Halftime Report for 4.4.2012

Despite the Fed’s news yesterday that additional quantitative easing was unlikely, the 10- and 30-year Treasuries are higher, each up 0.33%. Gold futures are taking a large hit – down 3%, while Crude futures lost 2.2% to $101.70. Today’s Crude inventory data saw inventories rise nearly 4-times more than expected, while output rose to its highest level since 1999. Traders could target support at the $100 p/barrel mark in Crude over coming sessions.

ISM Non-manufacturing data was released this morning at 10 a.m. ET, coming in lower than expected. The March Non-manufacturing index dropped to 56 from 57.3 in February. Looking to data later in the week, traders will eye Friday’s employment report, though equity markets will be closed.

More News and Numbers:
– Yahoo (YHOO) dropped 1% despite announcing it would cut 14% of its staff
– CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) gained 9% to 17.10. VXX, an ETF tracking the VIX, rose 5.4%
– JPM is lower by 2.6%. Today, JPM announced it would settle the CFTC suit over Lehman for $20mln
– SanDisk (SNDK) shares fell nearly 10%. SNDK said quarterly sales would come in $100mln lower than previously forecast