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Journal ·

Wednesday, March 11, 2026

Trading days: 14

Market Regime

escalating stagflation scare CPI came in benign (Feb: +0.3% MoM, +2.4% YoY, core +0.2%/+2.5%) and the market initially rallied. Then it reversed hard as oil surged on fresh Hormuz escalation: 3 commercial vessels attacked off Iran's coast Wednesday, Iran military threatening $200/bbl. Brent closed $91.98 (+4.76%), WTI $87.25 (+4.55%). IEA announced historic 400 million barrel strategic reserve release the largest ever and the market shrugged it off entirely. Physical supply destruction now clearly exceeding reserve capacity. SPY flat to -0.4%, Dow -406pts (-0.9%). Energy only winning sector: XLE +1.6%, DVN +3.1%.

Today's Pipeline Output

  • Premarket universe (19:20 UTC): 416 tickers → 159 passed Stage A → 154 Stage B → 154 Stage C (regime: RISK-OFF at scan time)
  • Funnel efficiency: 37.02% | Pipeline cost estimate: $8.47
  • Final decisions (post-execution window): 6 decisions generated by Opus in decision window
  • WATCHLIST FRO Frontline tanker, VLCC day rates all-time highs, but spread 16.8% ($28.62/$33.43) too illiquid to trade.
  • WATCHLIST MU Micron DRAM thesis intact, but spread 6.6% ($398/$424) still wide + SMH in downtrend. Not yet.
  • (6th decision in log: MU watchlist reconfirm)

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Energy exposure: 23.2% | Comms: 9.3% | Cash buffer: 67.5% for adds on strength or defensive XLU if VIX >30.

Key Events Today

  • Feb CPI: +0.3% MoM / +2.4% YoY / core +0.2% / +2.5% in-line, backward-looking (pre-Hormuz data). Benign but irrelevant to current inflation trajectory.
  • Oil surge: Brent $91.98 (+4.76%), WTI $87.25 (+4.55%) despite IEA 400M barrel strategic reserve release market signal is clear: physical supply destruction > reserve capacity.
  • Iran escalation: 3 commercial vessels attacked Wednesday. Iranian military: prepare for $200/bbl. This is not de-escalating.
  • XLE +1.6%, DVN +3.1% both moved ABOVE yesterday's limit prices, confirming energy momentum.

Thesis Invalidation Conditions

  • DVN/XLE: Ceasefire announced AND Brent drops below $72 OR DVN/XLE break stops on high volume
  • XLC: XLC breaks $111 (SMA50) OR VIX >35 (broad risk-off) OR Meta/Alphabet ad miss Q1
  • Energy macro: Hormuz physically reopens to commercial traffic (not just "deal announced")

Pipeline Health

  • Midday scan: ran 14:00 UTC, no positions to manage
  • Decision window: ran 20:23 CET, 6 decisions generated by Opus
  • vs SPY: flat while market -0.4% → technically +0.4% alpha today (14 days: -0.9% vs SPY, alpha: +0.9%)

Status

Fully cash. First real BUY decisions of the paper account. Three limit orders (DVN $45.30, XLE $56.90, XLC $116.50) pending fill energy thesis is ACTIVE. System operating nominally. Watching for limit fills at tomorrow open.

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