Mark Casa

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Mark Casa is founder and chief investment officer of Casa Asset Management in Greenwich, Conn. The firm manages multi-asset portfolios for high-net-worth individuals and institutional investors. Prior to founding Casa Asset, he was partner and chief investment officer of PRS International, a multi-billion-dollar investment-management firm in Miami.Expand

Casa has more than 20 years of experience structuring, managing and trading investment accounts using both fundamental and technical analysis. He has a bachelor's degree and an MBA from the University of Chicago.Collapse

By

Mark Casa

 | May 16, 2012 | 3:00 PM EDT

It would be prudent to utilize the expected bounce to lighten up on shares and establish hedges.

By

Mark Casa

 | May 14, 2012 | 10:30 AM EDT

But the U.S. markets cannot escape the gravitational pull of an imploding financial sector in Europe.

By

Mark Casa

 | May 11, 2012 | 12:15 PM EDT

What the market might be saying is "Hey- Options Expiration Friday." IWM May 11 straddles struck at 79 are 49 cents-off 50%. Both SPY 136 and 137 straddles that expire today are also getting crushed (even 135's are off 10 cents). QQQ May 11 65 straddles are getting crushed, and the 64's are also off a few pennies.

Food for thought, and Happy Mother's Day to all moms out there!

By

Mark Casa

 | May 11, 2012 | 9:13 AM EDT

Once again the risk to the US equity market is mostly psychological. It appears that JPM can allow many of its positions to simply run off, a task that will be made much easier by either an improving economy or additional quantitative easing, one of which is a high probability outcome. As they shrink their investment book, how the CIO modeled correlation and which assets and hedges are liquidated will certainly have a transitory effect on market prices.

The impact to JPM is more one of restating income- especially future income derived from prop (excuse me- hedging) trading. If one NPVs $1bn a year in perpetuity (lost net income from the unit adjusted for other cash uses), the current mark-down in share prices is rational- perhaps even overdone- at$37.20.

With the weekend at hand and Greece in search of a new government, concerns overseas will likely continue to dominate trading. However, as equity values come in, US treasury yields decline, making equities model even more cheaply. Joel Greenblatt mentioned yesterday that by his calculations, US equities were in the 92% of cheapness. This translates into expected returns near 20%- but does not rule out additional declines based on macro factors. For investors willing/able to hold stock for 2 to 3 years, any further declines should be seen as an opportunity.

I continue to look for lower stock prices over the near term, but another rally to begin in the summer from index levels 5-7% below current ones.

By

Mark Casa

 | May 10, 2012 | 3:55 PM EDT

Alan-

It sure does feel like last May in the Dow, when the index shed 1,000 points in less than 7 weeks peak to trough. So after six days and 450 points on a closing basis, we get a 20 point bounce? (maybe)

By

Mark Casa

 | May 10, 2012 | 2:52 PM EDT

This is a recording. And a great time to be short May vol, as 1358 continues to act like a magnet in June S&P 500 futures. Can we close above? Inquiring minds want to know- as do eager bulls looking for technical confirmation.

By

Mark Casa

 | May 10, 2012 | 9:00 AM EDT

That is the question.

By

Mark Casa

 | May 9, 2012 | 1:53 PM EDT

Sometimes price action appears almost too scripted to believe, but here we are right back at 1358 in S&P 500 futures. Futures have now begun to build value under 1350, but each day this week has rejected the level by the time Europeans head to the pubs/cafes/bars. I continue to nibble on the breaks and distribute into the rallies, but am keeping position sizes small. Back in the eurostoxx banks futures at 83.80, very close to current levels, and have begun to build a long in siemens (SI) and FEZ. Looks like we will finish higher on the day- finally....

By

Mark Casa

 | May 9, 2012 | 10:30 AM EDT

Uncertainty on the Continent opens investment possibilities on both the long and short sides for U.S. investors.

By

Mark Casa

 | May 8, 2012 | 3:54 PM EDT

As usual, we will likely close right ON THE NUMBER, sending bulls and bears home more confused than ever. Bulls will claim victory- bears will point out a lower close. If we do close higher, the bulls will be entitled to a victory lap for sure.

ECB Sinks Stocks Again

By

David Peltier

 | May 16, 2012 | 4:04 PM EDT

U.S. stocks again gave up early gains and finished Wednesday lower. And Europe was the culprit, as the European Central Bank (ECB) is reportedly...

Credit markets ugly

By

Tom Graff

 | May 16, 2012 | 2:58 PM EDT

Stocks are hovering around flat, but the credit market is trading very poorly. Bid-wanteds in cash are rolling in, especially in the go-go...

Afternoon Update

By

Scott Redler

 | May 16, 2012 | 2:50 PM EDT

Markets filled the opening upside gap but can't get any momentum below yesterday's Low of 133.13—low of the day is 132.95---  I still say the...

Something We Already Knew

By

Robert Lang

 | May 16, 2012 | 2:47 PM EDT

Roger did a great job talking about the minutes. What is fascinating is the

comments about 'ready to do something if the recovery falters...

10 Year US Treasury Yield...

By

Roger Arnold

 | May 16, 2012 | 2:45 PM EDT

...now at 1.75%...8 basis points above the record low

Fed Minutes...

By

Roger Arnold

 | May 16, 2012 | 2:26 PM EDT

The minutes are 25 pages long versus 9 for March and 31 for January. The

FOMC meets every 6 weeks, so some months have no meeting.

...

The Smartest Guys In The ROOM ...

By

Alan Farley

 | May 16, 2012 | 2:22 PM EDT

. have turned out to be the retail investors/traders, deciding the market

was crooked beyond repair, refusing to fund their IRA with...

Fed Minutes Out...

By

Roger Arnold

 | May 16, 2012 | 2:07 PM EDT

......

Darden

By

Brian Sozzi

 | May 16, 2012 | 12:16 PM EDT

Adding it to my watch list yesterday, was feeling the action compared

to the down market. Getting some big follow through today. Looking...

Railroad Name Sets Up Nicely

By

Ken Shreve

 | May 16, 2012 | 11:59 AM EDT

Some decent movement in the railroad group today. One of the best-looking charts, in my view, belongs to Union Pacific (UNP). Good...

Midday Update

By

Scott Redler

 | May 16, 2012 | 11:08 AM EDT

Markets are bouncing today as headlines about wanting to keep Greece in the eurozone are floating around.

I think that won't happen,...

With Dougie gone today

By

Helene Meisler

 | May 16, 2012 | 10:23 AM EDT

I will take the liberty of putting the gun to my head and saying I think today the pattern changes.

why? oils and materials trying to play...

A Look at the Market

By

Ken Shreve

 | May 16, 2012 | 10:00 AM EDT

After a crummy session for stocks Tuesday, major averages are still in search of Day 1 of a rally attempt. It sure would be nice to see gains hold...

GE Capital resumes dividend

By

Bret Jensen

 | May 16, 2012 | 9:56 AM EDT

Good to see GE Capital resume its dividend to its parent. This should

provide the ammunition for GE to boost its dividend to at least 4%...

Another LNG export facility in the making

By

Glenn Williams

 | May 16, 2012 | 9:43 AM EDT

Royal Dutch Shell (RDS.A), Korea Gas, Mitsubishi and PetroChina (PTR) are

planning a large LNG export facility on the West Coast of Canada...

Home Builders are Up BIG...

By

Roger Arnold

 | May 16, 2012 | 9:25 AM EDT

... in the premarket following the April construction report indicating

starts are up above expectations... TOL, LEN and HOV, are up 1, 2,...

Oil Prices Down...

By

Roger Arnold

 | May 16, 2012 | 8:42 AM EDT

... Oil company shares up... I don't understand what's driving that

dynamic... All major oil companies worldwide are up with Norway's...

JCP is Down...

May 16, 2012 | 8:32 AM EDT

... another 15% in the premarket even as TGT is up 2%... although the

markets are indicating a belief that JCP's woes are unique to them I...

European Banks Rally...

By

Roger Arnold

 | May 16, 2012 | 8:04 AM EDT

...1-3% on average on relief that decisions about Greece have been kicked

for a month... hopefully anyway... it is still possible that...

It was All Aligned for Abercrombie, to Do Poorly

By

Brian Sozzi

 | May 16, 2012 | 8:04 AM EDT

I was not a fan of the stock pre-earnings, and am still not a fan

having sliced and diced the numbers pre-earnings call. We have a

...

QE-Wheeeeee

By

Alan Farley

 | May 16, 2012 | 7:59 AM EDT

The 2pm FOMC minutes will be the day's focal point, with bulls hoping that

Big Ben will back up the helicopter and save the stock market....

As If the HFT in the U.S. and Europe Were Not Enough...

By

Robert Lang

 | May 16, 2012 | 7:55 AM EDT

Appears CITIC Securities in China (largest investment bank by market cap) has purchased the algorithmic platform of Progress Software. I'm not...

Greek 10 Year Yields...

By

Roger Arnold

 | May 16, 2012 | 7:45 AM EDT

...back over 30% today. The financial media have focused on the Greek government turmoil. However, I will reiterate that the new French...

How Greece Might Play Out

By

Bret Jensen

 | May 16, 2012 | 7:40 AM EDT

Excellent article on the numerous impacts to Greece and Europe if the

country has to leave the European Union in Bloomberg this morning....

Worth Mentioning Again

By

Robert Lang

 | May 16, 2012 | 7:39 AM EDT

As I was reading Doug K's diary Tuesday I ran across some of the best comments

about this current market and the saga we are in, bears...

Trade by Your Rules

By

Scott Redler

 | May 16, 2012 | 7:17 AM EDT

Overseas Headlines continue to control this market as seems the foot that keeps kicking this can down the road is getting a bit...

Quick Morning Notes

By

Brian Sozzi

 | May 16, 2012 | 6:33 AM EDT

It seems as if only a couple of days ago we were toying with 1340 on

the S&P 500.=A0 Now, the S&P 500 has closed below prior 1340...

No surprise on JCP if you followed me on Real Money Pro in January

By

Paul Price

 | May 15, 2012 | 6:43 PM EDT

You could have profited from the JCP debacle if you read my Jan. 27, 2012

article...

_Not Buying JC Penney's Optimism_

...

Heart of Down Wave

By

Avi Gilburt

 | May 15, 2012 | 6:08 PM EDT

By Avi Gilburt

These are the types of trade set ups we like to see. Today, we were able to narrow down a short trade set up to within one...

JC Penneys Earnings Disaster

By

Alan Farley

 | May 15, 2012 | 4:27 PM EDT

20% year over year revenue decline. Golden boy CEO Johnson could be gone in

a year at this rate. Trading at 29.40, down 4 from the close...

JCP is Getting Crushed...

By

Roger Arnold

 | May 15, 2012 | 4:22 PM EDT

...in the after market on a bad earnings report

Greece's Long Shadow

By

David Peltier

 | May 15, 2012 | 4:07 PM EDT

It was a volatile day for U.S. stocks, which ended Tuesday lower. The debt crisis in Greece overshadowed strong economic headlines at home and in...

Late-Day Update

By

Scott Redler

 | May 15, 2012 | 3:40 PM EDT

Markets just took out the low of the day, $133.84 on the SPY as well as the premarket low of $133.61.

The next level we've been talking...

Oil Still Driving the Bus

By

Robert Lang

 | May 15, 2012 | 1:42 PM EDT

It seems every tick down for the last two weeks in oil means a drop from

stocks. The correlation is getting much stronger now, nearly...

Big Move by Tecumseh

By

Jonathan Heller

 | May 15, 2012 | 12:13 PM EDT

TECUA, TECUB up more than 60% today; 13D filed by Roumell Asset Management,

which now owns 21.6% of Class A shares, 12.9% of Class B shares...

That down-draft

By

Helene Meisler

 | May 15, 2012 | 11:37 AM EDT

This surprised me since it crushed the commodity stocks which are already so down and out. By a fraction, there were fewer new lows today than...

Martin Luther and the Eurzone

By

Kamal Khan

 | May 15, 2012 | 11:30 AM EDT

Great post about religious doctrine predicting currency union. Tip of the hat to @theartofthexpat for pointing out.

...

Headline-Driven Action

By

Scott Redler

 | May 15, 2012 | 10:36 AM EDT

Very sloppy trading, as we are driven by every headline out of Greece!

Some longs are working, and some short. Very mixed.

The...

Cerner Is Acting Well

By

Ken Shreve

 | May 15, 2012 | 10:20 AM EDT

One of my favorite health care names continues to be Cerner (CERN). The health care information technology firm caters to...

A Senator's take on EPA regulations

By

Glenn Williams

 | May 15, 2012 | 9:18 AM EDT

Senator Lamar Alexander of Tennessee discussed new and pending EPA rules at

a breakfast conference with Politico this morning. He believes...

Resmed [RMD] - Now #1 ranked by Zacks

By

Paul Price

 | May 15, 2012 | 9:05 AM EDT

Sleep apnea treatment company Resmed [RMD] was featured in my Dec. 13, 2011

Real Money Pro article when the shares were trading for $25....

Retail Sales

By

Gene Balas

 | May 15, 2012 | 9:05 AM EDT

Retail sales came in a bit soft this morning, with an increase of 0.1%, both with and without autos, following a 0.7% gain that was previously...

Europeans Loving Their Bargains

By

Brian Sozzi

 | May 15, 2012 | 9:04 AM EDT

The European division for TJ Maxx (TJX) led the company in terms of

same-store sales at 13% growth. Easy year earlier comparison or not...

Can the Market Hold Early-Morning Gains?

By

Scott Redler

 | May 15, 2012 | 8:08 AM EDT

Markets don't to want to give the "easy set up"  Most traders were hoping for a Gap down to buy, and some for a gap down to...

Banks...

By

Roger Arnold

 | May 15, 2012 | 8:07 AM EDT

US banks are up across the board in pre-market activity by about 1%.

Italian, French and UK banks are down in London and the European...

Positive survey results from corporate market could bode well for overall market

May 15, 2012 | 8:02 AM EDT

A new Amex survey out shows corporations are migrating from a cash hoarding

stance to a more agressive strategy of using funds for...

China...

By

Roger Arnold

 | May 15, 2012 | 7:58 AM EDT

Foreign Direct Investment in China has decreased for a 6 month in a row,

through April. The net decline is attributable however almost...

Dick's Sporting Goods Goes on the Shopping List

By

Brian Sozzi

 | May 15, 2012 | 7:47 AM EDT

Dick's Sporting Goods (DKS) is a best of best in breed stock to be put

(or traced over) on a list of names to return to once the market...

Sovereigns Yields Higher...

By

Roger Arnold

 | May 15, 2012 | 7:34 AM EDT

... almost everywhere... very interesting... 10 year yields:

First Tier Countries:

US, Germany and Japan - up by 3,3, and 1 basis...

Where I See the Letdown in Home Depot Numbers

By

Brian Sozzi

 | May 15, 2012 | 7:11 AM EDT

Score another one for Mr. Market who bid down Home Depot (HD) shares

ahead of the quarter. Despite the pullback, there are pockets of...

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