If June extends the decline off March's low, the 87% retracement level of the November-January-rally crossing at 0.0900 is the next downside target. Closes above the 50-day moving average crossing at 0.0912 would temper the near-term bearish outlook. First resistance is March's high crossing at 0.0918. Second resistance is the reaction high crossing at 0.0922. First support is the 87% retracement level of the November-January-rally crossing at 0.0900. Second support is November's low crossing at 0.0893.  

PRECIOUS METALS? http://quotes.ino.com/ex?changes/?c=metals ""

April gold closed lower on Wednesday. The low-range close sets the stage for a steady to lower opening when Thursday's night session begins trading. Stochastics and the RSI are oversold but remain neutral to bearish signaling that sideways to lower prices are possible near-term. Closes below March's low crossing at 1280.80 are needed to renew the decline off February's high. If April renews the rally off March's low, February's high crossing at 1349.80 is a potential upside target. First resistance is March's high crossing at 1324.50. Second resistance is February's high crossing at 1349.80. First support is March's low crossing at 1280.80. Second support is the 50% retracement level of the August-February-rally crossing at 1273.20.

May silver closed slightly higher on Wednesday. The mid-range close set the stage for a steady opening when Thursday's night session begins trading. Stochastics and the RSI are neutral signaling that sideways to lower prices are possible near-term. If May extends the decline off February's high, the 75% retracement level of the November-February-rally crossing at 14.644 is the next downside target. Closes above the 20-day moving average crossing at 15.290 are needed to confirm that a low has been posted. First resistance is the 20-day moving average crossing at 15.290. Second resistance is the 50-day moving average crossing at 15.575. First support is the 62% retracement level of the November-February-rally crossing at 14.935. Second support is the 75% retracement level of the November-February-rally crossing at 14.644.          

May copper closed higher on Wednesday.The high-range close sets the stage for a steady to higher opening when Thursday's night session begins trading. Stochastics and the RSI are neutral to bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near-term. If May extends the rally off March's low, the 50% retracement level of the April-December-2018 decline crossing at 296.76 is the next upside target. Closes below the 50-day moving average crossing at 286.27 would confirm that a short-term top has been posted. First resistance the 50% retracement level of the April-December-2018 decline crossing at 296.76. Second resistance is the 62% retracement level of the April-December-2018 decline crossing at 306.69. First support is the 50-day moving average crossing at 286.27. Second support is the reaction low crossing at 275.95. 

GRAINS? http://quotes.ino.com/ex?changes/?c=grains "

May Corn closed up 1 1/2-cents at 3.63. 

May corn closed higher on Wednesday as it consolidates some of last-Friday's huge loss.Today's mid-range close sets the stage for a steady to higher opening when Thursday's night sessions begins trading. Stochastics and the RSI are turning neutral to bearish signaling that a short-term low might be in or is near. Closes above the 10-day moving average crossing at 3.70 are needed to confirm that a short-term low has been posted. If May resumes last-Friday's decline, psychological support crossing at 3.50 is the next downside target. First resistance is the 10-day moving average crossing at 3.70. Second resistance is March's high crossing at 3.80 3/4. First support is last-Friday's low crossing at 3.56. Second support is psychological support crossing at 3.50.   

May wheat closed up 7 1/4-cents at 4.71 1/4. 

May wheat closed higher on Wednesday. The high-range close sets the stage for a steady to higher opening when Thursday's night session begins trading. Stochastics and the RSI are turning neutral to bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near-term. If May resumes the rally off March's low, the 50-day moving average crossing at 4.84 1/4 is the next upside target. Closes below the 20-day moving average crossing at 4.57 3/4 would temper the near-term friendly outlook. First resistance is last-Tuesday's high crossing at 4.78. Second resistance is the 50-day moving average crossing at 4.84 1/4. First support is the 20-day moving average crossing at 4.57 3/4. Second support is March's low crossing at 4.27.     

May Kansas City Wheat closed up 3 1/2-cents at 4.36 3/4.

May Kansas City wheat closed higher on Wednesday. The high-range close sets the stage for a steady to higher opening when Thursday night session begins trading. Stochastics and the RSI are turning neutral to bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near-term. If May resumes the rally off March's low, the 50-day moving average crossing at 4.66 1/2 is the next upside target. If May renews the decline off December's high, weekly support crossing at 4.17 3/4 is the next downside target. First resistance is last-Tuesday's high crossing at 4.54. Second resistance is the 50-day moving average crossing at 4.66 1/2. First support is March's low crossing at 4.18 1/4. Second support is weekly support crossing at 4.17 3/4.  

May Minneapolis wheat closed down 7-cents at 5.34 3/4. 

May Minneapolis wheat closed sharply lower on Wednesday as it extends this year's decline. The low-range close sets the stage for a steady to lower opening when Thursday's night session begins trading. Stochastics and the RSI are oversold but remain neutral to bearish signaling that sideways to lower prices are possible near-term. If May extends the decline off March's high, weekly support crossing at 5.23 3/4 is the next downside target. Closes above the 50-day moving average crossing at 5.63 are needed to confirm that a low has been posted. First resistance is March's high crossing at 5.76 3/4. Second resistance is February's high crossing at 5.81 1/4. First support is today's low crossing at 5.32 1/4. Second support is weekly support crossing at 5.23 3/4.    

SOYBEAN COMPLEX? http://quotes.ino.com/ex?changes/?c=grains "

May soybeans closed down 1-cent at 8.99.

May soybeans closed lower on Wednesday. The mid-range close sets the stage for a steady opening when Thursday's night session begins trading. Stochastics and the RSI are neutral to bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near-term. Multiple closes above the 20-day moving average crossing at 8.99 1/4 are needed to confirm that a short-term low has been posted. If May renews the decline off February's high, the 75% retracement level of the 2018 rally crossing at 8.78 is the next downside target. First resistance is the reaction high crossing at 9.12. Second resistance is the 50-day moving average crossing at 9.14 1/4. First support is last-Friday's low crossing at 8.83. Second support is the 75% retracement level of the 2018 rally crossing at 8.78.

May soybean meal closed up $0.40 at 311.00. 

May soybean meal closed higher on Wednesday above the 50-day moving average crossing at 310.40 confirming that a short-term low has been posted. The high-range close sets the stage for a steady to higher opening when Thursday's night session begins trading. Stochastics and the RSI are neutral to bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near-term. If May extends the rally off last-week's low, March's high crossing at 316.50 is the next upside target. If May renews the decline off March's high, March's low crossing at 300.30 is the next downside target. First resistance is March's high crossing at 316.50. Second resistance is February's high crossing at 321.30. First support is last-Wednesday's low crossing at 303.60. Second support is March's low crossing at 300.30.   

May soybean oil closed down 16-pts. at 28.80. 

May soybean oil closed lower on Wednesday. The low-range close sets the stage for a steady to lower opening when Thursday's night session begins trading. Stochastics and the RSI are neutral to bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near-term. Closes above the 20-day moving average crossing at 29.16 are needed to confirm that a short-term low has been posted. If May renews the decline off February's high, the 87% retracement level of the November-February-rally crossing at 28.17 is the next downside target. First resistance is the 20-day moving average crossing at 29.16. Second resistance is the 50-day moving average crossing at 29.91. First support is last-Friday's low crossing at 28.34. Second support is the 87% retracement level of the November-February-rally crossing at 28.17.    

LIVESTOCKhttp://quotes.ino.com/exchanges/?c=livestock 

June hogs closed up $3.35 at $94.85. 

June hogs gapped up and closed sharply higher on Wednesday as it extends the rebound off Monday's low. The high-range close sets the stage for a steady to higher opening when Thursday's night session begins trading. Stochastics and the RSI have turned neutral to bullish with additional strength on Thursday. If June renews the rally off February's low, weekly resistance crossing at 98.17 is the next upside target. Closes below the 20-day moving average crossing at 88.07 would confirm that a short-term top has been posted. First resistance is March's high crossing at 97.82. Second resistance is weekly resistance crossing at 98.17. First support is the 20-day moving average crossing at 87.07. Second support is the 50-day moving average crossing at 80.86. 

April cattle closed down $0.50 at 125.78. 

April cattle closed lower on Wednesday. Stochastics and the RSI are oversold but remain neutral to bearish signaling that sideways to lower prices are possible near-term. If April extends the decline off March's high, January's low crossing at 123.50 is the next downside target. Closes above 50-day moving average crossing at 127.87 are needed to confirm that a short-term low has been posted. First resistance is the 50-day moving average crossing at 127.87. Second resistance is March's high crossing at 130.45. First support is the 25% retracement level of the 2018-2019-rally crossing at 125.45. Second support the 38% retracement level of the 2018-2019-rally crossing at 122.80. 

April Feeder cattle closed down $0.10 at $144.75. 

April Feeder cattle closed lower on Wednesday as it extends the decline off March's high. The high-range close sets the stage for a steady to higher opening when Thursday's session begins trading. Stochastics and the RSI are neutral to bearish signaling that sideways to lower prices are possible near-term. If April extends the decline off March's high, March's low crossing at 143.50 is the next downside target. Closes above Monday's high crossing at 147.20 would confirm that a low has been posted. First resistance is March's high crossing at 150.80. Second resistance is last-October's high crossing at 155.70. First support is March's low crossing at 143.50. Second support is January's low crossing at 142.62.  

FOOD & FIBERhttp://quotes.ino.com/ex changes/?c=food 

May coffee closed higher due to short covering on Wednesday as it consolidates some of this year's decline. The high-range close sets the stage for a steady to higher opening on Thursday. Stochastics and the RSI are oversold but are turning neutral to bullish hinting that a low might be in or is near. Closes above the 20-day moving average crossing at 9.54 are needed to confirm that a low has been posted. If May extends this winter's decline, weekly support crossing at 9.12 is the next downside target. 

May cocoa closed higher on Wednesday as it extends the rally off March's low. The high-range close sets the stage for a steady to higher opening on Thursday. Stochastics and the RSI are overbought but remain neutral to bullish signaling sideways to higher prices are possible near-term. If May extends the rally off March's low, December's high crossing at 24.64 is the next upside target. Closes below the 20-day moving average crossing at 22.29 would temper the near-term friendly outlook.          

May sugar closed lower on Wednesday as it extends this year's trading range. The low-range close set the stage for a steady to lower opening on Thursday. Stochastics and the RSI are neutral to bearish signaling that sideways to lower prices are possible near-term. May renews the decline off February's high, January's low crossing at 11.82 is the next downside target. If May resumes the rally off March's low, February's high crossing at 13.42 is the next upside target.  

May cotton closed lower on Wednesday. The low-range close sets the stage for a steady to lower opening on Thursday. Stochastics and the RSI are neutral to bearish signaling that sideways to lower prices are possible near-term. Closes below the 20-day moving average crossing at 75.90 would confirm that a short-term top has been posted. If May extends the rally off February's low, the 38% retracement level of the 2018-2019-decline crossing at 79.88 is the next upside target.