Stocks reclaimed most of Thursday's losses on Friday, but on lackluster trade. The major indices all closed well in the black as the higher beta indices led the advance. The small-cap Russell 2000, S&P MidCap 400 and the Nasdaq tacked on solid gains of 3.1%, 2.3% and 1.9% respectively. The S&P 500 rose 1.7%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average managed a 1.6% advance.

Market internals ended the session mixed. Volume dropped across the board. Trade on the Nasdaq slid by 9.8%. On the NYSE, Volume fell by just over 13.0%. However, both exchanges advancing volume top declining volume by a wide margin. By the closing bell, the spread ratio stood at a positive 10.9 to 1 on the NYSE and a plus 7.6 to 1 on the Nasdaq. Despite the positive price action, Friday's light volume suggests institutions were on the sidelines.

After undercutting and closing below support of the 20-day EMA on Thursday, the ProShares Ultra Dow Jones-AIG Crude Oil ETF (UCO) reversed and closed higher on Friday, on an increase in volume. UCO is now poised for a potential move higher. A move above the December 8th high of $42.40 could provide a long entry trigger for this ETF. We are placing UCO on the watchlist. Trade details are available to our subscribers in the watchlist section of the newsletter.



Yesterday, on a massive spike in volume, the SPDR DJ Wilshire REIT ETF (RWR) gapped up and rallied for most of the day, to close near session highs. A move above yesterday's high of $62.89 could provide a long opportunity in RWR. We are also placing RWR on the watchlist. Trade details can be found in the watchlist segment of the newsletter.



Yesterday brought solid price action but trade was light. However, many potential new leadership candidates broke out on Friday, which is encouraging. If we are to head higher however, then we need to see a spike in volume to confirm the positive price action. A bullish confirmation day on Monday would be ideal.

Deron Wagner is the Founder and Head Trader of both Morpheus Capital LP, a U.S. hedge fund, and MorpheusTrading.com, a trader education firm.