Dating Games; Earnings Games

I spent the better part of the last few hours trying to get ahold of someone in the corporate department for one of my holdings to see whether or not they actually had earnings tomorrow morning. And with the way corporate phone lines are set up now, it seemed like a miracle that I was able to get another human being on the actual phone to get an actual answer. 

As for the market at-large, we have the makings of another session on the slower side. But in the context of the nasty gaps and whipsaws since May, it is hard not to think this action is more constructive for the bull case when seen in context of a pause of digestion day. 

Ultimately, the true test will be the senior averages continuing to plod along while the small caps finally clear $160 resistance, seen as the proverbial and literal brick wall on the updated IWM daily chart, below. 

I also would not be surprised to see some M&A dealmaking from now until Thanksgiving, as some deals which could have possibly been in the works the last few weeks and months presses to finalize before the holiday season hits. Naturally, the M&A should be seen as bullish. And I would particularly think software, biotech, and chips make the most sense, beyond some perennial buyout targets like XPO in transportation/logistics.