The horror that terrorist groups keep bringing to the lives of people simply trying to live at peace and keep to themselves is startling. I'll never understand what could possess a person to bring such havoc to the lives of others - random people that have never done a thing to them. 

The world is different. The biggest threat that one faced when going to the store or dare I say a concert, was getting there safely. Driving behind the wheel was the biggest threat of getting from Point A to Point B. But now we have to worry what happens once you get to Point B. 

Sure you can get more security, more procedures in place, but as the terrorists mature in their methods, it will only spur on more security and more procedures which ultimately leads to a greater loss of freedom and liberty, which is what the terrorists ultimately want.

The thought of so many kids being killed in the prime of their innocence is beyond comprehension, and I pray fervently that God would bring justice to their souls and assuage the grief, to some extent, that their families are now experiencing. 

Now is the part where I try to figure out how to segue into the financial side of things as it relates to the stock market.  

Terrorism has actually has not affected the market considerably over the past few years. The attacks will often times cause an instant sell-off, but once the dust settles the buyers step in and push the market back up to where it was trading prior to or even higher. The Manchester attack last night created an instant sell-off as well, but it was not a steep one whatsoever.

The market sold off 4-5 points but settled down rather quickly. Where it will be by the time the market opens is anyone's guess though. 

Adding to the headline risk was another unanimous-sourced article by WaPo about Trump putting pressure on officials to push back on the Russia probe. Again, the market doesn't seem to be affected by it, like it was by similar headlines last week. 

My suspicion, with the VIX headed back towards the 10's again, with Wednesday's losses nearly all wiped clean, I'm thinking we are likely looking at more sideways price action, unless the bulls can push this market out of the consolidation area within the next 1-2 days.  

S&P 500 Chart

Current Stock Trading Portfolio Balance: 

• 2 Long Positions

Recent Stock Trade Notables:

• SPXU: Long at 16.60, closed at 16.98 for a 2.3% profit.
• JP Morgan Chase (JPM): Long at 87.84, closed at 85.98 for a 2.1% loss.
• Micron Technology (MU): Long at $29.00, closed at 28.04 for a 3.3% loss.
• Alibaba Group (BABA): Long at $116.25, closed at $124.09 for a 6.7% profit. 
• Southwest Airlines (LUV): Long at $58.35, closed at 57.23 for a 1.9% loss.  
• Broadcom (AVGO): Long at $223.63, closed at $228.65 for a 2.2% profit. 
• Workday (WDAY): Long at 86.00, closed at 90.32 for a 5% profit. 
• Univar (UNVR): Long at $30.96, closed at $32.20 for a 4% profit.
• Alibaba Group (BABA): Long at $111.91, closed at $115.48 for a 3.2% profit. 
• Redhat (RHT): Long at $85.21, closed at $87.21 foor a 2.4% profit. 
• Darling Ingredients (DAR): Long at $15.19, closed at $14.90 for a 1.9% loss. 
• Apple (AAPL): Long at $143.82, closed at $147.11 for a 2.3% profit.
• Teradyne (TER): Long at $31.16, closed at $33.03 for a 6.0% profit.
• UPRO: Long at $92.75, closed at $94.78 for a 2.2% profit. 
• Murphy Oil (MUR): Long at $28.69, closed at $27.89 for a 2.7% loss.
• Las Vegas Sands (LVS): Long at $57.24, closed at $56.53 for a 1.2% loss.  
• UPRO: Long at $91.94, closed at $96.54 for a 5.0% profit.
• Alibaba Group (BABA): Long at $105.736, closed at $108.22 for a 2.4% profit. 
• Facebook (FB): Long at $134.27, Closed at $139.23 for a 3.7% profit. 
• CDW Corp (CDW): Long at $58.65, closed at $58.91 for a 2.7% loss. 
• Redhat (RHT): Long at $82.41, Closed at $83.53 for a 1.4% profit. 
• Ambarella (AMBA): Long at $57.15, Closed at $55.52 for a 2.8% loss. 
• Alibaba Group (BABA): Long at $104.73, closed at $106.05 for a 1.3% profit. 
• Broadcom (AVGO): Long at $218.63, Closed at $222.71 for a 1.9% profit. 
• American Airlines (AAL): Short at $44.76, Closed at $44.03 for a 1.6% profit.
• UPRO  (Day-Tade): Long at $95.35, closed at $96.50 for a 1.2% profit.
• OZRK: Long at $56.12, closed at $54.69 for a 2.5% loss. 
• FNSR: Long at $34.25, closed at $34.70 for a 1.3% profit. 
• UPRO  (Day-Tade): Long at $96.92, closed at $98.03 for a 1.2% profit. 
• JP Morgan Chase (JPM): Long at $87.21, closed at $89.67 for a 2.8% profit. 
• Chevron (CVX): Short at $110.03, covered at $111.85 for a 1.6% loss. 
• Flex Technologies (FLEX): Long at $15.62, closed at $16.57 for a 6.1% profit. 
• Baidu (BIDU): Long at $174.70, closed at $187.00 for a 7.0% profit. 
• Ollie's Bargain Outlet: Long at 33.20, closed at $32.50 for a 2.1% loss. 
• Corning (GLW): Long at $26.98, closed at $27.45 for a 1.7% profit. 
• Illinois Tool Works (ITW): Long at $127.74, closed at $129.86 for a 1.7% profit. 
• Marriott Int'l (MAR): Long at $86.16, closed at $87.51 for a 1.6% profit.