1. This coming Friday is options expiration for the month of April. As many of you know by now, this is a week of institutional game playing by the large institutions. Remember, the big boys have an agenda where they want to place stocks this week, especially in the popular names. Traders should also watch for a lot of rumors and ridiculous upgrades and downgrades this week. Volume has fallen off a cliff. Watch if volume spikes then you need to watch. A lot of froth and a lot problems. Some times it takes a big event to stop the central bankers they’re on the wrong path.

2. Stocks are a little weaker to start out on this Monday morning. As I always say, keep an eye on the volume trends. as long as the volume is light I would not make too much out of the slight downside pressure today. Russell 2000 down almost 1%. Mixed tape.

3. Earnings season kicks off this week on Wednesday morning with the big banks. JP Morgan Chase (JPM), Goldman Sachs (GS) and Wells Fargo (WFC) are set to report earnings before the open on Wednesday.

4. Gold/Silver natural to see a pullback. It’s just consolidation. Gold miners down 2% today. Backing and filling. Gold futures got close to their 50 moving average. Once they break it, it’s going to 1800. 1809 is the next resistance point. 1758 is 50 moving day average. Dollar hit resitance and is pulling back now. Should be good for the year.